SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge uMvoti and oThukela Regional Saturday 4 May

The penultimate tournament in the 2024 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge heads to Greytown High School for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional on Saturday 4 May.

Seven teams will take to the Greytown pitch with the tournament running in a round-robin format. In the familiar style to the KZN SPAR hockey challenges, all games will be a quick-fire 20 minutes long, with play only going one way.

Focused on the task at hand. Ladysmith High School’s Deputy Head Girl, Anzel Warmenhoven and Angelique Adams gear up to defend their uMvoti and oThukela Regional at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge being hosted at Greytown High School on Saturday 4 May.Pic by Val Adamson

Poi nts will be awarded after each game; the top two teams will then face each other in the regional final. For a win, 4 points will be awarded, a draw with goals will amount to 2 points each, and a goalless draw nothing up 1 point each. A loss will register zero points.

Joining host school, Greytown are Domino Servite; Estcourt High School; Hermannsburg School; Ladysmith High School; Wembley College and Wartburg Kirchdorf School. Taking to the field first are Greytown and Wembley College, tipping off at 8am, followed by Hermannsburg meeting Domino Servite in the second fixture.

 An array of teams have raised the regional trophy since the tournament’s inception in 2011 and gone on to the Grand Finals. Most recently, two times winner, Ladysmith High School is the defending champion, with their name engraved in 2012 and 2023 on the trophy. Wembley College also appear twice, for 2011 and 2021. Two teams’ names appear once, host Greytown were victorious in 2018 and in 2022, Domino Servite represented the area. Wartburg Kirchdorf have six wins under their belt, dominating from the years 2013 to 2017 and then again, in 2019.

The victorious team from this regional will meet nine other successful teams from around KZN in the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof in July. Eight teams have already qualified, they are Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional), The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North Regional), St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional); Grantleigh School (KZN North Coastal Regional) and St Patrick’s College (Ugu and Sisonke Regional).

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

ENDS

Results and wrap up Ugu and Sisonke Regional SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

A new team will engrave their name on the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge trophy when host school, St Patrick’s College were victorious in the Ugu and Sisonke Regional that took place at their picturesque setting in Kokstad on Saturday 20 April.

St Patrick’s is the fifth team to be crowned in this region since the tournament’s inception in 2011, having defeated defending champions and one-time winners, Suid Natal Hoërskool in an enthralling final.

In the lead up to the regional final, both teams finished second in the logs after their four pool games. St Patrick’s finished two points behind a determined Port Shepstone High School who earned 12 points in Pool A. In Pool B King Edward topped the log with 13 points, followed by Suid Natal on 10 points.

After the pool games, the challenge progressed to a cross pool positional playoff. In a coastal derby - Sheppie met Suidies in the first semi-final, and in the second semi-final, an inland derby - King Edward took on St Patricks. At the conclusion of the semis, Suidies had a change to protect their title, meeting St Patrick’s in the regional final.

The conclusion of three of the four main games were decided on the spot, with three players from each team participating in an 8 second penalty shootout. In the first semi-final, Suid Natal and Sheppie drew 1 all at full time and Suid Natal went up by a single goal in their very first run, with no other goals being netted in the remainder of the penalty attempts.

In the bronze medal game, Sheppie found themselves for the second time at the spot, this time facing King Edward High School. The full-time whistle blew with both teams unable to slot the ball into the back of the box, drawing on nil nil. A jack-in-the-box keeper, Reitumetsi Pakkies from King Edward pulled out some awe-inspiring saves, closing down all of Sheppies runs, diving all over the place in some epic charge downs.

In the all-important final, St Patrick’s were first to score. 14 minutes into the game, Courney Kitching calmly slapped in the opening goal after a great attack down the right side. She was camped out at the goal mouth and was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, slotting in her teams first.

A minute later, St Patrick’s were brought back down to earth as Suidies also charged down the right, crossing the ball to an alert Luca Meyer who nailed in the equaliser. For the remainder of the final, both teams were unable to find a hole in their opponents defence, to get the challenge-winning goal. At the final whistle the score was 1 all with both teams gearing up for the penalty shootout.

Suid Natal’s keeper, Anrika Badenhorst did well in her first standing in the penalty shootouts, closing down all of Sheppie’s attempts. In the final a young, crafty St Patrick’s Rayne Kitching side stepped Badenhorst, rounding her to the left and then trickled the ball over the line for the only goal in the penalty shootout. St Patrick’s keeper, Sikhona Mcebesi kept a clean sheet in her first defence that day in a penalty shootout,

Most Promising Umpire went to Bergview High School’s Arne Pieterse who had a fantastic day officiating with the whistle.

St Patrick’s College is the eighth KZN  team to gain a spot at the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The seven other teams that have secured their spot already are Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional), The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North Regional), St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional) and Grantleigh School (KZN North Coastal Regional).

Results

1 St Patrick’s College, 2 Suid Natal Hoërskool, 3 King Edward High School, 4 Port Shepstone High School, 5 Southcity Christian School, 6 Kokstad College, 7 Curro Creston, 8 St Monica’s Diocesan, 9 Ixopo High School, 10 Bergview College 

Pool A

1 Port Shepstone High School 12 points, 2 St Patrick’s College 10 points, 3 Kokstad College 6 points, 4 St Monica’s Diocesan 6 points, 5 Ixopo High School 0 points

Pool B

1 King Edward High School 13 points, 2 Suid Natal Hoërskool 10 points, 3 Southcity Christian School 5 points, 4 Curro Creston 3 points, 5 Bergview College 1 point

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Sisonke and Ugu Regional St Patrick’s College: Saturday 20 April

St Patrick’s College hosts ten schools in the upcoming Sisonke and Ugu Regional, the eighth regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that takes place on Saturday 20 April.

Joining hosts in the regional are Bergview College; Curro Creston; Ixopo High School; King Edward High School; Kokstad College; Port Shepstone High School; Southcity Christian School; St Monica’s Diocesan; and defending champions, Suid-Natal Hoërskool.

Got your back. Defending champs, Suid Natal Hoërskool’s Nikita Grobler (Captain) and Desi Du Plooy (Vice-Captain) gear up to take on schools in the upcoming Sisonke and Ugu Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that takes place at St Patrick’s College in Kokstad on Saturday 20 April. Pic by Val Adamson

The ten teams will be split into two pools with Pool A featuring St Patrick’s; St Monica’s; Kokstad College; Sheppie High and Ixopo High. Pool B has King Edward High, Suid-Natal; Bergview, Creston and Southcity. The duration of the matches is 15 minutes one way, with a win earning the successful team 4 points; a draw with goals, 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and finally, a loss no points.

