Bellville’s women’s first team beat UWC 3-1, while the men’s first team beat Langa 2-1, at the weekend.

It was a northern suburbs clash out in the south when Pinelands High School hosted Bellville Hockey Club and UWC Ladies first teams, in a Western Province Hockey Union (WPHU) Ladies Grand Challenge match, on Saturday, May 25.

A comfortable three goals by Teagan Crament (2) and Gabriella Gaffley sealed a 3-1 win for Bellville.

This was Bellville’s second win in the outdoor league campaign. With six points in seven games, Bellville are in seventh position, while UWC dropped to 10th.

Head coach, JP Olivier was pleased by his team’s technical performance at the weekend.

“Our strategy for Saturday’s game was to score early and maintain pressure on UWC throughout the match, ensuring they never gain any momentum. The team executed this plan flawlessly, netting two goals in the first quarter, which allowed us to control the game until the final whistle. I'm very pleased with our performance. By focusing on the small details and executing our strategy effectively, we achieved the desired result,” he said.

As they move forward, Olivier said it is crucial to continue focusing on the basics.

“Every player is accountable for their actions, and our success hinges on controlling what we can. If everyone buys into this approach, we will achieve the results we’re aiming for. In 2023, Bellville was on the brink of relegation, and I was brought in to help avoid that outcome,” he said.

With the first half of the season edging closer towards the end, log leaders Maties Ladies are the team to beat this year. With seven wins and just one draw out of eight games, they have shown remarkable consistency, netting an impressive 29 goals while conceding only three.

Hot on Maties Ladies’ heels is WPCC, with an equally strong record of seven wins and one loss. They've scored 23 goals and conceded 12, positioning them as formidable contenders.

Maties Vics Ladies and Central, on the other hand, are also putting up commendable performances, securing respectable positions in the rankings.

At the other end of the table, however, UWC is struggling, having failed to secure a single win and managing only one draw in their seven matches. With just two goals scored and a staggering 22 conceded, they find themselves at the bottom of the league standings.

As the season progresses, it's clear that Maties Ladies and WPCC are the teams to beat.

Olivier said Bellville is striving to improve their position as they make their mark on the competition.

“Realistically, we're not yet in a position to fight for the league title. Our goal this season is to finish mid-table. Given the league's expansion to 10 teams, we're aiming for a fourth, fifth, or sixth-place finish by the end of the season. Last year, we ended up eighth out of eight teams, so this would be a significant improvement,” he said.

Bellville will host UCT Ladies first team at, at 1.30pm, at Settlers High School on Saturday, June 2, while UWC will travel up to Rondebosch to face WPCC.

In other news, the Bellville’s men’s first team were 2-1 victors against a stubborn Langa side, in the Men’s Grand Challenge, this past weekend. They are in fourth on the log after winning four out of seven games. The men’s first team will look to maintain the winning momentum when they also face UCT, at 4.30pm, at Settlers High, on Saturday.

Bellville Hockey Club’s Nicole Muller, left, was instrumental in the defence against UWC. Here she is up against UWC’s Milan Colyn. Bellville won 3-1 to move up to seventh spot on the WPHU Ladies Grand Challenge standings, on Saturday, May 25. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

On the attack, Bellville Hockey Club’s Danika Van Der Merwe, in a WPHU Ladies Grand Challenge clash at Pinelands High School, on Saturday, May 25. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

Switching play for Bellville, Nicole Muller.

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