SA hockey women in Commonwealth Games final

The South African goals came from Tarryn Bright in the 14th minute, Dirkie Chamberlain in the 35th and Illse Davids in the 54th while India scored through Jaspreet Kaur in the 34th and Rani Rampal in the 60th.

Captain Marsha Cox’s team will now play Pool B winners Australia at 3.20pm SA time on Friday in the second of the semi-finals.

South Africa started with a bang, putting India under enormous pressure with their high-tempo approach, Bright and an on-fire Shelley Russell getting in goalshots, but India indicated their danger following a remarkable Jaspreet Kaur aerial.

In her 200th Test at just 26, South African centre back Lisa Deetlefs stepped up for the match’s first penalty corner in the 14th minute and slapped her pass back to corner injector Bright who swept the ball hard into the backboard (1-0).

There was drama in the 26th minute when first-wave runner Sulette Damons was pole-axed by a thunderbolt from India’s second penalty corner, at a time when India were down to nine players, and the blow to her leg meant South Africa’s pacy striker had to be helped off.

South Africa had a second penalty corner before excellent work from Lenise Marais stopped India at a set-piece opportunity shortly after, but in the 34th minute clever India interplay led to a penalty stroke and Kaur rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Thirty seconds later, on the stroke of half-time, South Africa were back in front when Chamberlain fed Celia Evans out right, whose pass to Davids was immediately relayed back to the instigator for Chamberlain to finish clinically (2-1).

After the changeover,Jade Mayne used South Africa’s strength around the outside to win two penalty corners in quick succession, the latter of which saw keeper Savita Punia make a superb diving save low to her right. Damons got in a shot and South Africa’s dominance told when a great Chamberlain trap and snap-shot saw the rebound fly to Davids, who struck the ball beautifully on the rise to make it 3-1 in the 54th minute. But Rampal was not done yet and slammed a penalty corner into the backboard to take the score to 3-2 in the 60th minute.

Meanwhile, the SA men must beat India’s men at 5pm SA time on Thursday if they are to qualify for Saturday’s semi-finals against what is likely to be England.

– Sapa