A spirited South Africa womens hockey team failed to beat New Zealand in a bronze match playoff at the recently ended Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The brave women put up a skillful, courageous performance but a dominant second half was enough to earn world number four New Zealand a 5-2 victory after just leading 2-1 at half time.
South Africa had very good opportunities to make early inroads but goal making passes went astray. Then it was Kiwi speed queen Anita Punt’s turn to skin the SA defence out wide in winning the match’s first corner, but SA skipper Marsha Cox intercepted the variation and relieved the pressure with aplomb.
In the fifth minute, the Black Sticks went 1-0 up when Anita Punt blasted a rebound off keeper Anelle Van Deventer’s pads into the back of the net. In the 13th, with the rain drizzling down, Lisa Deetlefs handed the South Africans their first penalty corner which the Kiwis impressively defended.
South Africa had very good opportunities to make early inroads but goal making passes went astray. Then it was Kiwi speed queen Anita Punt’s turn to skin the SA defence out wide in winning the match’s first corner, but SA skipper Marsha Cox intercepted the variation and relieved the pressure with aplomb.
In the fifth minute, the Black Sticks went 1-0 up when Anita Punt blasted a rebound off keeper Anelle Van Deventer’s pads into the back of the net. In the 13th, with the rain drizzling down, Lisa Deetlefs handed the South Africans their first penalty corner which the Kiwis impressively defended.
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Bernie Coston won another penalty corner for the Proteas and Cox’s disguised short pass to Bright resulted in a penalty stroke which the skipper converted to leave it at 1-1.
The Kiwi’s then took the lead shortly before the break thanks to a Krystal Forgesson goal and they scored three quick goals in the second half to kill off the game as a contest.
The Kiwi’s then took the lead shortly before the break thanks to a Krystal Forgesson goal and they scored three quick goals in the second half to kill off the game as a contest.
By: Farai Diza
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