Tadi Hove scored a brace, and Santiago Matroos chipped in by coolly converting a chance in Hilton College’s 3-0 win over Kearsney College on the Mansergh Astroturf on Saturday.
The sides had previously met at the Michaelhouse Hockey Tournament, where Kearsney claimed a 4-3 win in a high-scoring thriller. However, the Botha’s Hill boys ran into a different version of Hilton on a gloomy Saturday afternoon.
One of Hilton’s issues when they lost to Kearsney at the end of April was a porous defence. At times, what should have been comfortable wins became tightly contested victories. In some games, they lost encounters that they should have won.
“We have worked hard on our defence. We have spent the past three to four weeks solidifying our defence to ensure that we are hard to beat in the circle,” Damian Kimfley, the Hilton head coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
Kimfley has had help from Jody Paul, the former England ladies’ assistant coach, who recently joined the staff as an assistant coach. The former South Africa international was part of the coaching staff that guided the England ladies to the title at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Kimfley credited the improvements his side has made to Paul’s involvement with the team.
Hilton, who got the match underway at push-back, made a cracking start. They strung together passes and advanced the Kearsney final third, piercing the visitors’ defence down the left flank before cutting back to Tadi Hove in the circle. He made no mistake from close range with less than two minutes played and celebrated with an exuberant somersault.
“We have put another level into our game where the boys know when to hold on to the ball and when to score. The boys are now learning when to set up and when to score,” Kimfley reckoned.
The hosts dominated possession for significant periods of the first half, and that possession led to a second goal in the final minute before the halftime whistle blew. After collecting a rebound near the top of the D, Santiago Matroos demonstrated his finishing instincts by slamming the ball hard into the backboard for Hilton’s second goal.
Kearsney contributed plenty to an entertaining contest, but their attempts to reduce Hilton’s lead in the third chukka were met by solid defence at every turn.
Four minutes into the last chukka, Hilton found another chink in Kearsney’s defence, with Hove positioning himself at the penalty spot to receive a pass from the baseline. With ice in his veins, he grabbed the opportunity to make it 3-0.
Kimfley and his charges will attempt to carry the momentum of their win into their tie at Michaelhouse next week.
Result:
Hilton 3-0 Kearsney
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