Investec South Africa women defeat India by 2-0 in FIH Champions Challenge I
Investec South Africa women hockey team defeated India by 2-0 in ESB Electric FIH Champions Challenge I, which is being played at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland.
The South African women played wonderful hockey throughout the tournament as they secured the top place on points table with five points, equal to Scotland, but due to a better goal difference, with one victory and two draw matches. However, in the quarter-final
they were quite unlucky, as they lost to Spain by 3-2 in the extra-time nerve-racking match.
In this play-off game the South Africans really took the revenge of their previous defeat, which was played against Spain. They played good hockey in very tough, wet and mushy conditions as the rain had interrupted the play on a number of occasions during
the match. However, the South Africans really proved their high class calibre in the match. They controlled the game very well from the start to the finish.
One of their two goals was scored in the first half when Pietie Coetzee did the job for the Investec South African women in the 23rd minute, while she had another opportunity of on a penalty-corner just five minutes after the first goal, but the
drag flick was saved by the Indians. The first half ended at 1-0 to South Africa.
In the second half both of the opponents played very attacking hockey, not allowing each other to make penetrations in circle, but South Africa finally managed to double their lead in the dying moments of the match, the score lasted till the end.
Meanwhile, Carol Metchette, the field hockey umpire from Ireland was awarded the official FIH Golden Whistle, before the start of play, as an acknowledgment of her services in the field of umpiring. The award was presented by Anne Ellis, the Executive Board
Member of FIH and Herbie Sharman, the president of Irish Hockey Federation and it is given to those individuals who have supervised at least 100 international matches of senior level.
Carol has now become the 29th female field hockey referee and only the second from Ireland who has achieved this milestone.
South Africa will face Ireland in their next play-off game for the fifth position on June 26.
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