St Anne’s College earned themselves a successful second place in SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

St Anne’s College

In their eighth appearance at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, St Anne’s College earned themselves a successful second place.

In a repeat of last year, St Anne’s earned themselves silver against St Mary’s DSG in a highly competitive end to the Grand Finals. In their second consecutive medal meeting, St Anne’s lost by the narrowest of margins, one spectacular St Mary’s drag flick that found the back of the net was the only goal in this year’s gold silver game. St Anne’s held strong compared to the 2018 final where they went down by 3 goals in a game that the host school dominated.

Robin Jones, passionate Coach for St Anne’s stated, “Our weekend started off slow but we are very grateful to be back at such a wonderful event. We had quite a few players missing due to top school squash commitments which resulted in a nice opportunity to give some of our younger girls a chance to play and I am extremely proud of them.”

“We are incredibly happy to be at this event, it is a wonderful initiative. It is wonderful to be back and of course making it to the final. I believe we competed more in this year’s medal match than last years. With only one special goal by a special player separating the two teams. The standard was fantastic in the gamed and we can only grow from strength to strength as a school, and as a province because of events like this.”

The Hilton based team were drawn in Pool B where they met Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional Winner), Crawford La Lucia (DBN North Regional Winners), Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional Winners) and Felixton College from Richards Bay (North Coast Regional).

In their first game, St Anne’s secured a gentle win of 1 nil against Felixton, building on this they went 2 nil up against Crawford. In their big game against three times tournament winners, Durban Girls’ College, St Anne’s earned themselves a respectable 1 all draw. Ending off their first day, they pounced on every opportunity netting 6 fantastic goals dominating from start to finish in their last pool game against Toti.

Finishing on top of the log, day two started off with a meeting in the first semi-final against Epworth School who finished second in their pool. Sophie Rebeck and Lusanda Mtshali notched up two goals for their team, giving St Anne’s the grand ticket to the gold silver medal game.

St Anne’s College – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner - Gold (2011), Silver (2018, 2019), Bronze (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Fourth (2013)

urban Girls’ College finished third overall in Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban Girls’ College

In their ninth appearance at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Durban Girls’ College finished third overall.

In their pool, College came up against St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional Winners), Crawford La Lucia (DBN North Regional Winners), Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional Winners) and Richards Bay’s Felixton College (North Coastal Regional Winner).

College took on Crawford in the first game, starting off their weekend with a 1 nil win. They continued their winning streak with a 4 nil win against Toti. In their big test in the pool games, they came up level pegged at one all against St Anne’s and finished off their first day with a 1 nil win against travelling team, Felixton.

Ending off second in Pool B, they took on host school and defending champs, St Mary’s DSG in a fast flying semi-final that went the way of Saints who took the game 3 nil.

In the bronze medal game, Durban Girls’ College met Epworth School for the second year running at the Grand Finals. With ten minutes left Grade 11 star, Bulelwa Mzimela was perfectly in place for a fantastic base line run and a quick fire pass up to Mzimela waiting on the P, who confidently tapped in her shot to take the win for the local team.

After the game, Vice Captain for College, Emma Sharratt shared, “It was nice to get one back after loosing to Epworth last year.”

Adding to Sharratt’s sentiments, Kerry Lee Gaze, Coach for College said, “Great hockey, it was a competitive weekend and we ended against a competitive team in Epworth. It was fantastic all round!”

Durban Girls’ College improved on their 2018 placing and added their first bronze medal to their stats in their history at the tournament. They are the only team to have played all nine Grand Finals and have an impressive three golds, three silvers, two fourths and now a bronze medal.

Durban Girls’ College - Durban Central Regional Winner - Gold (2013, 2014, 2015), Silver (2012, 2016, 2017), Bronze (2019), Fourth (2011, 2018)

Epworth School finishes fourth overall in Grand Finals of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Epworth School

In their second Grand Finals appearance at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Epworth School finished fourth overall.

Representing the PMB Central Region, the team were drawn in Pool A where they took on St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional Winners), Kokstad High School (Southern KZN Regional Winners), Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional Winners) and Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners).

In their first game, they went 2 nil up against travelling team Kokstad College followed by 6 nil victory against Newcastle’s Ferrum. In Epworth’s third pool game they went 2 nil up against midland’s team Wartburg. In their final pool game they met defending champs, St Mary’s in a tough conclusion to their fabulous first day where they went down 2 nil.

Epworth’s day two of the tournament started in a Pietermaritzburg derby where they took on St Anne’s College in the first semi final. It was not to be Epworth’s time with St Anne’s Sophie Rebeck and Lusanda Mtshali netting two goals for their Hilton based team.

In the bronze medal game, Durban Girls’ College met Epworth School for the second year running at the Grand Finals. Only ten minutes were left when Grade 11 star, Bulelwa Mzimela was perfectly in place for a fantastic base line run and a quick fire pass up to Mzimela waiting on the P who confidently tapped in her shot to take the win for the local team.

Coach, Hayley Coombes enthused, “The weekend has been absolutely incredible. And SPAR - wow – thank you for reviving schoolgirls’ hockey. A tournament like this is something to look forward to and during the season we have worked hard for it. If this tournament wasn’t around, I don’t think it would make our season as exciting as it has been and what they put on for a weekend like this is just phenomenal. Since the regionals, we have been building up to this weekend so simply - thank you.”

Chatting about the bronze medal game, Coombes continued, “We haven’t played DGC this season so it always nice to play someone fresh. I think some very good hockey was played between the two schools, some exceptional individual play and some fantastic team play. It is never easy to lose but we have huge respect for DGC. We were thrilled to be in the bronze match and we will be back next year hopefully.”

Epworth School - Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Winner – Bronze (2018), Fourth (2019)

Crawford La Lucia finished a fantastic fifth in Grand Finals in SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Crawford La Lucia

In their first appearance, Crawford La Lucia representing the Durban North Region at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge finished a fantastic fifth overall.

