Host school, New Forest High School welcomes teams to their home turf for the upcoming Durban South Regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 6 April. St Mary’s D.S.G. This is the sixth regional of the ten challenges held annually in KZN, leading up to the Grand Finals that takes place in July at St Mary’s D.S.G.. Six teams will be taking to the astro for this regional to compete in a round robin formatted tournament. Quick-fire games will last only 20 minutes one-way, encouraging teams to take their opportunities quickly.

There are fifteen round robin games, and the regional final. After each game, points will be awarded: 4 points goes to the winning team, 2 points to both teams if they draw having scored an equal number of goals, 1 point if both teams end their game on nil nil, and of course, no points for a loss. The two teams finishing at the top of the log will get to face each other for the second time in the final. The teams participating include defending champions, Kuswag who have raised the regional trophy three times. The first time in the inaugural tournament in 2011, and then over the last two years with back-to-back wins. Amanzimtoti High School dominated the region for five years on the trot, with their name featuring on the trophy for the years 2015 to 2019. As host school for the first time, New Forest hope to shine. Port Natal School, Werda High School and Kingsway High School make up the remainder of the teams.

Best foot forward. Defending champs, Gabriella Morton and Maddison Thieves from Kuswag Skool prepare to take on the competition at the upcoming Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge hosted by New Forest High School on Saturday 6 April on their home turf.
Pic by Val Adamson

The first game tips off at 8am with Amanzimtoti meeting hosts, New Forest in the first bit of action for the day. Followed by Port Natal and Kingsway who were narrowly defeated in the regional final by rivals, Kuswag. The defending champs take to the field in the third game, meeting Werda. Five teams have already qualified for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The teams are Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional, The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional; St John’s D.S.G. waving the flag from the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional; Our Lady of Fatima from the Durban North Regional and the most recent, St Mary’s DSG for the Highway Regional. All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

Focusing. Gearing up to defend their title, Gabriella Morton and Maddison Thieves from Kuswag Skool prepare to take on the competition at the upcoming Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge hosted by New Forest High School on Saturday 6 April on their home turf.
Pic by Val Adamson