Rhodes captain Brendon Smith knows his side go into the Varsity Hockey comeptition as underdogs, but he insists they will not be there to simply make up the numbers.
The Grahamstown students won the B section of USSA last year, and centre half Smith who has played for the first team since 2010 is looking forward to upsetting some of the more fancied Varsity Hockey teams.
The Rhodes skipper said that pre-season preparations have gone well, with a good blend of youth and experience in the team this year.
“We are better prepared than previous years – we went through some strength and conditioning training and we have played a few warm-up games agaianst local schools and clubs.
“We have got some exciting young players in the side this year and quite a lot of senior guys involved as well so we are quite positive,” he said.
One of the yongsters is SA Under-18 link Cody van Wyk, with the first year student set to play a key playmaking role in the side.
Smith knows that the competition will be tough, but he and his team are looking forward to the challenge of mixing it with the best university hockey players in the country.
“We will be the underdogs, but I think we are ready. We will do our best to win every game but we know it will be tough.