The newcomers were drawn in Pool B where they took on top teams Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional Winners) and St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional Winners) as well as travelling teams Felixton College from Richards Bay (North Coastal Regional Winners) and Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners).

Having a challenging start to their first Grand Finals, in their first pool game on Saturday, Crawford went down by only one goal against Durban Girls’ College and lost by a narrow 2 goal margin against St Anne’s in their second pool game. The Durban North team went 2 nil up against Felixton in their third game and finished with another 2 nil victory against Toti.

In the cross pool playoff, Crawford met Newcastle’s Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional Winners) and yet again netted two goals for their third win which advanced them to the fifth place positional game. Here they met Kokstad College in a feisty fifth-placed final. Jess Brown netted two for her team and Georgia Vorster added in one giving their team a well crafted 3 nil victory and memorable start to their Grand Final stats.

Justin Collins, Coach for Crawford said, “It was an incredible experience that was combined with a professional environment on and off the field! Everything ran like clock work and the standard of hockey was great! Massive thank you to SPAR and the organising committee!

Crawford La Lucia – Durban North Regional Winner – Fifth (2019)

Kokstad College notched up their best result yet – sixth place overall in Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge,

Kokstad College

In their third appearance at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Kokstad College notched up their best result yet – sixth place overall.

Representing the Southern KZN Region, Kokstad came up against defending champs, St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional Winners), Epworth School (PMB Central Regional Winners) and travelling teams Ferrrum High School from Newcastle (Northern KZN Regional Winners) and Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners).

Kokstad had a challenging start to their Grand Finals meeting Epworth in their first game and going down 2 nil followed by a 3 nil lose to St Mary’s. In their third game, they managed to get their first goal in with a 1 nil win against Wartburg. In their final pool game on Saturday they took on Newcastle’s Ferrum where the score was level pegged with a 1 all draw after the final whistle.

On Sunday, in the cross pool playoff they took on fourth in Pool B, Felixton College. After full time the score was level with no goals finding the back of the box. In the only penalty shootout of the tournament, Felixton took the first round, 1 nil. In the second round both Kokstad and Felixton netted their shots so the score was 2-1 to Felixton. Kokstad luckily levelled the score in the third round and Felixton were not able to build on their advantage and missed their third penalty meaning the scoreline was level on 2 each after three attempts.

The game’s result moved to a sudden death scenario with Felixton taking the first run and charging into the D, moving the ball left trying to round the keeper and rolling the ball agonisingly over the baseline. Kokstad took to the spot and calmly scored their team’s third and winning goal.

In their final placing game, they took on Crawford La Lucia in the fifth and sixth positional placing games. Crawford La Lucia were on song finding the back of the box three times and claiming fifth, with Kokstad earning a splendid sixth overall.

Kokstad High School – Southern KZN Regional Winner – Sixth (2019), Seventh (2011), Eighth (2014)

Felixton College - takes a seventh at Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Felixton College

In their second appearance, Felixton College improved considerably on their first results at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Felixton met top teams Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional Winners) and St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional Winners), together with Crawford La Lucia (DBN North Regional Winners) and Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional Winners) in their pool games on Saturday. Starting off with a fantastic scoreline in a well fought game where they went 1 nil down against one times tournament winner’s St Anne’s from Hilton. In their second game they took on Amanzimtoti where they went 1 nil up where Cate Oxley netted her team’s first goal. Meeting Crawford La Lucia, Felixton let two goals slip past them ahead of yet another fantastic result in their last pool game, where they only let one goal go in against three times tournament winners, Durban Girls’ College.

On Sunday, in the cross pool playoff they took on third in Pool A, Kokstad College. After full time the score was level with no goals finding the back of the box. In the only penalty shootout of the tournament, Felixton took the first round, 1 nil. In the second round both Kokstad and Felixton netted their shots so the score was 2-1 to Felixton. Kokstad levelled the score in the third round and sadly Felixton were not able to build on their advantage and missed their third penalty meaning the scoreline was level on 2 each after three attempts.

The game’s result moved to a sudden death scenario with Felixton taking the first run and charging into the D, moving the ball left trying to round the keeper and rolling the ball agonisingly over the baseline. Kokstad took to the spot and calmly scored their team’s third and winning goal.

Coach for Felixton College, Marilise Kietzmann shared after the tournament, “I feel that overall we played really good hockey. We were in a tough pool and being a small school I believe that we definitely held our own.”

“We fought hard and were unlucky to lose our playoff game in a penalty shootout. The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the tournament is a wonderful opportunity to be able to play against schools that we don’t have regular fixtures against. We look forward to hopefully being back next year.”

Felixton met Ferrum High School, winners of the Northern KZN Regional in the seventh position playoff where Josie Picton earned her team seventh place, two places higher than their first Grand Finals appearance of ninth last year.

Felixton College – North Coastal Regional Winner – Seventh (2019), Ninth (2018)

Ferrum High School finished eighth overall at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Ferrum High School

In their eighth appearance Ferrrum High School finished eighth overall at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

In their pool they met defending champions, St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional Winners), Epworth School (PMB Central Regional Winners), and teams that also travelled to the tournament – Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners) and Kokstad College (Southern KZN Regional Winners).

In their first game of the tournament, they took on Wartburg where at the end of full time the score was 1 all. In their second game against Epworth, Ferrum battled to get the attack out of the circle as the Pietermaritzburg school dominated, slotting in 6 goals. In a riveting match against the defending champions, Ferrum pulled a rabbit out of the hat by scoring a surprise goal mid game and drawing first blood. For agonizing minutes Ferrum held strong as St Mary’s tried to get off their back foot and try to break the Ferrum defence. The host school netted four quick fire goals as the clock wound down to the end of the game, with the final score being 4-1 to the champs. In the last pool game Ferrum went up against Kokstad, and finishing their day as they started, the game ended level with both teams scoring one goal.

