SA Hockey Men wrap up test series with superb second half

Photo – Marcel Sigg / Run, Ride, Dive

As the clouds opened up on Northcliff High School on the final evening of the test series between the hosts and Namibia, the South Africans also opened up in the second half to wrap up the series 5-0. It was a series that at times showed the lack of competitive action over the past year, but at times showed the talent on display in African hockey.

The first half did not offer many highlights other than DJ Strauss producing a fine save from a Ntuli drive and Fagan Hansen firing wide after a goal mouth melee dropped the ball into his path. At half time it remained 0-0 and a game that had produced very little to get excited about. It was clear however that Garreth Ewing had inspired his team at half time as they came out firing.

Tyson Dlungwana created space and drove around four Namibian players and crossed it strongly for Keenan Horne to dive in and finish. It was a finish that Horne made look easier than it was. One became two in sensational fashion. After some good possession Andrew Hobson fed the General, Peabo Lembethe, played a good ball to Bili Ntuli whose touch to play the ball into the path of Brandon Panther was exemplary. Panther took a touch and finished sublimely.

Another combination goal was next for the South Africans as Rusten Abrahams, Bili Ntuli, Alex Stewart and Keenan Horne interchanged passes for the skipper to dive in and net his second. The togetherness shown by the team when they celebrated the goal was testament to the togetherness the squad has fostered over the past 24 months.

South Africa would make it four when the ball found its way through to Matt De Sousa in the D. He took the touch, shifted across and as the rain came down de Sousa fired into the back of the net. The South Africans would add a fifth in the fifth test match to round out a five nil series win. Bili Ntuli mistrapped his first touch, but he fired it across brilliantly to cap off a good all-round performance for the striker, his 20th International goal.

Namibia who were without a few players due to injury including Liam Hermanus, gave a great account of themselves in the series. The focus for many of the players will now shift to the U21 World Cup Qualifier they are hosting later this year. The top two teams there will move to the world cup in India in December.

For South Africa eyes will shift to a potential series against Malaysia and the opportunity to move ahead of Ireland into 13th in the World Rankings.

SA Hockey Association media release