Coetzee the destroyer

SCOTLAND 2  SOUTH AFRICA 5

Pietie Coetzee, the top women`s striker of all time with
over 200 goals in international competition, came to Titwood and
scored four times in South Africa`s 5-2 win over Scotland in the
fourth test match.   The result means that the South
Africans have already won the series 3-0 with one game drawn before
the final encounter this afternoon.

The Scots had the chance to take the lead at an early penalty
corner but the ball fell to Holly Cram who missed the
opportunity.   Within a minute the visitors were ahead,
Coetzee got the ball at the top of the circle and beat Nicki
Cochrane with a fierce reverse stick shot.   Three
minutes later the Scots were back on level terms, Cram won the set
piece, the ball was switched left by Becky Merchant and Ailsa
Wyllie swept the ball home at the back post.  Coetzee again
came to the fore, at South Africa`s first penalty corner of the
match she sent an unstoppable drag flick into the Scottish net for
a 2-1 lead.

Although South Africa put the Scots under considerable pressure,
and goalkeeper Cochrane was called upon to make some telling saves,
the home side had a couple of chances towards the end of the half,
Wyllie`s dangerous cross found no takers and Cram had the ball in
the net but the umpire had already blown for a foul.

The second half descended into a midfield stalemate, but Coetzee
had her penalty corner effort saved by Cochrane while at the other
end Nikki Kidd`s penalty corner effort went wide of the
target.   But in 58 minutes the South Africans turned the
screw, Coetzee`s solo run took her into the circle and she released
a fierce reverse stick shot past Cochrane for 3-1.

The fate of the contest was sealed with two further goals from
South Africa, Kate Woods scored with a low shot at a set piece,
then Ceotzee made it five with a low drag flick.   But
the Scots never gave up and were rewarded with a consolation in the
final minute, a hit by Merchant at a penalty corner was brilliantly
deflected into the roof of the net by captain Linda Clement.

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