Two championship matches, two shoot-outs, and one extraordinary comeback.
The 2026 South African Hockey U21 Inter Provincial Tournament ended in spectacular fashion in Gqeberha on Friday night, with North West claiming the women’s title and Western Province retaining the men’s crown after both finals went to shoot-outs.
North West edged Western Province 1–0 in the women’s shoot-out after the teams had finished 1–1 in regulation time, avenging their pool-stage defeat against Province. Tanya Pieterse had opened the scoring for Province before Germarrie Spershott grabbed a late equaliser for North West. They ultimately held their nerve in the shoot-out, with just one successful conversion deciding a tense finale.
Western Province had reached the final after surviving a shoot-out against Northerns Blues in Thursday’s semi-final, when the Blues fought back from two goals down, but this time it was North West who had the final say.
The men’s final was a different spectacle, with Western Province and Northerns Blues producing a 12-goal thriller before Province eventually prevailed 6–5 in the shoot-out.
The Western Cape side appeared to have the title in their grasp when they opened up a 6–2 lead, with Reuben Sendzul scoring four times and Litha Kraai twice. But the Blues launched an extraordinary comeback, led by Luken Brunette, who also scored four goals, as they levelled the match at 6–6, sending the final to a shoot-out.
Province were able to regain their composure in the tiebreaker to retain their title, with Sendzul’s four-goal haul earning him the men’s top goalscorer and best player awards.
KZN Raiders claimed the men’s bronze medal with a commanding 4–0 victory over the SA U18 Boys. Tristan Boyall scored twice, while Lumi Matwele and Lethabo Bogwaci were also on target as the Raiders bounced back from their 6–0 semi-final hammering by Province.
The SA U18 Girls also finished their tournament with a medal, taking bronze after beating Northerns Blues 2–1. The U18 side had reached the semi-finals after topping their pool unbeaten, and their third-place finish provided a fitting reward for an impressive campaign against older opposition.
Western Province’s Ruby Kraus was the women’s leading scorer, while teammate Leah du Plessis was named best player.
