Sunday, November 10, 2024

Paris Olympics Hockey: South Africa come close to famous Team GB upset

Paris — Rupert Shipperley spared Great Britain men’s blushes against the ever-entertaining part-timers and crowdfunders of South Africa. The Welshman angled his stick to perfection to bring about a 2-2 draw for Paul Revington’s world No.2 side after a late penalty corner onslaught.

Twice South Africa led in open play, through Andrew Hobson and Bradley Sherwood, with Great Britain rallying via the set piece: Phil Roper and, with two minutes left, via Shipperley, who sparked jubilation akin to snatching all three points. 

“We train for those moments,” said Shipperley. “We were calm in the huddles at quarter and half time so we knew what the job was. 

“We have so many different threats off penalty corners and hopefully there will be lots more of those to come.

“They [South Africa] have some world-class players up top. They roll the dice and sometimes it works and they are always threatening. Hopefully they will do us some favours as they will definitely get some results this tournament.”

The way South Africa are set up, their running from deep, their defensive work suggests they could do just that.

Not bad for a team whose travel and Village accommodation is paid for by the South African Olympic Committee, yet still have to go through a traditional crowdfunding campaign to reach major events. They accrued nearly £4,000 to help them with a training camp in Belgium prior to these Games, while their funding efforts are nothing new.

What they lack in finance, they make up for in finesse. As early as the 11th minute here.

A triple Ollie Payne save from an initial Matt Guise-Brown PC wasn’t quite enough as Hobson, a product specialist with a software development firm in Cape Town, tucked home.

Hobson is one of five players from Central HC in Cape Town, who all face a work-life balance amidst aiming for the Olympic dream. Compare that to the full-funded Brits, who finally broke the shackles from their fourth corner thanks to a Roper low slinger into the backboards.

Still South Africa, a thoroughly entertaining outfit moving forwards, came at GB. Payne was forced to close pads to thwart a backhand drive from Harvestehude’s Nqobile Ntuli.

A Roper forehand volley was parried skywards by Gowan Jones, offering up another PC chance. This time Sam Ward fed low to goal and Liam Sanford came close to deflecting in.

GB were dominating the final third and around the circle, South Africa muscling and hustling their way out of danger.

With seven minutes left, Sherwood stopped a bobbling central pass, turned too fast for David Ames and James Albery and struck past Payne, wheeling away in delight.

GB went full out in attack in the final minutes, South Africa four times thwarting GB’s PCA.That is until Shipperley’s intervention late on from Ward’s directed drag. A point won for GB, as Revington freely admitted at the end.

He added: “The way they play is a deserved draw for their side. They have an intriguing style of play and scored from their two, three chances

“In terms of us and our style of play, we dominated for large phases with corners.”

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