The first game tips off at 8am with host school, St Patrick’s meeting St Monica’s in the first game. Next up at 8.15am, from Pool B, Kokstad College will meet the travelling team, Sheppie High. After a game break, St Patrick’s are back on the turf facing Ixopo High at 8.30am.

At the conclusion of the pool games, if two teams find themselves on equal points, goal difference will come into play to see who finishes higher on the log. In the cross-pool games, drawn games will head to a 3 round penalty shootout.

In the 14 years since the tournament’s inception, there have been four teams that have raised the trophy. Recently the inland teams of Kokstad College and King Edward High School have dominated, after dethroning Creston after they won it twice in 2012 and 2013. Kokstad have victories in 2011, 2014 and 2019, with King Edward High School being crowned five times in 2015 – 2018, and 2022. Most recently, the newcomer to the group, Suid-Natal earned their first victory last year after defeating Kokstad College.

The challenge that travels to ten regions annually, has already had seven teams earning their spot at the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The teams are Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional), The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North Regional), St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regiona) and at the most recent regional, the winner for the Northern KZN Coastal Regional, Grantleigh School.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge KZN North Coastal Regional Grantleigh School: Saturday 13 April

An exceptional day of action ended with hosts, Grantleigh School raising the trophy for the sixth time in the KZN North Coastal Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on their astro on Saturday 13 April.

Seven schools participated in a full day of round robin hockey, with Grantleigh finishing top of the log. A tussle for second place ensued, with two times winner, Felixton College, Eshowe High School and St Catherine’s School all competing valiantly for the ticket to meet Grantleigh.

The final round robin game was all to play for, to reveal who would advance to the regional final. St Catherine’s met Empangeni High School in the penultimate game of the day. Sitting on 11 points, St Catherine’s required a win that would add 4 points, to continue, watched keenly by Eshowe who ended on 14 points. Midway through the riveting game, St Catherine’s netted the all-important goal and then played out the game determinedly, not allowing Empangeni any room to equalise, and finishing their day on 15 points.

This was the first time that St Catherine’s have featured in this regional final, leaving everything on the turf during the day, playing their hearts out, they were thrilled to step onto the astro to meet Grantleigh.

From the whistle, a refreshed Grantleigh dominated. Having had a five game break, the tenacious hosts camped in St Catherine’s half, constantly building pressure. In the first minute, Pipa Saint opened Grantleigh’s account in the game’s first short corner.

The home team’s forwards peppered St Catherine’s courageous keeper, Phakade Mchunu who stood firm deflecting a barrage of attempts. Her gutsy defence wasn’t enough for a slick Grantleigh attack, as the defending champs boldly outnumbered the Saint’s defence, overwhelming them in the circle with a surge of spirited strikes. Nicole Klopper netted the second goal, followed by Lisa Mbhamali and then Klaradyn Kotze got back-to-back goals taking the score up to 5 nil. Three minutes before the final whistle, Amy Scalliet prowling at the goal post was on hand to redirect a fantastic pass that whisked across the goals, nailing in her teams’ sixth goal.

Former Grantleigh player, Beth van Onselen was awarded the Umpire of the Day. Van Onselen matriculated in 2020, having played in two SPAR challenges in her school career. This was her first time appearing at the challenge with a whistle.

Grantleigh is the seventh of ten teams to qualify for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The six teams that have already secured a spot are Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional); The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North Regional); St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional) and Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional).

The next regional takes place this weekend (Saturday 20 April) at St Patrick’s College in Kokstad where ten teams will vie for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional title.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

Results

Regional Final

Grantleigh School 6 vs St Catherine’s School 0

Round Robin Points

1 Grantleigh School 24 points, 2 St Catherine’s School 15 points, 3 Eshowe High School 14 points, 4 Felixton College 11 points, 5 Empangeni High School 7 points, 6 John Ross High 2 points, 7 Richards Bay Christian School 1 point

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg Central Regional 10 March

Seven teams take to the fields for the upcoming Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 10 March, hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. 

Game faces. Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s Leboga Molale and Siyamthanda Majikijela gear up to hosts teams for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge’s Pietermaritzburg Central Regional at the UKZN fields on Sunday 10 March. Pic by Val Adamson

Meeting on the UKZN astro, the fixtures follow the tournament’s familiar style with a round robin format of 21 quick fire games lasting 18 minutes each of running time. The challenge gets underway at 8am. The local schools participating are Alexandra High School, Carter High School, Epworth School, Maritzburg Christian School, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, Russell High School and St John’s D.S.G..

Tipping off the fun-filled day, the first game features Carter High School and Russell High School. Points will be awarded after each game, to the winning team they will earn 4 points, if both teams draw having scored an equal amounts of goals, they will each earn 2 points. For a goalless draw, each team will walk away with 1 point and for the losing team, zero points will be registered on their tally. 

The two top teams will then face off in a much anticipated regional final. The Pietermaritzburg Central Regional has produced three teams that have gone on to represent their area at the conclusion for the competitive teams - the Grand Finals. Both the host of this regional - Epworth School, and St John’s D.S.G. have appeared twice at the Grand Finals, while Epworth also won in 2020, the disrupted CoViD year which had no Grand Final. Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School dominated the region with six successive victories in a row when the tournament began in 2011, and they were crowned champion last year so are this year’s defending champs. 

 Two teams will have secured their ticket at this year’s Grand Finals by 10 March. So far a team from the Durban Central Regional (played on 2 March) and a second team representing the Pietermaritzburg North Regional would have been crowned the day before the PMB Central Regional plays out. All the regional champions will head to St Mary’s D.S.G. to compete in an action-packed two days of top schoolgirls’ hockey at the Grand Finals.

Adding to this year’s challenge, scouts from eta College will be at each of the regionals, watching potential players that they can offer a bursary to their Durban Campus. The bursary will be presented at the Grand Finals. 

 For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools App or on their website. 

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg North Regional 9 March

The Wykeham Collegiate hosts the second regional in the 2024 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 9 March. 

Seven teams will be taking to The Wykeham Collegiate’s turf to rival it out for the honours of the Pietermaritzburg North Regional. Joining the host team, The Wykeham Collegiate are Grace College, Howick High School, Linpark High School, St Anne’s College, Treverton College, and Riverwood College (formerly Voortrekker High).

