The SPAR South African women’s national hockey team have had the riot act read to them in their first two matches of the Good Luck Beijing International Hockey Tournament in China, after goal-less losses to Australia and China.
The South Africans play their final match against Argentina on Saturday, where the bottom-two placed teams will play for the remaining chance of a bronze medal in Monday’s final matches.
The tournament has been staged by China in a bid to demonstrate their readiness for next year’s Olympics in Beijing, and the lessons pointed out to coach Jenny King will be in stark contrast to those of the recent Africa qualifier tournament in Kenya, where South Africa strolled to victory without conceding a single goal.
On Wednesday keeper Mariette Rix had her goalposts breached by four Australian penalty-corners, and she will be relieved that all of the remaining 21 unsuccessful shots on goal were somehow kept out.
By contrast, South Africa managed two shots on goal, with captain Jen Wilson unsuccessful in her field-goal attempt, and Cindy Brown unable to force through her penalty-corner shot.
“Australia is a strong team in the world and they played very well today,” South Africa’s King said in graceful defeat after the match. “It is a rare opportunity of study to have competed with them.”
Runners-up in the 2006 World Cup, Australia dominated play against the South African side, considered the weakest of the four teams also involving Argentina and hosts China, and the official match report talked of Australia who “… reigned supreme and clinched the victory early.”
On Thursday, South Africa faced the hosts, and were again unable to net their ball, with China scoring once before half-time to finish the match for a 3-0 victory, with all their points coming from field-goals.
Like Australia before them, the Chinese team throttled the South Africans to score three times in their 25 opportunities, while each of Lesle-Ann George, Vida Ryan and Henna du Buisson were unable to convert their shots on goal.
The lessons learned in this pre-Olympic taster will be invaluable for the South Africans, and with a year to go they will have a very good idea of what lies ahead to be achieved, if they intend to upset the world’s expectations and play with a medal in mind.
Wednesday 8 August:
Australia 4 (3), SPAR South Africa 0 (0)
Thursday 9 August:
China 3 (1), SPAR South Africa 0 (0)
Good Luck Beijing International Women’s Hockey Tournament Schedule and Results:
Day 1 Wednesday: (8/8)
Women’s Preliminaries: Argentina 3-0 China
Women’s Preliminaries: Australia 4-0 South Africa
Day 2 Thursday: (9/8)
Women’s Preliminaries: Argentina 0-2 Australia
Women’s Preliminaries: China 3-0 South Africa
Day 3 Friday: (10/8) Rest Day
Day 4 Saturday: (11/8)
Women’s Preliminaries: Argentina vs South Africa
Women’s Preliminaries: Australia vs China
Day 5 Sunday: (12/8) Rest Day
Day 6 Monday: (13/8)
Women’s Bronze Medal Match
Women’s Gold Medal Match
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