SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - Highway Regional Sunday 12 March

In the second tournament of the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Thomas More College host the Highway Regional on Sunday 12 March.

Seven teams will be going head to head in this highly competitive regional, with the day’s feisty action following a round robin format. In a familiar scheduling, the quick-fire games will last 20 minutes with play running only one way.

St Mary’s DSG, Kloof first hockey team captain Kelly Jansens ter laeck  (left) and vice-captain Zakira Jamaloodeen (right) look forward to their team defending its title in the Highway Regional of the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at Thomas More College on Sunday 12 March. Photo Val Adamson

The tech desk will be awarding four points to the victorious team, if there is a draw but both teams managed to find the back of the net, they will earn themselves 2 points each. If the result was a goalless draw, both teams will notch up a single point. An unsuccessful team will register zero points on their scorecard for their loss.

Taking to the turf on the day are Curro Hillcrest, Gelofte High School, Hillcrest High School, Kloof High School, St Mary’s DSG, hosts Thomas More with Westville Girls’ High School.

In the thirteen years since the tournament’s inception, St Mary’s DSG have dominated the region claiming all but one victory in the Highway area. One-time winners Westville Girls’ High School will be eager to release Saints firm grip on this region.

There is a five week break until another two back to back weekends of fabulous hockey expected in April, with the first fixture in April seeing schools from around Durban South taking to the field at 3 Schools’ Trust Astro which will be hosted by Kuswag Hoërskool.

All the games from all the regionals will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools’ Mobile App or their website.

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

 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

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 2023 Dates Announced

Having a ball. Dates for the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge have been drawn up with the tournament travelling to ten regions in KZN beginning in the first week in March.

The tournament that began in 2011 has fast become a highlight fixture in the schoolgirls’ hockey calendar. Close to 75 high school girls’ first teams will be taking to the various hockey fields around KZN in the tournament’s 13th year. 

Launching the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that tips off next month (March) are Nozipho Mkhize (SPAR KZN’s Advertising & Sponsorship Manager) and Les Galloway (Director of SchoolGirl Sport and Tournament Director). Pic by Val Adamson

The ten regionals will take place over three months early in the year, with a two-month break before the highly contested Grand Finals that will take place at St Mary’s DSG on the weekend of 22 and 23 July. The ten crowned 2023 regional champions will head to Kloof to duel it out on the astro for the highly coveted winning title of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. The trophy has only three names engraved on it over the ten years that it has been played. They are Durban Girls’ College - Durban Central Regional Winner -2013, 2014, 2015, 2022; St Anne’s College – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner – 2011 and St Mary’s D.S.G. – Highway Regional Winner - 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. 

Building momentum to the Grand Finals, the first regional tournament tips off with defending champions in the Durban North Regional, Our Lady of Fatima welcoming teams on Saturday 11 March at their ‘home turf’, the Riverside Sports Club. Thomas More College hosts the fierce and fiery Highway Regional on Sunday 12 March at their grounds. 

Kuswag Hoërskool opens up the April diary with the Durban South Regional that they will host at the 3 Schools Trust Astro in Glenwood on Saturday 15 April. The following day – Sunday 16 April - Durban Girls’ High School welcomes teams from the Durban Central Regional back to their home ground at the 3 Schools Trust Astro. Heading up the road, teams around Hilton will converge at St Anne’s College for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on Saturday 22 April. And in the final back-to-back weekend in 2023, the challenge heads down the South Coast to Creston College for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional on Sunday 23 April. 

On Saturday 6 May, St Dominic’s School will see teams from around Newcastle and surrounds taking to their astro for the KZN Northern Regional. The tournament heads inland to Wartburg Kirchdorf School on Saturday 13 May for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional. For the penultimate regional Epworth School hosts the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Sunday 14 May. And in its familiar spot, Grantleigh College in Empangeni rounds off the 2023 Challenge with teams partaking in the Northern KZN Coastal Regional on Saturday 20 May. 

