A 4-1 victory over NMMU saw UP-Tuks move to the top of the Varsity Hockey standings in Potchefstroom on Monday.

The bonus point was secured from a late short corner and saw them move past Kovsies who are the only other unbeaten team left in the competition.

In the final match of the day, Maties handed NWU-Pukke their fourth consecutive loss of the competition by holding onto a slender lead for the better part of 56 minutes. The win helped Maties move into third place on the log while Pukke remain second-from-bottom after managing to pick up yet another losing bonus point.

Earlier, UFS-Kovsies maintained their unbeaten record when they made light work of UJ at the opening round of Varsity Hockey in Potchefstroom. The Bloemfontein ladies scored 14 goals in their four matches while only conceding two to set themselves up with an excellent chance of securing a semifinal spot.

Wits managed their first win in the day’s second game when they beat UCT 3-0 in what was the battle of the basement dwellers. The win lifted Wits to fifth, while UCT remain rooted to the bottom of the standings without a win so far.

UFS-Kovsies 5-1 UJ

The match got off to a free flowing start as the game flowed from one side of the field to the other. The first short corner of the match went the way of Kovsies and they made it count by grabbing the first goal of the match with four minutes gone in the match, thanks to a rebound that fell kindly for Cornelle Botha – after the initial shot was blocked.

Tanya Britz doubled the lead two minutes later when she got an easy tap-in, with the keeper out of position, following excellent work down the right side by Priscilla Esterhuizen. Kovsies maintained their dominance through the remaining minutes but could not add to their tally as they held a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

UJ were awarded three consecutive short corners in the opening stages of the powerplay but they failed to take advantage of the scoring opportunities. Play became a little bit scrappy as the quarter progressed before Esterhuizen produced a moment of magic with five minutes remaining in the half. She set off on a mazy run down the right hand side of the field before cutting inside and firing home a reverse stick shot from top D which found the bottom corner.

Kovsies continued their dominance in the game and were dominating the midfield battle. Their pressure paid off after five minutes in the third quarter when captain Line Malan went on a weaving run and produced a sublime reverse stick finish to secure the bonus point. UJ made a rare venture into Kovsies’ circle but came away with nothing as they struggled to make their way back into the game.

UJ showed their fight in the final quarter when they got on the scoreboard through a Taryn Mallett deflection from a short corner with 12 minutes remaining in the match. Kovsies maintained their four goal advantage with eight minutes remaining in the match when Ruby Tlhapane scored a poachers goal on the near post after excellent work by Esterhuizen to make her way into the circle.

That proved to be the final goal of the match as Kovsies maintained their unbeaten record.

Mugg & Bean Star Save of the Match: Robyn Ormond (UJ)
Jet Striker of the Match: Line Malan (Kovsies)
FNB Player of the Match: Nicole Walraven (Kovsies)

Wits 3-0 UCT

Wits went on the attack from the start to try and find an early goal and had a perfect opportunity in the third minute with a shot being fluffed wide. UCT eventually got into the game after five minutes, but just like their opponents they struggled to finish some promising build-ups. The match reverted into a bit of an arm-wrestle for the rest of the first chukka with score remaining 0-0.

There was a chance to take a huge advantage in the opening four minutes of the second chukka with a powerplay, but again both teams continued to cancel each other out with Wits having the better chances in that opening spell, which included a penalty corner. Wits eventually found the breakthrough in the seventh minute of the chukka when Amber Dry finished off a well-worked move to score the first goal. The last five minutes was dominated by turnovers from both sides with Wits holding on to their slender lead until the half-time break.

UCT were the better team in the opening stages of the third chukka and had the better of the possession, but their final pass continued to let them down at crucial stages. The Cape side were not helped when they received a yellow card in the sixth minute of the chukka before losing star player Rosanne Lombard after being hit on the knee. However, Wits could not capitalise on the advantage and had to be content with their 1-0 lead going into the fourth and final chukka.

It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, where poor control and missed opportunities continued to be the order of the day between these two teams. With nine minutes left to play Wits finally managed to land a few consecutive passes to get their second goal and get some breathing space before Toni Marks capped a fantastic performance when she got her team’s third against the run of play with a minute and a half left on the clock. That was the last of the scoring with Wits comfortable winners in the end.

Mugg & Bean Star Saver of the Match: Emily Tullis (UCT)
Jet Striker of the Match: Toni Marks (Wits)
FNB Player of the Match: Toni Marks (Wits)

UP-Tuks 4-1 NMMU

NMMU made a determined start to the game, taking the fight to UP-Tuks and spending some time in opposition territory without being able to find the last pass to unlock the defence.

However, UP-Tuks were awarded the first penalty corner of the match, forcing three consecutive saves from Madibaz goalkeeper Saskia before Jacinta Jubb found the back of the net with a deflected shot.

NMMU pushed hard as they looked for a response, but it would be UP-Tuks who took a 1-0 lead into the first break.

The first powerplay came at the start of the second period but neither side were able to take advantage, although there was more work for Cressy who beat away a superb shot.

The pressure eventually told when Claire Gibbings smashed in an overhead shot in a goalmouth scramble following another short corner to double UP-Tuks’ lead.

The Pretoria side added to that just before half-time, with Tarryn Moses getting the finishing touch to put them 3-0 up at the break.

The Madibaz lost their captain Nicole Kemp who had to go for stitches after taking a stick in the face, maing things even tougher for them in the second half.

Neither side were able to make use of their opportunities in the third period, with some sloppy work in front of goal costing each team.

UP-Tuks needed one more goal to secure the bonus point, but the Madibaz would score next as Cassandra Lister pounced on a loose ball after a short corner and buried her shot to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The bonus point finally came for UP-Tuks with a clinical flick from a short corner to seal the 4-1 win.

NWU-Pukke 0-1 Maties

Maties were in full attacking mode in the opening stages of the match and found reward in the fourth minute when Bronwyn Kretzman latched onto a cross-field pass to slap the ball home from close range. The match opened up from that point which allowed both sides to have attacking opportunities but neither could add to the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter.

Neither side could take advantage of the powerplay in the second quarter but Pukke grew in confidence and nearly levelled matters when a deflection went agonizingly wide of the Maties goal in the fifth minute of the quarter. Pukke maintained the pressure on Maties but were thwarted on every occasion as Maties held onto their slender lead at half-time.

The open nature of the match of the match continued in the third quarter with both sides unable to convert their possession and circle entries into goals. Maties increased their tempo in the closing minutes of the quarter but Pukke stood resolute in defence while showing glimpses of the threat they pose on the counter-attack.

Pukke came out firing in the final quarter and camped inside Maties’ 23-yard area but could not capitalise on the numerous scoring opportunities they created. Things became tougher for Maties as they were reduced to 10 players after receiving a yellow card with seven minutes remaining in the match. Nicole la Fleur was kept on her toes by the Pukke attackers but the goalkeeper proved up for the challenge under the barrage of shots.

Chances came thick and fast for Pukke as they were cheered on by a boisterous home crowd in the final minute of the match but they were unable to find the back of the net to suffer their fourth consecutive loss of the competition.

Mugg & Bean Star Saver of the Match: Nicole la Fleur (Maties)
Jet Striker of the Match: Bronwyn Kretzman (Maties)
FNB Player of the Match: Nicole la Fleur (Maties)