On Saturday, the tenth SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge kicked off with the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Regionals.
This, the first of ten regional legs, pitted eight NKZN teams against each other.
Local teams in contention were Pionier High School, Vryheid High School and Vryheid Landbou, which made a return to the competition this year.
The day certainly went to Pionier High.
The school had an amazing day on the turf, capped off with a five-nil victory against St Dominics Newcastle in the tournament final.
This thrilling encounter went to sudden death after ending in a deadlock.
St Dom’s stepped up to the spot for the first penalty shot but a missed chance allowed Pionier’s Charnique Oosthuizen to pummel her shot past the advances of goalkeeper, Chrysna van Rhyn.
A consistent penalty shoot-out earned Pionier regional honours.
It is the third team to earn the prestigious title of Northern KZN regional champion, wresting the title from previous champion, Ferrum High School, which has won the trophy eight times.
Pionier earned a spot in the Grand Finals, which take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof in July.

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