Clarendon Park Primary School’s sublime performances in a medley of hockey festivals recently ensured its emergence as a force to be reckoned with on astroturf.
The tone was set for the first boys’ hockey team at the start of three outings when, from March 30 to April 1, the side played at the Tavcor VW Alan Lones Hockey and Rugby Festival.
Playing in their backyard, the lads coasted to four wins and one draw from five fixtures.
With their claws sharpened, this ensured they went into a second successive festival in Gqeberha.
Their run of luck continued at the Grey Junior Hockey Festival from April 14-16 as the squad, comprising 13 grades 6 and 7 pupils, laid down an early marker.
At the end of six games, a boisterous Clarendon Park Primary upheld a commanding streak, culminating in five wins and one draw.
This included a 1-0 win against a stubborn Selborne Primary, followed by a clinical 2-0 triumph over Grey College Primary, Bloemfontein.
Coach Dean Gow then marshalled his troops for the three-day Oakhill Co-Ed U13 Hockey Festival in Knysna, held from April 20-22.
Here, the first team upped the ante, going virtually unchallenged en route to recording a perfect five wins in as many games.
A famous 1-0 win over Paarl Boys’ Primary School capped the brilliant performances in which Clarendon Park played 16 games, winning 14 and drawing two while conceding only two goals.
Gow attributed the fairy tale run to the depth of talent in the team, saying the level of competitiveness had catapulted the school into a league of its own recently.
“Boys’ hockey [at the school] has always been quite competitive.
“But I think laying down the astro about five years ago made a big difference,” Gow said.
“This created a greater passion for hockey, putting us in another bracket.
“We have a great coaching line-up from U9 to U13, where all the coaches know what is [expected] of the boys.
“Looking at this year, our U9 and U11 teams are strong, with the U13s probably the most competitive side we have ever had.”
Top of the agenda for the school was ensuring players played to their fullest potential.
In the long term, this could translate into provincial and national team representation, Gow said.
“It is a goal, but, in the end, my purpose as a coach is to ensure the children play and do so in the right manner, on and off the field.
“I want them to enjoy it and maybe come back to play at club level ... and one day go on to make a SA team.
“We already have former players playing first team high school hockey — three at Woodridge College, one at Durban High and another at Pearson High.”
With five league matches coming up this term, the coach, who runs a private academy at the school, said keeping the young players in optimal playing condition was a key element to their success.
“They play in a Sixes Hockey League, which has made a big difference as they play throughout the year, including in the evenings during summer.”