IRELAND’S Women’s Indoor hockey team have taken a creditable bronze from the Nkosi Cup tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, an annual tournament arranged by the South African Hockey Association and Pro Series Indoor (PSI). Held in the Wynberg Military Base, Cape Town and running from December 13 – 17, the competition saw Ireland face some of the best Indoor sides in the southern hemisphere, including South Africa and Namibia.
Ireland faced the hosts in their first game in Cape Town, with South Africa currently sitting No.7 in the World, the second-highest ranked team from the southern hemisphere. South Africa opened the scoring after just one minute, but a quick response from Ireland’s Caroline Spence drew the teams level. South Africa dialled up the intensity, taking the lead and then extending it 4-1 by the end of the third quarter. Two more goals from South Africa in Q4 took the game to 6-1, but a late consolation goal from Ireland’s Chloe Brown lifted team spirits ahead of another challenge the following day.
World No10 Namibia were next on the schedule for Ireland, on their second day in Cape Town. An incredible 11 goal thriller ensued, with Ireland narrowly coming out the wrong side of it, 6-5.
Sarah Patton gave Ireland the lead early on, but Namibia responded with three quick goals to take control of the game, giving them a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. A goal one minute into Q3 extended Namibia’s lead to three, but Ireland’s Caroline Spence reduced the deficit to two going into half-time. Orla Fox’s calmly converted penalty stroke brought Ireland within a goal of Namibia halfway through Q3, just before Namibia made it 5-3 to regain their two-goal cushion.
A tense final quarter saw Ireland come within one goal of Namibia again, when Sarah Patton grabbed her second. Again, Namibia countered to make it 6-4. Caroline Spence scored in the dying embers of the game to make it 6-5, but ultimately Ireland walked away without the points in a game they largely dominated.
Day three saw Ireland face South Africa again in a much-improved performance from the opening day. The two sides were locked at 1-1, with Ireland’s Orla Fox grabbing the opening goal of the game after 11 minutes, before South Africa equalised five minutes later. Ireland continued to dominate the game, controlling it for the first half. A missed stroke and a quarter 3 goal for the hosts gave them the fire they needed. South Africa pushed on, scoring two late goals to eventually run out as 4-1 winners.
In their final game, Ireland displayed their ability to go toe-to-toe with top indoor nations, taking their learnings from the previous three games and implementing them excellently in their last outing.
Namibia took the lead in the opening quarter, but Caroline Spence grabbed her fourth of the tournament to draw Ireland level. Chloe Brown scored just one minute later, to give Ireland the lead at the end of Q1.
A perfect start to Q2 saw Ireland’s Ellen Robinson slot home to extend Ireland’s lead to two goals, a lead they maintained going into the final quarter. Namibia reduced the deficit to a single goal with seven minutes remaining. Having defended their lead superbly, a penalty corner was given against Ireland with just over a minute on the clock, a contentious decision which gave Namibia an opportunity to draw level, which they seized. The game finished 3-3, Ireland deserving much more than a draw from their final game.
IRELAND SQUAD: Emma Maloney [GK]; Caoimhe Seymor [GK]; Sarah Patton; Laura Graham; Erin Robinson; Chloe Brown; Christine Seggie; Orla Fox; Orla Patton [C]; Milla Fulton; Jenna McCarlie; Caroline Spence.
