A new name appears on the KZN South Coast Regional trophy at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge, with Kuswag Skool being crowned champions at Southcity Christian School on Saturday 16 August. In a monumental regional final, a determined Kuswag met the small in stature but big in heart team from KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School. After a solid first pass, Kuswag had whipped the ball down to an attacking position in three passes but were denied their first attempt. 40 seconds later, Kuswag had knocked in the first point of the game.

Going into half time, Kuswag was sitting two points clear of their rivals, with the score line at 6 to 4 for KwaMakutha. An icy wind was gusting across the courts, with the testing conditions – both teams opted to play conservatively concentrating on a more solid attack securing one pointers, rather than the more flamboyant flighted points that would have been difficult in the breeze. Starting off the second half, Kuswag netted their seventh point, followed by a KwaMakutha response with two attacking plays reeling in Kuswag. Nearing 2 minutes, Kuswag managed another goal, giving them a 2-point breather. Play flowed down to KwaMakutha’s forwards, who found the centre of the goal, clawing them back to 7 – 8.

Up in the air. KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School’s Tholakele Mnyandu and Kuswag Hoërskool’s Jaun-Marie Ballack (Captain) try to claim the aerial ball during the final at the KZN South Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge that took place at Southcity Christian School on Saturday 16 August. Photo by Rogan Ward

Midway through the second half, Kuswag pocketed two more goals compliments of the two faithfuls up front, the Goal Attack XYZ followed by her teammate XYZ in Goal Shooter. Kuswag’s score was sitting neatly on 10points, 3 points clear of their opponents. A spirited patch of play by KwaMakutha’s Olwethu Mkhize in the goal defence ignited her team. In the final 2 and a half minutes of final, KwaMakutha magicked up some magnificent attacks, landing three more points to level the score at 10 all. A consistent Goal Attack, Nomcebo Vilakazi pocketed 9 of her teams 10 points, while Sakhina Nozipho Xaba who played more of a support role as Goal Shooter, got her name on the scoresheet with the final point slotted in with 4 seconds left on the clock.

For the first time this year, and the third time in the five years of the tournament, the regional final’s decider moved to a lighting quick one minute of extra time. After a short team talk, Kuswag came out firing on all cylinders, quickly taking control and going up by two more points to claim their first regional win. Having narrowly lost out to eventual 2024 winners – Kingsway High School last year, going down by the slimmest of margins of only 1 point. This year the 2024 silver medallists were on a mission. Finishing second in the round robin, only one behind first placed KwaMakutha who ended their day on 19 points after their seven games, the Toti team were determined to finish their SPAR challenge on the top step of the podium, dislodging their neighbouring school, who has dominated this region for the last three years. This weekend (Saturday 23 August) the tournament heads inland to Matatiele for the KZN Southern Regional hosted by King Edward High School.

Results

• Regional Final
• KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School 10 (0) vs Kuswag Hoërskool 10 (2)

Semi-Finals

• KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School 11 vs Southcity Christian School 5; Kuswag Hoerskool 15 vs Hoërskool Suid Natal High School 11

Round Robin

• 1 KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School 19pts; 2 Kuswag Hoërskool 18pts; 3 Hoërskool Suid-Natal High School 15pts; 4 Southcity Christian School 13pts; 5 Kingsway High School 9pts; 6 Port Shepstone High School 6pts; 7 Scottburgh High School 3pts; 8 Creston College 0pts

Going with the flow. KwaMakutha Comprehensive High School’s Nomcebo Vilakazi flies through the air after receiving the ball while Kuswag Hoërskool’s Kaydee-Leigh Bonthuys, Gabby Gobey decide how to defend during the final at the KZN South Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge that took place at Southcity Christian School on Saturday 16 August.
Pic by Rogan Ward