Rhodes University Underwater Hockey Club emerged from the national Inter-Clubs Championship with silverware to show for their efforts.
The tournament took place in Stellenbosch from 3 to 5 December and saw a combined Rhodes, NMMU and Border women’s team claim silver in their B-league.
Rhodes University Underwater Hockey Club emerged from the national Inter-Clubs Championship with silverware to show for their efforts.
The tournament took place in Stellenbosch from 3 to 5 December and saw a combined Rhodes, NMMU and Border women’s team claim silver in their B-league.
The Rhodes Men’s side finished fifth in the men’s B-league.
Although the women’s team consisted of only four Rhodes players – Kerry van der Walt; Madison Bamber; vice-captain Jess Comley; and captain Jess Joyner – they still competed under the name ‘Rhodes Ladies’. Having finished second in the round robin phase, they beat Winelands Leopards 9-0 in a playoff game. However, they lost 3-2 to Winelands Tigers in the final, succumbing to a late goal.
In a post in the Rhodes Underwater Club Facebook group, Joyner declared the tournament a success and said that her team “played their hearts out”. She singled out Bamber for praise, lauding her impressive 10-goal haul at the tournament after merely a month of playing underwater hockey.
Bamber praised the welcoming atmosphere her team-mates created within the squad.
“The tour was a fantastic opportunity, which tested skills and gave me a chance to learn from much more experienced players… I really can't wait for the next tour, and I wish I had started playing sooner, because it really is just such an awesome sport played with even better people.”
While the women’s B-league consisted of four bottom tier clubs, the exclusive Rhodes men’s side faced the challenge of competing in a six-team middle tier. On 3 December, they only recorded one win from five games.
The following day, Rhodes Men grew into the tournament and won three out of five matches. Nevertheless, they were relegated to the fifth-place playoff against Pretoria Sub Aqua. Here, Rhodes recorded a scintillating 13-0 victory.
Men’s Captain Jono Bellingan picked Ryan Foster – a first year who, like Bamber, impressed with 10 goals – as his team’s standout performer.
Echoing the sentiments of the women’s team’s goalscoring hero, Foster stated: “[The tournament] was an amazing experience and I had tons of fun. I wish there were more events during the year like it.”
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