Cavaliers strike back after earlier loss

LAKESIDE Cavaliers hit back from a 3-1 loss to Rhodes Thistles on Friday to defeat the outfit 4-2 in their EP men's premier hockey league fixture at the KC March astro yesterday.

While the Thistles must take all the credit for Friday's win, Lakeside Cavaliers will be disappointed with the result and showed a stronger approach to clinch yesterday's victory.

It did not come easily, though, with the Rhodians pressing all the time, and on each occasion Lakeside Cavaliers went ahead in the first half.

The opening period was marked by a frenetic three minutes when Darren Kimfley combined smartly with Michael Abrahams to put Lakeside Cavaliers in the lead, only for Cody van Wyk to slot the equaliser two minutes later.

Lakeside Cavaliers regained the lead 60 seconds later through Abrahams and it stayed 2-1 until the 30th minute when Rhodian Matthew Hunter drilled one in.

Kimfley, though, was a constant threat in the Rhodes circle and a brilliant reverse stick shot which gave the keeper no chance put them in front again. He followed that up with his third five minutes later and Rhodes could not find a way back, despite pushing until the end, typified by them forcing a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the match.

It was a tough weekend for the Rhodians. They found Old Grey in solid form on Friday, with the PE side winning 5-0.

In a men's fixture played last week, NMMU Madibaz thumped Pirates 8-0, while Gelvan Hurricanes controlled proceedings against the Thistles in a 4-1 win. - Neale Emslie