SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Opening day onslaught for Western Province while defending champions edge North West in a classic

‍SAHockey IPT 2023 | Opening day onslaught for Western Province while defendingchampions edge North West in a classic

The Northern Blues and North West played out a tense encounter to kick immediately set the tournament alight. The defending champions were pushed all the way in an epic battle that ultimately ended with the Pretoria side emerging victorious. They were forced to come from behind though trailing to a goal from former SA U21 star Jacolene Mclaren. South African indoor star Laiken Brisset restored parity before Kiana Cormack fired in a cracking penalty corner to secure an opening victory for the champions.

WesternProvince, on the other hand, hardly broke a sweat in securing a rampant and one sided 10-0 victory of Free State. There was a brace for each of Kayla de Waal, Rebecca Kapps and Brady Wiseman, while Tarryn Lombard, Nicole Koenig, Quanita Bobbs and Stephanie Botha rounded out what could only be described as a 10 out of 10 performances for the 2022 Runners Up.

It was another tight battle as Southern Gauteng took on the hosts SPAR KZN Raiders. The hosts got off to the perfect start when former South African U21 Star Donna Small opened the scoring with superb improvisation to finish off a high ball on the back post. The hosts would have loved to build on that early momentum, but the visitors pegged them back immediately through a slip variation by Julianne du Plessis. The next goal would be a huge one and ultimately the winner. It came from a routine finish from Toni Marks at the penalty corner and Southern Gauteng held on for a 2-1 win.

 The SA U21side are preparing for their journey to Chile and that preparation got off to the perfect start. A perfect six scored in a one-sided score line over SG Witsies. Ntsopa Mokoena showed why she is so highly spoken of with a double while Kayla Swarts, Angele Vogel, Taheera Augousti and Mmamorena Manthata all added to the score line for the national youngsters.

In the Women’s B Section Eastern Province secured a 3-1 win with a Tristan Howard and a goal by Tasmyn Preller was enough to defeat Mpumalanga despite a Chrizelle Benson strike. KZN Mynahs scored a late goal through Hannah Nero securing a 1-0victory over SACD. WP Peninsula were superb in dismissing Eastern Gauteng 7-0 scoring through Erin Coetzee, Rachel Kaps (2) and Gabrielle de Kock supporting a hat-trick by Coreen Matthee. Border also managed to secure a comfortable opening day victory against Northern Cape. Antonet Louw, Zukhanye Tyanlintsika, Nela Mbedu and Bianca Wood the goal scorers for the Eastern Cape side.

SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Women’s A Section Results – Day 1

Northern Blues 2-1 North West
Western Province 10-0 Free State
Southern Gauteng 2-1 SPAR KZN Raiders
South Africa U21 6-0 SG Witsies

SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Women’s B Section Results – Day 1

Eastern Province 3-1 Mpumalanga
SACD 0-1 KZN Mynahs
Eastern Gauteng 0-7 WP Peninsula
Border 4-0 Northern Cape

SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Women’s A Section Fixtures – 22 August 2023 

SouthernGauteng vs Northern Blues
SG Witsies vs  Free State
SPAR KZN Raiders vs North West
South Africa U21 vs Western Province

SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Women’s B Section Fixtures – 22 August 2023

KZN Mynahs vs Border
Mpumalanga vs Eastern Gauteng
Eastern Gauteng U21 vs Eastern Province
KZN Robins vs SACD
Eastern Gauteng vs Eastern Gauteng U21