Ashton International College Ballito were crowned champions of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday.

The hosts claimed the Durban North Regional tournament, edging defending champions Our Lady of Fatima 1-0 on the Oxford Astro, to win their first title in nine years and fourth overall (2013, 2015, 2016).

Ashton won all five matches, scoring 13 goals without conceding. The win is all the more impressive considering Fatima is ranked fourth in the country, while Ashton is ranked 66th.

Following their cup success, Ashton qualified for the Grand Finals, where they will compete against nine other teams from KZN at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof on July 26 and 27.

They will join St Mary’s (Highway Regional); Maris Stella (Durban Central Regional); Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); St Anne’s School (Pietermaritzburg North Regional) and Kingsway High School (Durban South Regional).

This is the girls’ 1st team’s second piece of silverware, having won the Shield final at the 2025 Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament in Cape Town during the holidays.

Ashton topped Pool A, defeating Crawford La Lucia (3-0), Danville Park (2-0) and Durban North College (5-0). In Pool B, Fatima conquered all of their opponents, also finishing top on 12pts to reach the playoffs.

In a one-sided semi-final, Ashton beat Reddam 2-0. In the second semi-final, Fatima beat Danville 3-0 to book a place against the hosts. Fatima dominated with an array of well-crafted attacking moves, including slick set plays, with six short and three long corners being awarded.

However, Ashton’s keeper, Isabella Baxter played the game of her career, keeping the Durban North school at bay. Baxter made numerous saves, including a miraculous stick save.

Ashton had few opportunities, but like all good teams, they took their chance when it counted. With two minutes remaining, the home team found some freedom, running the ball down the left and quickly into the circle. Seconds later, Erin Howard unleashed a reverse-stick sweep past Fatima’s keeper, Kayla Driver to take a surprise lead.

Fatima responded with intense pressure, peppering Ashton’s goal in the final moments, but Ashton held firm to claim the title in front of their home crowd.

More sports results

Also this weekend, the boys’ hockey teams went undefeated against Curro Grantleigh, winning three and drawing one of their four Thursday away games.

The girls only won one of their three hockey games, with the 1st XI not in action, while the boys’ tennis team shared the spoils with Crawford La Lucia last Monday.

The boys’ 1st and U16 A teams both won close-fought rugby matches away at Curro Grantleigh, edging the Empangeni sides by two points in both matches on Saturday.

Junior teams claimed double victory 

Ashton’s junior boys’ and girls’ football and hockey teams took part in the first-ever Reddam House Ballito U13 Sports Festival over the weekend.

Both teams went undefeated, sweeping aside all the North Coast schools as well as teams from Cape Town and Johannesburg, to claim a double trophy triumph.

Ashton has full set of Week 2 fixtures, with the school taking part in St. Dunstan’s Easter Rugby and Netball Tournament in Joburg.

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