SA women thump Scotland

Johannesbourg - A brace from captain Marsha Marescia helped the South African women's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Scotland, in the final fifth Test in Glasgow, on Saturday. The result gives the South Africans a 4-0 series win.

The other two goals came courtesy of Bernie Coston and Kate Woods to ensure a comprehensive 4-0 series scoreline.

The World number 12 South Africans led 2-1 at half-time with the opening goal coming in the 15th minute, when Marescia intercepted a pass 30-metres out, accelerated into the strike zone and slipped the ball past Amy Gibson in the Scottish goal.

Scotland, at 18th in the rankings, went further behind when midfielder Tarryn Bright made ground in confined space to set up Coston. Scotland pulled one back when Nikki Kidd went on a left-right diagonal run before Robertson finished off.

Turning around 2-1 up, the team kept working hard and created numerous opportunities, as did the feisty Scots, but the second-half deadlock was only broken five minutes from the end, when Woods fired a powerful shot past Gibson.

Marescia made it 4-1 a minute from the end after the ball deflected off Scotland defender Kaz Marshall’s stick.