Jump for joy. The Wykeham Collegiate’s Emily Wilson and Amy Erasmus are excited to defend their title in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. Their team will defend on their home turf on Saturday 9 March, meeting local teams in an action packed day.  Pic by Val Adamson

The tournament will be run in a round robin format. Play gets underway at 8am, with ten games rolling out, followed by a 10 minute technical break, then another 11 games will take place. All games are 18 minutes running time with a 2 minute change over. 

Points will be awarded for each victory, with the winning team earning 4 points. 2 points will go to each team that draw having scored in their game. For a goalless draw, each team will walk away with 1 point. A losing team will unfortunately earn zero points. At the conclusion of the 21 round robin games, the main deciding game will reveal the regional champion.

The host team, The Wykeham Collegiate has won this regional twice, the first time in 2012 and then last year. St Anne’s College is the only other team to have hoisted the trophy in this regional. They have their name engraved on the trophy nine times and will be wanting to claim back the title, earning their tenth victory. 

Each KZN regional winner advances to the Grand Finals which takes place in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The Pietermaritzburg North Regional champion will meet nine other regional champs in a two-day tournament. One team will have secured their ticket for the Grand Finals, on 2 March at the Durban Central Regional, the first in the 2024 challenge. 

Leading up to the Grand Finals, the challenge moves to the UKZN astro the following day where teams will compete in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional, hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. 

Scouts from eta College will be at each of the regionals, watching potential players that they can offer a bursary to their Durban Campus. 

For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools App or on their website. 

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 2024 Challenge Dates Announced

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

2024 Challenge Dates Announced for Popular Hockey Regionals

Entering the tournament’s 14th year, dates for the 2024 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge have been announced.

Up for grabs. Pictured holding the trophy that will be won at the Grand Finals in are Nomfundo Shezi (Sponsorship Controller and Events, SPAR KZN), Nozipho Mkhize (Advertising and Sponsorship Manager, SPAR KZN) and Les Galloway (Tournament Director and Head of Hockey, SchoolGirl Sport).

The tournament that began in 2011 has fast become a firm favourite for young hockey players. Close to 75 girls’ first teams from high schools around KwaZulu-Natal will take to the various hockey fields to compete in the compact and exciting ten regionals in the build-up to the Grand Finals that takes place in July.

The much-anticipated schoolgirls’ annual hockey challenge kicks off with Maris Stella hosting the first tournament, the Durban Central Regional, on Saturday 2 March at Durban High School’s impressive blue astro turf - a new venue for this regional.

Back-to-back action in Pietermaritzburg will be hosted by the two defending regional champs:  on Saturday 9 March, The Wykeham Collegiate welcome teams participating in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional to their home turf, while Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School hosts teams for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional at the UKZN fields on Sunday 10 March.

Another action-packed weekend features the Durban North Regional that takes place at Curro Salt Rock, in Ballito on Saturday 16 March, and the highly competitive Highway Regional at Westville Girls’ High School the next day, Sunday 17 March.

Tipping off the April tournaments, New Forest High School hosts the Durban South Regional at the 3 Schools Trust astro turf, in Glenwood on Saturday 6 April. A week later, heading north, Grantleigh College  is the venue for the North Coast Regional. The defending champs will host schools from Richards Bay and surrounds on Saturday 13 April. Concluding the April action, St Patrick’s College in Kokstad will be a hive of hockey activity on Saturday 20 April for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional.

The penultimate tournament, the uMvoti and oThukela Regional travels to Greytown High on Saturday 4 May. Wrapping up the ten regionals, the KZN Northern Regional commences at Ferrum Hoërskool in Newcastle on Saturday 11 May.

All of the regional champions will head to the tournament’s exciting conclusion – the Grand Finals. The top ten teams will take to the turf at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 20 and 21 July.

Offering a lucky hockey player a golden opportunity, eta College will be joining forces with the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge awarding a one year bursary at the Durban Campus. Eta College has nine campuses around South Africa, focusing on education for fitness, sport and recreational needs. The big reveal will take place at the Grand Finals where the fortunate young woman will be presented with this phenomenal opportunity.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament or follow on Instagram sparkznhockey.

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Ten Teams in Grand Finals 22 & 23 July

After ten hotly contested regionals around KZN, the finalists from each area head to the main event of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG on 22 and 23 July. 

This year’s Grand Finals welcomes a fantastic mix of challengers. The tournament that began in 2011 has a handful of teams with an expansive history of appearances, and adding to the line-up this year, several fresh new contenders. 

Snap! Pictured at the tournament announcement for the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge are Danville Park Girls’ High School’s captain, Anqobile Nkayi; Durban Girls’ College’s Jenna Reardon; Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s keeper, Kelly Willson with her captain Sisikelelwe Sopiseka and St Mary’s DSG’s captain, Kelly Jansens ter laeck. The action packed weekend of hockey will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 22 and 23 July. Pic by Val Adamson

Two travelling teams will be competing for the very first time: the challenge welcomes Suid Natal Hoërskool representing the Sisonke and uGu Region and St Dominics Newcastle, the winner of the Northern KZN Region. 

Two teams will be making their second appearance, having both last competed at the Grand Finals in 2012. The Wykeham Collegiate will be waving the flag for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional and on behalf of the uMvoti and oThukela Regional, Ladysmith High School are back too. In their first run at the finals, Wykeham got to the medal round, finishing an impressive fourth overall, while Ladysmith earned a seventh place eleven years ago. 

Back for a third time, Danville Park Girls’ High School will be keen to better their consistent sixth places in 2012 and 2014. Kuswag Hoërskool will also take to the turf for their third outing. They competed in the inaugural tournament in 2011 where they finished ninth and then last year, they took the tenth spot. 

North Coast Regional winner, Grantleigh College head to the finals for their fifth time. Last year they finished seventh and in 2011, 2016 and 2017 they ended eighth overall. 

After several years’ sabbatical, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School make a welcome return for the seventh time as the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional winners. In their six previous runs, they have featured in the medal games every year with three silvers in 2011, 2013 and 2015, two bronze medals in 2012 and 2014 and a fourth in 2016. 

Host school St Mary’s DSG will be eager to continue their success at the Grand Finals, they have dominated the Highway Regional, representing the area for the tenth time this year. Saints have hoisted the trophy five times in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, taken silver in last year’s finals, won bronze in 2011 and 2013 and finished fourth in 2015. 

The only team with a 100% record at the Grand Finals, Durban Girls’ College are the defending champions. The Durban Central Regional winners have a fantastic history at the Grand Finals, winning gold four times in 2013, 2014, 2015 and last year. They have also won silver in 2012, 2016 and 2017, one bronze in 2019 and two fourth places in 2011 and 2018. 

