Only four teams maintained their unbeaten records after day two of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament in the Western Cape on Thursday.
After a pulsating opening day of action on Wednesday, York High, Somerset College, Parel Vallei High, and Paarl Gimnasium led the way overnight in Pool A and B, respectively.
The foursome picked up from where they left off on Thursday and produced some entertaining hockey in the Elite boys’ section.
York played two matches, recording one victory and a draw. They defeated Reddam House Constantia thanks to goals by Stefan Schoeman and a penalty stroke by Joshua Dominic.
The boys from George were, however, held to a 2-2 draw by Somerset College, who led 2-0 after a Buhle Mfunelwa brace in the third chukka.
York showed character to bounce back and scored both their goals in the final chukka through Dominic and Christiano Veldkornet to finish the day atop Pool A.
Paarl Boys’ High, after a slow start, bounced back with a win and a draw. They thumped Parel Vallei Invitational 5-0, with Jamie Kock (2), skipper Martin de Bruyn, Ullrich Drotschie, and Zach Ontong finding the back of the net.
Later, they drew 2-2 with Reddam House Constantia to end the day in fourth place.
Pool B was equally entertaining, with much expected from the high-profile clash between Parel Vallei (PV) and Paarl Gimnasium. Earlier in the season, the side had drawn 1-1 in a derby fixture.
This time around, there was again nothing to separate them, with the contest ending in a goalless draw.
PV did, however, bag a win, beating Worcester Gimnasium 3-0 after strikes by Luka Meets, Stephan Malan, and Benjamin Traut.
Paarl Gim scored a handy 4-2 victory over the UK’s Merchant Taylors’ School in their second match of the day.
Goals by JJ Geldenhuys, Reuben Van der Bank, and a brace by Johannes Nieuwoudt sealed the win for coach Jacques Grobler’s side.
Namibia’s St Paul’s College scored back-to-back wins, beating Curro Durbanville 4-1 before edging out Merchant Taylors 3-2.
Worcester Gimnasium claimed a 1-0 victory over Curro, their first of the tournament.
Day three’s action kicks off with a meeting between Boishaai and HTS Drostdy.
DAY 2: Results
Elite Boys
Pool A
York High 2-2 Somerset College
York High 2-0 Reddam House Constantia
Somerset College 2-2 HTS Drostdy
Paarl Boys’ High 5-0 PV Invitational
PV Invitational vs HTS Drostdy
Paarl Boys’ High 2-2 Reddam House Constantia
Pool B
St Paul’s College 4-1 Curro Durbanville
St Paul’s College 3-2 Merchant Taylors
Worcester Gimnasium 1-0 Curro Durbanville
Paarl Gimnasium 0-0 Parel Vallei
Parel Vallei 3-0 Worcester Gimnasium
Paarl Gimnasium 4-2 Merchant Taylors
Evolve Boys
Pool A
Hoërskool Punt 3-0 Edgemead
Bridge House 6-1 HS Jan van Riebeeck
Pool B
Curro Langenbaan 2-0 Merchant Taylors’ 2nd Team
Bellville 1-0 Hermanus
Pool C
Upington 3-0 Curro Hermanus
Hoërskool Swartland 4-1 Pinelands
Pool D
Charlie Hofmeyr 3-0 Western Province Invitational
Hoërskool Strand 5-0 The Settlers
