Durban girls gear up for hockey champs
Durban Girls College's first hockey team are training hard to defend their title in the SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament this month.
DEFENDING champions, Durban Girls’ College are training hard for the SPAR KZN regional hockey tournament grand finals at Thomas More College and St Mary’s DSG on 26 and 27 July.
They join nine first girls’ hockey teams from around the province, Empangeni High School, Ferrum High School, Pietermaritzburg Girls High School, St Anne’s College, Wartburg Kirchdorf High, Kokstad College, Westville Girls' High School and Danville High School including neighbouring rivals Durban Girls' High School who will vie for the title. The new-comer to the finals is Westville Girls’ High School. During the highway regionals, the young team blew away St Mary’s in an enthralling game. St Mary’s DSG who won two bronzes and gold in 2012 were outclassed this year by Westville.
Durban Girls’ High will also be making a third appearance. The leaders of the Durban South region will be hoping to draw inspiration from their assistant coach, Olympic hockey player and co-captain of the SA Women’s team Lenise Marais, who is fresh off the plane after a lengthy tour in Europe for the world championships.
Tournament Director, Les Galloway commented, “We are in for a cracker of a tournament this year. Four of the teams participating are in the top 50 schools in South Africa ,according to the SA School Sports hockey rankings so the quality is going to be top notch!”
Another vital ingredient making this tournament such a success is acknowledging the umpires. Ten umpires from around KZN were selected as the Most Promising Umpire at each regional. They have been invited to further their umpiring skills and be graded at the finals. Sarah Wheeler from Greytown High School representing the Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi region will be making her fourth appearance at the finals.
MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson said, “I am very enthusiastic with how this tournament has grown, and in such a short space of time. It has developed into a tour de force on the schools' calendar. I look forward to watching the games while the teams duel it out on the pitch. I wish them all luck and the most important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, hockey is the winner!”
For more info or to follow the tournament, like the Facebook page SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament or follow on Twitter @SPARGirlsHockey.
