DURBAN Girls’ College (DGC) have reclaimed their Durban Central Regional title following a thrilling performance at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday.

Hosted by St Henry’s Marist College at 3 Schools, the tournament was played by six teams, with Durban Girls’ College, Durban Girls’ High School, Inanda Seminary Secondary School, a combined team representing Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu, and Maris Stella School. To reclaim their title DGC outplayed defending champs Maris Stella in a regional final that ended 1-0.

College topped the log with 17 points while Maris Stella finished on 16 points, earning themselves their 15th title in the Durban Central Regional. They fought hard in the final where they opened their attack with only 43 seconds played, getting the ball down to the Maris Stella circle which was quickly turned around.

From there the defending champs built momentum and after two minutes fired off the first attempt at goal, with the shot going wide. Only two short corners were awarded in the 25 minutes of play, both for the challengers, College, with the first being blown shortly after five minutes.

Also Read: Maris Stella triumphs in historic SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge win

In the first set piece, Maris Stella defended as the College injection was blundered but the ball remained with College as they pressed forward. In a momentary lapse of concentration, Maris Stella keeper Leyah Niekerk handled the ball, with her stop falling neatly in front of a well-placed Sophie Moffat who was hanging high.

Moffat, who usually plays as a defender but found herself at right forward, jumped at the opportunity and slotted in the only goal of the final. Both teams probed on either side but were unsuccessful in their advances.

In College’s second short corner, they crafted a worthy stab, but the strike was slightly off target, shaving the left upright. Captain for College, Asanele Zuma, had the rare opportunity of some space in the Maris Stella circle and launched a tomahawk missile that flew over the crossbar.
Durban Girls’ College is the sixth team to earn a place at the Grand Finals.

They join Our Lady of Fatima, (Durban North Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); St Anne’s Diocesan College (Pietermaritzburg North Regional) and St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional). The final four teams will be decided in May as the tournament heads out to the outlying areas to wrap up the 10 regionals ahead of the Grand Finals.

Round Robin Results

1 Durban Girls’ College 17pts; Maris Stella 16pts; 3 Durban Girls’ High School 13pts; 4 INK 5pts; 5 St Henry’s Marist College 5pts; 6 Inanda Seminary School 0pts

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