SOUTH AFRICA: Sunday 12th June 2011 saw the second meeting between these 2 teams. The first game ended in a 4-4 draw so this game was anyone’s for the taking.
Starting lines for both teams were evenly matched. Wildcats went on the attack and turned the puck over in the offensive zone; Zane Du Plessis tried to clear the zone but the puck took an awkward bounce over Wildcats defender Ryan Marsh’s stick.
This left Warriors import forward from Cape Town Deen Magmoed on a breakaway. He broke down the right hand side of the ice and from wide of the hash marks let a shot go. G.Bock in the Wildcats goals thought he had the shot, but it beat him near post. 1 minute in the game and the Warriors took the lead.
This seemed to spur on the Wildcats team, but they could not manage to find a way past A.Bock in the warriors’ goal. Wildcats Defenceman, Ian Ashworth, played a great one-two with Burton Matthews which sent in him on goals alone. He pulled a great deke to get A.Bock out of the net but when he tried to slot the puck with his backhand all he found was the post.
First period was very physical with both teams trying to gain the advantage in terms on hits, it ended 1-0.
Second period got off to much of the same start as the first. It seemed as though the Wildcats players had fallen asleep and once again with the first minute, Magmoed broke down the right side, cut across the goal mouth and shot opposite corner. 2-0 to the Warriors.
Wildcats forwards Burton Matthews and Chris Engelbrecht seemed to be awoken by this and made efforts to apply pressure on A. Bocks’ net.
Marcellus Blignaut from Wildcats found himself wide open on the left of the goal from a great pass from Engelbrecht, unfortunately he lost control of the puck and resulted in a goal mouth scramble which ended up under A.Bock.
Towards the middle of the second period the game had seemed to swing in favour of the Wildcats in terms of possession, but they couldn’t convert their opportunities.
Jack Valadas had a great opportunity but once again A.Bock was there to make the save.
In the last 2 minutes Wildcats took a penalty and this left them a man down. Warriors applied pressure and their Defenceman, Andre Marais broke in down the left of the rink, let a shot go but G.Bock had his near post and 5hole covered, the puck landed at the feet of Wildcats Defenceman Justin Harman, but he couldn’t clear it and this left the net open for Warriors Forward Cameron Birrell who buried the puck to make it 3-0 at the end of 2.
The third period started with a high intensity with Wildcats going on the hunt for a goal. George Lyon had a great breakaway opportunity and when he tried to pull A.Bock from right to left and slot the puck in the 5 hole, he overshot the mark and put the puck past the left post.
Valadas had another great opportunity 3 minutes later and this time tried the same move but A.Bock was there once again to make the save.
Neither goal tender gave anything up in the third period which kept the game tight. Warriors had their opportunities on G.Bock as well but this period he stood tall and robbed them of all they were throwing his way.
A full crowd at the Festival Ice Rink enjoyed the fast action packed game. At the end of 3 it was Warriors who came out victorious this time with a score of 3-0.
The next game in the PHL (Premier Hockey League) should bring a lot of excitement as it’s between Warriors and Scorpions. Scorpions are out to exact revenge on the Warriors for their 7-1 annihilation of the Scorpions in their first game.
Stars of the Match were
Chris Engelbrecht – Wildcats
Ashley Bock – Warriors
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