The weekend’s action will all be livestreamed on the SuperSport School’s mobile app and website.  

For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparKZNSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

Eleventh Appearance

Durban Girls’ College - Durban Central Regional Winner - Gold (2013, 2014, 2015, 2022), Silver (2012, 2016, 2017), Bronze (2019), Fourth (2011, 2018)

Tenth Appearance

St Mary’s D.S.G. – Highway Regional Winner - Gold (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Silver (2022), Bronze (2011, 2013), Fourth (2015)

 Seventh Appearance

Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High – Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Winner - Silver (2011, 2013, 2015), Bronze (2012, 2014), Fourth (2016)

 Fifth Appearance

Grantleigh College – North Coast Regional Winner – Seventh (2022), Eighth (2011, 2016, 2017)

 Third Appearance

Danville Park Girls’ High School – Durban North Regional Winner – Sixth (2012, 2014) 

Kuswag Hoërskool – Durban South Regional Winner – Ninth (2011), Tenth (2022)

 Second Appearance

The Wykeham Collegiate – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner - Fourth (2012)

Ladysmith High School - uMvoti and oThukela Regional – Seventh (2012)

 First Appearance

Suid Natal Hoërskool - Sisonke and uGu Regional Winner

St Dominics Newcastle – Northern KZN Regional Winner 

 ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge Durban South - Saturday 15 April

Hockey teams participating in the Durban South Regional will head to 3 Schools’ Trust for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 15 April.

Hosted by defending champions, Kuswag Hoërskool, five other teams will join them on the astro. Amanzimtoti, who have hoisted the trophy a handful of times, will be leading the charge to reclaim the title, together with a highly competitive line up including Kingsway High School, New Forest High School, Queensburgh Girls’ High School and Werda Skool. 

Ready to bounce into the third regional, Kuswag players Silke Bester and Maya Pretorious look forward to welcoming teams at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that they will host at 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 15 April. Pic by Val Adamson

The format for the day has the six teams squaring off in a round robin tournament, with the games lasting 25 minutes one way. The winning team will notch up 4 points for their efforts. In a case where the teams drew with goals, they will both earn 2 points, while a goalless draw sees their scores increase by one point. A loss will register zero point on the scorecard. 

Getting the tournament underway, New Forest will take on Amanzimtoti who have represented this region five times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), in the first game of the day at 8am. Followed by Queensburgh versus Kingsway. Host school, Kuswag have won the title twice in 2011 and 2022 take on Werda in their third round of the tournament. The top two performing teams will meet each other in the regional final just before 2pm. 

The winner of the Durban South Regional will join Danville Park Girls’ High School (DBN North Regional) and St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional) at the Grand Finals that will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on the 22nd and 23rd of July.

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools app or on their website. 

For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey)

ENDS

Danville Park Girls High scoops regional trophy of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Top honours went to Danville Park Girls’ High School in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge after their tightly fought duel against host school, Our Lady of Fatima at the Riverside Hockey Club on Saturday 11 March.

Up until the final whistle, spectators were kept on the edge of their seats, as the game shot from one end of the field to the other. Defending champs, Fatima fought valiantly up until the last second, throwing all of the arsenal into the all-important equaliser but Danville didn’t allow them any room or opportunity, courageously clinching onto their 1 nil lead. 

Fatima ignited their final with a first minute charge up to the Danville circle but were unable to capitalise on their early break. The hosts dominated the first quarter of the game, with a variety of attacks being thwarted by a steadfast and solid Danville defense. 

After five minutes of play, Danville’s first run up to the Fatima goal ended with a determined shot being comfortably blocked. Four minutes later, Danville earned two back to back short corners that Fatima fearlessly prevented, retaliating with a good charge up into the Danville half. 

With the countdown ticking down, and less than 8 minutes of play remaining, captain for Danville, Anqobile Nkayi was rewarded with a free hit after her solid run two thirds of the way down the right-hand side of the pitch. She swiftly got play under way, passing the ball quickly to team mate, Savanah Ferreira who managed to hot foot it into the circle around two hard working Fatima defenders. Finding herself with a bit of space, and being on the wrong foot, she niftily tapped the ball in, sneaking it beyond the right outstretched pad of the Fatima keeper.

Fatima’s flair-filled day fizzled out after they tried everything to level the score, searching over heads, quick fire passes or solid searching knocks frustratingly went amiss as a calm Danville backline sent play back up to midway, only for Fatima to try again. 

Talking after the game, Nkayi enthused, “We had such fun today. We set the tone in our first game with a 5 nil win and that flowed through the rest of our tournament. Even after our one bad game, our team were unruffled. We didn’t concede a goal throughout the day and I am delighted with our performance.”

Leading up to the regional final, both teams had good runs in their pool games. In Fatima’s four games, they won three and drew against Ashton International College, while Danville were victorious in all of their games. Both teams didn’t allow any goals in in their build up to the regional final, with only the tournament winning goal slipping past Fatima.

Coaching the Danville team for the second year, an extremely happy Matthew Smith said, “The final was a composed and simple game, I think it was the best game of the tournament for the girls. They played magnificently and deserved that win.”

No stranger to the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Ashton International College’s Gareth Bishop was presented with the Umpire of the Day award for the third time. 

This is the fourth time that Danville have hoisted the regional trophy in the 13 years since the tournament was launched. They are the first team to earn their spot at the 2023 Grand Finals that will be taking place in July at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof. 

For more info like the Facebook page or follow the tournament on Instagram. 

Results

1 Danville Park Girls’ High School, 2 Our Lady of Fatima

Pool Game Results

Pool A

1 Danville Park Girls’ High School 16 points, 2 Reddam uMhlanga 6 points , 3 Crawford La Lucia 6 points , 4 Curro Salt Rock 6 points, 5 Durban North College 0 points

Pool B

1 Our Lady of Fatima 13 points, 2 Ashton International College 13 points 3 Northlands Girls’ High School 5 points, 4 Reddam Ballito 2 points, Crawford North Coast 1 point

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban North Regional - Saturday 11 March

An early start, Northlands Girls’ High School will meet Ashton International College in the first game of the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge as they take each other on in the Durban North Regional hosted by Our Lady of Fatima at Riverside Hockey Club on Saturday 11 March.

The first of 21 games tips off just after 7am with ten local teams heading to Riverside to participate in one of the most tightly fought regionals in this challenge. The tournament will have the ten teams split up into two pools. Pool A has Danville Park Girls’ High School joined by Curro Salt Rock, Crawford La Lucia, Durban North College and Reddam House uMhlanga and Pool B is led by hosts Fatima, with Ashton International College, Northlands Girls’ High, Crawford North Coast and Reddam Ballito.

