THE Bank Windhoek Outdoor Hockey League champions will be decided on Friday night after some thrilling semifinals on Wednesday.
Saints, who have dominated Namibian hockey for the past three years, once again made it to the men and women’s first league finals, although their men were pushed all the way by DTS, before going through on a shoot-out.
They will now face Old Boys in Friday’s final, after the latter comfortably beat Wanderers 6-1.
Saints’ women reached the final after a commanding 5-2 victory against Chix with Stix, but the other semifinal between DTS and WOB also went down to a shoot-out that DTS won 4-1.
Wednesday’s Men’s First League semi between Saints and DTS was a close affair as the teams weighed up evenly from the start.
Julian Schütz had an early chance for DTS, but volleyed David Britz’ centre narrowly wide of the goals.
Saints did most of the early attacking with Brynn Cleak and Cody van der Merwe prominent, but DTS’s defence kept them at bay, while keeper DJ Strauss also brought off some fine saves.
DTS got more chances as the game progressed, with David Britz and Josh van der Merwe prominent, but they could not convert their chances.
The match ended goalless and went down to a shoot-out where Saints’ young keeper Richter van Rooyen brought off some fine saves to put the champions through 3-2.
Old Boys had a much easier task in the other semifinal as they beat Wanderers 6-1 after leading 2-0 at half time.
Dylan Finch put them ahead with an early field goal, while an Ernst Jacobs short corner goal made it 2-0 at the break.
Old Boys dominated the second half with Finch and Jacobs scoring again, as well as Siyabonga Martins and Nathan van Niekerk, while Reinhardt van Zyl scored a consolation goal for Wanderers.
Friday’s final should provide another humdinger between the two sides who have dominated the league this season and played to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their only previous encounter.
In the Women’s First League, Saints progressed to the final with a comfortable 5-2 victory against Chix with Stix, who started the match with a two-goal advantage as a second division side. Their lead, however, didn’t last long and by half time Saints were already 4-2 ahead after goals by Danja Meyer, Kiana Cormack and a brace by Rachel Finch.
Azaylee Philander added a fifth as Saints romped to a dominant 5-2 victory.
The other semifinal between DTS and WOB went down to the wire, before national keeper Petro Stoffberg inspired DTS to a 4-1 victory.
Caitlyn Gillies put DTS ahead just before half time, but Wilri van Taak got the equaliser after a late counter-attack, to take the match into a shootout.
Here, Stoffberg showed her experience with some fine saves to put DTS into the final.
The Men’s Second League final will be contested between WOB and Masters, after they beat Saints and DTS respectively.
Old Boys beat Saints 3-0 through goals by Rudi Prinsloo, Hannes van Wielligh and Pieter Louis le Roux, while Masters beat DTS 3-1 through goals by Gys Cilliers and a brace by Siyabonga Martins, while Enzo Martins replied for DTS.
Friday’s finals take place at the WAP field, starting with the Men’s Second Division at 18h00; the Women’s First Division at 19h00; and the Men’s First Division at 20h00.