For spectators that are unable to get to the side of the pitch, the ten regionals and the Grand Finals will be live streamed by SuperSport Schools on their mobile app or website.

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

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 10 teams for Grand Finals - 23 and 24 July

The tenth edition of the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge is set to take place at St Mary’s D.S.G. over the weekend of 23 and 24 July.

Two days of highly competitive hockey is expected to unfold on the astro as the top ten regional winners from the KZN challenge descend on Kloof. Leading up to the Grand Finals, the tournament travelled throughout KZN to ten regions, where 70 schools in total participated. 

The first to cement their spot for the Grand Finals this year was the intrepid team from Pionier Hoërskool. This is the second time that the dynamic team from Vryheid have hoisted the trophy in the Northern KZN Regional but due to CoViD interruptions, they will be making their first appearance at the 2022 Grand Finals. 

The second team who secured their spot are no strangers to the Grand Finals. St Anne’s College will be making their ninth visit, representing the Pietermaritzburg North Regional. In their eight runs at the finals, they have featured in the medal games in every year, including winning gold in the inaugural tournament in 2011. 

The third team to have earned a place are the determined St John’s D.S.G. waving the flag from the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional. This is the second time that they have made it all the way, with their first outing five years ago where they ended fourth overall. 

Being crowned the Durban North Regional champs, Our Lady of Fatima have played at the Grand Finals three times, finishing a notable fifth overall at each of their previous excursions. 

Host of the weekend, St Mary’s D.S.G. were the fifth team to score an invite after they won the Highway Regional. Similarly, to St Anne’s College, they have already featured at the Grand Finals eight times, with an impressive collection of silverware over the years, including being the overall defending champion and having their name engraved on the trophy five times. 

Making their second trip to the Grand Finals, the hard-working team from Amanzimtoti representing the Durban South Regional, Kuswag Hoërskool made it all the way in the first tournament back in 2011, where they finished ninth overall. 

Back for the fifth time, the Ugu and Sisonke Regional winner, King Edward High School have earned the reputation as the Grand Final dragon slayers. Over the years they have been a thorn in the side for a number of the more established teams, causing a bit of a stir in the pool games. This feisty team’s stats reveal that they have finished as high as sixth a couple of times in their four previous tournaments. 

Another newcomer to the finals is Domino Servite from the uMvoti and oThukela Regional. In recent years, the team have grown from strength to strength, with a flourishing display on the field in their regional, ensuring their first outing to the Grand Finals. 

For the tenth time and the only team with a 100% record being at every Grand Final, Durban Girls’ College are back. Representing the Durban Central Regional, College have a fantastic record at this tournament including three golds, three silvers and a bronze and have participated in a medal game every year. 

Returning for their fourth run are the North Coast Regional winners, Grantleigh College. The last team to earn an invite to the Grand Finals have finished a consistent eighth in their three previous contests. 

If you can’t get to the side lines, you can catch all the action from the Grand Finals on SuperSport Schools. All the games will be livestreamed on either their mobile app or via their website. 

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

Tenth Appearance

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

Ninth Appearance

St Anne’s College – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner - Gold (2011), Silver (2018, 2019), Bronze (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Fourth (2013)

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

Fifth Appearance

King Edward High School – Ugu and Sisonke Regional Winner –Sixth (2016, 2017), Seventh (2018) Eighth (2015)

Fourth Appearance 

Our Lady of Fatima – Durban North Regional Winner – Fifth (2011, 2017, 2018)

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

Second Appearance

St John’s D.S.G. – Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Winner - Fourth (2017)

Kuswag Hoërskool – Durban South Regional Winner – Ninth (2011)

First Appearance

Pionier Hoërskool – Northern KZN Regional Winner

Domino Servite – uMvoti and oThukela Regional Winner

ENDS

Fixtures for 10thGrand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

The fixtures for the tenth Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at St Mary’s D.S.G., have been announced.

