A total of 28 goals were scored across seven matches on the opening day of the u16 SASHOC National Week in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
The tournament runs until Sunday, 12 July, and is taking place at Hilton College and St Anne’s DSG.
Day one’s action in the boys’ section delivered some cracking goals and a major upset that shook up matters in Pool B.
The defending champion, Southern Gauteng A, was impressive, bagging a convincing 4-0 win against Northern Gauteng B.
Matthew Jung, playing in the event for a second successive year, was the hero for coach Justin Rosenberg’s side, scoring all four goals to help his side make a bright start to their title defence.
Western Province A, meanwhile, was stretched but beat Southern Gauteng B 1-0, while KZN Coastal A scored the most goals in any of the opening day’s clashes when they rolled to a 7-2 win over Southerns’ B later in the day.
Coach Keegan Hezlett‘s Coastal side had begun their campaign with a goalless draw against Northern Gauteng A.
They upped the ante in their second match, with Luke Lambert of Westville Boys’ High, Aya Njenje, from Durban High School (DHS), and Glenwood‘s Itani Doyi all bagging braces. Amarique Abrahams completed the scoring.
In Pool B, Southern Free State A introduced themselves in style, upsetting the hosts, KZN Inland A, 3-1 at St Anne’s.
The Trevor Raubenheimer-coached side opened the scoring in the second chukka through Willem Vosloo, and only two minutes later, captain Ewan Malan made it 2-0.
Yandisa Litole stretched the lead to 3-0 just before the fourth chukka, before the hosts pulled one back through the dangerous Hilton College sharpshooter, Santi Matroos.
That proved to be a consolation goal, and Free State held on to score the first upset of the tournament.
Boland A and Eastern Province A also began their respective campaigns on a high note.
Boland, under the tutelage of Shaun McIntyre, beat Western Province B 5-0, thanks to goals by Luke van der Merwe (2), Thomas Henn, Skyler Goodwin, and Jacobus Geldenhuys.
EP, last year’s runner-up, won by the same score against KZN Inland B.
Michael Gillies, who has been in fine form for Grey High, struck twice before contributions by Duke Meyer, Leungo Nondumo, and Athenkosi Tungata sealed the win.
Day 1 – Results
Pool A
Western Province A 1-0 Southern Gauteng B
KZN Coastal A 0-0 Northern Gauteng A
Southern Gauteng A 4-0 Northern Gauteng B
KZN Coastal A 7-2 Southern Gauteng B
Pool B
Southern Free State 3-1 KZN Inland A
Eastern Province A 5-0 KZN Inland B
Boland A 5-0 Western Province B
Day 2 – fixtures
Pool A
10:35 – Southern Gauteng A vs Southern Gauteng B
12:00 – Northern Gauteng A vs Northern Gauteng B
16:15 – Western Province A vs KZN Coastal A
Pool B
07:45 – Western Province B vs Eastern Province A
09:10 – Southern Free State vs KZN Inland B
13:25 – Boland A vs KZN Inland A
14:50 – Eastern Province A vs Southern Free State A
19:05 – KZN Inland B vs Boland A
