Sultan of Johor Cup 2022 | SA Hockey Junior Men fall to defending champions in Debut

For the first time in history a South African Hockey Junior Men’s side took to the turf for an appearance in the Sultan of Johor Cup. They took to the turf against a team on the other end of the spectrum of experience at the tournament with three times winners and eight appearances Great Britain

Despite a positive opening for the South Africans, they found themselves behind when Alex Pendle converted superbly from a team attack to give the defending champions the lead. It was a lead that would only last three minutes. Cameron le Forestier, who netted five goals at the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in 2021, showed his skill as he picked up the ball inside his own half and ran with superb strength and directness. He merged into the circle and finished superbly into the bottom right-hand corner, which took the game to the first break.

South Africa were hoping to take the momentum gain into the second quarter and build but they were sucker punched a quick two-minute double. Fraser Heigh finished an opportunity instinctively in the circle although his shot may have been heading wide before the deflection off a South African stick. While the South Africans were coming to terms with that opening blow the British struck again with a low hard penalty corner from Penrose that beat Dyakala and gave Great Britain a two-goal lead.

It was another penalty corner for Great Britain that saw them extend their lead with a fourth goal. Penrose again fired hard and strong with the pace proving too much for Dyakala in the South African goal. That was the last of the action in the first half and it ended 4-1 to Great Britain after a superb second quarter.