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

Fixtures for the North Coast Regional Grantleigh College: Saturday 15 May

Fixtures for the North Coast Regional Grantleigh College: Saturday 15 May

The fourth regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge heads to the picturesque pitch of Grantleigh College for the North Coast Regional on Saturday 15 May. 

With hometown advantage, Grantleigh hopes to reclaim their title in this regional that sees six schools taking to the turf. Joining them on the day are defending champs, Felixton College, John Ross College, Richards Bay Christian School, St Catherine’s and Empangeni High School.

Half of the teams taking to the astro have been crowned in this region. Empangeni High School have four wins to their name in the early days of the tournament, with hosts Grantleigh winning three times and most recently, Felixton College lifting the trophy twice. 

Each school will get a good run after a year’s break, with five games in total in the round robin format. After the fifteen games, the two teams topping the leaderboard will get a chance to play for the honour of regional champion in the Take Two of the tournament’s milestone celebratory ‘tenth’ year.  

The games will be 20 minutes long, with play running one way only. Successful teams will earn themselves 4 points for a win, if teams draw with both teams slotting goals, they will get 2 points, and for a goalless draw only 1 point will be added to their scorecard. In the final, if the games are level, both teams will head to the spot for a three player penalty shoot out. 

So far, three tournaments have rolled out in quick succession with Danville Park Girls’ High taking the first win in the Durban North Regional. Wembley College from took the uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional, St Mary’s D.S.G. from the Highway Regional. The following day Durban Girls’ High School hosts schools for the Durban Central Regional. The remaining tournaments all play out in the next month.

Please note, no supporters are allowed pitch-side under the current government regulations.

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

ENDS

Fixtures: uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Media Release

Fixtures for Second SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Wembley College; Greytown: Saturday 8 May

Fixtures for the second tournament of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge have been announced for the uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional on Saturday 8 May.

A fabulous four teams will take to the turf at host school, Wembley College this year. Joining Wembley are Domino Servite and previous regional winners Greytown High School and Wartburg Kirchdorf School.

A round robin format sees six games being played, each game lasting 30 minutes with a five minute break between matches. Following on from the round robin, the top two teams will meet to reveal the overall regional winner.

Of the four teams featured on the day, three have ventured to the Grand Finals in previous years with Wartburg Kirchdorf dominating this area in the ten year history of this SPAR KZN hockey tournament. Greytown High School technically are the defending champs, having lifted the trophy in 2019. 

In an action-filled month of hockey, Danville Park Girls’ High from the Durban North Regional took the top honours in the first tournament this past weekend, and teams from the Highway area take to the turf on Sunday 9 May. Five more tournaments take place around KZN on the remaining weekends in May, and the final two of the ten regions rolling out in early June.

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

ENDS

Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals St John’s D.S.G. and The Wykeham Collegiate: Sunday 3 March

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals

St John’s D.S.G. and The Wykeham Collegiate: Sunday 3 March

Firing up the 2019 SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, the first two regionals tip off in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 3 March.

Host for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional is St John’s D.S.G. while up the road, The Wykeham Collegiate will play host to the Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional. The central games get under way at 07.30am and half an hour later for the northern regional. The top two teams for both regionals will duel it out for their regional final at 01.25pm at The Wykeham Collegiate, and at 02.50pm at St John’s D.S.G. The prize givings will follow the finals for each regional.

Central hosts, St John’s are one times winners having advanced to the Grand Finals in 2017, they take on defending champs Epworth School together with six times victrix, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. Also part of the central regional are Russell High, Alexandra High, Maritzburg Christian School and Carter High.

Wykeham have also earned the regional title once in the second tournament in 2012. St Anne’s College have dominated the area winning the regional crown seven times. Hoping to topple Saint’s domination are schools from Voortrekker High, Grace College, Howick High and Treverton and of course host The Wykeham Collegiate.

Both regionals will be using the round robin format with a win earning them 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. The match duration will last 20 minutes rolling time.

Following the first two Pietermaritzburg regionals, the tournament then travels to Durban for the Durban North and Durban Central Regionals taking place the weekend after. Once all the regionals have concluded, the regional finalists converge on the Grand Finals which takes place on 20 and 21 July at St Mary’s D.S.G.

ENDS

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Durban Central Regional 3 Schools Trust: Sunday 26 March

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban Central Regional

3 Schools Trust: Sunday 26 March

The sixth regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge sees nine Durban Central Schools’ battling it out for the honours at the 3 Schools Trust Astroturf on Sunday, March 26,

Winners of last year’s central regional, Durban Girls’ College will no doubt be going all out to defend their title, having owned this space since the inaugral tournament in 2011 and have won gold in the Grand Finals three times in a row in 2013, 2014 and 2015, with two silvers in 2012 and 2016 and a bronze in 2011.

Joining them on the astro next Sunday will be Maris Stella, St Henry’s, Durban Girls’ High School, Hoërskool Port Natal, Inanda High School, the INK team, a combined team of players from the Inanda, KwaMashu Ntuzuma districtsand two newcomers to the tourney, Durban Girls Secondary and Rossburgh High.

The regional, which is hosted by Durban Girls’ High, will be played in two pools, with each game lasting 20 minutes.

“This is always an exciting regional to watch, as there are some strong teams with healthy competitive spirits determined to claim the title.” says Tournament Director Les Galloway.  “We are particularly pleased to welcome both the INK and Inanda teams back, and we welcome the Durban Girls’ Secondary and Rossburgh High teams to their first regional. This tournament is a fantastic example of how the enthusiasm of the game can spill over to other schools and encourage them to offer hockey as an extra-curricular sport and help to grow the sport.”

“We are always thrilledto welcome new blood to the tournaments, as it provides an opportunity for the teams to meet with new schools, new styles of playing and new challenges,” says Max Oliva, MD of SPAR KZN. “This tournament promises some exciting games, and if any of the other regionals are anything to go by, we are not only in for a fantastic sporting festival, but a wonderful opportunity to meet with like-minded sports lovers, and enjoy the social connections these tournaments offer.”

The winners of this regional will go through to the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG in July and will join Amanzimtoti winners of Durban South regional, St John’s DSG (Pietermaritzburg Central) and St Anne’s (Pietermaritzburg North), Ferrum (Northern KZN) and the winner of the Durban North regional which takes place at Crawford La Lucia on Saturday, March 25.

For more info like our Facebook page.

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