THANDO CELE
During the past two weekends, the Tuks hockey men’s and women’s first teams took on the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of the Free State (Kovsies) in a two-match series where each team played one game per day.
The first round of matches against Wits produced a mixed bag of results. The men were involved in a 2-2 thriller during which they dominated possession of the ball and had better chances. Wits earned themselves a hard-fought draw in the dying seconds of the game when it looked like Tuks was going to come away with a win away from home. The Tuks ladies first team on the other hand were in control from start to finish, and it showed on the score board as they came out victorious with a convincing 5-1 win over their counterparts.
The second round of fixtures showed Tuks dominance throughout, as the Candy Stripes men and ladies ran riot on their home turf with powerful 8-0 and 3-0 wins respectively.
The matches against Kovsies, played on 7 and 8 March, were defined by Tuks class. The men won with a score of 6-1 in the first game and the ladies continued their fine form with another 3-0 victory. 8 March saw the men win again with a resounding score of 6-0 over their opponents. The ladies suffered their first loss in a game which saw Kovsies hold on for a hard 2-1 win over the hosts. Regardless, the confidence seems truly alive in the Tuks camp as the Premier League approaches.
Backed by this pre-season warm-up, it seems that the first teams certainly don’t lack any firepower. This may prove to be a season where the Candy Stripes get to the top position in the Northern Gauteng region once again.
Photo: Brad Donald
