Hockey Newsletter No. 3

Hi all hockey Moms and Dads!

The past weekend of coaching and pre-season matches went off very well despite a number of teams having to play in torrential rain. The seconds had a successful outing to Michaelhouse and Treverton playing 3 matches and giving Francois Morgan and Nick Holtzhauzen a chance to sort through a seemingly large and strong senior squad.

The U16A’s had a much needed fitness session followed by a match in pouring rain during the afternoon against a fired-up B team. Again, there seems to be much competition for places at this age-group.

Mike Mill and Matt Coombes put the U14’s through their paces on the St John's Astro and some much needed specifics were covered.

The First team had a highly successful mini-tour to Port Elizabeth where they beat Grey 2-1, St Andrews 4-0 in a rain affected match (Bruce Nozaic became one of a few umpires to put a premature end to an Astroturf match when a veteran floated past him in Monsoon-like rainfall and ankle-deep water on a cooler box singing “Never mind the weather as long as we’re together”) and then accounted for Alexander Road 5-0. This is quite an achievement given the hectic time schedule of playing against three “fresh teams” in the space of 18 hours!
Photos from the tour can be seen here.

Our U14A, 16A and First teams will be participating in the Nomads Festivals this Easter weekend and we wish all our players the best of luck.

The fixtures for the First team matches at KES have been altered and are now finalized as follows:
Sat 22 March 08h00 vs Paarl Boys
Sat 22 March 12h40 vs SA College High School
Sun 23 March 09h10 vs Ronderbosch
Sun 23 March 15h00 vs KES
Mon 24 March 12h40 vs Jeppe

NOMADS U16A FESTIVAL: (Jeppe) Nick Holtzhauzen/Ryan Fensham
Friday 21 March 10h00 vs KES
21 March 13h30 vs St Johns
Saturday 22 March 07h00 vs Jeppe
22 March 17h00 vs Krugersdorp High
Sunday 23 March 10h00 vs Pretoria Boys

NOMADS U14 FESTIVAL: (College) Mike Mill/Matt Coombes
Friday 21 March 08h40 vs KES at College
21 March 13h40 vs St John’s
Saturday 22 March 08h40 vs Jeppe
22 March 13h40 vs St Albans

If you have any concerns or comments or have found a washed ashore cooler box with a veteran asking for directions, please contact me at gt@hiltoncollege.com Have a great holiday with your boys and please be reminded that the First team players need to return on Saturday 12 April between 09h00 and 10h00. This is to participate in the Newboys' weekend and prepare hopefully for a match against the Cornwall touring team on Monday 14 April.
Kind regards!

Gavin