30 April 2023
About four minutes remained in the third chukka when DHS scored their opening goal against Clifton in a Hibbert Shield playoff match in Gqeberha on Sunday morning. With that goal, however, the Clifton defensive wall crumbled, and the Blue Typhoon went on to rout their fellow Durbanites 5-0.
Tired legs
Clifton, it appeared, paid the price for having played an extra match – a very tough 3-5 loss to Grey High – on the previous evening. At the end, they had run out of legs.
However, the performance of DHS had plenty to do with it, too, including some positional switches implemented by coach Michael Baker.
Matching the opposition between the 23s was no issue for DHS during the festival. They are amongst the prettiest passers of the ball to be found, but goal-scoring had been an issue.
Baker responded by playing the very skilful Lumi Matwele, who usually patrols the midfield, up front. He, also, moved left half Aldridge Maasdorp into the midfield. It produced the results he sought and then some.
A strong finish by the 1st XI, along with a very impressive showing by the DHS under-16 team, which finished as the runner-up in their event, with big wins over Waterkloof, Paarl Gimnasium and Pearson, should restore any faltering confidence to the Horseflies.
Hibbert Shield day one: Mixed fortunes for KZN teams
https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2023/04/28/hockey-hibbert-day-one/
KZN teams sparkle on day of Hibbert Shield
https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2023/04/29/hockey-hibbert-shield/
DHS u16S shine on tough day for KZN in Gqeberha
https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2023/04/29/hockey-hibbert-shield/
Westville vs Pearson
A depleted Westville side completed their schedule with a showdown against Pearson, who had twice played DHS to a draw this season. Recently, DHS had beaten Westville 2-0.
Coach Cam Mackay’s charges had dealt with injuries and illness on Saturday, which left them four players short, and, like DHS, they had also struggled with their finishing. It must have been a relief, then, for Mackay to see his players find the back of the net.
The first goal, early in the second chukka, was all about Seth Simpson, who closed down a defender, robbed him, broke free, and then beat the keeper with a reverse stick shot.
The second, also in the second chukka, came from a quick counter, with Thabo Dlamini providing the finish with a sweetly struck shot on the reverse. Both goals were the result of high-quality execution.
Later, unfortunately for the Griffin, a rush of blood to the head resulted in them going one man down, and while he was off the field Pearson managed to strike twice. The game ended 2-2.
Westville were without three key players. Given the handicap, it was a decent result against a good team. But it was also a case of what might have been…
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