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.

Giving it her all, Captain for Durban Girls’ College Danni Wiseman tries to get a shot off as she tumbles after a collision with Durban Girls’ High School’s Sanda Mkwhane in the Durban Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on Sunday 15 May at Durban Girls’ College.

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.

Chasing down the ball, Durban Girls’ High School’s Captain Kalista Pillay tries to secure the ball from the advancing Hannah Hargroves from Durban Girls’ College during the regional final in the Durban Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on Sunday 15 May at Durban Girls’ College.

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

Photo Credit: Val Adamson