Although his team are unbeaten at the top of the log, UJ ace Clinton Panther insists there are no easy games in Varsity Hockey.
The USSA champions came into the competition as favourites and did not disappoint last weekend at Wits, thumping Rhodes, drawing with Kovsies and then edging UP-Tuks in a thrilling final match.
Those results see them top the standings, but Panther knows that they will have their work cut out for them against NMMU, Maties and UCT in Stellenbosch this weekend.
“There are no weak teams in this competition, it is all about which team plays best on the day so if you underestimate an opponent you will get beaten,” he warned.
Panther is one of three national team players in the UJ squad along with his brother Brandon and Taylor Dart, and he said that they are enjoying the favourites tag without feeling too much pressure.
“There is no real pressure on us, we feel that as a team we play our best as favourites. We have trained hard for this competition and we want to win it so as long as we back each other we will do well.
The UJ star said that his side decided to make a few key changes to their game after drawing with Kovsies, which paid off nicely in their victory over UP-Tuks.
“That game against Kovsies was one of our worst as a team, we were holding on to the ball too long and looking for other options which gave the opposition a chance to close down our time and space.
“Before the Tuks game we called the guys together and decided that we need to back each other and give the ball to the first option you see and then look to receive it back which worked out well,” he revealed.
Panther says that hosts Maties will probably pose the biggest threat this weekend, although they will have to be on their toes in all of their matches.
“Maties will pull out all the stops and have their three best games of the competition at home this weekend so that will be the main team for us to beat.
“Against NMMU we have to make sure that we don’t give them a sniff, they play on the counter attack and if they score early it could be quite tough to fight back,” he said.
