UCT has wind at its back as it whips Maties

Coming through: Dave du Prez (in navy blue), prepares to weave his way through a tackle and past incoming Maties goalkeeper Rudi Huysamen (left) to score the first goal in UCT's 3-0 win over Stellenbosch.

Dave du Prez, one of the few old hands left in the men's hockey first team after the 2003 graduation culled it of six senior players, netted three times in two games over the weekend of April 24 and 25 as UCT continued its bright start to the season.

UCT, as with most other sides, had two fixtures over the weekend - the first against Pinelands on the Saturday, and the second against the University of Stellenbosch on the Sunday. In the Saturday match, the team drew 2-2 against Pinelands, a side that now features John McInroy and Charles Stuart, two of those to leave UCT at the end of last year. Pinelands gave UCT an early scare in the contest, leading 2-0 at halftime. But UCT came back strongly in the second half, pegging things level with goals by Du Prez and Matthew McConkey.

The side then footed it to Stellenbosch on the Sunday, beating Maties 3-0 in that clash. Du Prez, threatening the Stellenbosch goal throughout the match, opened the UCT score halfway through the second half. Sean Thomson then put UCT two up ten minutes later, after which Du Prez rounded off a bountiful weekend for himself, netting his team's third goal with 18 seconds left on the clock.

The side now tops the WP Grand Challenge log.

Thanks to the respective UCT sides' impressive performances, 10 players, including Du Prez and Thomson, have also been selected for two Western Province squads.