DEFENDING champions Durban Girls’ College will take to the field at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at St Mary’s DSG on July 22 and 23.
Durban Girls’ College, the Durban Central Regional winners, have a fantastic history at the Grand Finals, winning gold four times: in 2013, 2014, 2015 and last year. They also won silver in 2012, 2016 and 2017, one bronze in 2019 and two fourth places in 2011 and 2018. They are the only team with a 100% record at the Grand Finals.
The tournament, which began in 2011, has a handful of teams with an expansive history of appearances, and adding to the line-up this year, several fresh new contenders. Two travelling teams will be competing for the very first time: Suid Natal Hoërskool, representing the Sisonke and uGu Region, and St Dominics Newcastle, the winner of the Northern KZN Region. The Wykeham Collegiate will be waving the flag for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional, and on behalf of the uMvoti and oThukela Regional, Ladysmith High School are back, too.
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Back for a third time, Danville Park Girls’ High School will be keen to better their consistent sixth places in 2012 and 2014. Kuswag Hoërskool will also take to the turf for their third outing. They competed in the inaugural tournament in 2011 where they finished ninth, and then last year, they took the tenth spot. North Coast Regional winner Grantleigh College heads to the finals for their fifth time. Last year, they finished seventh and in 2011, 2016 and 2017, they ended eighth overall.
After several years’ sabbatical, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School makes a welcome return for the seventh time as the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional winners. In their six previous runs, they featured in the medal games every year with three silvers in 2011, 2013 and 2015, two bronze medals in 2012 and 2014 and a fourth in 2016.
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Host school St Mary’s DSG will be eager to continue their success at the Grand Finals – they have dominated the Highway Regional, representing the area for the tenth time this year. Saints have hoisted the trophy five times in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, taken silver in last year’s finals, won bronze in 2011 and 2013 and finished fourth in 2015.
The finals follow ten hotly contested regionals around KZN. The weekend’s action will all be live-streamed on the SuperSport School’s mobile app and website. For more info, like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparKZNSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).
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