Thirteenth win for Durban Girls’ College at SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

THIRTEEN, it turns out, is indeed a lucky number for Durban Girls’ College who took the honours at the Durban Central Regionals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge this Saturday (March 2). The champs have held onto this honour since the inception of the challenge in 2011.

On a searing hot summer’s day, six Durban Central teams braved the heat on Durban High School’s relatively new blue Astro, in a jam-packed round-robin format hosted by runners-up of the tournament, Maris Stella.

In a tough final, Durban Girls’ College met Maris Stella after a short 10-minute break following their pool match against Durban Girls’ High, which if the latter had won, would have pushed Maris Stella out of the gold/silver game. But DGHS was no match for the all-time champs, who won 2–0.

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Moving into the finals, Maris Stella put up a brave challenge by giving College a run for their money. While College were slick in their teamwork, using wide passes and deft control of the ball, they worked seamlessly in pushing the ball to their half. Maris Stella, with less strategy but a whole lot of energy, were not able to keep College from their goals. Diminutive Maris Stella goalkeeper Owethu Kunene bravely kept their attempts out, when eventually College’s Anna Holmes sent a soft shot into the goals out of her reach – earning DGC the only point of the game, at a magical 13 minutes in.

The rest of the game, Maris Stella was often able to take control of the ball in a ‘never-say-die’ effort, especially the other diminutive Kunene sister, Zezethu, who nimbly drove the ball up, right of field, enough times to ensure that the team found themselves in the D and the welcome award of a short corner in the last minute of the game. The shorty came to nought, and College were crowned winners.

Speaking after the finals, player Taegan Price explained that with three of their top players, including their captains, away at the indoor IPT, “This was a big learning experience for us, but all the competition was very good, and we are really grateful to be a part of this tournament.  Maris Stella is an excellent team, and they have an extremely good goalkeeper and players, but luckily, we came out with a win. It was a really good game and exciting to play.”

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The umpire of the match was Bee Schultz.

Durban Girls’ College will meet nine other regional winners at the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG Kloof on July 20 and July 21.

The tournament moves inland to Pietermaritzburg this weekend for the North Regionals hosted by The Wykeham Collegiate on Saturday, March 9, and to the UZKN Astro for the Centrals hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High on Sunday, March 10.

For more info, like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).

All games are live-streamed on SuperSport Schools.

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