On Sunday, in the very first cross pool playoff, they met Crawford La Lucia who didn’t wait long to find the back of the net. At the end of full time, Crawford had managed to score 2 goals, sending Kokstad into the final playoff for position seven and eight. Here they met Richards Bay’s Felixton College. Felixton managed to go 1 nil up and then defend their score, with the whistle blowing and snaffling the seventh place, meaning Kokstad would have to settle of eighth overall.

Ferrum High School – Northern KZN Regional Winner – Fifth (2012, 2015), Sixth (2011, 2018), Eighth (2019), Ninth (2017), Tenth (2013, 2014)

Wartburg Kirchdorf ends ninth overall in Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Wartburg Kirchdorf School

In their sixth appearance at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Wartburg Kirchdorf School ended ninth overall in the KZN tournament.

After missing last year, the Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners came up against some serious opposition in their pool games on the first day. They were drafted in the same pool as defending champions, St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional Winners), 2018 bronze medalists Epworth School (PMB Central Regional Winners) and travelling teams Ferrum High School from Newcaslte (Northern KZN Regional Winners) and Kokstad College (Southern KZN Regional Winners).

After a crushing start to their weekend, going down 6 nil against the defending champs, St Mary’s – the young team featuring no matric pupils drew their second game 1 all against Ferrum. Kokstad managed to get one up against the usually tight defence. In their last pool game, Wartburg took another knock with a 2 nil lose against eventual fourth placed Epworth.

Coach for Wartburg, Lisa Misselhorn enthused, “We are so thrilled to be back at the Grand Finals. It was an amazing, challenging and fun weekend with great team work and commitment. Spirits were high and everyone enjoyed the fantastic standard of hockey.”

In the cross pool playoff, Wartburg took on the south coast school, Amanzimtoti High School representing the Durban South Region. With efficient German tactics, the travelling team managed to get one goal finishing ninth overall.

Continuing, Misselhorn shared, “Overall we are incredibly content with our position as a young, up-and-coming team from a small and amazing school. Thank you to all sponsors and organisers and we look forward to the tenth year of this wonderful tournament.”

Wartburg Kirchdorf – Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winner - Fifth (2016), Sixth (2015), Seventh (2017), Eighth (2013), Ninth (2014, 2019)

Toti finishes eighth overall in SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Grand Finals

Amanzimtoti High School

In their fifth appearance, Amanzimtoti High School finished tenth overall at the 99th overall tournament of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Representing the Durban South Region, Toti met hockey giants Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional Winners), St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional Winners), along with Crawford La Lucia (DBN North Regional Winners) and travelling team Felixton College (North Coastal Regional Winners) from Richard’s Bay.

In their first game the went down 1-0 against Richards Bay’s team Felixton. In their second game, they had four goals go in by Durban Girls’ College. In their third pool game, they lost 2 nil and had six goals scored in against eventual silver medalists St Anne’s in the last pool game on Saturday.

First team coach for Toti, Chris Clarke stated, “It was a very tough weekend for my girls. We were placed in an extremely tough group and my young team battled to match the pace of the other teams.”

In the cross pool playoff, Toti took on the German midlands school, Wartburg Kirchdorf School representing the Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Region. With efficient German tactics, the travelling team managed to get one goal in to earn ninth and Amanzimtoti finishing tenth overall.

Clarke concluded, “The weekend was a lovely learning experience for my girls and we will look forward to being back and better next year.”

Amanzimtoti High School – Durban South Regional Winner – Tenth (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), Eighth (2018)

 -ends

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Wrap up for the 99th Tournament St Mary’s DSG, Kloof: 20 & 21 July

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Wrap up for the 99th Tournament

St Mary’s DSG, Kloof: 20 & 21 July

Namibian Kiana Cormack netted a cracker of a goal that earned her team, St Mary’s DSG, the title of the 2019 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge for the fifth time in a 1 nil win against St Anne’s College.

With just over 12 minutes in the second half remaining, Captain Cormack of the host school was lurking at the top of the castle ready to pounce on the injection of the second short corner of the game. After a clean stop the captain swung into action, firing in a tournament winning drag flick that rocketed into the top right hand corner beyond the out stretched gloves of St Anne’s keeper, Ella Thorburn.

A jubilant captain explained, “I don’t usually score drag flicks so this is the first tournament where I actually pulled it off. I wasn’t expecting it, nobody was but it felt right from the moment I released it and it was a phenomenal feeling watching it go.”

“We went out there knowing it was going to be a tough game – they always are against St Anne’s but it actually was a lot of fun, exciting and intense. For both teams there was some amazing moments of hockey and I don’t think any of us really knew we would take the win today!”

St Mary’s dominated most of the gold medal game, with St Anne’s getting a few runs down to the other end when they had space. In the first half a surge saw St Anne’s hitting the left upright with a drag flick attempt in the first five minutes of the game. In a last gasp attempt, Lusanda Mtshali broke away mid field, striding towards the circle. On the very tip of the circle, her charge was agonizingly stopped by a St Mary’s defender’s foot, the whistle blowing with 3 seconds on the clock. As the offence happened outside the circle, Mtshali’s valiant effort fell centimeters short from an extra time short corner.

In the bronze medal game, Durban Girls’ College met Epworth School for the second year running at the Grand Finals. Only ten minutes were left when Grade 11 star, Bulelwa Mzimela was perfectly in place for a fantastic base line run and a quick fire pass up to Mzimela waiting on the P who confidently tapped in her shot to take the win for the local team. College added to their impressive history in this tournament, notching up their first third this year after nine Grand Final appearances. Their name appears on the trophy three times and they also have three silvers and two fourths from previous years.

