The first hockey team of Eunice now ranks number 1 in South Africa dethroning the team of Hoër Meisieskool Oranje after 10 years by taking a super win in the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament this weekend.
This is the team’s third tournament win for 2023 – they won the St Mary’s Festival, the South Free State City League on Tuesday (08/08) and on Saturday (12/08) the Fairtree Super 12. Oranje was the winners of the City League for 11 years before Eunice started their upmarch for the top spot in the Country by winning the league last week.
The Fairtree Super 12 was presented from 10 August for the 8th timeby Oranje with Oranje winning six times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022). Menlopark won in 2018.
Four of the top U18 hockey teams played in the semifinals of the tournament – Oranje (1st), Rhenish (2nd), Eunice (third) and Paarl Gimnasium (4th).
Eunice had to play Oranje in the semifinals where Eunice beat Oranje in a nerve wrecking match. The match ended in a draw 1 all. Thereafter an 8 second shootout and eventually into sudden death. Megan Pelser hit the winning goal and Eunice won 2-1.
Eunice then faced Paarl Gim in the final on Saturday. The last time these two teams faced each other, was at the St Mary’s Festival where the match ended in a draw 2-2.
The final on Saturday was also a shootout with Eunice winning 4-2.
Eunice and Paarl was the only two teams who have not lost a match in the tournament up to the final where Paarl lost.
Taheera Augusti from Eunice played her 100th cap in the final and Maedbh le Roux (Eunice) played her 50th cap.
Lilly-Anne Theron was named goalkeeper of the tournament and Chirs-Lea Potgieter defender of the tournament.
Taheera was also one of three nominees for Player of the Tournament.
