Danville Park Girls’ High School emerged victorious in the 2025 Durban North Regional SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast5 Netball Challenge on Saturday.

Danville overcame a three-point half-time deficit to edge Ashton International College 11-10 in an epic final at Curro Salt Rock.

The one-point victory handed the Durban North school their second SPAR Fast5 Netball Challenge title in three years (2023 and 2025).

The tournament, now in its fifth year, saw nine top schools from Durban North, Umhlanga and the North Coast compete for regional supremacy.

Danville went unbeaten throughout the day, showcasing dominance with six straight wins.

But Ashton, making their first finals appearance, impressed with four wins from six games.

The Ballito school lost by one point twice against Danville, both by the same 11-10 scoreline.

In Pool A, defending champions Our Lady of Fatima (2024) went unbeaten, with hosts Curro Salt Rock, silver medallists last year, finishing in second.

The semi-finals delivered edge-of-the-seat action. Ashton narrowly defeated Fatima 10-8, while Danville overcame Curro 12-8, setting up a high-stakes final.

Ashton led 8-5 at half-time of the championship game, but Danville rallied in the second half to snatch victory by a single goal.

Afterwards, Ashton captain Nonkosi Xaba reflected on an emotional end to her school netball journey.

“It was a privilege playing my last netball game for Ashton. We pushed till the end and gave it our all. I am proud of how we grew from the first game to the last,” she said.

Despite the heartbreak, Ashton head coach Geena Taljaard praised her team’s resilience and spirit.

“The tournament was a celebration of teamwork, determination and the joy of playing together. Every pass, every goal and every smile on the court reminded us why sport has the power to unite and inspire. This is only the beginning!”

Next, the SPAR Fast5 tournament heads inland to Newcastle for the Northern KZN Regional, hosted by Amajuba High School.

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge: Pool A
1. Our Lady of Fatima (12pts)
2. Curro Salt Rock (9pts)
3. Crawford La Lucia (6pts)
4. Reddam House Umhlanga (3pts)
5. Riverdene High School (0pts)

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge: Pool B
1. Danville Park Girls’ College (9pts)
2. Ashton International College (6pts)
3. Our Lady of Fatima (3pts)
4. Hillgrove High School (0pts)

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.