Belgium won the entertaining four-Test series against the Investec South Africa women’s hockey team 4-0 after taking the final Test match 3-2 following a 2-2 half-time score at Hartleyvale Stadium in Cape Town Saturday.
Louise Versavel slapped home the winner with 15 minutes left in the match after a well-struck cross from the right.
Stephanie de Groof converted both of Belgium’s first-half penalty corners, while SA – who led the penalty corner count 5-2 at the interval – got on the scoresheet through well-taken goals from Jade Mayne’s backhand blast and the alert Lilian du Plessis, the latter off a rebound, the South Africans fighting back from a goal down on both occasions.
Both sides had goals disallowed but SA suffered the mortification of seeing Izelle Lategan’s slashing strike from the left side of the strike zone in the second half smash into the post and stay out.
Going into the match South Africa were looking for a morale-boosting win – and Belgium a series whitewash – ahead of the World League round two competition that kicks off at Hartleyvale on Monday, the South Africans’ campaign beginning against Ghana at 7 pm on Tuesday.
The South Africans will be boosted by the return of captain Marsha Marescia, on 299 Test caps going into the Ghana clash, and world record goalscorer Pietie Coetzee, on 248 goals in 250 Tests.
South Africa’s superstars will also be available for the Investec Challenge that follows at Hartleyvale in the first week of February and includes world number one and 2012 London Olympic Games gold medallists Holland, world number four and 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallists England, as well as Oceania powerhouse, the Hockeyroos of Australia.
SA won the fourth Test penalty corner count 9-4, and were comfortably the overall winners of the majority of these set-piece opportunities to score goals in this series.
The most frequent method in which goals are scored in hockey was not SA’s strong point, and the return of drag-flick ace Coetzee, as well as Marescia’s contribution to the set-piece, will boost the girls in green and gold’s chances of netting considerably.
Both keepers were kept busy in the end-to-end goalmouth action but the strikers got enough past them to have been reasonably satisfied with their afternoon.
After SA keeper Sanani Mangisa had saved from Jill Boon, De Groof stepped up to power in a rasping flick off Belgium’s first penalty corner that ricocheted off the stopper’s body into the net. At 1-0 down after 10 minutes, SA hit back five minutes later when Quanita Bobbs fed an early pass to Mayne who fired a stunning backhand shot from the edge of the strike zone.
Despite SA playing a more patient, measured game than in the previous Tests, Belgium went ahead again via the stick of De Groof at their second penalty corner after Mangisa had saved twice at point-blank range.
SA’s final first-half equaliser came from Du Plessis following two consecutive penalty corners.
Investec SA v Belgium Series Fixtures and Results, in Cape Town: Jan 14: SA 1-2 Belgium Jan 16: SA 0-2 Belgium Jan 17: SA 1-2 Belgium Jan 19: SA 3-2 Belgium Investec SA team for the Belgium Series: Sanani Mangisa (Southern Gauteng) Lisa Deetlefs (Southern Gauteng) Lilian du Plessis (Southern Gauteng) Bernie Coston (Southern Gauteng) Christine Roos (Southern Gauteng) Tanya Britz (Free State) Hanli Hattingh (Western Province) Shelley Russell (Western Province) Lauren Penny (Western Province) Jade Mayne (Western Province) Quanita Bobbs (Western Province) Marcelle Keet (Amathole/Border) Dirkie Chamberlain (Northern Blues) Nicolene Terblanche (Northern Blues) Lenise Marais (captain) (KZN Coastal Raiders) Kelly Madsen (KZN Coastal Raiders) Sulette Damons (North West) Celia Evans (North West) The Belgium Squad: Maureen Beernaert Jill Boon Erica Coppey Aisling D’Hooghe (GK) Lola Danhaive Hélène Delmée Stephanie De Groof Charlotte De Vos (C) Aline Fobe Alix Gerniers Nadine Khouzam (GK) Pauline Leclef Barbara Nelen Anouk Raes Stéphanie Rummens Emilie Sinia Lieselotte Van Lindt Anne-Sophie Van Regemortel Judith Vandermeiren Louise Versavel
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