North West B were crowned SA Hockey IPT B Section women’s champions after completing a perfect campaign with a 4-0 victory over SACD in a dramatic title decider that began at The Hockey Farm in eMalahleni and finished at HTS Middelburg on Friday, 4 September 2026.
An extraordinary final day began at The Hockey Farm before a huge lightning storm and heavy rain interrupted the women’s final. The severe weather eventually forced the tournament to relocate to HTS Middelburg, where the closing stages were completed.
The day opened with the women’s bronze medal match, which produced an entertaining five-goal battle as hosts Mpumalanga edged the KZN Mynahs 3-2.
Mackenzy Layden gave the Mynahs a dream start by opening the scoring in the sixth minute, but Mpumalanga responded through Bianca Kruger eight minutes later. The hosts completed the turnaround when Nobuhle Dhlamini scored in the 18th minute, only for Layden to strike again on the stroke of half-time and send the teams into the interval level at 2-2.
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The decisive moment arrived in the 41st minute when Kiara Nel restored Mpumalanga’s advantage. The hosts protected their slender lead through the closing stages to secure the bronze medal on home soil.
Attention then turned to the final as unbeaten North West B faced SACD for the title and promotion.
Erika Neuhoff opened the scoring for North West B in the 20th minute before Chanel Genis doubled the advantage four minutes later.
The lightning storm and heavy rain then brought proceedings to a halt, forcing the remainder of the final to be moved from The Hockey Farm to HTS Middelburg.
When play eventually resumed at the new venue, North West B quickly rediscovered their rhythm. Genis struck again in the 33rd minute before completing a superb hat-trick in the 53rd.
The 4-0 victory completed a perfect campaign for North West B, who won all five of their matches while scoring 19 goals and conceding just once. They were deservedly crowned the women’s IPT B Section champions and secured their place in the 2027 SA Hockey IPT A Section.
Genis capped a remarkable week by finishing as the tournament’s top goalscorer with five goals and claiming the Women’s Player of the Tournament award, while Mpumalanga goalkeeper Kendra Shepheard was named Women’s Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
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It was a remarkable ending to a landmark event. The first standalone IPT B Section, hosted for the first time in the region, produced a worthy champion, and for The Hockey Farm, HTS Middelburg and the wider eMalahleni community, the week represented an important new chapter in South African provincial women’s hockey.
SA Hockey IPT B Section Women’s Competition at The Hockey Farm, eMalahleni
Monday, 31 August 2026
SACD 2-0 KZN Mynahs; Scorers: Chenelle Roux 3′, 19′
Mpumalanga 0-2 North West B; Scorers: Marika Neethling 24′, Erika Neuhoff 30′
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
KZN Mynahs 0-5 North West B; Scorers: Juliet Horton 7′, Jade Kelly 10′ and 39′, Dine van Jaarsveld 17′, and Liane Nel 33′
Mpumalanga 0-2 SACD; Scorers: Rethabile Mothupi 43′, and Lisa February 58′
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
North West B 3-1 SACD; Scorers: Erika Neuhoff 32′, Chanel Genis 34′, Marika Neethling 60′; Mathapelo Pitso 14′
Mpumalanga 2-0 KZN Mynahs; Scorers: Monique Liebenberg 27′, Bianca Kruger 39′
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Semi-Final 1: North West B 5-0 KZN Mynahs; Scorers: Irene Strydom 31′, Marika Neethling 44′, Ahlumile Moni 47′, Chanel Genis 51′, Dine van Jaarsveld 53′
Semi-Final 2: SACD 3-0 Mpumalanga; Scorers: Chenelle Roux 9′, Nabeelah Bodenham 20′, Jayda van Antwerp 45′
Friday, 4 September 2026
Bronze Medal: Mpumalanga 3-2 KZN Mynahs; Scorers: Bianca Kruger 14′, Nobuhle Dhlamini 18′, Kiara Nel 41′; Mackenzy Layden 6′ and 30′
Final: North West B 4-0 SACD; Scorers: Erika Neuhoff 20′, Chanel Genis 24′, 33′ and 53′
2026 SA Hockey IPT B Section Women’s Individual Awards
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Kendra Shepheard (Mpumalanga)
Top Goalscorer of the Tournament: Chanel Genis (North West B)
Player of the Tournament: Chanel Genis (North West B)
Original Copy: SA Hockey, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: North West B celebrated a perfect campaign as SA Hockey IPT B Section women’s champions after beating SACD 4-0 in a storm-interrupted final at The Hockey Farm in eMalahleni on Friday, 4 September 2026. All Photos: ACK Sports Photography
Photo 2 Caption: Mpumalanga claimed bronze on home soil with a five-goal thriller against the KZN Mynahs on a dramatic closing day of the national women’s tournament.
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