SOUTH AFRICA vs AZERBAIJAN
South Africa maintained their perfect record at the BDO Women’s Champions Challenge Hockey Tournament at Hartleyvale in Cape Town on Wednesday. With the qualification for the medal round already settled, the match was little more than a training exercise.
The home team controlled matters from the start, and it came as no surprise when a defence-splitting pass from Kate Woods set up Shelley Russell in the circle. The surprise was the excellent save by goalkeeper Viktoriya Shahbazova, diving to her right. However, the home crowd did not have long to wait before Farah Fredericks pounced on a loose ball in the circle to fire home a powerful shot. Seven minutes later Marsha Marescia found herself unmarked on the left wing, and Fredericks found herself in position for an easy tap-in.
Totally in control, South Africa then slowed the game down while enjoying the bulk of possession. The Azerbaijanis had their moments but solid defence snuffed out any thoughts of a comeback. Good tackles by Kim Hubach and goalkeeper Hanli Hattingh, playing in her first match of the tournament, thwarted the visitors before they could get in a shot.
Jennifer Wilson had a chance to score early in the second half, but was off balance and her shot was saved by Shahbazova. Azerbaijan came back into the match, testing Hattingh as they managed to force a few penalty corners. South Africa continued to play on cruise control, defending in depth. The home team stirred in the final ten minutes as Fredericks was denied a hat-trick by Shahbazova, but Shelley Russell added the third with six minutes remaining as she deflected in a penalty corner.
Azerbaijan almost grabbed a consolation goal in the dying minutes, but failed to find the telling touch in a frantic goalmouth scramble.
South Africa and Japan qualified for the medal group from Pool A, where they will be joined by New Zealand and Spain. The remaining teams will contest Pool D for the minor placings.
South Africa (2) 3 vs Azerbaijan 0
Goalscorers:
South Africa: Farah Fredericks (11th, 18th), Shelley Russell (64th)
JAPAN vs CHILE
Japan qualified for the medal pool with a workmanlike display against a game Chilean team. Chile dominated the opening minutes of the match but it was Japan who opened the scoring. Mie Nakashima netted a field goal from some scrappy play in the 21st minute. Neither side could score in the second half. Japan’s no-nonsense style of tackling saw two of their players shown the yellow card while Chile’s Carolina Garcia also spent some time in the sin-bin.
Japan (1) 1 vs Chile 0
Goalscorer:
Japan: Mie Nakashima (21st)
ITALY vs NEW ZEALAND
Little fancied Italy came close to surprising one of the tournament favourites with a gutsy display. New Zealand’s greater experience counted in the end as they won 4-2 to book their place in the medal pool while Italy were relegated to Pool D for the remainder of the tournament. Italy scored first when captain Francesca Faustini rifled in a field goal. They held their lead until five minutes before the break. In a flurry of action, Katie Glynn’s field goal leveled matters in the 30th minute. Italy replied with a penalty corner which saw Faustini restore the lead, but Anita Punt pounced with the equalizer only seconds later.
The action died down in the second half as the Black Sticks, in their less familiar white and red alternate colours, wore down their opposition. With Italy down to ten players following a yellow card given to Matilde Canavosio, the Kiwis finally found an opening for Samantha Harrison to tap in at the far post. Clarissa Eshuis completed the scoring from a penalty corner scramble two minutes before time.
Italy (2) 2 vs New Zealand (2) 4
Goalscorers:
Italy: Francesca Faustini (17th, 32nd)
New Zealand: Katie Glynn (17th), Anita Punt (32nd), Samantha Harrison (52nd), Clarissa Eshuis (68th)
Standings after Day 3
| Pool A | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Chile | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Azerbaijan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Pool B | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Italy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Pool C | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Pool D | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Chile | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Azerbaijan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fixtures for Thursday:
South Africa vs New Zealand (Pool C, 13h00)
Chile vs Italy (Pool D, 15h00)
Japan vs Spain (Pool C, 17h00)
