TO be the best, you have the beat the best. It’s an adage that keeps coming back to haunt any team that takes on the might of Riverside Hockey Club (RHC), who won the KZN super league division for their third successive season.

The Durban North team capped of their spectacular season in equally sensational fashion knowing anything less than two consecutive wins over rivals UKZN would spell the end of the their title aspirations.

They did just that with a 10-2 hammering and a 5-1 win which put them, joint first with Kearsney Hockey Club. However a superior goal difference saw the team from the North emerge victorious.
Justin Birnie, the men’s first team captain, lauded his charges determination and spirit going into the final few games of the season.

“We were second or third for most of the competition so we knew we had to work extra hard in the latter half of the season to pull off the victory. The change in the league’s format had made it a much more competitive season and credit has to go to the team, who didn’t stop believing. Their mindset and determination is what ultimately made the difference.

“Winning our first title three years ago was historic. The second was even better, but the third title was made that much sweeter,” he said.
Birnie said having the experience of SA hockey members in the squad, in the form of Taine Paton, Tim Drummond and Gowan Jones, gave the club an added boost.

“It’s an easy team to captain. We have a fantastic mix of youth and experience, especially having the likes of Tain, Tim and Gowan. Their collective knowledge made it easier to manage the team and motivate them,” he said.
The club now has a fourth member who will now join the green and gold in the form of Durban North resident and former Northwood School Old Boy, Mondli Dlamini. The 24-year-old finished the season as top goal scorer for the club.

“I’m not so sure that stat is right,” he laughed. “I just found myself in good positions and there were some great passes from Justin and the team which helped.”

Mondli spent most of last season struggling through injury and managed to stay injury free through this year’s campaign.

“Being fit and having the right mindset was what ultimately helped and I’m proud of the team’s efforts. Making the South African squad was the furthest thing from my mind, but to be called was just the perfect way to end the season,” he said.

Riverside Hockey Club’s chairman, Wayne Philips, who was ecstatic about all the club teams’ performances said he was extremely proud of how well the men’s first team has done to win the league despite a really tough season.

“It’s also great to see half of the men’s first team being home grown players who started their club hockey at Riverside within Riverside’s mini and youth hockey programmes, a further indication of the quality of the hockey at Riverside’s junior programme. The ladies teams also had a fantastic season and the ladies second team performed beyond expectations by ending in the top four playoff and then snatching third place from previous titleholders Collegians,” he said.