Hockey sides romping down the straight

The past weeks have been good for the men's and women's hockey first sides.

The men convincingly beat the Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) B side 3-0 on Saturday, June 5, easing into top place on the WP Grand Challenge log, albeit after one more game than second-placed Central. Dave du Prez, Mark Oelofse and Paul Blake notched a goal apiece.

The second side didn't fare nearly as well, going down 0-2 to WPCC A.

The first side plays Central on Wednesday, June 16, in a clash that will likely decide who has the prime spot on the log and the upper hand going into the final weeks of the season.

The women's first side recorded two confidence-boosting wins in a recent double-header. In the first of the games, scores by Sarah George, Michelle Clark and Jessica Glass saw UCT to a 3-1 victory over Victorians on the evening of Friday, June 4.

The side then took on the fancied Somerset West on the evening of Sunday, June 6, a late goal by Tammy Kruger helping UCT to some very valuable league points and confirming its second place on the Grand Challenge log.

The victories mark a welcome return to winning form for the team following some shaky results in the preceding weeks, says coach Charles Stuart. "There's a little bit of a mind shift at the moment."

Both men's and women's sides are now well placed for the Grand Challenge's new feature - a top-four round robin series that's been added to what teams felt was a very short season. Taking their league points into this part of the competition, the top four teams will play each other once more to decide who takes the league title home this year.

Top position on the log - or close proximity to the leading teams - is essential, said men's coach, Pierre le Roux. "Obviously you want to be on top going into that stage, because it means you have extra points and it also gives you confidence going into those matches."