St Mary’s DSG win Grand Finals
The two bursary winners were Tegan Fourie from St Mary’s DSG and Courtney Slaney from Westville Girls’ High School.
ST Mary’s DSG won the Grand Finals of this year’s SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge at the weekend in determined fashion on their home turf.
St Mary’s took on defending champions, Durban Girls’ College in the gold silver game. After 30 minutes of superb flowing play, with both teams sharing equal possession, the score was level on 0-0 with the 2016 winner being decided in a penalty shoot-out.
First to go were College, missing their eight second penalty. Leah Piggott representing Saints was first in line for her team and didn’t manage to capitalise on College’s miss. The final four rolling penalties went Saints way, with College unable to penetrate Sarah Cromie’s solid presence in goals in their two attempts. Vice-captain for St Mary’s DSG, Tegan Fourie, put the first points up on the board, followed up by Kiana Cormack slotting in her team’s second. The final score was 2-0 to Saints.
The two giants of the tournament had met earlier in the pool games with Saints managing to win that game 1-0 with their feisty vice-captain netting the all-important goal. In their fifth appearance of the tournament, this is the second time St Mary’s DSG have won. Their first time was in 2012, also tallying up a bronze in 2011 and 2013 and a fourth place last year.
Rob Philipson, MD for SPAR KZN said: “After 29 games this weekend, 160 young women can be extremely proud of themselves for their achievements. Each and every one of the players battled the chilly weather and did so superbly. They not only represented their school, but their region with great pride and grace. Well done ladies to your successes at this wonderful tournament.”
A new initiative this year was the inclusion of a hockey bursary by Varsity College. With the decision being extremely difficult this year, the college awarded two bursaries. The announcement was made at the prize giving, with the recipients being invited to study and play for Varsity College. The two bursary winners were Tegan Fourie from St Mary’s DSG and Courtney Slaney from Westville Girls’ High School.
Results: St Mary’s DSG (first), Durban Girls’ College (second), St Anne’s College (third), Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High (fourth), Wartburg Kirchdorf School (fifth), King Edward High School (sixth), Ashton International College (seventh), Grantleigh College (eighth), Sarel Cilliers High School (ninth) and Amanzimtoti High School (tenth).
