The University of the Witwatersrand only finished seventh in the inaugural men’s edition of Varsity Hockey in 2014, but they opened the 2016 version of the biennial event at the University of Johannesburg with a convincing 8-3 win over the North-West University Pukke, sending a thunderous warning that they will be strong contenders this year.
Wits had dominated from the start, but it was Pukke who earned the first short-corner, which was unfortunately flicked over the top of goal.
Wits eventually gained the opening goal that was due to them in the seventh minute as captain Stuart Philip broke clear and finished well.
Eight minutes later, on the brink of the hooter for the end of the first quarter, Thabang Modise was at the post to scramble what appeared to be Wits’s second goal into the box, but it was disallowed due to an earlier offence.
Wits did get their second goal in the 24th minute when Chad Futcher managed to score from wide out with a fine strike, but they were limited to a 2-0 lead in the first half by a gutsy Pukke side that created some chances of their own.
Two minutes into the second half, Neo Selehelo pounced on to a loose ball in the Wits circle, slapping it home to put Pukke on the scoreboard and to make a game of it at 2-1. But Wits came up with a phenomenal response, scoring three goals in three minutes to settle the contest.
Pukke defended bravely, but little errors like the ball touching a foot or their sticks making contact with that of an attacker, forced the umpires to award short-corners against them. Brandon James had a shot deflected in for Wits’s third goal and the Krugersdorp High product then made it look easy for the fourth goal just a minute later as he went on an excellent solo run and calmly slipped the ball under the goalkeeper.
Philip has had a great couple of weeks after impressing at the senior IPT and he then slotted a penalty stroke earned by Kamal Ramburath-Hurt and set-up an easy goal for Thabang Dikgale to put Wits 6-1 up. The Pukke challenge was effectively over at the end of the third quarter as Craig Daniel buried the rebound from a shot by James, after more good work by Philip, with a fine reverse-sticks strike (7-1).
An excellent breakaway goal by Mbekeni and a last-minute penalty stroke by the Hudson Park product meant some late cheer for the students from Potchefstroom.
But it was little consolation for Pukke as Lukhanyo Salavu slid in for a deflection goal for Wits, giving them an 8-3 triumph.
FNB Player of the Match: Stuart Philip (Wits)
Mugg & Bean Star Saver: Dean van Aswegen (Wits)
Samsung Super Striker: Sinoxolo Mbekeni (Pukke)
By Ken Borland
