00The University of Johannesburg emerged unscathed from the opening weekend of Varsity Hockey matches and will be aiming to build on that when the tournament continues in Stellenbosch from Friday to Monday.
Once the league phase is completed on Sunday, the top four teams will contest the semi-finals on Monday, with the rest of the sides competing in the classification games. The final will be played on May 23.
UJ coach Garreth Ewing knows there is still much work to be done but was satisfied with his team’s efforts at UJ at the weekend.
“It’s nice to be unbeaten and I said to my guys that to get 12 points this weekend was really valuable. It sets us up for three hard games in the last three pool games.
“But we are in a good position and if you’d told me before the start we would have 12 points at this stage, I would have been very happy.”
UJ received a scare in the final game on Monday when a determined Kovsies held them to 2-2 scoreline at the end of regulation time before the Johannesburg varsity took the penalty shootout.
It means they are level at the top of the log with Tuks, but the Pretoria team have a superior goal difference. The top two are followed by Maties and Wits, both on nine points.
“There are some exciting matches coming up this weekend,” said Ewing. “Tuks versus Maties should be interesting, as will be our game against Tuks.
“And then we have a Gauteng derby against Wits, who are confident and have been playing some good hockey. We know each other really well so it will be an interesting start to the weekend.”
After defeating Maties and Pukke at the weekend, Ewing said he felt they slipped a bit against UCT on Sunday, despite winning 2-1, and did not take their chances against Kovsies.
“Kovsies were really determined and worked really hard, but I think we let ourselves down a bit.
“We created numerous circle entries and, although I wouldn’t say we dominated the game, we wouldn’t have put ourselves under pressure if we had taken our chances better.
“But I am proud of our guys because they still found a way to get the three points and that says a lot. If you can win when you play poorly, then you must be doing something right.”
Finishing on top of the log at the end of the league phase is now UJ’s priority, said Ewing.
“We may have had some luck, but we have to try to take that luck and run with it.”
UJ’s fixtures are: Wits (May 13), Tuks (May 14), NMMU (May 15); play-offs (May 16).
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