Ten teams will take to the turf, promising an action-packed hockey weekend on 23 and 24 July, 2022. Since February, the challenge has travelled around to ten regions in KZN, producing ten regional winners. Each of these champions will get the honour of representing their area at the ultimate conclusion of this year’s tournament, the Grand Finals.

The defending champion, St Mary’s D.S.G. and host school heads up Pool A. They are joined by St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional), and two newcomers Hoërskool Pionier (Northern KZN Regional) and Domino Servite (uMvoti and oThukela Regional).

In Pool B, 2019 silver medallist, St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional) will meet 2019 bronze medallist, Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional); King Edward High School (uGu and Sisonke Regional); Grantleigh College (North Coast Regional) and Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional).

On Saturday 23 July, twenty pool games will be played, with games lasting 22 minutes one way. Starting the day off, defending champs, St Mary’s D.S.G. take on Domino Servite in their inaugural Grand Final. Points in the pool games will be 4 for a win, 2 for a draw with goals, 1 for a goalless draw and nil for a loss.

Sunday 24 July sees the cross-pool play-offs and medal games, where teams will have 30 minutes to craft their magic on the turf, with a speedy change over after fifteen minutes. If the scores are level in any of the playoff games, an 8 second penalty shoot out where three players from each team will head to the spot to try and claim victory for their team.

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

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

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

Northern KZN Coastal Regional Grantleigh College: Saturday 21 May

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Coastal Regional

Grantleigh College: Saturday 21 May

Concluding this year’s ten KZN regionals, Grantleigh College hosts the final SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 21 May.

In the North Coast Regional, Grantleigh College welcomes schools from Empangeni High School, Eshowe High School, Felixton College, John Ross College, Richards Bay Christian School and St Catherine’s School. 

The seven schools will take to the turf in a round robin format where the games will last 18 minutes, with play running only one way. After the 21 scheduled games, the top two teams on the leaderboard will meet each other in the regional decider. The final will be 20 minutes one way. If the game ends on a draw, three players from each team will head to the spot for a riveting penalty shoot-out. 

For each of the winning teams in the 21 rounds, they will earn 4 points on the leaderboard, if the teams draw with both netting goals, they get 2 points each, a goalless draw will see a single point being added to each of the teams’ scorecards, and a loss amounting to zero points. 

Three teams proudly have their names engraved on the North Coast Regional trophy, with Grantleigh being the defending champions, and winning on three previous occasions, equalling Empangeni High School record from the early days when they dominated this region with four wins in succession. Felixton College have lifted the trophy twice and featured in the regional final last year against the hosts.  

At the conclusion of the ten KZN regionals, the top team representing their area heads to the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof on 23 and 24 July. The winner of this region will join nine victorious teams that have already earned their spot, 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) and the most recently crowned team Durban Girls’ College from last weekend’s Durban Central Regional. 

If you are unable to get to the sidelines at Grantleigh this weekend, you can watch all the action on the SuperSport Schools mobile App or on their website. 

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

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

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge - Durban Central Regional hosted by Durban Girls’ College: Sunday 15 May

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban Central Regional

Durban Girls’ College: Sunday 15 May

Tournament number nine gets underway at Durban Girls’ College on Sunday 15 May where teams from the Durban Central Regional will be eager to hit the turf at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Six schools join hosts, Durban Girls’ College on their turf to play in a full round robin programme of 18 minute quick fire games. Raring to get the ball rolling alongside College are first teams from Durban Girls’ High School, Inanda Seminary School, INK, Port Natal Skool, Maris Stella and St Henry’s Marist College.

After the 21 scheduled games, the top two teams will meet each other in the deciding regional final. Following the pattern of previous tournaments, a win puts 4 points on the board for your team, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw only 1 point and a loss zero points.

The only team in the history of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge with the proud statistics of a 100% record, winning all their regionals is Durban Girls’ College. College have been crowned regional champions since the tournament’s inception in 2011 and they will be keen to continue their domination at this competitive region.

