SA women bulldoze Scotland to capture thrilling series

Jonathan Cook

WORLD record goal scorer Pietie Coetzee might not have broken a personal record, but the South Africa women’s hockey team were on song as a whole when they trounced Scotland 4-1 in the fifth and final test of a five-match series in Glasgow on Saturday.

The result gave SA a 4-0 series win and this time the goals came from captain Marsha Marescia (2), Bernie Coston and Kate Woods, while Scotland scored through Sarah Robertson.

The match was also momentous because last year’s player of the year Tarryn Bright celebrated her 200th test, while Shelley Russell reached the 150-test milestone. Both did their occasions justice with excellent performances.

The first test was drawn 2-2 before SA won the second, third, fourth and fifth tests 2-1, 4-2, 5-2 and 4-1 respectively.

World No12 SA led 2-1 at half time with the opening goal coming in the 15th minute when Marescia intercepted a pass 30-metres out, accelerated into the strike zone and slipped the ball past Amy Gibson. World No18 Scotland sank further behind when midfielder Bright made ground in confined space to set up Coston.

Scotland pulled one back when Nikki Kidd went on a stunning left-right diagonal run before Robertson finished off.

Turning around 2-1 up, Marescia and company kept working hard and created opportunities, as did the feisty Scots.

The women in green and gold head south today for the Investec London Cup, where the talismanic Coetzee will get another chance to break her personal record of 238.