SPAR KZN Schoolgirl’s Fast 5’s Netball
Midlands Tournament
Voortrekker High School: Saturday 5 October
Wrapping up the inaugural SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball tournament, St Anne’s College claimed the Midlands title at Voortrekker High School on Saturday 5 October.
In a low scoring, high action final, St Anne’s met The Wykeham Collegiate. Wykeham got the game underway, but St Anne’s intercepted their first charge upfield. Basketing the first goal, after two attempts on both ends, Jamie Rowe from Wykeham Collegiate nailed her shot after a floated pass from the wily centre, 3 minutes and 7 seconds had ticked away of the first half.
The Wykeham Collegiate dominated the first half with the scoreline, just after 6 minutes, being in their favour 4 - 1. St Anne’s clawed their way back with Jodi Lee and Shannon Armstrong both getting their names on the scoreboard as half time approached. The score sat at 4 – 3 as the girls took a breather midway through the game.
After their half time chat, St Anne’s levelled the score shortly after the second half started. Armstrong was on song in the second half finding the middle of the hoop for her team, edging the score up to 4 a piece, and then after two unsuccessful attempts on both ends, she earned her team the lead for the first time in the game.
Julie Trodd from TWC then landed the equaliser on the opposite end, following up on a shot that agonisingly spun around the hoop and popped out. Three more attempts on either end didn’t budge the scoreline, including a 2 point that glanced the lip of the hoop by St Anne’s.
Rowe reclaimed the lead for her team with another 1 point but the lead was short lived as Armstrong was allowed some space and with her eye in, levelled the score for St Anne’s again. With time running out, Armstrong calmly fired in another 1 point, with the score being 7 in favour to Wykeham’s 6. In the dying second, The Wykeham Collegiate quickly responded as they ran the ball up in their last gasp attempt with the ball flying tantalising goal-wards but the pressure shot fell short as St Anne’s celebrated.
A visibly ecstatic Coach for St Anne’s, Londeka Zuma stated, “Look I am shaking, what a game. So exciting! Wykeham Collegiate was an amazing team to play in the final, but our defence won us the game!”
Their day started on a winning streak where they took on Epworth in their first pool game, bagging their first win 10 – 2. At the conclusion of the pool games, St Anne’s had netted 62 goals, and topped the leaderboard with 15 points, Epworth finishing in second spot and earning themselves a place in the semi - finals.
Wykeham Collegiate got their ball rolling with a win in their first pool game where they trounced St John’s D.S.G 17 - 1. At the conclusion of the pool games, TWC had wins throughout, with 15 points alongside their name and an incredible 87 goals scored. Host team, Voortrekker A were second on the log and met St Anne’s in the first semi – final.
St Anne’s dominated their first semi-final with the score at half time sitting on 6 – 4. In the second half they doubled their score, with a drought on the end of the host school, barring a sublime 3 pointer floating in by Tamika Baker taking the score up to 12 - 7. Baker was acknowledged during the prize giving for knocking in three golden 3 pointers during the day.
Umpire for the Day was Ntuthuko Zondi representing TWC.
The foundation has been set for the successful format in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball with a total of 46 schools participating in the four regional tournaments. The first four winners that have their names engraved on the trophy are in the first SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball are Hillcrest High School – Durban Regional; Creston College – Southern KZN Regional; Tholokuhle High School - North Coastal Regional and St Anne’s College – Midlands Regional.
Dates and venues for the second year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball will be announced early in 2020. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Results:
1 St Anne’s College, 2 The Wykeham Collegiate, 3= Epworth School, 3= Voortrekker High School A, 5= St Nicholas School, 5= Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, 7= Voortrekker High School B, 7= St John’s D.S.G., 9 = Maritzburg Christian School, 9= Russel High School, 9= Wartburg Kirchdorf School
ENDS