Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament – Eight

Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament – Eight

The number of legs on a spider, the number of tentacles on an octopus and now the number of planets in our solar system. There of course used to be nine until Pluto was demoted to ‘dwarf planet’ back in 2006 Eight is a also big deal in Asia, like a really big deal. Its pronunciation in Chinese sounds the same as the word for prosperity and so its deemed to be a good luck charm. Of course even the Beatles knew the importance coining eight days a week.

More importantly eight is the number of teams that remain in contention for the cup title at the 2024 Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament for both boys and girls. How did each of the 8 contenders secure their spot in the emphatic eight.

Boys Tournament

Pool A – Private School Swakopmund – Grouped alongside SACS they were not heavily favoured, but a hat-trick from James de Jager in a 3-3 draw with SACS and three other wins including a tight victory over Hugenote secured top spot for the Namibians.

Pool B – Outeniqua – In one of the tightest groups Outeniqua secured top spot with draws against DF Malan and Bridge House, while Danny Busse starred in a 3-2 win that secured top spot against St. Johns.

Pool C – Paarl Gimnasium – The defending champions have been superb. They completed a perfect group stage conceding only one goal against Hoerskool Punt. They wrapped up a 100% with a 5-0 win against St. Georges with a brace for both Stefan Wiehahn and Neil de Wet.

Pool D – Somerset College – Mick Ouwerkerk has led his team to a perfect group stage too and now will face Paarl Gim in the pick of the quarter finals. Michael du Toit has been constantly in the goals bagging in both games on route to making it four out of four.

Pool E – Fairmont – Having secured a top spot with a 3-0 win in the morning, Fairmont were unable to make it four out of four drawing with Windhoek High School.

Pool F – Stellenberg – They have progressively got better in the tournament and have now scored 15 unanswered goals in four victories. Myburgh Wessels netted a hat-trick in a 6-0 win against Hoerskool Robertson to rock their way through the group stage.

Pool G – Worcester Gymnaisum – Comfortable is a fair way to describe their group stage as they won four out of four. Driesie Burger got two in a 5-2 win against Hudson to set up a Quarter final against York

Pool H – York – Its been a much tougher slog for York with an opening draw followed by three one goal victories. AJ de lange got two in massvie 2-1 victory against 2023 semi-finalists Woodridge.

Girls Tournament

Pool A – Middelburg – a perfect group stage for Middelburg. Scoring 14 goals on day 2 including Lume Smit netting a hat-trick against Hugenote to set up a quarter final against Woodridge, the runners up from 2023.

Pool B – Woodridge – having drawn their second game on day 1, the silver medalists from 12 months ago needed a big day two. They got it with back-to-back 4-0 wins against DF Malan and Pro-Ed Akademie including a double from Dane Strydom

Pool C – Rustenburg – They have passed all tests so far in this years tournament. In both games on day 2 they had different goal scorers showing their prowess and attacking threat across the park.

Pool D – Paarl Gimnasium – 18 unanswered goals on day one, they expected far sterner tests on day 2 and got that. A tight and enthralling 1-0 win over Hoerskool Rustenburg thanks to Zanne Botha’s strike was complimented by a 3-0 win against Windhoek Gymnasium keeping four clean sheets so far.

Pool E – Outeniqua – A thrilling 1-1 draw against Fairmont set them up for progress to the quarter finals. They then secured their place with a 3-1 over Worcester Gymnasium with two for Mia Buxmann.

Pool F –  Somerset – Somerset College were the fourth girls team to make it four wins out of four, following up their six point opening day with comfortable victories over Penryn College and Hoerskool Robertson, which included a Julia Brown Hat-trick.

Pool G – Monument – The defending champions knew the challenge was massive having dawn to Kingswood on day 1 but they secured their spot on top of the group with a 6-0 win over Stellenbosch complimented by a 3-1 win over Wynberg to set up a tantalising match up with Stellenberg.

Pool H – Stellenberg – Stellenberg were marching along with 18 goals unanswered heading into their final game with Northcliff. They showed true champion potential in a 1-0 win thanks to Shana Maggott goal.

Of course the remaining teams will continue to fight out for positions in the Plate, Shield, Super Bowl and Bowl tournaments continuing around the Southern Suburbs.

The number 8 has some great fun about it, but at the end of our third day on Friday the number will not but rather two with the identity of the one drawing ever closer.

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