Flair and vision put the hockey boys in top 10
After several key tournaments that were contested in the past week, there are some familiar faces among the leading teams in the South African school hockey rankings, as Lowveld's own, Uplands College, is ranked sixth.
The boys first-team hockey rankings on April 8 put Uplands in the top 10 as they managed to beat Affies, Grey college and Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Last weekend the team travelled to Pretoria and Johannesburg for a three- match tour.
On Friday they faced the Old Albanian’s Mens Premier League team – a team, who in their own league, are hoping to contest teams such as the Bok-infused Tuks (University of Pretoria).
In a great fast-paced, highly skilled and vision-led game they eventually drew at 5-all.
On Saturday the boys played St David’s. They are a top-three hockey school in Johannesburg who hope to challenge for the Aitken Cup (A Joburg-based FA cup style trophy comprising 64 schools). Uplands thrashed them 2-1.
In the final game they were pitted against the Old Albanian’s u/18 club side. Although not playing their best hockey there, they were victorious by 5-2.
“In my time of either chasing after a ball or directing others to do so, I have seen a fair whack of hockey; the hockey we are consistently playing, and have played over the course of this weekend, is equal to any I have witnessed.
“The ball moves at pace, players move to occupy width and stretch, there is vision, creative flair, hard defence and purposeful attack. And all of this has been built on the back of a team full of character and passion and a willingness
to listen and work hard,” said proud coach Alex Gitlin.
These boys are sure to make their mark as they have been excelling in this sport since the beginning of the year.
