Cape Town. - A win's a win, as the saying goes, and South Africa did just enough to claim the points against a dogged Chile team in their opening match of the Women's Champions Challenge 1 hockey tournament at Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium in Cape Town yesterday.
The match started in rainy conditions with distant thunder and a rainbow over the ground. The hosts attacked from the start, pressurising the Chilean defenders in their own circle. Shelley Russell had a chance to score in the first minute but unfortunately kicked the ball.
The first goal came with a reverse stick shot from Kathleen Taylor which threaded its way through the red-shirted defenders.
With Kate Woods, celebrating her 28th birthday, marshalling the defence well and South Africa dominating territory and possession, it seemed that it was inevitable that the flood gates would open.
However, as the match proceeded the hosts seemed to lose their hunger.
Vidette Ryan almost let Chile back into the game when she passed to an opponent in her own 25-yard area. SA responded by earning their first penalty corner as late as the 26th minute but were hwarted by goalkeeper Claudia Schuler. Taylor had another chance ut shot wide three minutes later. The hosts were lucky to go into he break in the lead after some sloppy defence almost saw Chile qualize in the 32nd minute.
Chile continued to fight back, dominating much of the opening en minutes of the second period. Cindy Brown had a chance to tretch the lead as SA took control again, but her 49th minute enalty corner strike was well saved by Schuler. South Africa had he ball in the net in the 51st minute after some broken play, but he goal was disallowed. They were close to scoring again seven inutes later, but Chile broke away again only to see Denise nfante's angled shot go harmlessly across the face of the goal.
With few more chances SA hung on to their lead. Captain Marsha arescia admitted after the match that they felt they should have on by a wider margin but were relieved to come away with the win.
Both she and Jenny King admitted that a much sterner challenge lies  ahead on Monday as the hosts face up to the impressive Japanese eam.
Earlier, Spain got the Women's Champions Challenge tournament ff to a flying start with an easy 4-1 win over Italy. The paniards put pressure on their opponents from the start, forcing a penalty corner in the second minute. Although goalkeeper Roberta illiu made a fine stick-save, another penalty corner was awarded nd Gloria Comerma hammered in a rocket-like shot to score the irst goal.
Italy took a while to settle but started to make more of an mpression as the first half progressed. However, the final touches were missing and they found themselves further behind shortly before the break after some skilful play by Olalla Pineiro.

Elisabetta Pacella put the Italians on the board five minutes into the second half, but two penalty corner goals from Silvia Munoz and Comerma in the space of a minute put the result beyond doubt.
Japan put up a dominating performance to run out easy winners in the second match of the day. A penalty corner strike from captain Rika Komazawa gave them the lead after sixteen minutes. Two goals in the space of three minutes before half-time put them into a comfort zone. Aki Yamada made it two after 31 minutes and Ai Mukarama scored from a penalty corner a minute before the break.
The one-way traffic continued after the break, with further goals coming from Sachimi Iwao and Kana Nagayama.
Fixtures for today:
New Zealand vs Spain (Pool B, 1pm)
Azerbaijan vs Chile (Pool A, 3pm)
South Africa vs Japan (Pool A, 5pm). - Sapa