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SA women down Namibia in hockey test

Cape Town - The SA women’s indoor hockey team attacked from the outset in the first Test of five, the right channel rewarding the girls in green and gold with a penalty corner, Kara Stella making no mistake, the ball flying into the net off the keeper Petro Stoffberg’s glove.

Now 1-0 up after two minutes, SA were switching across the back, waiting for the opening, and it paid off when Stella got another PC opportunity. On the third-re-award, this after Namibia had defended courageously, the keeper Stoffberg saved well from SA skipper Celia Evans on the slip variation.

SA were still 1-0 up into the last five minutes before half-time when Shelly Higgo got in a shot and then great combination play that included debutant Amore de Wet from the back, brought two more PCs, Stella netting the latter for 2-0 after 17 minutes.

Higgo was involved in earning another PC on the whistle but Namibia were up to the challenge, goalkeeper Stoffberg and the entire line-up showing outstanding tenacity in the face of the SA offense.

SA turned around 2-0 up and two minutes in it was Amy Greaves who rounded off a great goal (3-0). The SA combination play was starting to click big time and two more PCs followed, Namibia’s first wave Dunell van Taak did very well to block a shot.

The second of the PCs saw Higgo show top-class skills to slip the ball under her shoulder past Stoffberg for 4-0 with 13 left. Namibia had a moment of real threat in the SA defensive circle but it was not to be.

In the 29th minute new cap Steph Baxter showed why she is in the team and the PC won was capitalised on when Stella sent the yellow nut soaring into the net (5-0).

With two minutes of the first Test left it was Namibia’s Van Taak who did well to get in a shot. And she was rewarded seconds later with a fine effort to put the visitors on the board but the goal was disallowed.

SA earned PCs on the final hooter but the score remained 5-0 at the end of Test one and SA could look forward with confidence to Friday’s 10am and 7pm Tests at the same venue.

South Africa

Amore de Wet, Celia Evans (capt), Stephanie Baxter (North West); Amy Greaves (KZN Inland); Hanli Hattingh, Jessica Glass, Megan Robertson, Nicole la Fleur (Western Province); Jessica O’Connor, Kara Stella, Shelly Higgo, Candice Eales (KZN Raiders); Sarah Allan (Southern Gauteng).
Team management: Lennie Botha (coach), TJ Smith (assistant coach), Taryn de Winnaar (manager), Brighty Mashaba (video analyst).

Namibia

Petro Stoffberg, Dunell van Taak, Gillian Hermanus, Kaylee Schlechter, Ina Louis, Ester Beukes, Jerrica Bartlett, Magreth Mengo (capt), Phia Gerber, Marian Laubscher.


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