At the conclusion of the ten KZN regionals, the top team representing their area heads to the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof in July. The winner of this region will join eight victorious teams that have already earned their spot, 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) and most recently crowned team Domino Servite from the uMvoti and oThukela Regional this weekend (7 May).

Following this tournament, the challenge heads to Grantleigh College in Richards Bay next Saturday 21 May for the conclusion of the 2022 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge regionals.

If you are unable to support the tournament at the games, you can watch all the action on the SuperSport Schools mobile App or on their website.

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

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

Fixtures for uMvoti and oThukela Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

uMvoti and oThukela Regional

Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg: Saturday 7 May

Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg will be a hive of hockey activity on Saturday 7 May as they welcome local schools for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Five teams will head to the fields at Hermannsburg where they will meet in 25 minute action-packed games. Schools joining host, Hermannsburg, taking to the field on the day are Domino Servite, Greytown High School, Wartburg Kirchdorf School and Wembley College. 

The format for the day is a round robin programme, with a win earning the team 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. 

Three teams have represented this area at the Grand Finals with two of the previous winners, Wartburg School and Wembley College starting the proceedings at 8am, getting the ball rolling in the first game of the day. Wembley College are the defending champs, having won last year’s regional on their home turf. Greytown High School have also lifted the trophy making one appearance at the Regional Finals in Kloof. 

This regional is the eighth one in the ten region challenge. All ten teams will then head to St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof in July for two days of intense action at the Grand Finals. Teams that have secured their place at the Grand Finals are Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN); 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); XYZ (DBN South Regional) and most recently, King Edward High School (Southern KZN Regional). 

The last two regionals to take place are next weekend, Sunday 15 May with Durban Girls’ College welcoming teams to their turf for the Durban Central Regional. Concluding the regionals, Grantleigh School will host the Northern KZN Coastal Regional on Saturday 21 May. 

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

ENDS

King Edward School wins Sisonke and Ugu Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Sisonke and Ugu Regional 

King Edward High School: Saturday 23 April

Amazing and nerve-wracking was how hosts, King Edward High School’s captain described her teams’ performance in the Sisonke and Ugu Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place in Matatiele on Saturday 23 April

King Edward was on fire in the cold and wet weather, with a full complement of victories throughout the day, including the main game where they met Suid Natal Skool in the regional final. 

After ninety seconds of play, King Edward earned a long corner on the far left of the field. Thirty seconds later saw the local team break into the circle for the first time but the visiting team put a quick stop to the attack, clearing it just beyond the 22. The locals quickly picked up the clearance and pushed the ball to the far right. After breaking away from the defenders, the ball got moved rapidly to the center of the circle where an unmarked King Edward center forward was quietly waiting. Jaylin van Wyk stopped the ball, steadied herself and knocked in the first goal with 2 minutes and 22 seconds of play on the clock. 

Suid Natal dusted themselves off and for majority of the remainder of the game, dominated possession. With almost six minutes of play, they got their first attempt at the KEHS goal but misfired a reverse stick attempt. A few seconds later, they earned a short corner with the attempt going wide. A dash at the King Edward defense with 8 minutes left of play fizzled out and two minutes later they fired in a shot from the top of the D that rocketed to the right of the King Edward goal. 

As time started running low, Suid Natal found themselves with a phenomenal opportunity, a rare one-on-one. King Edward High School’s proactive keeper Tumi Pakkies who hadn’t seen much action during the course of the day, boldly left her line charging towards the attack by Linki Buitendagh. Diving head first, Pakkies managed to defend and distract the Suid Natal attack that stalled in the corner. Suid Natal continued their valiant efforts but the King Edward team snuffed any further attempts and took the regional title for the fifth time. 

Playing in her third SPAR tournament, captain for KEHS, Kiandre Jacquire said, “The final was a tough one, intense and overwhelming. And I am proud of the team for holding strong. We pushed hard in every game, and played our best throughout the day. Playing to our full potential, we managed to win all our games.”

