The seventh regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge takes to the turf at Grantleigh School on Saturday 13 April.
The calm before the storm. Grantleigh College’s players Nkanyezi Xulu and Jessica Sparks take some time out ahead of defending their title at the Northern KZN Coastal Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that they are hosting on Saturday 13 April.
Seven teams will be gathering for the Northern KZN Coastal Regional. Tipping off the day’s action, the two teams that have dominated the regional since 2016, will be meeting in what could be the rehearsal for the regional final. Host school, Grantleigh School takes on Felixton College at 8am. Both teams have participated in the regional final for the last six years of the tournament.
Hoping to shine and release the dominating hold of the two defending champs are Empangeni High School who raised the regional cup from 2012 to 2015, Eshowe High School, John Ross College, Richards Bay Christian School and St Catherine’s School.
The tournament runs in a round robin format, with 21 games lasting a rapid 20 minutes with action only going one way. The top two teams on the log then will meet for the second time in the concluding game for the regional, the final. Points will be awarded to all teams after each game. 4 points goes to the winning team. 2 points to both teams if they draw having scored an equal number of goals. 1 point if both teams end their game on nil nil and of course, no points for a loss.
The challenge that travels to ten regions annually, has already had six teams reserving a berth at the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The teams are Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional, The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional; St John’s D.S.G. waving the flag from the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional; Our Lady of Fatima from the Durban North Regional, St Mary’s DSG for the Highway Regional and at the most recent regional, the winner for the Durban South Regional, Amanzimtoti High School.
All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).
ENDS