The Protea sharpshooters Izelle Lategan and Sulette Damons showed exactly why they are so highly rated by the national team, as they helped their respective teams run rampant in Potchefstroom on the first day of the newly launched Varsity Hockey series, sponsored by FNB and Mugg & Bean.
Lategan scored a hat-trick in her Kovsies team’s convincing 4-0 drubbing of NMMU, while Damons contributed both goals in NWU-Puk’s 2-0 victory over Maties.
Tuks also got their campaign off to a winning start by hanging on for a 2-1 win against UJ, while the match between UCT and Wits ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lategan was in scintillating form for the Free State team, and looked dangerous every time she was placed in possession. The 20 year-old made her debut for the SA women’s hockey team in 2011 and has since proven herself as a stalwart in front of goal.
If the Port Elizabeth girls weren’t aware of that beforehand, they certainly learnt in Potchefstroom.
Kovsies got off to a slow start, and remained scoreless in the first period of play, but they got into their stride thereafter and kept NMMU on their toes throughout.
The Free State team’s fourth goal was scored by Cornelle Botha, who was recently included in the training squad for the upcoming Junior World Cup.
Damons had the home crowd on their feet twice as she single-handedly kept the scoreboard ticking over against Maties. Her striking prowess has made her an integral part of the national setup for the best part of three years, and also makes her an essential asset in the Pukke team. The 23 year-old was a force to be reckoned with against Maties.
The team from Stellenbosch will now feel the pressure, with more potential stumbling blocks in the form of Tuks and Kovsies awaiting them in their next two matches.
Tuks had UJ on the backfoot early and scored two goals in the first period of play, courtesy of Lisette du Plessis and Janie Porteous. The girls from Johannesburg refused to lie down though, and it was game on when Georgina Crisp pulled one back for the team in orange in the second period.
The final period was tense, with both teams throwing everything at each other, but it was Tuks who ultimately prevailed after their defense held up.
The match between UCT and Wits was a ding-dong battle from beginning to end. The Cape side started off well and was rewarded when Stacey Morley-Jepson scored the opening goal. The lead was not too last though. Demi du Toit brought UCT back to earth with an equaliser in the second period, and then formed part of a determined but ultimately fruitless Wits onslaught in the last half of the match.
Wits next take on their neighbours UJ, who will view this match as a must-win challenge, while UCT must tame the storming Kovsies in their Sunday match.
The action in Potchefstroom continues until Monday afternoon. It will conclude with the televised matches between Maties and Kovsies and Pukke and UJ, which will be shown live on SS5.
Saturday’s results:
NWU-Puk 2 (Sulette Damons 2), Maties 0;
Kovsies 4 (Izelle Lategan 3, Cornelle Botha), NMMU 0;
Tuks 2 (Lisette du Plessis, Janie Porteous), UJ 1 (Georgina Crisp);
UCT 1 (Stacey Morley-Jepson), Wits 1 (Demi du Toit).
The remaining matches in Potchefstroom:
21 April: 14:30: Tuks vs Maties; 14:30: Wits vs UJ; 16:00: NMMU vs Pukke: 16:00: UCT vs Kovsies.
22 April: 14:30: UCT vs Tuks; 14:30: Wits vs NMMU; 16:00: Maties vs Kovsies; 17:30: Pukke vs UJ.
