As is the way at a tournament, the games come at you thick and fast. Just over 24 hours after South Africa took on the Netherlands in their Paris 2024 opener, they were back taking on former head coach Paul Revington and his Great Britain charges.
Great Britain showed their early attacking intent with a break into the circle, but Gowan Jones made the save to deny any early opportunity. South Africa also denied the first penalty corner for Great Britain with a good post clearance to keep the game scoreless. It was an even match, and South Africa were the next to have an opportunity, winning a penalty corner. That chance was taken by the South Africans. Guise-Browns’ shot was saved, the rebound was saved before it bobbled to the back post, and Andrew Hobson tapped it home to give the Africans the lead, which they held at the end of the first quarter.
South Africa created a chance in the second quarter which eventually fell to Keenan Horne, but it was pulled narrowly wide. Great Britain won a penalty corner, but it was brilliantly charged down by Van Tonder and Horne, and South Africa still had the lead. Great Britain were awarded a stroke, but it was correctly overruled. South Africa asked a couple of questions in the concluding minutes of the half, but Sherwood was unable to breach the British backline, and at the half-time break, it was a 1-0 lead for South Africa.
Great Britain leveled early in the second half. Gowan Jones saved from the initial penalty corner shot before Phil Roper reacted quickest and fired the ball home. South Africa had a penalty corner chance but were unable to find the goal as a game of very few chances continued to ebb its way forward. Gowan Jones was called on to make a save, but the ball was over the line already, and the third quarter ended with the score still deadlocked at 1-1.
Great Britain won a penalty corner in the opening minute of the final quarter when Gowan Jones made a save, but the resultant ball was lifted into a crowd of players. Despite a variation move, South Africa answered the question and remained deadlocked. On the counter, it was the South Africans who took their moment brilliantly. Brad Sherwood received the ball and, with a brilliant touch, created space and fired it into the bottom corner to give South Africa the lead again with 7 minutes remaining.
Keenan Horne fired a brilliant reverse stick shot that was heading into the top corner, but it was superbly saved by Ollie Payne. South Africa had to do incredible defensive work as Great Britain surged forward looking for a leveller. Great Britain won a penalty corner with two minutes on the clock, and it was re-awarded, adding to the tension. GB got the equalizer with 90 seconds still to play.
Neither side found a winner and ultimately had to settle for a share of the points.
SA Goal scorer Brad Sherwood: “I am obviously chuffed to be an Olympic goal scorer, but I’m really disappointed that we weren’t able to get the result. We put in a tremendous effort, and we frustrated them. We are South African; we will be back for the next game, of course!”
Source: sahockey.co.za | July 28, 2024
