SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Grand Finals St Mary’s D.S.G. - Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July

A new champion has been crowned at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, congratulations to Our Lady of Fatima for winning their very first Grand Finals at St Mary’s D.S.G. on Sunday 26 July.

Wrapping up two days of phenomenal hockey, the Durban North Regional winner met a polished team from St John’s D.S.G. representing the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional in the final. St John’s started off hot in the first half, with several promising probes. Fifteen seconds into the first half, the yellow sticks from Maritzburg earned their first set piece. Firing in a low flying missile, keeper, Kayla Driver quickly diverted the shot in the first short corner of the game.

Two minutes later, Driver was called into action again when Mia Howie from St John’s was gifted a superb through-ball. In a one-on-one scenario, Howie attempted two back-to-back shots but wasn’t allowed any space and soon the Fatima defenders swooped in to assist Driver. For the remainder of the first half, St John’s were relentless with constant attacks, but the Fatima backline confidently shut down all advances.

The final and the second half

The high tempo continued in the second half, but the tables were turned. A determined Fatima started running the ball up into the St John’s circle, finding their flair from the first day. With just under ten minutes left in the final, St John’s earned their second short corner but again, Driver blocked the shot without hesitation.

Less than two minutes later, the ball was run down the left side for Fatima and passed to the waiting forwards in the circle. In a flurry, Fatima’s front line started peppering keeper for St John’s, Deborah Lock. On their third shot, Charly-Rose Boyall wasted no time slapping in the rebound directly into goals for the all-important goal.

As time wound down, St John’s picked up the pace, desperately searching for the equaliser, but the Fatima defence didn’t falter and held strong for the final seven minutes. The final score was a well earned 1 nil to Fatima who broke their spell having five fifth places to their names in all of their runs at the Grand Finals.

St John’s making their fourth appearance can be proud of their second silver, adding to their impressive results. They earned their first silver in 2024, a bronze in 2022 and in their first appearance in 2017, they finished fourth.

Road to the Grand Finals

Leading up to the finals, both St John’s and Fatima topped their pools with wins in all of their games, including two tightly contested semi-finals. In Pool A, St John’s were victorious against Ferrum High School (6-0); St Patrick’s College (3-0); Amanzimtoti High School (7-0) and in the second last game on Saturday, beat host school and defending champions and seven-times winner, St Mary’s (2-0). Our Lady of Fatima were successful in Pool B against one-time winner, St Anne’s Diocesan College (3-1); five-time champions, Durban Girls’ College (1-0); Wartburg Kirchdorf School (7-0) and Grantleigh School (6-0).

In the first semi-final, St John’s met Durban Girls’ College who were returning for their fourteenth appearance. College finished tied on 9 points with St Anne’s but with a better goal difference after their four pool games and advanced to the semi. After a hard-fought clash, the yellow sticks netted one goal, courtesy of Paige Williams, against the highly decorated College team.

In a nail biter second semi-final, Fatima met second the host school, St Mary’s who were keen to raise the trophy for the eighth time. With three seconds left on the clock, Fatima found a gap in the Saint’s defence, their Cinderella performance continuing to the main game of the Grand Finals thanks to yet another beautiful goal by Boyall.

Plate Final and bursary draw

A new concept for the tournament, the introduction of the Plate Final. The inaugural recipient was the Pietermaritzburg North Regional team, St Anne’s. This is their eleventh run at the Grand Finals, with a long list of achievements they were the first team to raise the handsome trophy in 2011 and adding to that, they are now the first winners of the Plate.

Over the ten regionals, matric students have been adding their name to a lucky draw to win a bursary through Durban based, tertiary institution, eta College. Amahle Khumalo from Vryheid Hoërskool won for themselves a year’s bursary at the Sport Science, Coaching and Management college valued at R89,000.

Ten teams took to the field in the conclusion of the 16th year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, after 31 games over two days of high energy hockey, a total of 97 goals were scored with Our Lady of Fatima being the fourth team since the tournament’s inception in 2011.

Results

1 Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); 2 St John’s D.S.G. (PMB Central Regional); 3 St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); 4 Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional); 5 St Anne’s Diocesan College (PMB North Regional); 6 Grantleigh School (North Coast Regional); 7 St Patrick’s College (uGu and Sisonke Regional); 8 Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional); 9 Wartburg Kirchdorf School (uMvoti and oThukela Regional); 10 Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional)