PHL set for new champs
The Madikwe Rangers' Bernie Coston (left) battles the Orange River Rafters' Georgia Grobler for the ball at the Premier Hockey League at the Randburg Astro in Johannesburg. Photo: Marcel Sigg The Madikwe Rangers' Bernie Coston (left) battles the Orange River Rafters' Georgia Grobler for the ball at the Premier Hockey League at the Randburg Astro in Johannesburg. Photo: Marcel Sigg
The Madikwe Rangers produced a stunning upset by beating hot favourites the Orange River Rafters 3-1 on a penalty shootout to book a place in the women’s final of the CTM Premier Hockey League at Randburg Astro yesterday.
Defending champions the Rafters came into the semi-final unbeaten in this year’s competition while the Rangers just made it into the play-offs.
The two sides finished level on two-all after regulation time where the Rangers managed to keep their cool and claim the victory.
The Rafters held a 2-0 lead thanks to field goals by Charne Maddocks in the fourth minute and Sulette Damons a minute into the second quarter.
The second half belonged to the Rangers with Sylvia van Jaarsveldt closing the deficit in the 36th minute before Shindre-Lee Simmons levelled the scores with 13 minutes to go.
The Rangers set up a Sunday date with former champions the Blyde River Bunters for what is a repeat of the 2016 final.
The Bunters continued their impressive run in the tournament, claiming their 16th victory in 20 matches over three seasons, beating the St Lucia Lakers 3-2 on a penalty shootout.
The Lakers placed the Bunters under the cosh with a goal shortly after the half-time break when Megan Anderson put the ball in the back of the box.
With time running out and the first semi-final heading towards an upset, the Bunters kept their finals hopes alive when they forced the stalemate courtesy of a Carmen Smith goal from a penalty corner.
The men’s final will see the Dragons take on the Addo Elephants where a new champion will be crowned.
Two-time champions Maropeng Cavemen battled to get going this season. It was also the case in the semi-final where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Drakensberg Dragons.
The match got off to a slow start with the two sides going into the half-time break without any points on the scoreboard.
The Dragons found the breakthrough in the 44th minute when Nqobile Ntuli scored from a penalty corner.
Amkelwe Letuka landed the decisive blow six minutes from time landing the ball in the back of the box.
The Elephants overpowered the Garden Route Gazelles 3-1 to qualify for their second final.
Damian Kimfley opened the scoring for the Elephants, scoring his first of a brace in the 15th minute.
The Gazelles drew level early in the third chukka when Reece Arendse landed a field goal.
Kimfley struck again in the 47th minute before Tim Guise-Brown added a third goal for good measure on the whistle.