In a hot and blustering wind, the SPAR South Africa Women’s hockey team played out an exciting 3-3 draw with Ireland. This was South Africa’s penultimate match of the SPAR Hockey Festival being held at the University of Stellenbosch Astro Complex.
South Africa started in threatening fashion with a good backhand shot from Tarryn Bright, forcing the Irish goalkeeper to make an important save.
However, there were also early signs of a lack of concentration amongst the South Africans, as a couple of balls played into the midfield were received in rather static fashion and hence were immediately turned over.
An Irish counterattack with a superb finish from Rachel Mulligan, surprised the home side who consequently found themselves 1-0 down after 6 minutes.
SA then equalised in the 12th minute through a clever deflection by Chamberlain. With ten to go in the first half the home side took the lead, captain Marsha Marescia playing the ball in off a penalty corner.
The South Africans then squandered their lead shortly before half-time, allowing the Irish skipper, Linda Caulfield, to score off a penalty corner. The teams thus went into half-time with the scores level at 2-2.
The visitors seemed in control during the early phases of the second half, with South Africa unable to regain their momentum. Midway through the half Ireland failed to capitalise on a 3vs1 attack.
This obviously failed to shake the South African ladies out of their lethargy. For, with ten minutes to play another very static receive in the midfield led to a turnover and counterattack.
Ultimately, it was Julia O’Halloran who finished the move off, scoring her first international goal to put Ireland into a 3-2 lead with the end of the game fast approaching.
South Africa then dug deep to get back into the game. They showed great character and their persistence was soon rewarded when Kathleen Taylor scored a “lightening bolt” shot from the top of the circle.
Having equalised, the South Africans pushed hard but in vain for a winning goal. The very fact that they ended strongly bodes well for their physical stamina and mental strength – aspects of their game that have been improving throughout the SPAR Hockey Festival.
The long series is taking its toll on a fatigued group of players though, as coach Jenny King points out.
Taryn Hosking and Kathleen Taylor were particularly impressive for South Africa. The character shown to come back and equalise is also most encouraging.
However, certain key areas of their game will concern Coach King. The South Africans struggled to play the ball around the back with any ease. Playing with only three at the back, the South Africans were unable to evade the Irish press, which stepped rather high onto South Africa’s outside halves.
This encouraged the South Africans to play short balls into the midfield where far too many turnovers occurred.
It can only be expected that as South Africa make leaps and bounds in certain areas of their game, new concerns will come to the fore.
The final two matches of the SPAR Hockey Festival being held at the University of Stellenbosch Astro Complex are Canada vs Ireland (21 Jan) and SPAR SA vs Canada (22 Jan).
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