Old Oaks trump NMU

HOCKEY NEWS - The men's team from Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club clinched a well-fought victory over NMU George last weekend, in the fifth round of the 2023 Eden Senior Hockey League season.

This while the ladies game was forfeited by NMU and Wanderers lost their clashes with York High School.

Going into the weekend's games Old Oaks' men lay in second place on the log, with their ladies in third.

Both Wanderers teams were in sixth place on their respective logs, while Plett's ladies lay fourth and their men fifth. Plett however had a bye in the fifth round, Old Oaks were tasked with facing NMU George at the Oakhill Sports Campus (OSC), and Wanderers welcomed York High School to the astro turf at Knysna High School.

Old Oaks captain Sean Mackenzie controls the ball after receiving a pass.

Wanderers vs York

It proved to be a tough day out for Wanderers at the Knysna High turf, with the York sides putting on a fine goal-scoring display that saw 23 goals scored between the two games. The ladies teams were up first and York had a tough time of things in the early stages of the encounter, going goalless for the first quarter.

Eight minutes into the second quarter they broke the duck though, taking a 1-0 half-time lead.

The second half and third quarter in particular proved to be York's, as they scored five goals in the third quarter to go 6-0 up. York added a further two goals to their tally in the final quarter to secure an 8-0 triumph. York's goals came courtesy of Megan Prinsloo (three), Juané Fortuin (two), Ashlee Pietersen (two) and Jenna dos Santos.

The men's game that followed went even better for York. The boys from George hit the backboard twice in the first 10 minutes but a Wanderers goal just before the break kept them in the game for the time-being.

York however put their foot on the pedal in the second quarter, scoring four goals, but not without Wanderers scoring another goal to set the score at 6-2 at half-time.

Seemingly on a mission, York scored a further seven goals in the second half, paving the way for a 13-2 victory. The York goals came courtesy of AJ de Lange (four), Cayden Stoffles (three), Ethan Raubenheimer (two), Keaton Kaiser (two), Hugo Koen and Nel Visagie. Wanderers' goals were scored by Mike Hazel and Malcolm Quirk.

Old Oaks' Alan Gerber looks for a pass.

Old Oaks vs NMU

Over at the OSC a far more even game unfolded between the two clubs' men's sides at 14:30. The home side flew out of the blocks early on though, with Kyle Groome scoring a brace for Old Oaks to put them 2-0 ahead after the first quarter. A determined NMU outfit hit back in the second quarter through a goal from Juan Impondu, placing the game back in the balance at half-time.

Neither side could score in the third quarter, leaving a tense and tight fourth quarter in wait. The teams tussled back and forth, but ultimately Old Oaks won out. Captain Sean Mackenzie scored their third goal of the game in the final play of the match to secure a 3-1 win. Old Oaks are now in third place on the log, below York on only goal difference with Crusaders still top.

Sadly for the spectators in attendance, the ladies game had to be called off as NMU were unable to field a side. This handed Old Oaks a default 5-0 win. They now lie third on the log, one point behind George with Crusaders also top there.

Stuart Daniel injects a short corner for Old Oaks. Photos: Blake Linder