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.

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SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge 3 Schools Trust: Sunday 12 March

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge
3 Schools Trust: Sunday 12 March

For the third time in a row, the first hockey team from Amanzimtoti High School raised the trophy as the Durban South Regional champions in the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.
It was anyone’s trophy going into the last game of the round robin, with the statisticians working hard double checking the points. As the final whistle blew, Kuswag Skool had a guaranteed place in the final and a penalty shootout was required to decide on the second team, taking to the field for a Toti duel were Kingsway High School and the defending champions, Amanzimtoti.
Kingsway took the first attempt with Leoni de Beer meeting the full force of brave keeper, Nomcebo Maseko who charged out and met her at the top of the circle. Youngster, Mvelo Mthombeni from Amazimtoti slotted in her attempt putting the score to 0-1 after the first round. Kingsway’s second attempt was reawarded as Maseko overzealously played the ball outside the circle. On the retake, Nosipho Mngadi levelled the score for Kingsway. 14-year-old Anani Xozwa chance was thwarted as she found the courageous Teneze Csouros.
At the end of the second round, the score was one a piece, Erin Main managed to avoid a flying Maseko, with an open goal tempting her, her shot went agonisingly wide for KHS. Captain for Amanzimtoti, Phiwo Myeza took to the spot and fired in her shot, with the ball floating over the cross bar. The decider then went to a sudden death. Mngadi put her hand up and stepped up to the spot, she found the right boot of a charging Maseko with the ball flying out of the circle. The captain, Myeza then determinedly found the back of the net in her attempt, taking her team into the final.
Coach for Amanzimtoti High School, Shanna Hughes said, “Phiwo came up to me after she missed her first attempt and ensured me, ‘Don’t worry Ma’am, I’ve got this and she did. She also scored the goal in the final, leading by example!”
The quick fire twenty-minute final between Kuswag and Amanzimtoti had loads of action in the middle of the field. Myeza managed to capitalise on an opportunity, finding the back of the box for the only goal. Kuswag, however never gave up and as the clock ticked down, their urgency increased but they were just unable to penetrate the impressive defence from Toti.
Continuing, Hughes stated, “What a hectic day, typical Toti girls, there was no sailing through for us! It had to be nail biting! Murphy’s law, our first game in any SPAR tournament is always a draw and we drew against Grosvenor. We have a very good team, and they are very intuitive, they shift together, and do what they need, together!”
“Our goalie is amazing, she has no hassle charging out of her box. It took a brilliant team effort. All around, with all the girls’ we really wanted it. It was an awesome day, the atmosphere was brilliant.”
Coach for Kingsway High School, Lloyd Jones said, “Everything went right for us. We had quite a few young ones and they put their hands up! The day before we participated in the Scottburgh tournament and we go beaten, physically and on the scoreline. It was a hard day, knowing we had six tough games today we pulled in some U16s. My player of the team was most certainly Nosipho, who didn’t shy away from any challenge!”
Chatting about the penalty shootout, Jones surmised, “Look, we are new to 8 second penalties so didn’t quite know what to do. I asked the girls if any of them wanted to try and the youngsters put up their hands and impressed me no end! My whole team did. We try to look for the silver lining, we won the lucky draw and everyone was so chuffed with that!”
In each region, an umpire is recognised for his or her abilities and is awarded the Most Promising Umpire prize. At the Durban South Regional umpire Kalvin van Rensburg representing Kingsway High School shone with the whistle and took the honours of the M.P.U. this year.
MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva stated, “In the blustery, hot conditions the action on the turf kept turning up a notch as the day wore on! Thank you to Grosvenor Girls’, Kingsway, New Forest, Queensburgh Girls’ High, Werda and of course, our two finalists, for coming down and putting on such a wonderful display of hockey. Well done to all!”
Amanzimtoti takes the fourth berth at the Grand Finals and join St John’s DSG and St Anne’s who both earned their place on Saturday at the Pietermaritzburg Regionals. The three teams will be accompanied by Ferrum who were crowned the Norther KZN Regional in Pongola
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SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Regional: Pongola, Saturday 25 February

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Regional: Pongola, Saturday 25 February

The SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge moves north this weekend when the first regional of the seventh annual tournament takes place in Pongola on Saturday, February 25.

Hosted for the second time by Pongola Akademie, the regionals sees nine first team girls’ schools battling it out for the prized title in what promises to be a strong regional. Schools participating including defending champions Sarel Cilliers (Glencoe, Umzinyathi), Newcastle High School, Ferrum High School and St Dominics also from Newcastle, Utrecht High School, Dundee High School, Vryheid High School, Pionier High School (Vryheid) and Pongola Akademie. 

Defending champions Sarel Cilliers, who made their maiden appearance at the finals in Durban last year, having scooped the honours from five times northern regional champions Ferrum High, will no doubt be determined to hold onto their title, with Ferrum eager to claim it back.

