THE Wits B men’s hockey team walked away with a 2-1 win against varsity rivals, University of Johannesburg D, in the home leg of the Southern Gauteng Hockey Men’s second division at the St John’s astro-turf on Sunday afternoon
“The Wits side were happy to have a full strength squad after their hockey tour in July and it showed as they dominated the start of the match,” said Shaun Skinner, Wits goalkeeper.
Against the run of play, UJ managed to capitalise on a breakaway up the left channel. The Wits defence, out-numbered, could not cut out a great square pass to an open UJ striker on top-D who managed to slap the ball into the far post, opening the scoring .
Wits nearly equalised soon after with a penalty corner that saw midfielder Devon Campbell’s drag-flick sail centimetres over the cross bar. Wits picked up intensity and were awarded another penalty corner within a few minutes.
The push was duffed and this forced Stixz Temane, who plays link, to run in and collect the loose ball. He managed to get the ball under control and keep Wits in possession. Wits managed to turn this error to their advantage when midfielder Lieb van Jaarsveld received the ball from Temane on top-D and pushed it onto the far post where striker Matthew Fletcher managed to deflect the ball into the back-board, scoring Wits’s equaliser off the play.
Wits managed to score a second time as the break approached through a well worked team goal, finished off again by Fletcher, the assist credited to Campbell.
Wits went into the break happy to have come back from a deficit, but knowing that the contest was far from over. UJ came back hard in the second half but the Wits defence proved too strong. Their best opportunity came from a back stick shot that Skinner managed to tip over the crossbar.
The Wits team seemed to be back on track, Skinner said. “The derby was something for the team to build on as we go into the last six games of the league and we hope to be promoted for a second year.”
Wits B team is in second place behind Beaulieu A, and UJ is fourth.
Subbed: Minnie
Thato: in the future, try to write for ppl who understand and don’t understand hockey. I am so lost, and that should not be the case. Get someone else to sub buddy, I tried… also, mention the positions of the players u mention. Quotes should be further up.
