Skilful hosts, St Mary’s D.S.G. claimed their seventh title at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 27 July.

They met St Anne’s Diocesan College for the third time in the concluding game of the Grand Finals since the tournament’s inception in 2011. St Mary’s won both previous encounters in 2018 and 2019.

Setting the pace from the whistle, the locals dominated in the early stages, piercing the visitor’s circle on several occasions before knocking in their goal. The first time giving keeper St Anne’s keeper a scare just after 3 minutes of play, Kgabiso Marafo from St Anne’s was lurking on the edge of her circle when a magnificent St Mary’s break caught her scrambling. A rogue St Mary’s shot from near the top of the D flew well wide of the goals, giving Marafo much relief.

Less than 2 minutes later, another surge, this time a play coming from the right found St Mary’s Tayte Stewart rushing goalwards along the baseline. Nearing a wall of defence, she thread her pass parallel to the line, watching frustratedly as the near perfect pass bisected not only the first defenders legs, but then rolling directly through the keepers’ legs and finally her own player’s legs who was waiting next to the far post.

24 seconds later, St Mary’s Georgia Short was gifted the ball situated right in front of the goals, she wasted no time to calmly scoop the ball into the net, going 1 up after a phenomenal build-up of pressure by the home team.

Nearing half time, St Anne’s earned a short corner. The injected ball flew to the top of the D before rocketing to the goals, but was magically stopped by the first wave. Given a second chance, St Anne’s moved the ball right, beyond the first wave but in similar fashion, their attempt was blocked but a follow up opportunity was presented to the attacking team but a determined St Mary’s keeper, Ziyanda Mchunu.

Mchunu who hadn’t seen much action throughout the weekend, was called into action, to face a penalty stroke awarded to St Anne’s Holly Hofmeyer in the 3^rd minute in the second half. Hofmeyer boldly stepped up to the spot but unfortunately her attempt to equalise stalled, disappointingly flying directly at the ready to pounce Mchunu, who snuffed the shot easily.

Spurred by their attacking play, St Anne’s mounted several more weaving attacks but a firm defence by St Mary’s didn’t allow St Anne’s a leveller they so desperately were searching for. St Anne’s, who were victorious in the very first Grand Finals, were denied a second victory in their fifth run for the trophy by a team who were completely on song from the get-go, defending their title valiantly.

Placing third was a determined team representing the Durban North Regional. Ashton International College returning after nine years had a fairytale return, meeting Epworth School in the third place game. This is the most successful run by a team representing the Durban North area in the fifteen years of the tournament. Ashton fired in a missile just before half time during a short corner, whizzing left of the keeper, giving them the edge over an excellent Epworth performance. In Ashton’s three previous Grand Finals appearances, they have finished seventh twice in 2015 and 2016 and ninth in their first appearance in 2013. For Epworth who have a third place to their name in 2018, and a fourth place in 2019, had to settle for another fourth place in their third appearance.

A youngster that won a bursary for a year’s tuition at eta College, Amber Williamson from Werda High School was the lucky draw winner of the prize that is valued at R82,000. Kavish Gajoo and Clarissa Allers from eta College were there to hand over the cheque to the delighted youngster.

Ten teams from around KZN participated in the action-packed weekend, representing their areas. The tournament goes into hibernation now, with the sixteenth year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge starting early next year. For more information, follow the tournament on various social media channels.

Results

1 St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); 2 St Anne’s Diocesan College (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); 3 Ashton International College (Durban North Regional); 4 Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); 5 Maris Stella (Durban Central Regional); 6 Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional); 7 St Patrick’s College (Southern KZN Regional); 8 Felixton College (North Coast Regional); 9 Kingsway High School (Durban South Regional); 10 Wartburg Kirchdorf School (uMvoti and oThukela Regional)

Pool A

1 St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional) 16pts; 2 Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional) 12pts; 3 St Patrick’s College (Southern KZN Regional) 5pts; 4 Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional) 5pts; Kingsway High School (Durban South Regional) 0pts

Pool B

1 St Anne’s Diocesan College (Pietermaritzburg North Regional) 10pts; 2 Ashton International College (Durban North Regional) 10pts; 3 Maris Stella (Durban Central Regional) 10pts; 4 Felixton College (North Coast Regional) 4pts; 5 Wartburg Kirchdorf School (uMvoti and oThukela Regional) 0pts