Uplands First team hockey boys through to Noordvaal tournament

Uplands College’s first team won two matches during the Mpumalanga Boys Hockey finals on Curro Nelspruit’s new astro facility yesterday (June 16).

In a fast-paced semi-final match against Hoërskool Nelspruit, the Uplands College 1st team managed a 3 – 1 win. Two of these goals were scored from well-planned short corner routines.

They faced Hoërskool Ermelo in the finals, where the fast, direct lines of Ermelo earned them chances and the use of width and consistent lateral transfers saw Uplands earn their own opportunities. The final whistle notched a 2-0 win for Uplands.

This is the third consecutive year the Uplands team had lifted the provincial senior boys trophy and marks a growth in the success of their structures. Additionally, the team has only lost one game against other Mpumalanga teams they have faced in the past three years.

The school aims to become the leading hockey school in the province. In a statement of intent, Mr Alex Gitlin, the MIC of boys hockey at Uplands, commented on this. ‘On the back of parent support, a holistic player development programme, a supportive school, effortful and engaged players, a passionate and experienced coaching team, and a commitment by all to vision, we believe we can build on the exciting progress made to date that will see us help establish a new standard of local hockey.’

Hoërskool Ermelo and Uplands College will represent Mpumalanga at the U19 boys Noordvaal tournament at Krugersdorp High School on July 30 to August 1.