Men’s 2 vs WPCC – 6 April 2024
6 April 2024
Pinelands Vs WPCC (3-2 Win)
The Pinelands Men’s 2nd team played against Western Province Cricket club 5th side at Pinelands High School turf. Pinelands came back from behind twice in the game to win 3:2 in what became a hard-won fight.
The game got off to a windy and somewhat shaky start with WPCC scoring a very soft opening goal in the first 2 minutes. The game then settled into parity with both sides having a handful of chances for the rest of the first chukka. After the links Tawana, Andre and Tyler had put in some hard legs to win back ball in the midfield, Nick S. equaled the score line just before the end of the first half with the Lander’s first goal with a powerful strike from top D – ripping into the netting of keeper’s top right corner.
The game ebbed and flowed from there with both sides creating many chances for themselves while Bryce made a number of excellent saves to keep the game even, including a number of one-on-one saves. Jody was an ever-present threat up front for the lands, hassling their back line and a highly effective on counterattacks. He created many chances for the side including a couple of penalty corners. Barry and Nic Logs’ ball distribution gave the Lands superior ball transfer throughout the game. WPCC scored again early in the second half but on restart the Landers won a penalty corner thanks to a penetrating midfield run of one-twos led by Tyler P. that cut through the WPCC lines. On that occasion, WPCC were very lucky that their right postman was able to get a stick to the ball to deflect a flick that had beaten the keeper’s left glove. The following two penalty corners however went the way of the Landers with one rasping past the keepers stick-side glove after the keeper had been sent the wrong way, and then another into the top right corner to get the Landers to a 3:2 lead. Some hard defending from Barry, David, Calum and Herman, and a couple more saves from Bryce in goals in the final 5 minutes, saw off a barrage of desperate attempts from WPCC to equalize they game: but in the end the Landers emerged victorious and Nick Simpson bags another Landers hattrick.
The Lands are going to build on this success and work on building intensity from the start; more effective ball transfer and retention; getting to the far post; on-field communication; squeezing the middle of the field in defense; and to let the ball do the work offensively.
Man of the match goes to the Lander’s fantastic new goalkeeper: Bryce Pieterse
Cheers
Nick