SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge
Big Derby Weekend for Hockey
Pietermaritzburg- North and Central: Saturday 11 March
First girls’ hockey teams from around Maritzburg and surrounds will be taking to the pitch on Saturday 11 March to compete in the hotly contested derby for the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.
The 12 schools taking part are divided up into the Pietermaritzburg North and Pietermaritzburg Central Regionals, with each regional having six teams. Epworth College and Hoerskool Voortrekker host the two tournaments concurrently. Epworth will host the tournament on their turf, and Voortrekker utilising the neighbouring turf at UKZN.
Holding a 100% record for the central tournament is Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High first. St Anne’s College from Hilton are the defending champions for the northern regional. Having dominated their regional, the team in blue have hoisted the trophy an impressive five out of six times in the seven years of this tournament.
Saints will meet some strong competition in their hunt for a sixth title. They will take on hosts Voortrekker, The Wykeham Collegiate who have progressed through to the Grand Finals once, Treverton, Alexandra and Grace College.
Under the guidance of a new coaching staff, the Green Machine are hoping to retain their fantastic record but will have a tough task as they are up against host school Epworth, Howick High, St John’s, Russell High and Maritzburg Christian School.
Both these regionals will be played in round robin format with 25 minute games, with a change over at half time.
“We are looking forward to a real festival of hockey this weekend, which will be packed with action and loads of fun,” says Tournament Director, Les Galloway. “Now in our seventh year, the tournament continues to provide opportunities for young talent to hone their skills. To be able to play against a number of schools, and learn from skills and techniques of other players, is hugely beneficial to growing the game.”
MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva says, “We wish all the players best of luck for these regionals, and although there is a focus on the game of hockey, we invite everyone to have fun and enjoy the spirit of playing with like-minded peers.”
The winners of these regionals will join Ferrum High School from Newcastle from who recently won the Northern KZN Regional, along with six other teams still to be decided from around KwaZulu Natal at the Grand Finals that will be hosted at St Mary’s DSG in July.
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ENDS