The South Africa men’s hockey team, missing the services of key players Jonty Robinson and Andrew Cronje, were beaten 5-2 by favourites India after trailing 4-0 at half time in what was effectively a quarter final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday evening.
Double Olympian Cronje and Robinson were unable to play, leaving South Africa down to only three field players on the rolling subs bench compared to India’s five, which turned out to be a massive disadvantage.
V.R Raghunath (3min) and Rupinder Singh (9th min) both nailed down successful penalty corners to put India 2-0 up before Ramandeep Singh (22nd)and S.V Sunil (26th) scored from field play for the 4-0 half time score.
Double Olympian Cronje and Robinson were unable to play, leaving South Africa down to only three field players on the rolling subs bench compared to India’s five, which turned out to be a massive disadvantage.
V.R Raghunath (3min) and Rupinder Singh (9th min) both nailed down successful penalty corners to put India 2-0 up before Ramandeep Singh (22nd)and S.V Sunil (26th) scored from field play for the 4-0 half time score.
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Seven minutes into the second half, South Africa capitalized on a much improved start when captain Austin Smith placed a powerful slap pass straight to Paton’s stick, whose deft touch while facing away from goal left the keeper stranded.
The South Africans then went 4-2 up after Smith flashed his drag flick into the top left corner of the net in the 37th minute before India nailed in their fifth to kill off the game as a contest.
The South Africans then went 4-2 up after Smith flashed his drag flick into the top left corner of the net in the 37th minute before India nailed in their fifth to kill off the game as a contest.
By: Farai Diza
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