Shannon Boucher and Daniel Bell
From 22 April to 23 May the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Men will play in a string of matches in three different competitions.
This combines to a possible 19 matches in some four weeks. The crazy month starts this Friday with a Western Province Grand Challenge match against Pinelands at the Maties Astro. Next week is the Interprovincial Tournament in Johannesburg and bar a few players the whole team will be in action either for Western Province or WP Peninsula. The Varsity Hockey series starts on 6 May with four matches in four days at the University of Johannesburg. The following weekend 13-16 May takes place in Stellenbosch and once again it will be four matches in four days. The Varsity Hockey final is on 23 May. Maties not only want to play in this match, they also want to win it.
In between Maties will also have to play more WPGC matches that include an Intervarsity match against Ikeys.
It is going to be a hectic month for players and new coach Ashlin Freddy. It is no secret that Maties really want the Varsity Hockey title after loosing to UJ 2014 after extra time in a shootout. The Maties women’s team won the first Varsity Hockey title in 2013. Last year they played in the semi-final. UJ is currently both the men and women’s champion.
This is something that Dylan Swanepoel and his team wants to change. For most of the Maties players it will be their last chance at playing in this tournament.
- On Friday the action starts at 19:00 at the Maties Astro with the women playing first followed by the men at 20:30.
- Last weekend’s WPGC results: MEN – Fish Hoek 0, Maties 2; Maties 4, Vics 2. WOMEN – Maties 9, Vics 0; Conberg 1, Maties 5.
Luke Schooling