Hockey
- Girls & Boys
Girls'
Hockey - 2010
The
2010 season has been very successful.
The
senior girls have ‘held the
fort’ with the First XI playing
seven league games in total. Of the
seven, five matches had convincing
goal surpluses on more than five.
The other two games were draws. We
went through to the regional final
play-off weekend and played well considering
the bitter cold of a Highveld winter.
Jade Pereira did us proud and was
selected to represent the Mpumalanga
under 18A side. She had a superb tournament
and contributed significantly to her
team.
The
high level of play, set by the Firsts,
was echoed by the seconds, who were
undefeated in their league games and
set impressive goal surpluses in all
of their game. They conceded only
one game during the season. Each game
exhibited skill, determination and
a goal average of 4 goals per game.
In addition, this team won their league
and went to Ermelo for the regional
final play-offs where, although they
dominated the game, were narrowly
defeated 1-0.
The
Senior Hockey can only be as good
as our feeders – the juniors!
The junior season progressed well
and the under 15 and 16 girls put
their best foot forward each time
they stepped onto the turf. The under
14 girls were a strong group and the
season started off well with a 3-0
win against LHS at home. However,
finding the back of the net became
more problematic during the season,
in many of their games the girls had
the majority of the possession but
were unable to score. As the season
progressed the girls managed to score
more goals and ended the season beating
both Penryn College and Cornwall Hill.
Girls'
Hockey - 2009
The
2009 season must be considered one
of the College’s most successful
yet. We travelled extensively and
the teams have gone from strength
to strength.
The
First Girls’ XI played a total
of 34 games this season, including
our touring and Ladies’ League
participation. We went to Argentina
for our tour and the girls displayed
the true Uplands character of resilience
and determination, coupled with sportsmanship
and good humour. The first team participated
in the Mpumalanga Senior Ladies’
Hockey League and 2009 has seen them
become a force with which to be reckoned.
2009
was also the best season ever for
Girls’ 2nd Team. They won all
their league matches, scoring 43 goals
with no goals against them. For the
first time ever Uplands College played
a 3rd Team, enabling girls who had
never played competitive matches to
have a chance and also to go on tour
(to Cornwell High in Pretoria). They
ended their season on a high –
winning their final match against
Penryn after losing their first three
matches.
The
pleasure in coaching the U16s was
in their confidence within the team.
Having lost two crucial players from
the previous season, they went on
to score 17 goals (only conceding
1) and to win five of six matches,
convincing us that they were a formidable
force nonetheless.
The
U14 sides both had very good seasons.
The B-side remained undefeated, while
the A-side had one Mpumalanga representative
and one non-travelling reserve.
Boys'
Hockey - 2010
Six teams - two per age group - were
fielded. A total of 48 matches, with
a win ratio of over 80%, were played.
Highlights of the season include an
unbeaten 2nd Team that for the second
year running won the league (which includes
many schools’ First teams). Both
the U16B and U14A teams were unbeaten
and won their leagues. The U14A boys
then proceeded to the play-offs, deservedly
to claim the title of Mpumalanga champions.
The
1st Team season began with a trip to
the York High Hockey Festival in George.
. In the best game of the tournament,
the boys held on for a 2-1 win against
a particularly strong team from Edgemead
in Cape Town. It was a long bus journey
to George, but it was nevertheless a
worthwhile trip and a good standard
of hockey. Although the 1st Team lost
one or two games this season, they were
unbeaten on Astro, both at home and
away.
Credit
must go to the captain, Ian Weir, for
his positive leadership as well as the
Matric players who supported him. Every
single player was dedicated, but perhaps
it was best shown by Kayde Ball who
would not ever give up. If a goal was
needed, he would somehow find a way
to force it into the net. Panashe Bopoto
who was as solid as a rock at left back.
Jeffrey Calmeyer’s saves certainly
helped secure the first win over Penryn
in quite a few years. Calvin Dalais’s
acrobatic diving saves off the line
against Nelspruit and Penryn were world
class. When Damien Carlisle and Mauby
Boxshall-Smith had the ball, something
positive was going to happen. A good
pass would be made or ground would be
gained. The energetic pace of Dylan
Park and Tyrone Tilly down the wings
and through the middle, and Tyrone’s
brace of goals against Hoërskool
Nelspruit were impressive. Garth van
Rooyen scored an impossible goal against
Brackenfell in George and the winning
goal against Penryn.
Throughout
the season, the boys gave everything
they had in every game and were a pleasure
to coach. The hockey parents are thanked
for their tremendous support and the
Matrics are wished every success in
the future. They would do well to remember
that rugby is just too painful to carry
on playing, while hockey can always
be played until they are as old and
decrepit as their coach.
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