Our Lady of Fatima first team hockey Captain Mia Liebenberg (left) and Vice-Captain Courtney Veenstra (right) are keen to get the balling rolling as the school will host the first regional of the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at Riverside Hockey Club on Saturday 11 March.

All the games will last 20 minutes with play only running one way. A win earns the successful team 4 points, a draw with goals sees both teams notch up 2 points, a goalless draw only a single point for both teams and finally, a loss registering zero points for the unsuccessful team.

Four teams have raised the Durban North Regional trophy, with hosts Fatima featuring the most at the Grand Finals, with their name engraved four times on the trophy. They are also the defending champs in this year’s regional. Danville Park Girls’ High has made three appearances at the conclusion to the ten regional tournament. Ashton International College dominated this region in the early days, and every year is a livewire of a threat on the turf, and most recently, Crawford La Lucia wowed fans with their fantastic flair.

In a weekend filled with exciting hockey action, the following day (12 March) the challenge heads to Thomas More College for the highly competitive Highway Regional.

All action will be streamed live on either the SuperSport Schools’ Mobile App or their website.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow their Instagram account.

 ENDS

Grantleigh College wins North Coast Regional of SPAR Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge

North Coast Regional

Grantleigh College: Saturday 21 May

For the fifth consecutive regional final, host school Grantleigh College met Felixton College in the North Coast Regional, the last of the ten KZN regionals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge held on Saturday 21 May at Grantleigh’s astro.

In their previous clashes since 2017, both teams have raised the trophy twice. In their fifth regional final bout, Grantleigh managed a hard-earned victory. It was their second meeting of the day against the determined visitors, the top two teams met in the opening game of the tournament, when the heavens opened dumping bucket loads of water on the field. In a drenched start, the first round went in favour of Grantleigh.

Games were reduced to fifteen minutes each with the deluge threatening for the entire day to be postponed. Fortunately for the seven teams, the rain didn’t stop play and the weather cleared up.

After a cautious start by both teams in the tense final, Grantleigh started to build pressure on Felixton after 8 minutes of play. The home team got into their stride taking the game up towards the Felixton goal.

Grantleigh had been taking runs at the Felixton defense for a couple of minutes, sending play down their favoured right-hand side. A break through saw Kelly Braithwaite being in the right spot at the right time as she was left unmarked in the middle of the Felixton circle. Camping out on the penalty spot, Braithwaite received a gift of an opportunity when the ball rolled straight to her from one of her team’s advances. Calmly balancing herself and not hesitating, she slapped the ball in for Grantleigh’s first goal.

In a steadfast and unwavering display, not giving up - the visiting team had a fantastic passage of play going on the offensive. Three minutes after Grantleigh scored, Felixton were awarded a short corner. The ball was pushed short to the first player on the D, stopping it cleanly and quickly, Chanel Naidoo let off her attempt from just inside the circle. Grantleigh’s keeper, Zime Maxase didn’t have any problems stopping the shot, and not wasting any time, she efficiently got the ball away from the goal mouth. Unfortunately, the swift clearance found a Felixton attacker who got the second phase of play underway, moving the ball smoothly to her player on the post. In a decisive deflection, Amanda Mthembu helped the precise pass in, earning the all-important leveller. The score now was 1 all with just under 9 minutes left of play.

As time slipped away, both teams persevered in their quest for the regional winning goal but as the final whistle blew, the score was still level with both teams netting only the one goal each. The regional final moved to a penalty shoot-out where three players from each team would individually have a chance against the opposition’s keeper.

In the six rounds of the penalty shoot-outs, the scoreboard remained unchanged with all six attempts either going wide or being well defended by the alert keepers. The game then went to the next level, sudden death. Felixton led the charge with Naidoo making her way goalwards, as she neared Grantleigh’s keeper, she craftily tried to slip in her attempt, but her shot was fired directly at the keeper, Maxase, who neatly cleared it out of the danger zone.

Next to go, with home turf and home crowd advantage, Grantleigh’s Braithwaite cruised up with the ball. As she entered the circle, she veered right and after a couple of paces, knocked in a rocket that was just out of reach of Felixton’s keeper, Sena Mhlaba, her goal claiming victory for her beloved team.

Chatting after the game, Captain for Grantleigh College, Kayla Hassard shared, “We had a very good tournament, and played well throughout the day. Our structure was good, and everything that we have been working on we were able to achieve, and we proved what we are capable of. Felixton are our main rivals in this area and in today’s game they made us work hard for our win. I am extremely proud of our shoot out and how well Zime and Kelly did in the sudden death.”

Sisanda Juqu from Grantleigh College was awarded Umpire of the Day.

Hoisting the trophy for the fifth time, Grantleigh have earned the final ticket to the Grand Finals where they will meet nine other KZN regional winners at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof on 23 and 24 July.

North Coast Regional winner, Grantleigh College join Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional); King Edward High School (Ugu and Sisonke Regional); Domino Servite (uMvoti and oThukela Regional) and Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional) at the Grand Finals.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

1 Grantleigh College 24 points; 2 Felixton College 20 points; 3 Empangeni High School 10 points; 4 St Catherine’s School 6 points; 5 Eshowe High School 4 points; = 6 John Ross College 3 points; = 6 Richards Bay Christian School 3 points

Scores

Felixton 0 vs Grantleigh 1

St Catherine’s 0 vs Eshowe 0

Empangeni 0 vs Richards Bay Christian School 0

Felixton 3 vs John Ross 0

Eshowe 0 vs Empangeni 0

Grantleigh 2 vs St Catherine’s 0

Felixton 2 vs Empangeni 0

John Ross 0 vs Grantleigh 4

Richards Bay Christian School 1 vs Eshowe 1

Felixton 3 vs St Catherine’s 0

Empangeni 0 vs Grantleigh 1

John Ross 0 vs Richards Bay Christian School 0

Felixton 2 vs Eshowe 1

Richards Bay Christian School 0 vs Grantleigh 5

St Catherine’s 0 vs John Ross 0

Eshowe 0 vs Grantleigh 5

John Ross 0 vs Empangeni 1

Richards Bay Christian School 0 vs St Catherine’s 2

Eshowe 0 vs John Ross 0

Felixton 2 vs Richards Bay Christian School 0

St Catherine’s 0 vs Empangeni 1

Final: Grantleigh 1 (1) vs Felixton 0 (1)

ENDS

Durban Girls' College wins Durban Central Regional of SPAR Schoolgirls' Hockey

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge

Durban Central Regional

Durban Girls College: Sunday 15 May 

Building on their outstanding record, Durban Girls’ Colleges dominance in the Durban Central Regional continued at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on their home turf on Sunday 15 May.

