SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Southerns edge Northerns as usual suspects all get wins on day 1

SA Hockey IPT 2023 | Southerns edge Northerns as usual suspects all get wins on day 1

In a very hotly anticipated clash, the Gauteng derby saw Northerns and Southerns take first aim at one another. It was a bruising encounter that saw the two teams fight for the upper hand for 3 quarters before it finally arrived for theJohannesburg gentlemen. Red hot Dalpiarro Langford opened the scoring while Tokyo Olympian Nic Spooner doubled things just two minutes later. It would be the last goalscoring action of the game and the points were secured for Southerns.

Western Province had the tasty treat of playing their mates WP Peninsula in their opener. They would have worried about a potential worry, but those worries were put at ease by an opening quarter Idrees Abdulla goal. To the credit of the Pens lads, they made their “A” side fight and held the deficit until the 59^th minute when national captain Dayaan Cassiem doubled the score before a trademark Connor Beauchamp goal to wrap up a win for the defending champions.

Mustapha Cassiem, captaining the SA U21 team, got them off to the perfect start with a goal in the opening minute from a low driving penalty corner. Eastern Province may have felt the sting, but they settled into the contest and Ricky Vaupotic restored parity in the opening quarter with a well-directed penalty corner. Cameron le Forestier showed his goal scoring prowess with a sublime reverse stick finish to re-establish the lead. They would add the goal that sealed an opening day victory again through their skipper Cassiem through a penalty stroke and a 3-1 win.

The KZN Raiders got their own campaign off to a blistering start through a trademark Matt Guise-Brown penalty corner. Low and hard just above the back-board giving the Free State defence no chance. London 2012 Olympian Clinton Panther took advantage of a good advantage to poke home a second for the hosts before the end of the first quarter. GB would add his second through a penalty stroke and it would wrap up 3-0 to the Raiders.

In the Men’s B Section North West got off to a winning start defeating Northern Cape 3-0. Blaine Grey, Caydin Spadonie and Keanan Wax the goal scorers for the Potchefstroom unit. Julian Hykes fired home the goal of the day with a powerful reverse strike as the SG Witsies began their quest for promotion with a 6-1 victory over the Robins. Tyler-Reed Napier, Tristan le Forestier, Michael van den Berg and Thabang Modise joined Hykes on the score sheet while Robins solitary effort was by Wandile Ngcungama.

SACD were belligerent in their 6-1 win over Border. Sean Slater was the star as the young star hit two, with Tjoff van Staden, Courtney Halle, Bavumile Mkhonza and Clayton Tait all in on the action.Jason van Zyl with the consolation goal for Border. Daniel den Bakker and Tyler Tomsett were the goal scorers as the KZN Mynahs started their tournament with a2-0 win over Mpumalanga.

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

Southern Gauteng 2-0 Northern Blues
Western Province 3-0 WP Peninsula
South Africa U21 3-1 Eastern Province
KZN Raiders 3-0 Free State

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

North Westc3-1 Northern Cape
SG Witsies 6-1 KZN Robins
Border 1-6 SACD
KZN Mynahs 2-0 Mpumalanga

SAHockey IPT 2023 | Men’s A Section Fixtures – 22 August 2023

EasternProvince vs Free State
Northern Blues vs WP Peninsula
Southern Gauteng vs Western Province
South Africa U21 vs KZN Raiders

SAHockey IPT 2023 | Men’s B Section Fixtures – 22 August 2023

NorthernCape vs KZN Mynahs
SG Witsies vs SACD
North West vs Mpumalanga
Border vs KZN Robins