Visitors France outplayed tournament hosts South Africa to win the final Test 4-1 and the series 3-2, in their sixth and final Test at SACS High School in Cape Town, on Friday, 26 January, 2024.
South Africa had been the better team over the first half of the test series, but the Paris 2024 hosts France roared back in the second half of the series to set up a final match up in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Just before the end of the first quarter, Ines Lardeur struck a decent reverse stick shot to open the scoring, aggravating the South Africans’ frustration, who had failed to convert from their three penalty corners in the opening 15 minutes.
The frustration was short lived, as Taheera Augousti produced a remarkable run up the right and picked out Bianca Wood superbly.
Wood, in turn, fired her own reverse stick strike into the backboard to level matters. 1-1 and game on.
But the parity was short-lived, France produced an outstanding counter attack and Lhopital provided one of the best finishes of the series, roofing a reverse stick strike.
Marlise van Tonder would later make a great save from a penalty corner, but from a later one an intentional foul was called, and a stroke awarded. Despite Dimba diving the right way, Verzuva’s finish was too good.
South Africa again had a penalty corner with the immediate opportunity to pull a goal back, but it was more frustration for the South Africans.
That frustration was compounded in the fourth quarter when France converted a penalty corner and the South Africans failed on three more occasions. France would secure the victory in the test and the series.
The South Africans will regroup before their next camp, and matches with the full focus on developing towards the Paris Olympics later this year.
South Afriva vs France Summer Hockey Test Series, at SACS in Cape Town from 18 – 28 January, 2024
Thu 18 Jan, 19:30: South Africa 2-0 France
Sat, 20 Jan, 14:30: South Africa 2-1 France
Mon, 22 Jan, 17:30: South Africa 1-4 France
Tue, 23 Jan, 17:30: South Africa 2-2 France
Fri, 26 Jan, 15:45: South Africa 0-1 France
Sun, 28 Jan, 15:00: South Africa 1-4 France
South African Women’s Hockey Team vs France
Anelle van Deventer
Antonet Louw
Aphiwe Dimba
Bianca Wood
Cailynn Den Bakker
Celia Seerane
Charlene Boshoff
Dirkie Chamberlain
Onthatile Zulu
Paris-Gail Isaacs
Quanita Bobbs
Reabetswe Phume
Stephanie Botha
Taheera Augousti
Tarryn Lombard
France Women’s Hockey Team
Quitterie Le Naour
Catherine Clot
Emma Ponthieu
Mickaela Lahlah
Paola Le Nindre
Yohanna Lhopital
Philippine Delemazure
Marie Simon
Gabrielle Verrier
Alice Lesgourgues
Victoire Arnaud
Guusje Van Bolhuis
Mathilde Duffrene
Pauline Varoqui
Eve Verzura
Ines Lardeur
Lucie Ehrmann
Albane Garot
Delfina Gaspari
Tessa-Margot Schubert
Mathilde Petriaux
Head Coach: Gael Foulard
Original Copy: SA Hockey, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Visitors France outplayed tournament hosts South Africa to win the final Test 4-1 and the series 3-2, in their sixth and final Test at SACS High School in Cape Town, on Friday, 26 January, 2024. Photo: (c) Ray Chaplin www.raychaplin.photography
Photo 2 Caption: SA’s hopes rose when Taheera Augousti and Bianca Wood combined superbly to level scores in the second quarter. Photo: (c) Ray Chaplin www.raychaplin.photography
Photo 3 Caption: The parity was short-lived with France on an out(c) Ray Chaplin www.raychaplin.photography
Photo 4 Caption: The South Africans will regroup before their next camp, and matches with the full focus on developing towards the Paris Olympics later this year. Photo: (c) Ray Chaplin www.raychaplin.photography
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