The women's hockey first team is the outfit to watch in the Western Province Grand Challenge League at the moment, picking up maximum points from its two matches over the weekend of April 23 to 25.

Following on from a powerhouse 6-2 win over Victorians the week before, UCT picked up ten points from its games against Bellville and Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) - four for each of its victories, and a bonus point for scoring four or more goals in each of the games. The side trounced Bellville 7-0 on the evening of Friday, April 23, before sweeping to a 5-1 win over WPCC two days later.

Leshane Luscombe recorded a hat trick against Bellville, while Liesel Dorothy netted twice. Jessica Glass and Jenna Snodgrass chipped in with one apiece.

Natalie le Brun then scored twice for UCT in their win over WPCC on the Sunday, while Kerry Bee, Dorothy and Tammy Kruger also found the back of the net.

The side will have to do without the services and goals of Bee and Dorothy for the next four weeks as the two head off on a hectic international itinerary. Both players are likely to be included in the national side to go to the Olympics in Greece.

But Charlie Stuart, who takes over the UCT coaching reins from Bee for 2004, feels the side has plenty of very good players waiting in the wings. For the first time in years, he points out, players have to compete for a place in the first side.

"There's a little more depth to the team this year," he says.