Coach for King Edward, Joaquim Kok shared, “Despite it being wet and rainy, the girls managed to pull through in every single game. They made us proud, they themselves proud because they were determined to do the best that they could. Despite the weather, they played so well and I am very proud of them.” 

Commenting on the final, Kok continued, “The final was a bit tense, a very hectic and challenging game but with one goal, we managed to keep it there and play the defensive game against them and managing to win the game, and tournament in total.”

Recognised for his efforts with the whistle, Umpire of the Day was awarded to Tiaan Prinsloo from King Edward High School. 

The bronze medal game between South Coasters’ Creston College and Southcity Christian School ended nil nil after twenty minutes of play. The game headed to the penalty spot where both teams levelled out with 1 goal each after the first round of three shoot-outs. To decide on the winner, the next round went to sudden death where Creston’s Melissa Bense held strong and managed to net her attempt, edging out hard working Southcity after their missed attempt. 

Earlier in the day, at the conclusion of Pool B, the two teams, Creston College and defending champs, Kokstad College who have both previously made it through to the Grand Finals representing the region, had to square off in a penalty shoot out to see who advanced through to the semi-finals. Both ended their pool games level on 6 points each. Creston College managed a 2 – 1 victory in the penalty shoot-out, giving them a ticket to the semi-final where they met King Edward High School. In the other semi-final, Suid Natal met Southcity.

In the first semi-final, Suid Natal continued their sparkling performance with a 2 nil victory against Southcity. While Creston went down to the hosts, with King Edward knocking in 2 goals against the visitors. 

King Edward High School is the seventh team to earn a berth at the Grand Finals. They join six other teams that have already secured their spot from around KZN. They meet 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) and Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional) at the Grand Finals which will be held in July in Kloof. 

Three regionals are still to be played in May, the uMvoti and oThukela Regional on Saturday 7 May, followed by the Durban Central Regional on Sunday 15 May and then finally Northern KZN Coastal Regional on Saturday 21 May. 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram. All of the SPAR games will be live streamed by SuperSport Schools on their website and mobile app. 

Results

1 King Edward High School; 2 Suid Natal Skool; 3 Creston College; 4 Southcity Christian School; 5 Kokstad College 6 St Monica’s Diocesan School; 7 St Patrick’s College; 8 Ixopo High School; 9 Bergview College

Game Scores

KEHS 1 vs Southcity 0

St Patricks 0 vs Suid Natal 1

Ixopo 0 vs KEHS1 

Bergview 0 vs Kokstad 0

Creston 0 vs St Patricks 0 

Southcity 0 vs St Monica’s 0

Suid Natal 2 vs Bergview 0

Kokstad 0 vs Creston 0

Suid Natal 2 vs Creston 0

KEHS 1 vs St Monica’s 0

Bergview 0 vs St Patrick’s 2

Ixopo 0 vs St Monica’s 0

Kokstad 1 vs St Patricks 0

Creston 1 vs Bergview 0

Suid Natal 1 vs Kokstad 0

Semi-final one: Suid Natal 2 vs Southcity 0

Semi-final two: Creston 0 vs KEHS 2

St Patrick’s 6 vs Ixopo 0

Kokstad College 0 (1) vs St Monica’s 0 (0) 

Bronze: Creston College 0 (2) vs Southcity 0 (1)

Gold / Silver Final: Suid Natal vs KEHS

ENDS

King Edward High School welcomes ten teams for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional 23 April 2022

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Sisonke and Ugu Regional

King Edward High School: Saturday 23 April

King Edward High School welcomes ten teams for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey on Saturday 23 April. 

In Pool A, King Edward High will be joined by Southcity Christian School, St Monica’s Diocesan School; Port Shepstone High School and Ixopo High School. In Pool B St Patrick’s College; Suid Natal High School; Bergview College; Kokstad College and Creston College. 

