The semi-finals of the U18 IPT in Bloemfontein will be played on Thursday in the boys' as well as girls' competitions. Unfortunately for the Southern Free State teams they just could not manage to reach the last four.

On Wednesday the Southern Free State boys’ gave themselves a sniff at reaching the semi-finals after fighting back in the second half for a brilliant 4-1 win against Eastern Province in their first game of the day.

Matthias Visser scored a hat-trick of goals from penalty corners, while Duane Romain scored a stunning field goal for the Free State.

Duane Romain beating Kaino Broadhurst for his goal - Morgan Piek

In the Free State’s second game of the day, the played to 1-1 against KwaZulu-Natal Inland with Visser once again scoring from a penalty corner for the equaliser. This was however not enough for the hosts to finish within the top two in Pool B to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

The Southern Free State girls’ in turn face arguably their toughest opponent of the tournament in Southern Gauteng. The team from Johannesburg is a well-oiled unit and they beat the Free State 2-0.

Mpho Tshikhudo and Hannah Smyth each scored from a penalty corner in either half for the win which saw them remaining unbeaten and topping Pool A.

Free State needed Western Province B to beat Northern Gauteng A in order for them to finish second in the Pool and advance. This was however not to be with Northerns winning their game against the team from the Cape 2-1.

Georgia Kambanis for Southern Free State - Morgan Piek

In the boys' semi-finals, Western Province A will be in action against KZN Coastals A, while Southern Gauteng A will be up against Boland A.

Southern Free State will face KZN Coastals B in the 5th to 8th place playoff.

 In the girls' semi-finals, Southern Gauteng A will face Southern Gauteng B, while KZN Coastals A will be in action against Northern Gauteng A.

Southern Free State in turn will play against KZN Inland in the 5th to 8th place playoff.

Girls' Section A results for Wednesday:

Boland A 1 vs. Eastern Province A 0

Southern Gauteng B 2 vs. Northern Free State 0

Southern Free State 0 vs. Southern Gauteng A 2

Western Province A 3 vs. Border A 0

Northern Gauteng A 2 vs. Western Province B 1

KZN Inland A 1 vs. KZN Coastals A 2

Eastern Province A 0 vs. Southern Gauteng 1

Girls' Section A fixtures for Thursday:

8:30 - Western Province A vs. Boland A

10:10 - Southern Free State vs. KZN Inland A

12:45 - Northern Gauteng A vs. KZN Coastals A

13:00 - Border A vs. Eastern Province A

15:35 - Southern Gauteng A vs. Southern Gauteng B

15:50 - Western Province B vs. Northern Free State

Boys’ Section A results for Wednesday:

Southern Gauteng A 2 vs. KZN Inland A 5

Southern Free State 4 vs. Eastern Province 1

Boland 2 vs. KZN Coastals B 1

Border B 2 vs. Southern Gauteng B 0

Western Province A 5 vs. Western Province B 1

KZN Coastals A 1 vs. Northern Gauteng 1

KZN Inland A 1 vs. Southern Free State 1

Boys' Section A fixtures for Thursday:

8:45 - Southern Gauteng B vs. KZN Inland A

9:55 - KZN Coastals B vs. Southern Free State

11:20 - Boland vs. Southern Gauteng A

11:35 - Western Province B vs. Northern Gauteng A

14:10 - Western Province A vs. KZN Coastals A

14:25 - Border B vs. Eastern Province A

Morgan Piek OFM Sport