Old Oaks knocked out of semis

KNYSNA HOCKEY NEWS - Following yet another tight clash between Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club and York High School in the semi-finals of the Eden Senior Hockey League, the Knysna outfit has been knocked out of title contention.

Plett Hockey Club's ladies were also defeated in a semi-final last weekend.

Last weekend's matches, played on Saturday 5 August in George and Knysna, marked the first round of play-offs in the 2023 season. Semi-finals were played in the men's league between Old Oaks and York, and between Crusaders and NMU George.

In the ladies league, the semi-finals were between Crusaders and Plett, and York and George Hockey Club. The men's sixth/seventh place play-offs took place in Knysna between Wanderers and George.

The ladies match between Wanderers and NMU was forfeited by NMU, meaning Wanderers will face Old Oaks in the fifth-place play-off next weekend.

George's men were on fire against Wanderers, and mustered a 6-1 triumph to progress to next weekend's fifth-place play-off against Plett. In the first ladies semi-final, Wanderers dispatched Plett, beating the first-time semi-finalists 6-1. Thereafter York made light work of George, winning 9-0 to set up a final date with Crusaders.

The Crusaders men repeated their ladies' feat when they came up against NMU, beating Madibaz 4-1 to earn a spot in the final.

The tightest and most tense game of the weekend was however played between Old Oaks and York in the first of the men's semi-finals. A goalless first quarter presented many chances for Old Oaks as York seemed slow to get going, but they couldn't convert any.

The first goal of the game was scored in the second quarter, as Old Oaks took the lead after Blake Linder hit the backboard for his side.

Old Oaks carried the 1-0 lead into half-time, but York went on the offensive in the third quarter and were rewarded for their efforts when Liphe Mpambani equalised for the home side, sending the crowd up in cheers. The final quarter was perhaps the more even of the four, but the determination of the young York side in front of their home fans proved the ultimate decider. Gabriel Brocker-Corns took the lead for his side in the final five minutes, and York managed to hold off late attacks from Old Oaks to take the win.

Old Oaks will now play against NMU George for third place in the men's league while Crusaders will take on York for bragging rights and the title.

Scott Mosterd injects a penalty corner for Old Oaks.