SA Blast Namibia and Nigeria

 

The SPAR South African Women’s Hockey team have got off to the ideal start at the Africa Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

The team has scored 15 unanswered goals in their opening two games, beating Namibia 7-0 on Saturday, and Nigeria 8-0 on Sunday, with Jen Wilson scoring a hat-trick.

 

Although the scoring is being spread around, with left-wing attach Henna du Buisson using her reverse-stick scoring to emerge as top scorer after two games, with Kathleen Taylor and Sharne Bailey (nee Wehmeyer) also among the front-runners.

 

Speaking to gsport on Sunday, coach Jenny King confirmed that Lesle Ann George didn’t play against Nigeria today after being hit on the jawbone.

 

“The field is unfortunately in very bad condition so the ball tends to shoot off the deck quite often. She didn’t play today but she should be back fully fit for Zimbabwe,” said King.

 

Expecting to comfortably top the six participating in the Olympic Qualifying tournament, King was disappointed at the lack of pressure the South African defence pattern was put under.

 

“We haven’t been stretched at all defensively. It’s been a little bit frustrating,” said King, who rated Ghana as the second-best ranked team in the tournament, after watching them play to a two-all draw against Nigeria on Saturday.

 

Results:
South Africa 7-0 Namibia
Goal Scorers: Shelley Russell (2), Kathleen Taylor (3) and Henna du Buisson (2).
 
South Africa 8-0 Nigeria
Goal Scorers: Sharne Bailey (2), Henna du Buisson (2), Jennifer Wilson (3), and Tarryn Bright.

Match Schedule:
Saturday 14th July: South Africa 7-0 Namibia
Sunday 15th July: South Africa 8-0 Nigeria
Tuesday 17th July: South Africa vs. Zimbabwe
Wednesday 18th July: South Africa vs. Ghana
Friday 20th July: South Africa vs. Kenya
Saturday 21st July: Classification Match – 5th vs. 6th
Sunday 22nd July: Classification Match – 3rd vs. 4th
Sunday 22nd July: Classification Match – 1st vs. 2nd