In the first semi final, St Anne’s met Epworth for an all round Maritzburg game. Sophie Rebeck and Lusanda Mtshali scored for St Anne’s giving them a 2 nil victory giving them their third opportunity in the main game at the Grand Finals. In the inaugural tournament in 2011, they earned themselves gold with a silver in last year’s tournament.

In the second semi final, St Mary’s took on local rival, Durban Girls’ College. College held off St Mary’s for most of the first half but in the final minute Cerian Fourie netted her team’s first. Cormack advanced the scoring to 2 nil and Fourie got her second of the game to take the game away from College with the final score of 3 nil.

After two days of diverse weather at the 99th overall KZN tournament, 29 games were played with a total of 72 goals being scored in 710 minutes of passionate first team schoolgirls’ hockey at its finest. The first tournament in 2020 rolls the tournament counter over to the milestone of 100.

For more info visit the tournament’s Facebook page.

Results

1 St Mary’s DSG, 2 St Anne’s College, 3 Durban Girls’ College, 4 Epworth School, 5 Crawford La Lucia, 6 Kokstad College, 7 Felixton College, 8 Ferrum High School, 9 Wartburg Kirchdorf School, 10 Amanzimtoti High School

ENDS

New Netball Challenge for Schoolgirls - thanks to SPAR

SPAR Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge

KwaZulu-Natal

Building on the highly successful hockey tournaments, SPAR KZN are proud to announce, in association with SchoolgirlSport (SGS), the exciting and brand new SPAR Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Tournament that tips off this August.

The hockey tournament that got rolling in KZN nine years ago is now a popular highlight on the national schools sporting calendar. Complementing it, this netball challenge will begin with four tournaments this year in four regions, with the intention of twelve teams taking to the courts in each area.

Netting the first tournament, Amanzimtoti will be hosting at the Kuswag High School courts, which will have teams from around Durban on Saturday 3rd August, followed by Southcity Christian School in Margate hosting teams in the Southern KZN areas on Saturday 24th August. Empangeni High School will host Northern Coastal area on Saturday 31 August, and Voortrekker will host the final tournament with the Pietermaritzburg schools on Saturday 5th October.

The running of the programme will differ slightly from region to region, depending on the number of schools and if the hosts will run games in a round robin or pool game format. In the first tournament, Toti’s games will last an action packed 15 minutes each with the 11 teams playing a round robin, the match will have two 6 minute halves with a 2 minute break and 1 minute change over time allocation.

The coaches can give instructions from the sideline during play, and they have an unlimited allowance for substitutions. Ten players can represent each team, with coaches ensuring five players are constantly on the court – Goal Shooter (GS), Goal Attack (GA), Centre (C), Goal Defence (GD) and Goal Keeper (GK).

Schools participating in the inaugural tournament are Hillcrest High School, Kuswag High School, Amanzimtoti High School, Northlands Girls’ High School, Rossburgh High School, Durban North College, Durban Girls’ High School, Kingsway High School, KwaMakhutha High School, Gelofte High School and Ridgepark College.

This new tournament rides the crest of the wave of excitement around netball in SA as after the Proteas finished fourth in the 15th Netball World Cup after a sensational and thrilling world cup campaign. During the World Cup, the Mayor of Liverpool handed over the Netball Federation Flag to the upcoming host for the 2023 Netball World Cup, Cape Town.

Max Oliva, MD of SPAR KZN stated, “Signaling the start of an exciting journey for young netball players around South Africa, tournaments such as our SPAR Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Tournament opens up a whole world of potential for so many talented, unearthed players from outlying areas that dream of wearing the green and gold.”

Director of SchoolGirlSport, Les Galloway enthused, “We are so looking forward to getting this tournament up-and-running, it has the opportunity to grow and make a real impact on our future netball stars. Who knows, young women participating in the inaugural Fast 5’s could be representing our country at the 2023 World Cup.”

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page.

#SPARKZN #CenterPass #ThisIsNetball #MakeYourMove

ENDS

Namibian Helalia Johannes wins SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in fastest time ever recorded in Africa.

SPAR Women’s 10km/ 5km Challenge

Durban, 23 June 2019

NAMIBIAN Helalia Johannes (Nedbank International) ran an incredible race in Durban on Sunday 23 June to win the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in 30 minutes 59 seconds (30:59), the fastest time over this distance ever recorded in Africa.

In doing so she also smashed the Namibian record for the third time in a matter of two months leaving junior international runner, 19-year-old Tadu Teshame (Ethiopia, Nedbank International), over one-and-a-half minutes (01:37) in her wake in 32:36 with former winner Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank) in third place a further 21 seconds adrift in 32:57.

Johannes added the Durban Challenge to the first two in the series of six races making up the SPAR Grand Prix, those in Port Elizabeth (May 4) and Cape Town (May 29), smashing the course records for these and also for the Durban Challenge course record of 31:38 that was set in 2000 by Colleen de Reuk.

The 38-year-old Johannes did not take long to assert her domination over the field of 14 751 runners after the start in front of the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue taking the Ethiopian junior Teshame and Van Zyl with her but gradually leaving them behind as she continued to dominate the race going through the opening first kilometre in 3min 05sec.

By the 3km mark Teshame and Van Zyl no longer posed her a problem as she swept along the Snell Parade alongside the Durban beachfront and headed south towards the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium racing through the halfway mark (5km) in 15:26.

Johannes appeared to be enjoying her entourage of motorcyclists from the Steelwings Club on their Harley Davidsons ensuring her a safe passage throughout the 30th anniversary of the race which was the first one of the SPAR races to be held in 1989 and which carried a prize purse this year of R30 000 to commemorate it.

Johannes said afterwards that she had revelled in the perfect conditions that prevailed over the fast, flat 10km course and that she was happy to have done a personal best time.

She said she was sure more records would follow, but that she did not have any set plans for the immediate future. “We’ll  just have to wait and see where and when I will be running again. I have been improving my times steadily.”

