Ashton hockey girls go to regional finals

Ballito’s Ashton International College claimed a narrow victory over Our Lady of Fatima and Danville Girls’ High in the Durban North leg of the SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament, which took place at Crawford College La Lucia on March 8.

The three schools all have had turns at taking home the regional trophy since the tournament’s inception five years ago: Our Lady of Fatima having won the inaugural regional, and Danville and Ashton have now each claimed two wins.

The strength of these teams played out in a dramatic round robin with all of them equalizing on 13 points each.

In the end, it was determined on goal difference with Ashton first with 10 goals, Danville second with nine goals and Fatima third with eight goals.

“Once again the Durban North Regional proved to be a truly competitive one with some really strong games played,” said tournament director Les Galloway.

“Seven schools played five twenty-minute games each, giving them all an opportunity to really test their team techniques and learn from the competitive environment. We are also pleased to see that provincial selectors are looking to the SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament to identify talent, further demonstrating the high regard with which this tournament is held.”

“We are really encouraged by how seriously the tournament is considered by the players, coaches and managers as an opportunity to pitch themselves against other teams and develop their games,” said MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson.

“The tournament provides an important goal for teams to work towards, and this fits in so well with our aim to encourage young people to live healthy lifestyles, and to be motivated to work towards positive goals.”

Ashton will join Ferrum High from Newcastle, (winners of the Northern KZN regional) and Amanzimtoti High (winners of the Durban South Regional) along with seven other teams at the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More College in July.