Games tip off at 8am, with the action being played on two fields. Each game will last 20 minutes going one way. A win earns a team 4 points, a draw with goals counts for 2 points, a goalless draw only 1 point and a loss zero points. Taking to the field first will be host school, King Edward taking on Southcity, on the second field St Patrick’s meet Suid Natal. 

After the pool games have concluded, the teams head to a cross pool play off, with the medal games finishing up the day. 

This region has produced three winners that have travelled to the Grand Finals. Creston College, Kokstad College and host school King Edward High School have all had their names engraved on the regional trophy. 

This is the seventh regional in the ten regional challenge that trots around KZN each year, leading up to the Grand Finals at St Mary’s D.S.G. in July. Six teams have already secured their berth for the Grand Finals, 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) and Kuswag Hoërskool (DBN South Regional). 

Following this regional the challenge heads to the Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional on Saturday 7 May. 

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

ENDS

Kuswag wins Durban South Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban South Regional

3 Schools Trust Astro: Sunday 10 April 2022

Kuswag Hoërskool took the top honours in the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 10 April at the 3 Schools Trust Astro in Glenwood. 

With under a minute on the clock Kuswag managed to find a hole in the sterling last line of Kingsway High School’s defence. After 24 minutes, both teams managed to get some game-time in each other’s circle, with Kuswag’s aim being more on target. Captain for Kingsway, Aphiwe Masuku had some work to do as she whizzed around magically keeping Kuswag’s attempts away. She kept the ball out as Kuswag pelted her with several attempts but she was unable to keep an unmarked Silke Bester’s sneaky shot from slightly right of the top of the D, rolling across the goal line with only 56 seconds left of play.  

Kuswag had more possession during the regional final and looked more threatening taking the game up with several well-crafted surges. Captain Anandi Strydom was the first Kuswag player to take aim at Kingsway’s goals, as she fired in a reverse stick shot midway through the final, with Bester directly following up with a missile fired from the top of the D. With 6 minutes and 23 seconds remaining, Kuswag secured the first and only short corner of the game, but Kingsway’s backline managed to stand strong and keep their neighbours at bay. 

Strydom was again in the action, with yet another go for goals as she weaved and spun along the circle, spinning around and fired off her shot that was met by the ever present Masuku. Nearing a minute remaining, Strydom again had some space on the circle and tried to find a gap with yet another shot that was defended. The ball popped out to the right where a waiting Bester pounced on the ball and fired off the regional winning goal. 

Both teams were completely level as they advanced through the day and ended with three wins and a draw against each other in the round robin. 

Eleven games were played in wet weather, with the girls all relishing the cooler conditions. 

Captain for the winning team. Anandi Strydom said after the game, “It was an amazing experience playing in the rain. I think all the schools that were here, and gave us the opportunity to come play were fantastic and well done to Kingsway for hosting a wonderful day.”

Continuing, she said, “Playing against Kingsway at the end was brilliant, we couldn’t have asked for a better team to play against. Silke scored right at the end. It was really tough; we were so evenly matched the entire final. It was literally 50 / 50 the whole time making for a great game.” 

When the two medaling teams met in the round robin game earlier in the day, a composed Kingsway backline kept Kuswag’s attempts from amounting to anything, with three spectacular saves from Masuku in the goals keeping the scoreline level to a goalless draw. 

Recognised for his efforts, Nick Vinek from Amanzimtoti High School was awarded the Umpire of the Day.

Kuswag join five teams who have already secured their spot for the Grand Finals, the other finalists 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) and St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional).

The next tournament heads inland to Matatiele to King Edward High School for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional on 23 April. 