Runner-up Teshame said: “We all knew Helalia would go out front and set a fast place and so I was prepared for it but it was impossible for anyone running yesterday to beat her.”

Van Zyl said: “She (Johannes) has raised the standard of women’s middle distance racing in a matter of a few weeks. It will be interesting to see what happens with the last three SPAR Grand Prix races being held at altitude, in Pretoria (August 3), Pietermaritzurg (August 18) and Johannesburg (October 6).

“Whatever, with bonus points offered for getting times better than last year’s winner’s time, elite runners will not want to miss any of these races if they are to be in the running for the Grand Prix overall winner’s purse of R185 000 with the runner-up receiving R65 000 and the third placed runner R40 000.

A whooping R30,000 was raised for the race charity, Cancer Association with a cheque being presented at prize giving.

Results

Open:

1.    1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank) 30.59; 2. Tadu Nare (Nedbank) 32.36; 3. Irvette Van Zyl (Nedbank) 32.57; 4. Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) 33.22; 5. Janet Mbhele (Umzimkhulu Striders) 33.30; 6. Caroline Mhandu (Maxed Elite) 33:46 7. Kesa Molotsane (Myrray&Roberts) 33.49; 8. Betha Chikanga (Maxed) 34.04; 9. Oliva Chitate (Maxed) 34.21; 10. Patience Murowe (Umzimkhulu Striders) 34.27

Junior

1.   1.Nare Tadu (Nedbank) 32:36; 2. Tayla Kavanagh (Hillcrest Villagers Athletics club) 36:23; 3. Dipulo Mashishi (Murray & Roberts) 38:05

20-39

1. Helalia Johannes (Nedbank Namibia) 30.59; 2.Diana Lebo Phalula (Boxer) 34:59; 3. Makhosi Mhlongo (Hollywood bets Running Club) 35:15

40-49

1.   1. Bulelwa Semai (Boxer) 38:36; 2. Elizabeth Dlhiwayo (Run walk for life Rustenburg) 38:38; 3. Janene Carey (Boxer KZN) 40:22

50-59

1.   1.Judy Bird (Murry & Roberts) 41:10; 2. Michelle Sims (PDAC) 25:28; 3 Maya Lawire (Boxer) 41:26

60-69

1.Olga Howard (Nedbank) 44:54; 2. Blanche Moila (Savages) 48:14; 3. Colleen Peens (Team Vitality) 49:31

1.  

70+

1.Jackie Davis (Savages) 55:55; 2 Gillian Tregenna (Wings Athletics) 01:01:48; 3 Getrude Lottering (Boxer) 01:16:42

Road Closures & Parking For SPAR Women’s Challenge

Road Closures And Parking For SPAR Women’s Challenge

Participants and their supporters of the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge that takes place on Sunday 23 June around Jonsson Kings Park Stadium and Moses Mabhida stadium precinct are reminded to arrive early and plan their route to the race, and where they will park. As always there are a number of road closures that will affect access into the area.
The 10km race starts at 08:00 and the 5km at 09:30 on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, outside Jonsson Kings Park Stadium outer fields.
Road Closures for Sunday 23 June 2019
From 02:00
• Snell Parade between Athlone Drive and the main entrance to Suncoast Casino.
• Battery Beach Road.
• Masabalala Yengwa Avenue between Smiso Nkwanyana Road and Isaiah Ntshangase Road.
• The South bound lane of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue between Smiso Nkwanyana Road and KE Masinga Road.
• Kingsmead Way and Eden Gardens Crescent
From 04:00
• KE Masinga Road (the 2 left lanes) between Eden Gardens Crescent and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue.
• Masabalala Yengwa Avenue between Argyle Road and Smiso Nkwanyana Road
• Somtseu Road at Masabalala Yengwa Avenue
From 06:00
• The West bound lane of Athlone Drive between Snell Parade and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue
• The off ramp from the M4 (Ruth First Highway) to Athlone Drive (in both directions)
Road Openings
• Roads will be opened as soon as possible after the last competitor has left that portion of the route and the cleaning team has ensured that there is no litter.
• Most roads will be reopened by 11:30.
FREE EVENT PARKING
• Access to the Parking on Jonsson Kings Park fields KP3, 4 and 5 will be via Smiso Nkwanyana Road into Jacko Jackson Drive. Note – once this area is full access will be limited to emergency and official vehicles only.
• Access to Jonsson Kings Park fields KP9 and KP10 will be via Umgeni Road to Isaiah Ntshangase Road and through the Virgin Active Parking area onto the fields.
• Parking on these fields is free.
ACCESS
• Access and egress to the Durban Country Club will be from the M4 (Ruth First Highway) Please note that Isaiah Ntshangase Road will be closed at (1) the entrance to Moses Mabhida Stadium and the entrance to Durban Country Club. There will be no through traffic at the intersection with Masabalala Yengwa Road.
• Access to the parking area at Sunkist will be by way of a stop/go system managed by Durban Metro Police.
• Access to People’s Park will be via Argyle Road onto a single lane of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue to Battery Beach Road intersection. Egress from People’s Park will be past Durmail using the back gate to Somtseu Road (Sasol Service Station near the station).
“It makes it so much easier for participants to plan their routes knowing which roads will be closed, and where they can park. We encourage people to access the parking and road closures maps on the website and social media pages,” says Race Director Brad Glasspoole.
Entries can be done online via the race website until 17 June for credit card and debit card payments. A manual entry option is available, subject to the limit of 15,000 not having been reached, at race registration which takes place at Hall 6 at the Durban Exhibition Centre on: Thursday, 20 June and Friday, 21 June from 10:00 to 17:00 and Saturday, 22 June from 10:00 to 15:00. All entrants will receive a promo bag at race registration.
To enter online or for more race information, www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban.
For more information like the KZN SPAR Women’s Race Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

Elite Runners at this year's SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km / 5km - Durban 23 June 2019

SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km / 5km

Durban: Sunday 23 June

As thousands of women gear up to participate in the 30th SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km/5km, attention falls on the front runners who will be making great strides towards yet another quick pace in the hopes of an impressive pay out in this milestone event.