College is the only team in the history of the tournament that started in 2011, to have a 100% record winning all of their regionals. Netting a cracking 32 goals in their six round robin games and having a clean sheet in the goals against column, College completed their impeccable performance and an impressive 24 points on the log. Finishing with an impressive 17 points, Durban Girls High School ended their round robin in second place, earning themselves another run at College after their narrow defeat in their first meeting.

College met a gritty and untiring team from Durban Girls’ High School in the regional decider. Girls’ High defended like champs for majority of the game with a barrage of attacks by the home team. The first circle entry by College took place with just 27 seconds of play on the clock. Nine seconds later, College earned their first of five short corners. 

Constantly mounting on the pressure, College controlled majority of the possession with quick and decisive play heading towards their opposition’s goals. In Girls’ High School’s first moment on attack in the eighth minute, Hannah Lombard found herself with a golden opportunity, having the ball on stick and some room to move, she honed in on the College goals, with just the keeper, Nandi Mnyandu to beat, Lombard released the ball watching it as it rolled agonizingly out of play, shaving the left upright. 

On the other side, standing strong, the last line of defense for Girls’ High, Amy Callaghan had a cracking game in goals. On her toes, she padded away anything that came near her, including a whistling reverse stick shot fired from only meters in front with just 3 minutes left on the clock, the pumped-up keeper punched the attempt with her left hand stopping the ball in its tracks. 

With time slipping away, College were awarded a free hit midfield on the 22 with only 67 seconds left of the game. Emily Macquet quickly got play underway knocking the ball into the circle. The determined pass was missed by two of her players, and the players marking them. Standing right at the back, hugging the left post was College’s Hannah Hargroves who calmly stuck out her stick, redirecting the free hit firmly into the back of the goals, scoring Colleges’ all important regional final winner. 

Umpire of the Day was awarded to Sonika Buys wearing St Henrys Marist College colours. This is not the first time ‘no nonsense’ Buys has been acknowledged at this regional for her wonderful skills with the whistle. 

Captain for College, Danni Wiseman stated after the game, “We performed really well as a team and we are growing with each game that we play. I am really proud of the girls for what we have accomplished today. Our games against DGHS in the playoffs and in the final were tough ones, big congratulations to them as well, they played really well.”

Talking about the final, Wiseman continued, “We had a lot of possession but unfortunately just couldn’t finish. Luckily for us we got that goal near the end of the game.”

Durban Girls’ College is the ninth team that will be heading to the Grand Finals in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. They join eight teams that have already won their regionals, they are Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional); King Edward High School (Ugu and Sisonke Regional); Domino Servite (uMvoti and oThukela Regional).

The challenge wraps up next weekend in Richards Bay with Grantleigh hosting the North Coast KZN Regional. 

Results

1 Durban Girls’ College 24 points; 2 Durban Girls’ High School 17 points; 3 Maris Stella 14 points; 4 St Henry’s Marist College 13 points; 5 INK 8 points; =6 Inanda Seminary School 1 point; =6 Port Natal Skool 1 point

Games Scores

St Henrys 0 vs Durban Girls’ College 5

Maris Stella 0 vs Durban Girls’ High School 0

Port Natal 0 vs INK 2

Inanda Seminary 0 vs St Henrys 3

Durban Girls’ College 3 vs Maris Stella 0

Durban Girls’ High School 5 vs Port Natal 0

St Henrys 1 vs INK 0 

Maris Stella 5 vs Inanda Seminary 0 

Durban Girls’ College 1 vs Durban Girls’ High School 0

St Henrys 3 vs Port Natal 0

Maris Stella 5 vs INK 0

Durban Girls’ College 7 vs Inanda Seminary 0

St Henrys 0 vs Durban Girls’ High School 3

Durban Girls’ College 7 vs Port Natal 0

Inanda Seminary 0 vs Durban Girls’ High School 6

St Henrys 0 vs Maris Stella 0

Durban Girls’ High School 6 vs INK 0

Port Natal 0 vs Inanda Seminary 0

Durban Girls’ College 9 vs INK 0

Maris Stella 1 vs Port Natal 0

INK 1 vs Inanda Seminary 0

Final: Durban Girls’ College 1 vs Durban Girls’ High School 0

ENDS

Domino Servite for Grand Finals of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

uMvoti and oThukela Regional

Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg: Saturday 7 May

In a surprise upset, Domino Servite took the honours in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge’s uMvoti and oThukela Regional at Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg on Saturday 7 May.

They met one of the favourites in the regions’ final game, toppling Wartburg Kirchdorf School in an all-important critical penalty shoot-out. After 25 minutes of play the whistle blew with the score line level on one each. 

Domino were awarded their first real threat in the game, a short corner midway through the final. The ball was pushed to the top of the circle, where the castle sent the ball towards the goals finding its way to the right where a tussle right on the post saw Wartburg’s goalkeeper Yoliswa Khenyisa keel over, hitting the upright and concussing herself.

Domino’s captain, Liezel Green managed to knock their goal in shortly after Wartburg’s keeper’s unfortunate injury. As the game drew to a close, Wartburg responded with a barrage of attacks, including four short corners. On their final set piece, they managed to equalise after the ball was pushed out to the top of the D, with Lise-Lea Engelbrecht trapping it cleanly, shifting the ball from her favoured right, side-stepping the first wave, and knocking in a reverse stick leveller. 

Seconds later the final whistle blasted announcing the outcome of the game would head to the penalty spot. Wartburg’s Robyn Vorster took their first opportunity scoring with her attempt and putting her team 1 point ahead. For the next four rounds the score board remained on 2 – 1 to Wartburg. 

Domino’s captain Green stepped up to the spot, and determinedly took the ball up, zig-zagging as she went. A firm standing Wartburg’s stand in keeper, Andile Dube was unable to keep up with the quick footed, Green’s attempt and watched amazed as the ball rolled over her line, again levelling the score. 

The game’s conclusion then moved to sudden death with Wartburg setting off first. Their fourth penalty being mis-hit giving Domino the edge. Amy van Tonder from Domino eagerly stepped up and calmly made her way goalwards, pulling the ball right and determinedly knocking the ball across the line earning her team their third goal and the regional title for the first time. 

Chatting after the final, Captain for Domino Liezel Green shared, “We came here a little bit unsure but were quite excited. We knew we were stronger than two teams but Wembely and Wartburg we were a bit unsure about.  We were delighted to reach the final, but we were exhausted, so it was a game that we played a lot more defensively. We didn’t expect to win but we are very happy and delighted to make it through to the grand finals for the first time.”

