Its Southerns and Province Again!

It was
almost a given that Southern Gauteng and Western Province would meet in the
final of  the Spar Women’s Interprovincial hockey tournament and so it
will be when the two fierce rivals play for the title on Saturday afternoon at
the Queensmead astroturf in Durban.

In the end
it was the vast experience of the two sides that held sway in the semi-finals
on Friday. WP, gunning for their third consecutive title, were far too slick
for North West and ran
out 7-0 winners. In the late semi-final 10-time champions Southern’s were made
to work for their 2-0 victory over a skilled and energetic SA U21 team.

The
score may reflect a walk over in the WP-North West clash but it was far from it.

A
young and inexperienced North West
defended resolutely and the defending champions only made the first
breakthrough in the 25 th minute via a penalty corner strike from national
player Henna Du Buisson.  Buisson was again in the mix three minutes later
when she got the last touch in the North West
circle.

After
Taryn Hosking made it 3-0 just before half-time the fight seemed to evaporate
from the Potchefstroom girls.

"That
three goal blitz really took the wind out of  the girl’s sails,’ said North West
coach Paul Revington.

WP
then went into cruise mode after the break to score another four with a hat
trick from Tarryn Bright and a field goal via the stick of Kathleen Taylor.

"I
didn’t think it would be this easy," said WP coach Wayne Denne. "I
was very happy with the way we moved the ball around the pitch today and when
we had chances we took them."

 
WP captain Kate Hector with 115 international caps under her belt was also well
pleased with her team’s efforts. "We showed a lot of patience and kept
pushing at it and we knew the goals were bound to come."

Former
Southern’s stalwart and current coach Lindsey Wright was ecstatic with her
team’s 2-0 win over the spirited U21’s. Two field goals in the first quarter
from Bernadette Coston and Anika Fisher secured the final berth for the Joburg
girls.

"These
girls deserve to be in the final," said an elated Wright.

The
former national player said her players went beyond what she had expected of
them and had special praise for Marie Joseph. "She is the most underrated
player. She has done an outstanding job for us and if I had to go to war I
would go with her."

Throughout
the week, WP have been the best side on show and with 12 national players to
the three of Southern’s the odds are stacked in their favour.

"Of
course Western Province are
looking good, they are the national side," quipped Wright. "We will
have to do some homework tonight and see where we can penetrate their
weaknesses. They are fit and confident so it will be a challenge for me. But I
love challenges."