Six of the best for Old Oaks

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KNYSNA NEWS - Last weekend, the men's side from Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club enjoyed the perfect start to the 2023 Eden Senior Hockey League season as they rocked to a 6-0 triumph over Plett.

The ladies match was a far more evenly contested affair, and was drawn when the final whistle blew.

The games marked the commencement of the 2023 season following an eight-month break since York High School were crowned the men's league champions and Crusaders Hockey Club the ladies champions in September last year.

They were played at the Knysna High School hockey astro and were two of six games played on Saturday 6 May.

The other four matches were all played at the York astro in George. Wanderers ladies beat NMU ladies 5-0, while NMU men beat Wanderers men 3-1. York's boys overcame George 3-0 with their girls emerging 5-0 victors against George.

But the largest margin of victory and the only draw of the weekend both came courtesy of the matches in Knysna.

Plett's Eva Martin and Old Oaks' Ruby Zimmerman compete for the ball during the ladies game.

Looking to mount a title challenge this season having been knocked out in last season's semi-finals, Old Oaks' men's team needed to get their season off to a good start against Plett. The men's game started at 14:30 and the men from Knysna got the game off to a good start, scoring their first goal through captain Sean Mackenzie after only five minutes.

It was the only goal of the first quarter, but Old Oaks doubled their lead to 2-0 in the second quarter courtesy of a Nic Olivier goal.

The second half started well for Old Oaks with Olivier doubling his goal tally while Jacques Potgieter added his name to the scoresheet to make it 4-0.

Two more final-quarter goals from Kyle Groome and Zak Omar took Old Oaks to a 6-0 lead, which they held onto until the final whistle to get their season off to a great start.

In stark contrast with the men's game, the ladies' game that followed was very evenly matched. Old Oaks' ladies are also looking to have a go at the title this season after falling out at the semi-final stage in 2022, ending their five-year reign at the top of the league. The first goal of the game came in the first quarter, courtesy of a neat finish by Plett's Nicole Painter.

PHOTO GALLERY: Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club first match of the season

Old Oaks bounced back in the second quarter though, making it 1-1 through a goal off the stick of Kerrin Klaaste.

As the momentum ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the game, the score line remained the same with neither side scoring a second goal. The fixture ended 1-1, with the two teams sharing the points on the day.

Both Old Oaks' teams are playing against Wanderers this Saturday, 13 May, at the Oakhill Sports Campus. The ladies play first at 14:30, followed by the men at 16:00.

Emily Edkins slaps a ball to an Old Oaks teammate. Photos: Blake Linder