Matric Pupil James Cumming played his 50th match for the 1st team on Saturday.
The Westville 1st Hockey Team hold on to their number 1 hockey ranking after holding out to a 1-1 draw against rivals and arguably the best hockey school South Africa has ever had Maritzburg College. College has up to now produced more National Hockey players than any other hockey school in the country. With this in mind and having the number 1 ranking to motivate the Westville boys, they knew they were in for the fight f their lives.
The first half saw both teams in an intense deadlock, both teams creating opportunities in front of the goals. Westville broke the deadlock with a fantastic well-structured short corner which resulted in Brandon Watkins score the only goal for Westville in his final match for the school. Proud moment for the matric student to give one last tribute to his school.
The second half started at a blistering pace with College and Westville launching a nail biting attacks through counter attacks which saw both teams scramble defensively to prevent the other from scoring. College eventually scored with a simple finish after a defensive error by Westville’s left back. This brought the score to 1-1. The pace did not slacken off as both teams were even hungrier now to seal the win with one last nail in the coffin. Westville had a number of attacking short corners but unfortunately none found the back of the College net.
However this was not to be as neither team could make use of their opportunities especially nail biting for Westville was a blistering run and counter attack by the College centre forward who turned the ball over in Westville’s half and through individual brilliance ran all the way to the Westville circle and had one last shot which beat the Westville keeper and past by the left post.
In other results vs. College: WBHS 16a won 1-0, WBHS 16b drew 0-0 and WBHS 14a drew 1-1.