To celebrate 30 years on, SPAR will award the winner of this race R30,000, as well as the usual cash category prizes. Leading the charge is Helalia Johannes from Namibia, running in the colours of Nedbank.

Johannes has accumulated 60 points in the SPAR Grand Prix, including earning 10 bonus points in the two events leading up to the Durban race. She clocked an impressive 31.50 in the Port Elizabeth race and knocked off 5 seconds from her PE time to record a lightning quick 31.45 in the Cape Town race.

Colleen de Reuck’s impressive 19-year-old record, a time of 31:38 set in 2000, looks like it might be in jeopardy of falling with a fast international field expected. 11 runners crossed the finish line, all recording times under 34 minutes in the Cape Town SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge.

Donning the number two, Ethiopian junior Tadu Teshame is currently placed second overall on the Grand Prix log, sitting 3 points behind the Namibian, Johannes. This exciting runner is also part of the Nedbank team topping the log in the Junior category.

Well known South African middle-distance runners Kesa Molotsane (M&R FS) and Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank CG) are flying the flag. Molotsane is lying in third position on the Grand Prix log with 53 points and van Zyl in fourth with 50 points.

Local runner, Makhosi Mhlongo (Hollywood Bets) is the only Durbanite currently featuring on the Grand Prix leader board, sitting in joint 17 place with a tally of 9 points.

The main event gets underway this Sunday at 8am, followed by the 5km fun event setting off at 9.30am. Race Registration takes place at Hall 6 at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Thursday 20 June and Friday 21 June from 10am until 5pm, and on Saturday 22 June from 10am until 3pm. Manual registration is still open, until the 15,000 capped number is reached.

For more info visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban or like the Facebook page.

ENDS

Brenda Mtambo to entertain at SPAR Women’s Challenge - Durban -Sunday 23 June

Media Release

Brenda Mtambo to entertain at SPAR Women’s Challenge

Jonsson Kings Park Stadium: Sunday 23 June

This year, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the SPAR Women’s Challenge 10/5km, much-loved ‘soul sister’ Brenda Mtambo will take to the stage to entertain the crowds on Sunday 23 June at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium outer fields.

Mtambo is known for her powerful, soulful voice, having sung with the Multi Award Winner Gospel Group ‘’ Joyous Celebration’. She has worked closely on projects, tours and recordings with the likes of Lira, Judith Sephuma, Brian Thusi to name a few. In 2013 she released her debut album titled ‘inspired’ and as a result of the album’s success she has been invited to many festivals and events such as the Jazz on the Lake for Joburg Art Festival and the Durban Jazz Festival.

Ixesha Lami is Mtambo’s first single off her latest album “So Much More” which is described as “not only an anthem for women, but a song for everyone who’s just had enough of something that’s been working against their joy.”

‘So Much More’ is a departure from Mtambo’s gospel roots, allowing her to express her own distinctive Afro soul voice. The success of this album saw her being nominated against heavy weights in the category Best Urban Jazz and Best Female in the MMA16 Awards, SAMA 23 Nominee: Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album SAMA 23 Nominee: Best Produced Album (Sipho Sithole) SAFTA Nominee: Best Afro Soul Album.

Mtambo promises to get the crowds moving and grooving from the stage at the finish line of this year’s 30th edition. Participants are encouraged to remain behind after the race, and enjoy the entertainment, as well as the official prize giving and the lucky draw where they will have a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

There is still a chance to register for this year’s challenge at Race Registration on Thursday 20 June and Friday 21 June from 10am – 5pm and on Saturday 22 June from 10am – 3pm at Hall 6, Durban Exhibition Centre.

For more information go to www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban or on Facebook.

-ends

Applications open for JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience 2019 Fringe and Youth Fringe

Media Release

Applications open for JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience 2019

Fringe and Youth Fringe

Applications are now open for the Fringe and Youth Fringe of the 16th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience presented by the Centre for Creative Arts from 27 August to 8 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon and Open Air Theatres at Howard College Campus.

Professional, experimental and up-coming choreographers and dance companies are invited to apply for participation on the JOMBA! Fringe programme which takes place on 4 September.  There is space for a maximum of 8 works on this year’s fringe each 15 minutes long, and applicants are accepted based on first and foremost on the detail and clarity of the information supplied on the application form, and the suitability of the application in relation to the vision of JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience.

The Fringe event comes with a “pick-of-the-Fringe” award Fringe, with a nominal cash honorarium and an invitation for the choreographer to present work on the JOMBA! platforms the following year. (Terms and conditions apply).

The JOMBA! Youth Fringe is open to dancers under the age of 16 years old.  It is a support initiative for the various ‘Dance Development’ projects operating in our province (KZN) and provides a space to celebrate our up-and-coming generation of young contemporary dancers and dance practitioners.

The JOMBA! Youth Fringe has access to limited resources, and therefore applicants should be aware that the event takes place during the day with no lights, but there is sound, and stage management provided. The event, which takes place on Sunday, 1 September at 2pm is free to participants and the public.

Works submitted for consideration should not exceed a 6-minute duration, and the selection committee welcomes contemporary, traditional and popular dance forms onto its platform. (Terms and conditions apply).

Applications for both events close on Friday 14 June at 4pm

For application forms contact Clare Craighead – during office hours only  082 875 6065 or preferably at jombafestival@gmail.com  or download from the website www.jomba.ukzn.ac.za

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge celebrates 30 years on

Media Release

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge celebrates 30 years on

Entries are open for the much-loved Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, the race that started the now iconic national women’s running event, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year on Sunday 23 June.

