The inaugural standalone SA Hockey IPT B Section reached a dramatic conclusion on Friday as the SG Nuggets and North West B secured the respective men’s and women’s titles, earning promotion to the SA Hockey IPT A Section in 2027.
An extraordinary final day began at The Hockey Farm in Emalahleni before a huge lightning storm and heavy rain interrupted the women’s final. The severe weather eventually forced the tournament to relocate to HTS Middelburg, where the women’s final was completed and the men’s final began three and a half hours after its originally scheduled time.
Despite the disruption and uncertainty, the four finalists delivered a memorable conclusion to a historic tournament. The women’s bronze-medal match produced an entertaining five-goal battle as hosts Mpumalanga edged the KZN Mynahs 3–2.
Mackenzy Layden gave the Mynahs a dream start by opening the scoring in the sixth minute, but Mpumalanga responded through Bianca Kruger eight minutes later. The hosts completed the turnaround when Nobuhle Dhlamini scored in the 18th minute, only for Layden to strike again on the stroke of half-time and send the teams into the interval level at 2–2.
The decisive moment arrived in the 41st minute when Kiara Nel restored Mpumalanga’s advantage. The hosts protected their slender lead through the closing stages to secure the bronze medal on home soil. The men’s bronze-medal encounter was equally competitive, with SACD and the KZN Mynahs unable to be separated during regulation time.
Jarryd Appel continued his outstanding record of scoring important goals for SACD, putting the Country Districts side ahead in the 18th minute. The Mynahs remained in the contest and found their equaliser through Mpumelelo Nkosi in the 44th minute.
The match finished 1–1 and required a shootout to decide the bronze medal. SACD held their nerve to win the shootout 4–3 and finish the tournament in third place. Attention then turned to the women’s final as unbeaten North West B faced SACD for the title and promotion.
Erika Neuhoff opened the scoring for North West in the 20th minute before Chanel Genis doubled their advantage four minutes later. The lightning storm and heavy rain brought proceedings to a halt, forcing the remainder of the final to be moved from The Hockey Farm to HTS Middelburg.
When play eventually resumed at the new venue, North West quickly rediscovered their rhythm. Genis struck again in the 33rd minute before completing a superb hat-trick in the 53rd.
The 4–0 victory completed a perfect campaign for North West B, who won all five of their matches while scoring 19 goals and conceding just once. They were deservedly crowned the women’s IPT B Section champions and secured their place in the 2027 IPT A Section.
The delayed men’s final brought together North West and the SG Nuggets in a rematch of their final group encounter. North West had won that meeting 3–0, but the Nuggets produced the perfect response when the title was on the line.
After the long weather-enforced delay, Reza Rosenberg gave the Nuggets an ideal start by opening the scoring in the 13th minute. North West responded through Jan van Wyk in the 27th minute, levelling the contest and ensuring the teams entered the second half with everything still to play for.
Juan Oosthuizen restored the Nuggets’ advantage in the 45th minute, but North West once again fought back. Diante Gordon found the equaliser in the 49th minute to set up a thrilling finish at HTS Middelburg. The decisive goal arrived just three minutes later. Tristen Fredericks struck in the 52nd minute to put the Nuggets ahead for the third and final time.
North West pushed for another response, but the Nuggets held firm to secure a dramatic 3–2 victory, the championship and promotion to the 2027 SA Hockey IPT A Section.
It was a remarkable ending to a landmark tournament. The first standalone IPT B Section, the first national tournament hosted in the region and a Finals Day disrupted by one of nature’s most dramatic interventions ultimately produced two worthy champions.
North West B and the SG Nuggets leave Mpumalanga with national titles and promotion secured. For The Hockey Farm, HTS Middelburg and the wider Emalahleni region, the tournament represented an important new chapter in South African provincial hockey.
SA Hockey IPT B Section – Finals Day Results
Women’s Bronze Medal
Mpumalanga 3–2 KZN Mynahs
Men’s Bronze Medal
SACD 1–1 KZN Mynahs
SACD won the shootout 4–3
Women’s Final
North West B 4–0 SACD
Men’s Final
North West 2–3 SG Nuggets
2026 SA Hockey IPT B Section Individual Awards
Mens Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Tyron Scholz (SACD)
Womens Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Kendra Shepeard (Mpumalanga)
Mens Top Goalscorer of the Tournament: Jarryd Appel (SACD)
Womens Top Goalscorer of the Tournament: Chanel Genis (North West)
Mens Player of the Tournament: Reza Rosenberg (SG Nuggets)
Womens Player of the Tournament: Chanel Genis (North West)