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

Results

1 Kuswag Hoërskool 2 Kingsway High School 3 Werda School 5 Points 4 New Forest High School 2 Points 5 Amanzimtoti High School 1 Point

Game Scores 

Werda 0 vs New Forest 0 

Kuswag 5 vs Toti 0 

Kingsway 2 vs Werda 0 

Kuswag 1 vs New Forest 0 

Kingsway 2 vs Toti 0 

Kuswag 2 vs Werda 0 

Amanzimtoti 0 vs New Forest 0 

Kingsway 0 vs Kuswag 0 

Werda 1 vs Toti 0 

Kingsway 2 vs New Forest 0 

Final Kuswag 1 vs Kingsway 0

Kingsway ready to host DBN South Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban South Regional

3 Schools Trust Astro: Sunday 10 April

The sixth tournament in the exciting SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge is set to tip off on Sunday 10 April at the 3 Schools Trust Astro where Kingsway High School will host teams in the Durban South Regional. 

Looking forward to welcoming teams, Captain Aphiwe Masuku and Vice Captain Ashleigh van Staden from Kingsway High School are anticipating some wonderful action at the upcoming Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that they are hosting at the 3 Schools Trust Astro on Sunday 10 April. Pic by Rogan Ward

Teams participating in this regional alongside hosts Kingsway are Amanzimtoti High School, Kuswag Hoërskool, New Forest High School and Werda School. 

Kicking off the day, New Forest High School will take on Werda School in the first game. The games will be 25 minutes one way, with a break of two minutes between game change overs. The second game will feature the two teams who have lifted the trophy in this regional, Amanzimtoti High School and Kuswag Hoërskool.

After ten round robin games, the top two teams will face each other in the regional final. Points for the log will be 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw with goals, 1 point for a goalless draw and zero points for a loss.  

The winner of the Durban South Regional will join the five teams that have made it through to the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G.. The five reigning regional champions 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) and St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional).

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page, or follow on Instagram. You can also watch all the games live on the SuperSport Schools App or website.

ENDS

Our Lady of Fatima bags Durban North Regional title

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Danville Park Girls’ High School: Saturday 12 March

After a determined display on the turf on a blistering hot day, Our Lady of Fatima secured the Durban North Regional title in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 12 March. 

The winning team met host school, Danville Park Girls’ High School in the regional final. From the whistle, Fatima pushed hard at the Danville defence earning their first short corner after 150 seconds of play. The home team defenders stood strong as the visitors tried various moves from all directions, trying to pierce through and net a goal. 

With majority of the play taking place mostly in the Danville half, Fatima finally found a hole in the Danville back line. With three quarters of the game played, Fatima set up for their fourth and final short corner, the ball was injected towards the castle who quickly moved the ball and found a fast and fiesty Caprese Bentson who slotted in the regional winning goal. 

“That goal was amazing. The short corner was meant to be a slip to the left, and a slap to Caprese on far posts but the runners were extremely fast, so we had to change it up. We passed it straight to Caprese who flicked it into the top right of the net. She is a brilliant player.” enthused Fatima’s captain, Sarah Bright after the game. 

She continued, “The day went really well for us, we got better and better with each game played. Thanks to our coaches who did an amazing job. Overall it was a great day.”

Chatting about the final, Bright stated, “We started off quite slow, but we had had quite a big gap after our last game so our intensity was quite low, but we all encouraged each other and started playing faster and more of our game. We played well and composed. We connected with each other and connected well as a team.”

Coach for Fatima, Jacinta Jubb said, “The girls had a really good day today. We started strong, got all wins across except for our last pool game which was a little bit of an inconsistent game for us. We scored some good goals; with 13 goals in total in the pool stages. And then we cemented ourselves a place in the final. So was impressed with how they managed their consistency throughout the day.”

Commenting on the final game of the day, Jubb shared, “It was an amazing final. It is always a battle to go up against Danville. The girls held their own and implemented our structure and plan. They fought the one-on-one battles hard. And it was a really nice, confident goal at a short corner to clinch the win for us.”

At the end of the pool games, the top three teams all had 13 points with identical scorecards showing three wins and all three finishing on a goalless draw. Fatima were the outright winner of Pool A and in Pool B, Ashton International College and Danville Park Girls’ High both levelling up in first spot. Danville were awarded top of their pool as they had netted 13 goals to Ashton’s 10 during their four games. 

