SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Durban North Regional - Ashton International College - Saturday 12 September

Danville Park Girls’ High School gave a rock-solid performance, claiming their third title in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Challenge hosted by Ashton International College on Saturday 12 September.

The defending champs met one times regional winner, Our Lady of Fatima in the regional final where the ‘Danville Diamonds’ sparkled, finishing off their spectacular efforts, winning 13 – 10. Danville topped the log after their seven games, victorious in all of the round robin games, finishing on 21 points. Fatima ended the first phase in third place, 3 points behind hosts Ashton who finished on 18 points. The visitors went down to Ashton in the opening fixture of the day, followed by a narrow defeat by Danville, in their second fixture. Thereafter, they refocused, claiming victory in all of their remaining matches.  

Fatima met Ashton in the second semi-final, and in the all-to-play-for game, Fatima upset the home team’s intentions, dominating the game knocking in 15 to Ashton’s 10. Ashton advanced to the regional final last year, going down narrowly to Danville by 1 point. Danville took on Curro Salt Rock in the first semi-final, securing a comfortable win 19-5. 

In the final, Fatima tipped off and wasted no time to earn their first point, after only 23 seconds of play. Danville replied on the other end, levelling the score. Fatima was next to surge forward, but an unsuccessful attempt gave Danville the ball, wasting no time to net their second goal, followed by their third 90 seconds later. Fatima replied with two well-crafted attacks that got them level again at 3 all. In the final three and a half minutes of the first 8-minute half, the game flowed to all corners of the court. Danville managed to add only 3 more goals to their tally, having to work hard with creative plays to get around the sturdy Fatima defence. The half-time score was 6 – 3. 

In the second half, Danville were first to add to their account. Fatima responded 33 seconds later. A determined Fatima worked hard, creating opportunities for their forwards, but the slick team of Amy Walhuter and Gianna Gaillard didn’t allow the Fatima forwards any room to get under the pole, forcing them to try land looping shots from near the 2-point circle. In a tightly contested second half, Danville had successfully added 7 points with Fatima having manufactured the final attack of the game. As the final seconds disappeared, Fatima’s captain Zoe Quigley, perched mere centimetres outside of the 3-point line, floated the ball for a perfect 3 pointer, the only adventurous long shot of the entire day; levelling the second half’s points to the same as Danville’s 7. The final score was 13 – 10 in favour of Danville. 

Brilliantly guided by Baby Proteas coach, Precious Mthembu, Danville have featured in all but one of this regional’s finals, the only year that Danville didn’t make the final two, Fatima was boldly successful in 2024. Fatima has vied for the title three times, going down twice to Danville and defeating Curro Salt Rock two years ago. 

The tournament heads inland for the penultimate challenge, Pionier Hoërskool hosts teams for the Northern KZN Regional next weekend (Saturday 19 September), before Epworth hosts the final challenge shortly when schools return from holidays in October. 

Results

Regional Final

Danville Park Girls High School 13 vs Our Lady of Fatima 10

Semi-Finals

Danville Park Girls’ High School 19 vs Curro Salt Rock 5; Ashton International College 10 vs Our Lady of Fatima 15

Round Robin

1 Danville Park Girls’ High School 21pts; 2 Ashton International College 18pts; 3 Our Lady of Fatima 15pts; 4 Curro Salt Rock 12pts; 5 Danville Park Girls’ High School’s Invitational 9pts; 6 Crawford International College La Lucia 6pts; 7 Crawford International College North Coast 3pts; 8 Ekwazini High School 0pts