Hockey Shocks vs Paarl Hockey Club – Action Hockey League 2010.
This was a titanic battle for a game that’s only 30 minutes long, (Thirds of 10 minutes) and definitely a stamina tester seeing that our opposition is a running side making them very dangerous if you combine speed with skill. Before the game started it was discussed in the huddle that we will try to block their star runner from the beginning just to cripple their attack strategy, but our teams morale was high after they received the surprise sponsor of the cool Springleap.com Tee’s and a quick prayer was said.
The whistle blew for the start and we executed our maneuver successfully by starving him, their best player, of running space. This tactic lead to pressure on their side and mistakes started to settle in early but yet we could not seem to take advantage of the opportunities, we would miss the goals or it would be blocked by their goalkeeper. This final was even-steven for the first third at 0-0.
After Paarl HC swapped goalkeepers after their first third we, the Hockey Shocks, struck 2 goals, one by Carla (our captain) and one by Kim-Lee, early in the second third and we had to put ourselves in defense for the rest of that third because we started to lose possession on a regular basis partly because fatigue started to set in to some of the players and a substitution was made on the halfway mark to keep fresh legs on the turf. At the break we were 2-0 up and the adrenalin pumped viciously.
In the huddle before the final third we discussed that we will not allow them down the middle and push them out wide to either block or tackle them as to this was what we noticed in the game. Starting the third and final third of game play we put our hands together and shouted “*Springleap*!” as this was our sponsor for the final and said our last words of tactics and encouragement. Paarl started the third with a barrage of attacks on our goal box but if they did not hit the woodwork then it would have been an awesome save by our goalkeeper (Riaan Jephtha), at this point our supporters would roar with excitement and theirs would stand hand-over-mouth in astonishment that no ball is hitting the back of the net and we the players would cheer our keeper on. Then finally we managed to put our tactic in full use, due to an increase in possession, and this proved effective. After that onslaught from Paarl we got a break down the centre and a opportunity for a counter attack but the final pass was too strong for our striker and we lost momentum. Never the less a quick tackle on their star runner provided us with some space down the middle again and we seized the opportunity to attack. With a quick pass from my stick and a “swoosh” the ball was in the back of the net from Carla’s stick, and she scored her second of the game. The spectators went crazy and we the players just handed out high-fives to each other with a pat on the back too, just for interest.
After Paarl HC’s restart it just seemed to be the final nail in the coffin with simple mistakes starting to settle in and frustration building up as their star player cannot seem to break our defensive line, and the heads started hanging. As the clock counted down the final seconds the crowd did it aloud “3,2,1…” and the final whistle blows and we won!!!
We jumped and punched the air with glee as our efforts has paid off. With a outstanding win over the only team that won us earlier in the league and yet we both ended up in the final to go for gold, but we proved to be too good on that night with a final score of 3-0 to Hockey Shocks 2010 Action Hockey Champions.

At prize giving the runners up got their silver medals and then we received our gold medals and posed boastfully for photos. We had reason to feel good after a performance like that that was out of the top drawer.
By: Xavier