South Africa: SA Hockey IPT 2024 | B Section | Pens and Free State lead the way with two days to go.

With just two days remaining the jostle for position in the B Section continues to reach fever pitch ahead of the final day of pool stage action in the Men’s tournament and with just two rounds to go in the women’s. The possible winners list gets smaller, but the probable winners list continues to host several names.

Women’s B Section

Following their shock defeat to Eastern Province, the KZN Mynahs knew that nothing short of victory would be sufficient if they were to remain in the title chase when they played the Northern Daisies. It wasn’t to be though as from the 13^th minute on the Daisies charged scoring through Legae Mentoor, Elne Lourens, Elizabeth Porter and Arista van Zyl made it 4-0. Megan Coreejes pulled one goal back for the Mynahs, but the result ignited the Daisies title ambitions while extinguishing the Mynahs.

Eastern Province continued where they left off in their victory against the Mynahs by dismissing a tough challenge from Eastern Gauteng. Elan van Vught scored in the first and last quarter while Alucedo Dunga, Asithandile Nama and Gemma Bower made it 5-0. There was one goal pulled back by Theron Mialette but it was only a consolation.

WP Peninsula took the tournament lead and charge with a fourth win in a row. Isabella Booyens and Jesse Gradwell made it 2-0 very early on. Lisa February would pull a goal back for SACD and the tension would rise remarkably but Lane Barnard would settle the game with a final quarter goal to confirm three points for Pens and top spot with two days remaining.

Women’s B Section – Fixtures – 13 September 2024

08:30 – WP Peninsula vs. KZN Mynahs
11:50 – Eastern Province vs. SACD
15:10 – Mpumalanga vs. Northern Daisies

Men’s B Section

Free State had moved to the top of the pile on Wednesday and they cemented that position on Thursday after a tense battle with Southern Gauteng Nuggets. The game saw just one goal scored and it came in the 39^th minute courtesy of a Matthias Visser penalty Corner. That goal would be enough to take Free State to top spot but know that they would still have a tough battle with SACD, the second-place team in the final pool game to confirm a place in the final.

SACD are in that position thanks to a solid defensive effort with a 3-0 win over Northern Daisies. They got their goals in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters when Tristan Loock, Vaughn van Reenen and Robbie Corker scored. The victory takes them to 9 points, one behind Free State and knowing that they will need a result as the KZN Mynahs are lurking behind in third place.

The Mynahs earned that right with a comfortable 6-0 win over Northern Cape. Kade Burns got two goals while Christian Lambert, Grant Prins, Linda Mthiyane and Cameron Hallowes dispelled the threat of Northern Cape. They now sit on 7 points with a healthy goal difference and will hope to capitalize on any slip up ahead of them to sneak into the final when they play SG Nuggets on Friday.