Coach for Domino, Willen du Toit, “We enjoyed it. It was tough and draining and a rollercoaster day. We got to the final and scored and then right at the end they scored and we had to go to a shootout. It was fun and I am very happy for the team, they did well.”

Acknowledged for his efforts with the whistle, Gareth Larkan from host school Hermannsburg was named Umpire of the Day.

In their inaugural appearance, Domino Servite will represent the uMvoti and oThukela Region as the eighth team at the Grand Finals in July, They join Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional); and most recently King Edward High School (Ugu and Sisonke Regional).

Next week the action moves to Durban for the second last tournament for 2022, the Durban Central Regional at Durban Girls’ College, followed by the Northern KZN Coastal Regional at Grantleigh School in Richards Bay on Saturday 21 May. 

Results

1 Domino Servite 2 Wartburg Kirchdorf School 3 Wembley College 4 Greytown High School 5 Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg 

Game Scores

Wartburg 2 vs Wembley 0 

Domino 1 vs Greytown 0 

Hermannsburg 0 vs Wartburg 5 

Greytown 0 vs Wembley 1

Hermannsburg 0 vs Domino 3

Wartburg 0 vs Greytown 0

Wembley 1 vs Domino 1 

Greytown 2 vs Hermannsburg 0

Domino 0 vs Wartburg 0

Wembley 2 vs Hermannsburg 0

ENDS

Westville Girls to host Highway Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Highway Regional

Westville Girls’ High School: Sunday 13 March

Nearing midway in the 2020 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, the fifth tournament takes place at Westville Girls’ High School where first teams will meet for the Highway Regional on Sunday 13 March.

Joining host school, Westville are Curro Hillcrest, Gelofte High School, Hillcrest High School, Kloof High School, St Mary’s DSG Kloof and Thomas More College.

The seven teams will have 18 minutes of turf time to create some magic on the field. The programme for the day has Westville meeting Thomas More in the first game at 8am. The format for the day is a round robin, where a win earns the team 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and zero points for a loss. 

In the event of teams being equal on points at the end of the round robin, the positions will be determined by goal difference or goals for or goals against and should there still be a tie, then a penalty shootout will take place between three players from those teams. After the round robin, the top two teams with the highest scores will play in the final to determine first and second place. Should the game end in a draw, the final heads to the penalty shootout for the regional decider. 

Over the years, St Mary’s DSG have dominated this regional with appearances in all but one Grand Final. In 2014, a courageous team from Westville Girls managed to topple Saints in the regional and make their first appearance at the Grand Finals. After 22 games in this round robin, the 2022 winner will be revealed. 

The Grand Finals features each of the ten regional winners over two days of action-packed hockey. The victorious team from the Highway Regional will join teams already through to the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof in July. Teams that have secured their berth at the finals are newcomer Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional) and St Anne’s (PMB North Regional). The fourth tournament, the DBN North Regional, takes place the day before the Highway Regional. 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram. All of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge tournaments will be live streamed by Supersport Schools on their app or website. 

ENDS

Danville to host Durban North Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 12 March 2022

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

DBN North Regional

Danville Park Girls’ High School: Saturday 12 March

In the fourth tournament of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, ten teams will gather for the DBN North Regional at Danville Park Girls’ High School on Saturday 12 March. 

The ten schools have been divided into two pools. In Pool A are Crawford La Lucia, Curro Mt Richmore, Durban North College, Reddam House uMhlanga and Our Lady of Fatima. Pool B features Ashton International College, Crawford North Coast, Danville Park Girls’ High, Northlands Girls’ High and Reddam House Ballito. 

The first game tips off at 7.15am, getting the tournament underway will be Curro Mt Richmore and Our Lady of Fatima. Winners will earn themselves 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. After 20 games, the winner of Pool A will take on the winner of Pool B in the regional final. 

In one of the most competitive regionals, four teams have gone on to represent the area at the Grand Finals. Host school, Danville are the defending champs, having won the title three times. This regional has had four winners – Ashton Fatima, Danville and Crawford La Lucia

The winner of this regional will join nine other teams from around KZN at the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG in July. Three teams have already secured their spots at the Grand Finals, they are Pionier Hoerskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional) and St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional).

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram. All the games will be livestreamed by SuperSport Schools on either the app or website

. 

ENDS

St John's D.S.G. win PMB Centrals of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

PMB Central Regional

St John’s D.S.G. : Sunday 6 March

A golden performance by host school St John’s D.S.G. saw them claim victory in the PMB Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 6 March on their home turf.

After an intense regional final against defending champs, Epworth School, the yellow sticks managed to win 2-1 after 30 minutes of fantastic flowing hockey. St John’s showed their intentions when they knocked in their first goal after 180 seconds of game time. The first goal coming off a set piece in their first short corner. The ball flying in from a fiery flick but being bravely stopped by the Epworth keeper Lauren Roseveare. The ball falling favourably for St John’s Amy-Rene Jacobs who slapped it in.

Ninety seconds later, Epworth replied sending up a long ball through the middle of the field. The pass finding an unmarked Rebecca Cook who determinedly ran the ball up into the St John’s circle, and just continued while a surprised St John’s defender and an unsure keeper, both didn’t react in time as Epworth’s Cook literally ran the ball into the goal, squeezing it in between the right post and keeper.

The game intensified in the middle section, with loads of turn overs as passes didn’t find their players. Each team trying to find holes in their oppositions defence. With 5 minutes remaining, St John’s Captain, Olivia MacDonald was able to pounce on open space when she started play after being fouled. Epworth were on the back foot as she quickly took the ball up into the circle, moved it to her left and fired off a reverse stick rocket. The score line edged up to 2-1.

With three minutes left to play, Epworth earned their second short corner of the game. The home team’s defence stood strong, not allowing the visitors low flying flick to find the back of the net and surviving yet another well-co-ordinated Epworth attack.

St John’s shone brightly after a solid display throughout the day winning all the round robin games. They earned their second regional title after first winning the PMB Central Regional in 2017. The Most Promising Umpire Award went to Maritzburg Christian School’s Manqoba Mkhize.

St John’s D.S.G. from the PMB Central Regional is the third team to cement their spot at the Grand Finals. They join Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional) and St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional). The Grand Finals takes place in July at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram. All the games will be livestreamed by SuperSport Schools.