The Challenge, has over the years, seen hundreds of South Africa’s top athletes, including a number of distinguished Olympians, take the honours. Many of the sportswomen who have appeared in the top three of the race, are written in the annals of SA road-running history, including the likes of Zola Budd-Pieterse, Poppy Mlambo, Gwen Griffiths (van Lingen), Carlien Cornelissen, Nicole Fuller, Tanith Maxwell, the Kalmer sisters –Rene and Christine, the Phalula sisters – Lebogang and Lebo-Diana,  Irvette van Zyl and Nolene Conrad to name a few. 

This list, of course, includes two Durban favourites, Blanche Moila, who has appeared in the top three twice, and Grace de Oliveira who won twice (1994 and 1995) and appeared in the top three four times. Both have run all races since its inception.

The inaugural event has come a long way since it began in 1990 with field of 2,200 when the now USA-based SA athlete Colleeen de Reuck won in a time of  34:16.  Fast track to 2018, where Zimbabwean-based Betha Chikanga shaved off 1:09 from that time, bagging the win at 33:07 in a field of close to 14,000 participants.

Historically, the race route has remained fairly consistent around the Durban beachfront and CBD. The record time is still held by de Reuck who clocked in at 31:38 in 2000, followed in 2009 by Rene Kalmer with 32:27 and in 1991 by Gwen Griffiths (van Rensburg) with 32:28.

“Over 29 years more than 330,000 women and girls, including a smattering of some rather enthusiastic men, have beaten a track around the City in a show of camaraderie, and spirit,” says Max Oliva, MD of SPAR KZN.  “We look forward to continuing this wonderfully, colourful journey with thousands more like-minded fitness enthusiasts for many, many more years to come.” 

This year the race route remains the same as last year starting off in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue opposite the outer fields of Jonsson Kings Park Rugby Stadium, which is also the finish. 

To celebrate 30 years on, SPAR will award the winner of this race R30,000, as well as the usual cash category prizes.  Elite runners participating in the SPAR Women’s 10km Grand Prix Series will be vying to increase their standings on the leaderboard. Currently Namibian runner Helalia Johannes (Nedbank) is in poll position having won the Port Elizabeth race on 4 May in a regional record time of 31.50 minutes.

Participants will receive a breakfast pack upon completion of the event, and are encouraged to remain after the race and enjoy the entertainment on offer, with some big lucky draw prizes up for grabs to mark the 30th birthday.

Entry fees are R145 for a 10km non-licensed entrant, which will include a temp licence, R120 for a 10km licensed entrant and R120 for all 5km entrants. Entrants for the 10km challenge must be 14 years or older and for the 5km must be 9 years or older on the day of the competition.

Entries can be done online via the race website - EFT payments close on 10 June and Credit Card payments close on 17 June. A manual entry option is available, subject to the limit of 15,000 not having been reached, at race registration  which takes place at Hall 6 at the Durban Exhibition Centre on: Thursday, 20 June and Friday, 21 June from 10:00 to 17:00 and Saturday, 22 June from 10:00 to 15:00. All entrants will receive a promo bag at race registration. 

To enter online or for more race information, www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban. 

For more information like the KZN SPAR Women’s Race Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Coastal Regional Grantleigh College: Saturday 18 May 2019

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Coastal Regional

Grantleigh College: Saturday 18 May 2019

Felixton College played out of their boots as they defended their Northern KZN Coastal Regional title in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 18 May at Grantleigh College’s astro.

Felixton took on hosts, Grantleigh College in an energetic final that ended with the visitors going 3 goals up. Grantleigh started off strong, earning a short corner 3 minutes into the game with the first real chance at goals. Felixton’s back line were up for the task, not allowing the ball anywhere near the danger zone. 

Midway through the final, Kavilay Naidoo had a superb solo run down the right, but didn’t get beyond the Felixton 22. Netting the first two goals for the red team, Cate Oxley finally broke the deadlock with 7.56 minutes left of play. 40 seconds later, Felixton were again knocking on the door, with a shot fired in, pounding the back board – but on-the-spot umpire, Mari-Lee Visser deemed the shot to have been hit outside the circle, disallowing the attempt. 

Not letting the disappoint get to them, Felixton responded with a short corner. The ball was sent to the top of the field, cleverly the Felixton players skillfully moved the ball around when the ball eventually found Oxley, who had time to slap in her team’s second. 

Delivering the final blow, Josie Picton took the scoreline out of Grantleigh’s reach when she scored the third and final goal with 3 and a half minutes still on the clock. 

Going into the finals, Felixton’s keeper Rhaiya Naidu (18) stated that she hadn’t touched the ball the entire tournament, and her fantastic defenders prevented the ball from coming anywhere near the goals during the final, giving the matric pupil no work the entire day.

Leading up to the finals, Felixton – who finished on top of their pool, took on eShowe High School in the first semi-final. 3.57 into the game, Felixton opened their account during a short corner, where Captain Aphiwe Nene calmly slapped the ball in. Shortly after, Josie Picton who was camped right on the post, bravely positioned her stick and decisively diverted a rogue shot from Beth Oxley, who cannoned the ball from the top of the circle. Picton, was again well placed during a short corner as she injected the ball only to receive the ball from the top of the D, and knocked in Felixton’s third. As the clock wound down, star player Kayla Janse van Vuuren got her team’s fourth goal and a place in the finals. 

In the second semi-final, Grantleigh were made to work hard for their place in the final, when they took on Richard’s Bay Christian School. After 7 minutes, Grantleigh were awarded a short corner. The ball went to the top of the circle, dodging the first wave, the Grantleigh attack had plenty of time as there was no second wave charging down on them, the ball moved right, then across the goal mouth where Minya Geyser edged the ball across the line for the first goal. 

Grantleigh continued peppering the other goals with countless attacks but a Herculean effort from Richard’s Bay’s last stand, Lebogang Tlou who stood solid in her goals, only to remarkably let in 2 goals. Standing tall, the matric pupil had to face off 3 penalty flicks, the first two didn’t make it past her but Beth van Onselen found the right corner with her low flick, giving the home team a 2 nil win.

