PUBLISHED 19 July 2024
Day 11 was the final hockey day and saw both teams play two games and end the tournament on a high, the tournament team with two wins and the Evolve team with a sudden death penalty shuffle success.
In yet more brutal weather conditions the tournament team arrived for their 8am game against Worcester Gymnasium knowing that they were yet to play to their full potential in all areas of the pitch for the entire game and were determined to set that straight. They were placed under immediate psychological pressure when the opposition opted to play their power play in the opening minutes but the AKS team rose to the challenge and coped with the extra demands with ease. An early goal from Laura K settled the nerves and the team played with confidence. The defence were well marshalled by GK Danni H and the team took the 1- 0 lead in to the second half. AKS lost a little momentum in the second half, although they still looked the better team and a late goal from the opposition spurred the team to go for the winner. In our own power play an excellent, well taken goal from Cary W which saw her take the ball round the keeper on her reverse and coolly slot the ball into the open goal secured the well deserved win. In the final game against Hoerskoo Bellville Yr 13 players Olivia M, Lucy B, Scarlet D and Laura K took to the field in an AKS shirt for the last time after 7 years in AKS colours and fittingly came out on top. AKS were determined to finish in style and with increasing confidence the team played some superb free flowing, passing hockey. Lucy B opened up the scoring, pouncing on a loose ball in the circle and finding the net with a great strike. Lifted by this we played our best hockey of the tournament and went further ahead when Amelia H found the net after another driving run in to the circle. A late push from the opposition in their power play saw them claw a goal back in the second half but in the AKS power play increased pressure on the opposition’s defence saw us win a penalty stroke that Lucy B stepped up to score, sending the keeper the wrong way. The final 3 – 1 score-line was a fitting end to the tournament and the perfect way for our Year13 players to finish their school hockey careers!
The Evolve team faced fellow brits Clifton College in their first game and after a singing warm up with the opposition in the changing rooms we took to the pitch in positive mood. With the teams evenly matched the first quarter saw both teams have chances but the scores remained level. The second quarter saw Clifton start to get the upper hand and they went ahead late in the first half. We continued to defend well with Evie F, Ella A, Erin R and Charlotte C marking closely and we started to pass the ball more effectively with Ella A linking well with Lucy W and Emma A on the right but often our final pass let us down and we lost possession. Clifton continued to attack at pace and they scored again to seal the win. Our final game of the tournament saw us up against the team we had drawn with in the first game so we knew we could match them and this gave us confidence. We started the game well and really took the game to our opposition and created a number of chances, one of which we converted when Grace P was on hand to put the ball over the line on the left post after a great driving run and pass by Lucy W. We then played with confidence, played our best hockey of the tournament and passed the ball to each other more effectively to create a number of chances with Daisy E and Emma A bringing saves from the Grantleigh keeper. Grantleigh also had chances and only more great penalty corner defence kept our noses infront. As the clock ticked on we continued to defend superbly, determined to maintain our lead but Grantleigh equalised from a corner late in the game. With the scores level the match had to be decided by penalty shuffles and five brave souls, Eve C, Lucy W, Harper C, Evie F & Ella A stepped up to take our shuffles. With pressure on we went first and Eve C saw her efforts well saved by the diving Granleigh keeper. Sophie S then saved to keep us level and Lucy W calmly converted to put us infront . More great saves from Sophie S and another conversion from Ella A saw it all on the last shuffle, if Grantleigh converted the scores were still level, if Sophie saved we had won. Grantleigh scored to take it to sudden death shuffles. Sophie S did brilliantly to save their first shuffle so Lucy W stepped up again but this time the keeper made a save and it was level again. The second sudden death shuffle was again saved by Sophie S and next up for us was Ella A. Ella saw her first shot saved but she was quickest to react to the rebound and her second shot found the net within the time and so we had won .As the ball crossed the line all the team ran from half way and swamped Ella to celebrate a very dramatic winning end to the tournament.
In a very hectic hockey schedule, which saw the girls play 7/8 matches in 12 days both teams finished on a superb high and all the players can be proud of how they played and coped with the very difficult weather conditions and demands of so much hockey in such a short time. The girls will have learnt a great deal about themselves and their game and we look forward to them taking this with them to their hockey at school next season.
With hockey over our last day saw the weather improve and the sun shone for the first time since arriving in Cape Town and we also eventually saw the top of the famous Table Mountain! Our day was spent visiting the Langa Township and Whale watching in Hermanus building yet more fantastic memories.
We started the day with a tour of the Langa Township where we given a talk about the history of the township and were taken through the streets to see firsthand how the township people lived. The girls had their eyes opened seeing the corrugated houses, shops and hair salons in storage containers, litter strewn streets and terrible living conditions that many still live in but the guides who led us were full of hope and optimism that things were slowly improving with the community spirit and many projects working together.
After our tour we went to the community centre where the girls had the opportunity to get involved in a Tag Rugby Community Session with the local schoolchildren. Every tourist was allocated a youngster and within minutes bonds were made as the enthusiastic youngsters held hands and hugged their new friends. The girls were brilliant as they took part in races and chatted with the children and there were many smiles, laughs and cheers from both the tourists and children. We had lunch with the children and then it was time to say goodbye and head out to Hermanus for our final adventure.
After the fantastic journey along the coast which saw us drive through some spectacular scenery we arrived at our last destination Hermanus. After checking in to our superb hotel right on the seafront we headed off to the harbour to board our Whale Watching boat. As we headed out of the harbour, despite the relatively calm conditions, the boat heeled side to side and up and down as we spotted families of seals swimming alongside the boat before finally spotting a whale in the distance. The excitement rose as we approached and the girls were amazed by the size of the huge whale under the surface. The swell saw the boat continue to heel as some of the girls found their ‘sea legs’ and enjoyed standing at the front of the boat and feeling the spray of the waves over the boat. During the trip we saw more seals, a humpback whale alongside the boat and had another whale siting before heading back to shore for our final group meal at a local restaurant.
After the meal it was time for the Tour Presentations. Mrs Mason gave fun awards and tournament T shirts to all the girls and then each team awards were presented.
The Tournament Team awards went to :-
Top Tourist – Olivia M
Most Improved – Laura A
Coaches Player of the Tournament – Lisa P
Players Player of the Tournament – Amelia H
The Evolve Team awards went to :-
Top Tourist – Sophie S
Most Improved – Emelie B
Coaches Player of the Tournament – Lilly G
Players Player of the Tournament – Ella A
The final awards at the end of the ‘trip of a lifetime’ that will hold many happy memories for everyone for many years to come!