Overall results

1 St John’s 16 points 2 Epworth School 12 points 3 PMB Girls’ High 8 points 4= Carter High School 1 point; 4= Maritzburg College 1 point

ENDS

St Anne's takes top honours in PMB North Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

PMB North Regional

St Anne’s College: Saturday 5 March

After a cracker of a day on the turf, the host school, St Anne’s College continued their Midlands dominance as their team raised the PMB North Regional trophy for the tenth time in a row in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge held on Saturday 5 March, 2022.

The regional final went down to the wire in a nail-biting 25 minutes. Out of the blocks, The Wykeham Collegiate looked the more composed team, settling in early and taking the ball up to St Anne’s circle on several occasions. The visitors were just unable to convert their possession and barrage of attacks into early goals.

It took St Anne’s seven minutes to find their groove as they started to find gaps in The Wykeham Collegiate game. Midway through the final, St Anne’s earned a short corner. In the set piece, the ball was moved to Georgie Leseur who fired in a flick taking Saints 1 goal up. Shortly after their success, St Anne’s were awarded another short corner. TWC stood strong, defending valiantly and managed a quick turn around with a superb counter attack. On the opposite end, TWC got their chance at a short corner. The ball was pushed to the castle, then moved left. After a bit of a mistimed shot, Amy Erasmus who had just injected the ball, was brilliantly on hand to tap the ball across the goal to a waiting Sarah van den Bergh who knocked in the all-important equaliser.

Both teams worked hard as the clock ticked down but were unable to find the back of the net as they desperately attacked in the hopes of eking out a win. The game ended 1 all after full time, with the decider for this regional final moving to the penalty spot.

TWC matched St Anne’s shot for shot during the exciting three rounds of penalty shoot-outs. After the first round, there was nothing in it and the scores were level on 2 all, with the game progressing to a dramatic sudden death round. After a total of nine rounds, six of those in the sudden death, Saint’s Ella Shuttleworth capitalised on TWC’s Ella Hanbury King unfortunate miss, calmly slotting in her shot and claiming victory for St Anne’s after a magnificent, riveting final.

Co-Captain for St Anne’s Bahati Dakile stated after the prize giving, “I think the back to back was definitely challenging, but I think our team really brought it together in the end. We really supported each other. The competition today was great, and everyone played really well. It wasn’t an easy day with everyone doing really well to contest, and I think our team really, really put in the effort. So did everyone else. It was a fun day, lots of excitement and it is so, so great to be back.”

Talking about the epic sudden death rounds, Dakile continued, “That was so nerve wracking to be honest. We tried to switch up our order and make it challenging for the other team. Our goal keeper Sandi, is really young, she is only in grade nine and it is her first big tournament and she really pulled it out the bag. She did her best and it ended paying off at the end of the day.”

St Anne’s coach, Marcelle Keet said, “It was awesome to be out on the pitch after CoViD, after two years of not playing hockey. I think it was a really good standard of hockey throughout this Midlands area. Everyone was competitive in all the games that we played, in our round robin. And then a really tough game against The Wykeham in the first game and it was bound to be a tough final going into the last game. They brought a lot of energy, a lot of good. structured hockey. It is great for the Midlands that these two teams are really competitive, it makes the province even more competitive.”

Talking about the conclusion to the final, she added. "Really proud of the girls. They really dug deep. It takes quite a lot of guts to stand up and do the eight second right at the ends. Both keepers were exceptional and the three girls on either side having to do two rounds of extra time in eight seconds which was absolutely fantastic but that exactly what SPAR wants for the ladies’ hockey, to end off in such an exciting final. It is just an absolute pleasure being back again at hockey and being able to play again at the SPAR Challenge.”

Umpire for the Day was awarded to Nicea Strydom from Voortrekker High School.

This is the tenth time St Anne’s College will represent the PMB North Regional. They are now heading to the Grand Finals, they join newcomers, Pionier Hoërskool who will wave the flag for the Northern KZN Regional. Both teams will meet eight other schools, making up the ten teams who will all do battle over two days at St Mary’s in July.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page, or follow on Instagram. All the games will be livestreamed by SuperSport Schools.

Overall results

1 St Anne’s College 20pts; 2 The Wykeham Collegiate 16pts; 3 Howick High School 12pts; 4 Voortreker High School 8pts; 5 Treverton High School 4pts; 6 Grace College 0pts

ENDS

 Photos by Rogan Ward

Action packed weekend ahead in Pietermaritzburg with SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

PMB Central and PMB North Regionals

St Anne’s College: Saturday 5 March and St John’s D.S.G.: Sunday 6 March

The SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge moves to Pietermaritzburg for the two highly competitive regionals at the beginning of March, with the exciting news that SuperSport Schools will be live streaming from both schools on the day.

St Anne’s College will host the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on their turfs on Saturday 5 March. They will be joined by five other teams in the sixteen game round robin tournament. Getting the weekend started will be hosts and defending champs, St Anne’s taking on Grace College on the lower astro. At the same time, Howick High School will meet Treverton School on the upper astro. The second game on the lower field sees The Wykeham Collegiate against Voortrekker High School.

The games at St Anne’s will all be 25 minutes one way with a five minute breather between games. The winner of each game will earn four points. A draw with goals will amount to two points and a goalless draw earning each team one point. The finals will be played at 12.15 and will feature the first placed and second placed teams from the round robin.

The following day, the action moves to St John’s D.S.G. astro, who are celebrating their 125th birthday this year. St John’s will host the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Sunday 6 March welcoming four local schools.

Defending Champs, Epworth School meets Girls’ High School in the first game of the day. Carter High School then take on Maritzburg Christian School in the second with the hosts meeting Epworth in the third round robin game.

All games will be half and hour, with a quick one minute half time and change of play at fifteen minutes. Similarly to the St Anne’s format, a win earns the victorious team four points, a draw with goals two points and a goalless draw only one point.

The PMB Northern Regional has had only two victorious teams, one time winners The Wykeham Collegiate were crowned in the inaugural year and since then, St Anne’s College have dominated. The PMB Central Regional has seen three schools raise the regional trophy and advance to the Grand Finals. Girls’ High dominated the earlier days of the tournament with Epworth and St John’s doing battle most recently.

All the regional winners from around KZN will head to Kloof to compete against each other in the Grand Finals. This year, the Grand Finals takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G. over the weekend of 23 and 24 July. The first team to earn a spot at this year’s finals are Pionier Hoërskool from the Northern KZN Regional. They have won the last tournament in 2020 but have yet to participate in a Grand Final.

Links and info for the live coverage will be shared on the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ social media platforms in the build up to the regionals.

For more info like the tournaments Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

ENDS