Wartburg Kirchdorf claimed their fifth consecutive victory at the Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge at Wembley College in Greytown this Saturday.
The cold, rainy and blustery weather did not dampen the spirits of the five first schoolgirls’ hockey teams, as they took to the astro. But is was the defending champions, Wartburg Kirchdorf who owned the day despite all the teams having had a tough time in the conditions. As the weather was less than ideal, games were shortened to 20 minutes one way instead of 30 minutes as originally planned for this regional.
In the final game, Wartburg psychologically worked some magic asthey scored the game’s three goals within the first four minutes. Michelle Engelbrecht, managed to score the first and third goals, while her cousin Elona Engelbrecht, who plays for KZN U19 Inland Kites Team (although she is only U17), the second – with all three goals secured with skillful reverse stick precision.
Wembley fought back bravely, and managed to keep the decisive opponents out of the goals for the rest of the game, but, this resulted in them having to play a more defensive game. Goalie Ashleigh Mason was not going to allow any more passages into her goal, and valiantly defended it backed up by some rather determined Wembley defence.
An elated Wartburg Kirchdorf coach Lisa Misselhorn said “We are thrilled to have once again taken the honours. This was initially a very tough regional for us, as we were not playing with our heads. I knew all along that the bodies would not give up, they are strong, but we needed to pull together to play a more strategic team game. In the end this all seemed to come together and I think they worked extremely well as a team in the final game against Wembley.”Kevin Engelbrecht, a relative of the Engelbrecht girls, was acknowledged as the most promising umpire for this regional.
Wartburg Kirchdorf join winners from the Ugu and Sisonke Regional, King Edward, Ferrum Skool (Newcastle), St Anne’s College (PMB North), St John’s DSG (PMB Central), Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South), Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North) and Durban Girls College (Durban Central). The remaining two regionals are to be played later this month.
The Grand Finals takes place at St Mary’s DSG on 28 and 29 July.
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Results:
1 Wartburg Kirchdorf, 2Wembley College, 3 Greytown High School, 4 Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg, 5 Domino Servite.