​​With three wins from four matches and 24 goals scored the Steinhoff Maties Hockey men are third on the Varsity Sports Hockey tournament’s log.

The tournament started last Friday with the first round of matches played at the University of Johannesburg. Maties got off to a bad start with a 3-5 loss to the defending champions UJ. 

On Saturday they started to play like a team that can challenge for the title with a 4-0 win over Kovsies. On Sunday and Monday they walloped their opponents by scoring17 goals and conceding only one in victories over the Madibaz (8-0) and Pukke (9-1). These results sent out clear warnings that Maties are finally warmed up and ready to improve on their result in 2014 when they lost in the final after a penalty shootout.

Top scorers for Maties are Shannon Boucher (4), Keenan Horne (4), James Drummond (3), Charlie Bowren (3) and Dylan Swanepoel (3).​

Maties are in third place with 9 points. Wits’ team is fourth also with 9 points, but Maties have a healthy goal difference. UJ and Tukkies are both still undefeated and respectively first and second on the log.

This coming weekend the action will take place in Stellenbosch at the Coetzenburg astro with games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Maties will play Tukkies, Ikeys and Wits. The semi-final round is on Monday. The final is on 23 May. The match against Ikeys will also be an Intervarsity clash.

All Maties’ matches are at 18:45 and action starts daily at 13:30.​ Entry is free.

Photo credit: Varsity Sports SA