College’s impressive Grand Finals return ends in fourth place
A semi-final defeat to St John's D.S.G. denied Durban Girls' College another shot at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge title as Our Lady of Fatima went on to make history.
DURBAN Girls’ College has reaffirmed its status as one of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier school hockey teams after securing a fourth-place finish at the 16th SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG on Sunday, July 26.
Making their 13th appearance at the tournament, the five-time champions returned to the Grand Finals after missing out last year. College opened their campaign with a 4-0 victory over Richards Bay’s Grantleigh School.
Their next pool match saw them lose 1-0 to eventual champions, Our Lady of Fatima. Regaining their fighting spirit, the former champs responded with a 7-0 win over Wartburg Kirchdorf School before securing a goalless draw against former champions St Anne’s Diocesan College.
The results saw Durban Girls’ College and St Anne’s finish level on nine points, with College advancing to the semi-finals on goal difference.
Also Read: Durban Girls’ College claims hockey title
In the semi-final St John’s DSG edged College 1-0 to book their place in the championship match. College then faced hosts St Mary’s DSG in the third-place play-off, ultimately finishing fourth overall.
The tournament belonged to Durban North Regional champions Our Lady of Fatima, who made history by lifting the trophy for the first time.
They defeated Pietermaritzburg Central representatives St John’s DSG 1-0 in a thrilling final, with Charly-Rose Boyall scoring the decisive goal in the 23rd minute to crown a memorable campaign.
The two-day tournament featured 10 regional champions competing across 31 matches, with an impressive 97 goals scored. The 2026 edition also celebrated individual achievement, with Amahle Khumalo of Vryheid Hoërskool winning an R89 000 sport science, coaching and management bursary sponsored by Durban-based eta College.
The victory sees Our Lady of Fatima become only the fourth school to lift the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge trophy since the tournament was launched in 2011, signalling the arrival of a new force in KZN schoolgirls’ hockey.
Grand Finals Results:
1 Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); 2 St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); 3 St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); 4 Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional); 5 St Anne’s Diocesan College (PMB North Regional); 6 Grantleigh School (North Coast Regional); 7 St Patrick’s College (uGu and Sisonke Regional); 8 Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional); 9 Wartburg Kirchdorf School (uMvoti and oThukela Regional); 10 Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional).
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