Old Oaks men secure playoff spot

HOCKEY NEWS – Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club's men earned a tough win over George Hockey Club last weekend, earning much-needed three points that ensure they will end the round-robin stage in at least third place.

This means they have qualified for the 2023 Eden Senior Hockey League playoffs.

Old Oaks' men took on George at the Oakhill Sports Campus on Saturday 10 June, needing a win, three points and a loss for NMU men against Crusaders to secure a playoff spot.

Crusaders dutifully dispatched NMU 8-3, making Old Oaks' job a little bit easier in theory. In reality, however, George had very different ideas.

Kyle Groome opened the scoring for Old Oaks in only the second minute of the game. But, George fired back not too long thereafter with Gertian van der Linde levelling the encounter at 1-1 near the end of the first quarter. A tough tussle for superiority ensued throughout the rest of the game, with neither side really able to assert their dominance over the other.

It would take until the final minute of the game for a winner to be decided, with Old Oaks captain Sean Mackenzie hitting the backboard to secure the much-needed win for his side. The win gave Old Oaks the three points they needed, and they stay in third place level on points with York High School.

With only one game left to play, it's now between Crusaders, York and Old Oaks to determine who finishes where amongst the top three on the log.

Old Oaks' ladies didn't enjoy quite as much success against their George opposition. Old Oaks ladies got things going in the game, scoring after five minutes through Maruchelle Henning to go 1-0 ahead. George equalised barely a minute later courtesy of Brooke May. A tight game ensued just as was the case with the men, with neither side finding the edge.

In the final play of the game though, George won three consecutive short corners and managed to convert their chance to a goal at the third time of asking and emerge 2-1 winners.

They now lie in fourth place, one point ahead of fifth-placed Plett and need to win their final match against Crusaders if they are to reach the playoffs.

Plett's men's and ladies sides faced York last weekend. In the men's game York ran out 7-2 winners, with Byron Shrosbree and Douw van Der Merwe scoring Plett's goals. The outcome was the same in the ladies game as York won 9-1 as Nicole Painter scored Plett's sole goal. Plett's sides face Wanderers in their final round robin game of the season.

Matt Smith in action for Old Oaks' men. Photos: Blake Linder