Twenty-five minute games with two pools will be played on two fields with the winners of the pools going into a semi-final format. In Pool A are Pionier, Ferrum; Vryheid, Sarel Cilliers and Newcastle, and in Pool B Utrecht, Dundee, Pongola and St Dominics.

The tournament not only aims to support the development of the players, but also that of the umpires. Each school brings their best umpire to represent them on the day and at the end of each regional, one umpire is recognized as the “Most Promising Umpire”.

“Seven years down the line, and we continue to enjoy watching the impact that this tournament has on developing the game in the province,” says Tournament Director, Les Galloway. “There is definitely an increased interest in the game not only from the players perspective but also from the schools and the supporters point of view. We have seen more astroturfs being installed in the province, and a growing spectator base – all boding well for the increased support on all levels for the game.”

New Managing Director for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva said, “With this being the first tournament of my tenure as M.D, I look forward to the fantastic hockey that will be on display throughout the respective tournaments. We are proud to be associated with our sponsorship of girls hockey within our province and these events have grown into something we are particularly proud of. At SPAR we encourage our customers to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, so what better way to do this than providing a platform for a competitive yet super-friendly sporting engagement. We wish all our competitors and their supporters a great day on and off the field.”

Winners of the Northern KZN Regional will participate in the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN School Girls Hockey Challenge that takes place at St Mary’s DSG over the weekend of 28 and 29 July.

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SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament

SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament

St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More College: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July

Durban Girls’ College made it three in a row as they claimed the title for the 2015 SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament in convincing fashion at St Mary’s DSG on the weekend.

College met Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High in the gold/silver final where the defending champions hammered in four goals, making it an impressive consecutive trio of golds in the five years of the tournament. Girls’ High entered the medal game as the “in-form” team but nerves seemed to get the better of them.

The tall, impressive forward Teagan McFall playing for College proved to be a slippery customer for the Girls’ High back line as she managed to shake the defence off and score two spectacular goals. The second shot, a reverse stick sweep, rocketed into the top corner of GHS’s net.

Captain for College, Kelsey Scott said, “We have been working hard for a while in preparation for the SPAR tournament. It was a bit of a shock to us where we drew in two of our pool games but that only made us more determined for today. We were extremely focused and pulled together to work as a solid unit when it counted against Girls’ High.”

The road to the 2015 finals for College had a bit of a bumpy start with a 1 all draw against a young and spirited King Edward High School team. And then in a classic Durban derby against rivals St Mary’s DSG in their second last pool game ended in a 2 all draw in a highly competitive, riveting game in the pouring rain at Thomas More College. 

The team from Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High were the most consistent out of all the competitors with five games played, 14 goals scored and no goals conceded. In their semi-final against home team, St Mary’s DSG, Girls’ High Katie Corf slotted the goal that counted in a game dominated by the visitors.

Lead by SA Women’s Indoor Hockey star, Taryn de Winnaar, Girls’ High resumed their unfortunate streak of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, being awarded their fifth medal in the five years of the tournament.  This is their third silver they have won, to add to that they have two bronzes in their trophy cabinet.

MD for SPAR, Rob Philipson stated, “The welcomed torrential rain did not dampen the spirits of all the teams who took part. In freezing conditions, the girls took to the pitch with smiles on their faces as they valiantly represented their schools and their regions. It was heartening to see the eagerness that each of the teams displayed as they tackled each game during the tournament. Congratulations to each and every one of them.”

For the third position, it was a battle of the Saints with St Anne’s College managing to get two goals beating St Mary’s DSG in a hard fought game for the bronze. Both these teams have won previously and both team had similar results leading up to the bronze medal game.

Tournament Director, Les Galloway said, “Our tournament just keeps getting better and better. We really acknowledge the effort and energy that all the players put into their games to make this final weekend a success. We also acknowledge and thank all the coaches and managers who stand on the side-lines, endlessly supporting and guiding their teams, the superb commitment of the umpires, and the parents who spend countless hours making it possible for their girls to play.” 

Results

1 Durban Girls’ College, 2 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, 3 St Anne’s College, 4 St Mary’s DSG, 5 Ferrum HS, 6 Wartburg Kirchdorf, 7 Ashton International College, 8 King Edward HS, 9 Empangeni HS, 10 Amanzimtoti HS

Sunday Play-Offs

King Edward HS 1 Ferrum HS 2

Wartburg Kirchdorf School 1 Ashton  International College 0

Pietermaritzburg HS 1 v St Mary’s DSG 0 

Durban Girls College 2 St. Anne’s College 0

Match for 9/10: Empangeni HS 2 Amanzimtoti HS 0

Match for 7/8: Ashton International College 0 (Ashton won 3-1 on penalties) King Edward HS 0

Match for 5/6: Ferrum HS 1 Wartburg Kirchdorf 0

Match for 3/4: St Anne’s 2 St Mary’s DSG 0

Final: Durban Girls’ College 4 Pietermaritzburg Girls High 0

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