The Most Promising Umpire for the day was awarded to Northlands Girls’ High School’s Tatum Kroutz.

Following the Durban North fixture, the action moved to Westville Girls’ High School the next day for the Highway Regional where St Mary’s DSG won. This weekend’s winners join Pionier Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional) and St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional) at the Grand Finals that takes place in July at St Mary’s DSG.

The challenge has a four week break before heading to the Three Schools Trust Astro Turf for the Durban South Regional hosted by Kingsway High School on Sunday 10 April. 

Overall results

1 Our Lady of Fatima 13 points; 2 Danville Park Girls’ High School 13 points; 3 Ashton International 13 points; 4 = Reddam uMhlanga 9 points 4= Crawford La Lucia 9 points; 6 Crawford North Coast 8 points; 7= Curro Mt Richmore 4 points; 7= Northland Girls’ High School 4 points; 9= Durban North College 0 points 9= Reddam Ballito 0 points

ENDS

St Mary's DSG take the honours in Highway Regional

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Highway Regional

Westville Girls’ High School: Sunday 13 March

St Mary’s DSG continued their domination of the Highway Regional at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge with a determined performance ensuring their tenth title. 

They squared off against a hard-working team from Thomas More College in the regional final at Westville Girls’ High School on Sunday 13 March. From the first whistle, Saints pushed the game up to the Thomas More circle with the first threat coming just seconds into the game. The defending champion’s intentions were obvious as they continued the pressure but Thomas More’s keeper Tiaasha Naicker and her defenders braved the various wave of attacks. 

Saints opened up their account with their first goal being scored midway through the first half. Captain for St Mary’s DSG, Amy van Rooyen shared, “The first goal was quite an early one. I received the ball from one of my mids, and then plugged it straight in to the D and Anna Birt touched it. It was quite a lucky touch, but she got it in. It was quite nerve-wracking because I had to go and review it with the umpires. But it was awarded.”

Nearing the end of the first half, Saints perseverance paid off. Play moved down from the right, shuffled along the baseline and into the centre. The umpire blew up a foul and Thomas More quickly tried to get the play away from their danger zone. Intercepting the clearance, Saints caught Thomas More defence on the back foot with a blitz into the circle, and the daring Elizabeth Anderson firing off a rocket from two paces into the D.

Talking about the day, van Rooyen continued, “We were so excited going into the tournament. We started off quite shakily with drawing zero zero against Curro but we just got better and better and it was such a great day.” 

Heading into the final, van Rooyen said she felt really nervous, “I trusted my team mates. We kept moving the ball, which was our aim and doing this we knew the goals would come as the space was very limited in the D.”

After three quarters of game time, Thomas More were given some space to play, taking their opportunity up to the Saints circle. In a good passage of play, Thomas More kept the ball up in the Saints 22, camping there for nearly 3 minutes but were just unable to capitalise on their good fortune. 

Talking of this pressure, van Rooyen said, “I was worried, especially going back and forth setting up for the 5 meters but I kept talking to my team and we kept encouraging each saying defend, defend, defend. It really did help us that we were 2 nil up which made us feel a lot more confident, and with all the numbers dropping back to defend.”

The final score was 2 nil in favour of St Mary’s DSG. They are the fifth team to secure a spot at the Grand Finals which takes place on their home turf in July. They are joined by Our Lady of Fatima after yesterday’s Durban North Regional, Newcomer Pionier Hoërskool was the first team through, followed by St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional) and St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional).

Umpire of the Day went to St Mary’s DSG’s Letho Mngadi. 

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

Overall results:

1 St Mary’s 21 points, 2 Thomas More College 16 points, 3 Westville Girls’ High School 14 points, 4 Curro Hillcrest 8 points, 5 Kloof High School 7 points, 6 Hillcrest High School 6 points, 7 Gelofte School 0 points

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