The Umpire for the Day award went to Visser who was representing Felixton. The young whistle blower was invited to officiate at the Grand Finals in 2016, and has been impressing as she is growing in confidence.

Wrapping up this year’s regionals, Felixton is the final team to earn a ticket to the Grand Finals that takes place on 20 & 21 July at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof. They join St Anne’s College (PMB North), Epworth (PMB Central), newcomer Crawford La Lucia (DBN North), Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central), Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South), Kokstad College (Southern KZN),  Ferrum High School (Northern KZN), Wartburg Kirchdorf (uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi) and St Mary’s (Highway).

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results:

1 Felixton College, 2 Grantleigh College, =3 eShowe High, =3 Richard’s Bay Christian School, =5 Empangeni High, =5 Curro Mt Richmore, 7 St Catherine’s School, =8 John Ross College, =8 Mandini Academy

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Coastal Regional Grantleigh College: Saturday 18 May

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Coastal Regional

Grantleigh College: Saturday 18 May

Wrapping up the regional tournaments in the ninth year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Tournament, teams from around Richard’s Bay and eShowe get their chance to take to the turf at Grantleigh College on Saturday 18 May in the hopes of representing the Northern KZN Coastal Regional at the Grand Finals.

Back to defend their title, the surprise package of the 2018 tournament, Felixton College which has proudly lifted the trophy once, joins four-times champions - Empangeni High School, Richards Bay Christian School, John Ross College and newcomer to the tournament Curro Mt Richmore in Pool A. In Pool B are hosts, Grantleigh College, who have also been crowned regional winner three times, St Catherine’s School, Mandini Academy and eShowe High School.

Nine teams will be participating in the games that will follow the same format as the other regionals, where a win earns the team 4 points, a draw with goals - 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. The 16 pool games last 20 minutes, thereafter the tournament progresses to a cross pool play off for the top two teams. Depending on the results in the semi-finals, if drawn, the game rolls into the highly dramatic penalty shootout.

This Regional will mark the 98th overall tournament leading up to the Grand Finals that will take place at St Mary’s DSG. The top team from each regional will then meet for an action-packed weekend over 20 and 21 July.

The winner of this regional will be joining nine teams that have already secured a place at the Grand Finals. Teams that have earned a spot are St Anne’s College (PMB North), Epworth (PMB Central), newcomer Crawford La Lucia (DBN North), Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central), Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South), Kokstad College (Southern KZN),  Ferrum High School (Northern KZN), Wartburg Kirchdorf (uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi) and St Mary’s (Highway).

For more info like the Facebook page or follow the Instagram account.

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Highway Regional Thomas More College: Sunday 12 May

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Highway Regional

Thomas More College: Sunday 12 May

St Mary’s DSG are again champions of the Highway Regional in the ninth SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge where they met Kloof High School in the regional final that took place at Thomas More College on Sunday 12 May. 

It took the defending champs 76 seconds to net their first of 8 goals in the final, when Cailynn den Bakker charged down the field in a solo dash, all the way to the goal line, where she slipped the ball under Kloof keeper, Nicole Nzama’s right foot to Gemma Wood who finished off the fantastic break. 

Thirty seconds later, the next attempt was fired in and bravely defended by Nzama. The second goal was netted by Tyler Pedley standing on the P spot, where she was on the receiving end of a nifty pass from the baseline, which she converted easily.

With five minutes played, den Bakker was back on the attack as she lifted her attempt on entry into the circle, only to have the shot thud into the brave last stand of Nzama. 6 minutes and 45 seconds into the game, St Mary’s earned their first of many short corners as they continued to pile on the pressure against Kloof. After the first shortie was defended, a minute later Saints were back on the prowl with their second short corner. From the castle, the ball moved left to a waiting Dani de Oliveira who sent a low flying flick beyond a charging Nzama for Saints third.

This time positioned on the right of the castle, de Oliveira was back in the action when she got the ball passed to her, firing in yet another rocket that Nzama managed to palm over out of play. Saints quickly got play underway in the long corner that quickly resulted in Cerian Fourie scoring the fourth.

With just over 7 minutes left, Megg Fourie standing at the top of the circle moved the ball right from the castle, but with defenders bearing down on the ball, it got slipped back to Fourie who earned her team’s fifth goal. Den Bakker moved into space midfield and again got the opportunity to stride goalwards, as she stepped into the circle, she slammed the ball into the goals for her teams sixth goal. 

In the final minutes, the defending champs surged forward, attacking from the baseline, Kloof’s Thabile Sibeko defender was hugging the post as the ball got moved infield from the line. Sibeko managed to intercept the ball, but in the flurry, mis-queued her clearance only to watch agonizingly as the ball rolled backwards across her own line. 

As the horn sounded full time, the game was camped out in Kloof’s circle with Saints setting up their sixth short corner. In the set play, a Kloof foot kicked the ball, giving Saints another opportunity. Saints moved play to Captain Kiana Cormack who fired in a shot, only to have the ball hit the post and rebound back to her who didn’t hesitate in slotting in her teams eighth goal, sealing a well deserved and well crafted victory. 

Umpire for the day was Alistair Tyrrell from Curro Hillcrest.

Eight times Highway Regional winners - Saints join eight other teams who are headed to the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG on 20 and 21 July. The teams that already have booked a spot are St Anne’s College (PMB North), Epworth (PMB Central), newcomer Crawford La Lucia (DBN North), Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central), Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South), Kokstad College (Southern KZN), Ferrum High School (Northern KZN) and Wartburg Kirchdorf (uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi) .

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

1 St Mary’s DSG, 2 Kloof High School, =3 Hillcrest High School, =3 Curro Hillcrest, 5 Thomas More College, 6 Westville Girls High School.

ENDS