The wet drizzly weather did not dampen the spirits at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 6 April at New Forest High School which saw Amanzimtoti High School reclaiming the title. After a long day of enthralling action, Toti met defending champs, Kuswag Skool, in a riveting regional final. The last time these two schools met in this regional final was in 2018, when Toti took the honours. In similar fashion to the 2018 scoreline, Toti High knocked in a solitary goal three quarters of the way through, clinching victory.

Captain for Toti, Katelin de Beer led her team to victory as she charged down the right, leaving a couple of Kuswag players in her wake. Entering the circle, de Beer faked an attempt to shake off an on-the-ball defender, taking a further two determined steps before discharging a gentle flick that wafted past the last lines of defence for Kuswag into the bottom left of the goals. With the clock winding down, de Beer threatened again with another lone run down the middle. Flying into the circle and finding space, in her eagerness she unfortunately kicked the ball resulting in the whistle ruining her last-minute chance.

In 320 minutes of hockey, only 27 goals were scored. There was nothing between the top three schools on the log. Kuswag and Toti both ended on 15 points each, and Kingsway High School tallied 14 points, a mere one point behind. Kuswag netted an impressive 11 goals in their five round robin games, Kingsway and Toti both notched up 7 goals each. In previous years, the two finalists have raised the trophy 8 times, with Amanzimtoti dominating between the years of 2015 and 2019, Kuswag have their name engraved on the trophy three times, in 2011 and two back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023. The 2024 title gives Amanzimtoti their sixth win, and they now qualify for the Grand Finals that takes place in July at St Mary’s D.S.G.

Five teams have already reserved a berth at the Grand Finals. 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 most recently St Mary’s D.S.G. for the Highway Regional. No stranger to the challenge, Kingsway High School’s Chris Clark was awarded at the Umpire of the Day. Clark has played various roles over his 8 years that he has been a part of this regional, including coach, manager and umpire. The challenge heads to Richards Bay this weekend, with Grantleigh School hosting schools for the North Coast Regional.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. 

Results

Regional Final

• Amanzimtoti High School 1 vs Kuswag Skool 0

Round Robin

• 1 Kuswag Skool 15pts; 2 Amanzimtoti High School 15pts; 3 Kingsway High School 14pts; 4 New Forest High School 5pts; 5 Port Natal Skool 4pts; 6 Werda Skool 1pot

On the run. Kuswag Skool’s Gabriella Viera charges up as Amanzimtoti High School’s Vice Captain, Calli Fourie waits for the moment to defend as Teagan Peché supports during the final at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place at New Forest High School on Saturday 6 April.

A sea of red. Kingsway High School’s Akhona Thwala charges forward in the round robin game against Amanzimtoti High School as her team mate, Phiwenhle Duma watches the action unfold. Kingsway ended only one point behind the two eventual finalists in Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place at New Forest High School on Saturday 6 April.

Taking a stab at it. Amanzimtoti High School’s Vice Captain, Calli Fourie attempts to get the ball back during their short corner as a determined Kuswag Skool’s Leandri De Koker solidly defends during the final at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place at New Forest High School on Saturday 6 April.

Pictures by Val Adamson