Easter Hockey Tournament thrilling and tough for Kimberley teams

THE EASTER hockey tournament held in the coastal city of Gqeberha turned out to be a thrilling affair that drew hockey enthusiasts from across the country. The event saw a total of 31 teams, with both men’s and women’s teams competing across two sections.

Among the teams that participated were Kimberley teams, Saints men’s hockey team and the William Pescod hockey club, both of whom put up a good fight against some of the most formidable teams from Gqeberha, East London, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.

Saints player Brynmor Lehanie talked about how tough the competition was, especially with some of the best teams in the country going head-to-head. Saints were in Pool A with the Lakeside Cavaliers from Gqeberha and Beaulieu from Johannesburg.

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William Pescod, on the other hand, found themselves in Pool B with Old Greys and Crusaders, both from Gqeberha. The teams played in a cross-pool format, with Pool A teams facing off against Pool B opponents. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

Unfortunately, Saints came up short with a two-goal deficit, but they finished with six points with the other two teams in the pool. They won two of their games and only lost one.

William Pescod struggled in their group and were unable to get the better of their opposition.

Meanwhile, the Central hockey team from the Western Province were eventual winners of the tournament.*

Lehanie said that the windy and rainy weather made competing the tournament even more challenging, but despite this the players showcased their skills on the field. According to Lehanie, the social aspect of the event was also an important part of the tournament, as players were able to catch up with old friends who played in other clubs.

“Overall, the Easter hockey tournament was a great success, with some of the best teams in the country showcasing their skills on the field,.” Lehanie told the DFA.

“The organisers did a fantastic job of putting the event together, and the players had a great time competing against each other.

“With hopes of being able to attend again next year, Saints men’s hockey team and the William Pescod hockey club will be looking forward to another exciting Easter tournament,” concluded Lehanie.

* It was incorrectly reported in the DFA print edition that Western Province failed to win any of their games, ending up with zero points in their pool., when in actual fact, Central Hockey from the Western Province won the tournament.