High Stakes and Final Showdowns at u16 Top Schools Hockey Tournament
As the u16 Top Schools Hockey Tournament, hosted by Paarl Gimnasium, nears its final rounds, the battle for the semi-final spots is intensifying. With nearly four rounds completed, the top two positions in both the boys’ and girls’ tournaments are still up for grabs, ensuring a thrilling finish.
Girls’ Tournament: Pool A – A Four-Way Battle In Pool A of the girls’ tournament, four teams are vying for the coveted top two spots. Paarl Gimnasium (9pts), Die HS Menlopark (8pts), Oranje Meisieskool (6pts), and Herschel (6pts) are all still in contention.
- Oranje vs Menlopark: Oranje faces Menlopark in a crucial match, knowing that a victory will catapult them into the top two.
- Herschel vs Paarl Gim: Simultaneously, Herschel takes on Paarl Gim. Herschel needs a win by two goals to surpass Paarl Gim on goal difference and secure their semi-final spot.
Pool B – Garsfontein’s Tightrope Walk Garsfontein leads Pool B with three wins and one draw, but they aren’t out of the woods yet. If they lose their final game against Collegiate, and if other results go against them, their semi-final hopes could be dashed.
- Collegiate’s Double Header: Collegiate, with three games under their belt, needs victories against St. Mary’s and Garsfontein to advance. A misstep in either game could cost them dearly.
Reddam House, with 7 points from four games, faces a final group match against Waterkloof. Depending on prior results, this could be a winner-takes-all match for a semi-final spot.
Boys’ Tournament: Pool A – Grey High School Dominates In Pool A of the boys’ tournament, Grey High School has already secured their semi-final place with an unbeaten record in four games. Northwood holds the advantage for the second spot, needing only a draw against Outeniqua to advance. However, Fairmont and Paarl Gim are still in the running, ready to capitalize on any Northwood slip-up.
Pool B – The Tightest of Races Pool B remains wide open, with two round four games yet to be played. Parel Vallei is in a strong position, needing just one victory from their final two matches to secure a semi-final berth.
- Paul Roos vs Parel Vallei: Paul Roos, currently on 7 points, must get a result against Parel Vallei in their last group game to keep their hopes alive.
- Michaelhouse’s Double Challenge: Michaelhouse, sitting on 6 points, plays Paarl Boys and Menlopark. A victory over Paarl Boys would knock them out of semi-final contention, and a favorable result against winless Menlopark could secure Michaelhouse’s semi-final spot.
Final Push and Where to Follow
With everything to play for, the semi-finals on Saturday night promise to be electrifying. Make sure to follow the action on Supersport Schools or the Sportivo App for live updates as the final results and semi-final lineups are determined.
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