It was another frenetic encounter in the South Africa vs Canada Test series, ending goalless once again, but not without plenty of intensity and chances at both ends in the fourth of the five-match series at the Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria, Gauteng, on Friday, 16 January 2026.
The match also marked a debut for Nuriyah Bell, who stepped into the international arena with confidence.
South Africa earned an early penalty corner, with the first-wave running causing real problems, but Canada absorbed the pressure well. The visitors looked dangerous on the counter, although the final connection was often missing.
Laiken Brisset went close with a reverse-stick effort that drifted wide, while another SA penalty corner was well dealt with by Marcia Laplante, who produced a sharp low save. A promising counter-attack saw Ntsopa Mokoena fire just wide as the first quarter ended scoreless.
Mokoena had the first chance of the second quarter, again going wide on the reverse. South Africa earned another penalty corner after a poor Canadian tackle, opting for a variation back to the injector, but the deflection missed the target. The match settled into a midfield battle, with limited clear opportunities.
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Canada earned a penalty corner of their own, but a poor injection prevented a shot on goal. Despite a good spell of possession from Canada late in the half, it was South Africa who had the final look via a penalty corner, only for dangerous play to halt the chance. 0–0 at half-time.
Canada started the third quarter with an early circle entry but couldn’t create a meaningful chance. Another Canadian penalty corner followed, with a big variation sailing over the top. South Africa countered sharply but the final pass let them down. A dangerous back-stick attempt from Tamlyn Kock followed soon after.
The moment of the quarter came when a brilliant diagonal from Edith Molikoe found Steph Botha, only for Laplante to produce a sensational save. Still no breakthrough at the end of the third.
The final quarter continued at a breathless pace. Excellent work from Thati Zulu and Mokoena opened space for South Africa, but strong Canadian defence shut the door. A ball flashed across the circle with no touch, before Canada had a big chance that was well defended by the South Africans.
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Chances came and went at both ends, including Molikoe firing wide and another dangerous SA diagonal going begging. A late South African penalty corner with a minute on the clock was comfortably saved, sealing a 0–0 draw at full time.
Results and Fixtures of the 2026 South Africa vs Canada 5-Test Women’s Hockey International Series at Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria, Gauteng
9 January – South Africa 5-0 Canada
10 January – South Africa 0-0 Canada
11 January – South Africa 2-0 Canada
16 January – South Africa 0-0 Canada
17 January – 12h00
Original Copy: Hockey South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Cailynn den Bakker drives South Africa possession forwards during the fourth Test in the five-match series, with the teams drawing 0-all for the second time at Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria, Gauteng, on Friday, 16 January, 2026. All Photos: SA Hockey / Marcel Sigg for Run Ride Dive
Photo 2 Caption: Ntsopa Mokoena came closest to scoring for South Africa, during the stern encounter between the evenly-matches outfits.
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