Sutherland was forced to settle for a 2–2 draw against Gateway School in a fiercely contested hockey clash marked by momentum swings and late-game tension.

Gateway started on the front foot, dominating the first quarter and opening the scoring early on.

Sutherland gradually worked their way back into the match, creating more attacking opportunities before finding an equaliser.

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They then edged ahead through forward Kgothatso Mokgatle, capitalising on their growing momentum.

The second quarter remained tightly contested, with both sides pushing the pace. Gateway forward Christian Katai calmly converted from the penalty spot to level the scores once again.

The closing stages were intense, with both teams pressing for a winner. Tensions spilled over on the sidelines, with Sutherland coach Allister Fritz penalised for dissent towards match officials.

Gateway head coach Fungai Mavengere said he was pleased with his team’s performance but noted areas for improvement, particularly in positional play and controlling the tempo of the game.

Assistant coach Takwana Gaidzanwa added that the tournament has been a valuable experience for the team.

“So far, it’s been a learning curve and good pre-season preparation as we build towards bigger tournaments in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Fritz acknowledged the physical challenge posed by the match, adding that his side will need to regroup and refine their approach.

“We need to go back to the drawing board, move the ball better and be more composed in the circle,” he said.

“They were not playing our style, and the boys had to adapt.”

He added that the team is focused on bouncing back in their next fixture against KHS later today.