Germany thrash SA for bronze medal

South Africa's Piete Coetee (left) goes up against Mandy Hasse of Germany.

South Africa's Piete Coetee (left) goes up against Mandy Hasse of Germany.

Published Jun 10, 2012

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The South Africa women’s hockey team had plenty of opportunities to score in the Investec London Cup bronze medal match against world No 3 Germany at Chiswick in west London Sunday but were given a 6-1 masterclass in clinical finishing and sound defensive play by their more illustrious European opponents.

World number 12 South Africa made most of the play, took the game to the Germans, and had many chances that might have gone in on another day but Germany were content to wait for a mistake when the girls in green and gold were on attack high in the field and counter-attacked to deadly effect.

The half-time score was 2-1 to Germany with their goals due to a Natascha Keller penalty corner and Kristina Hillman’s field goal. SA scored in between in this 10-minute goal fest period when Dirkie Chamberlain pounced on Pietie Coetzee’s initial strike.

While SA continued to conjure up a steady supply of goal opportunities after the changeover they only had Coetzee’s 241st goal in 245 Test matches to show for it while Germany got four goals after the break in a 19-minute period through a Julia Muller penalty corner and field goals from Janine Beermann (2) and Katharina Otte.

Great Britain’s women rounded off their Investec London Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over world No 14 Ireland.

The final between world No 1 Holland and world No 7 Australia starts at 6pm SA time. – Supplied

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