ST Mary’s DSG is again champion of the highway regional in the ninth SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at Thomas More College.
In the regional final on Sunday, 12 May, the defending champs took on Kloof High School. It took St Mary’s DSG 76 seconds to net their first of eight goals in the final.
Cailynn den Bakker charged down the field in a solo dash, slipped the ball to Gemma Wood, who finished off the fantastic break.
Thirty seconds later, the next attempt was fired in and bravely defended by Kloof’s keeper, Nicole Nzama. The second goal was netted by Tyler Pedley.
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.
Less than two minutes later, St Mary’s earned their first of many short corners.
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After the first shortie was defended, the Saints were back on the prowl with a second short corner. From the castle, the ball moved to Dani de Oliveira who scored the third goal. Cerian Fourie scored the fourth and fifth goals.
Den Bakker moved into midfield and, as she stepped into the circle, slammed the ball into the goals for her team’s sixth goal.
In the final minutes, the defending champs surged forward and attacked from the baseline. Kloof’s defender, Thabile Sibeko hugged the post as the ball moved infield. Sibeko intercepted the ball, but in the flurry, watched as the ball rolled backwards across her own line.
As the horn sounded for full time, the game was camped out in Kloof’s circle as the Saints set up their sixth short corner.
In the set play, a Kloof foot kicked the ball and gave the Saints another opportunity. The Saints captain, Kiana Cormack, slotted in her team’s eighth goal and sealed the victory.
The umpire for the day was Alistair Tyrrell from Curro Hillcrest.
The Saints, eight times highway regional winners, will join eight other teams in the grand finals at St Mary’s DSG on 20 and 21 July.
The teams that will compete include St Anne’s College, Epworth, Crawford La Lucia, Durban Girls’ College, Amanzimtoti High School, Kokstad College, Ferrum High School and Wartburg Kirchdorf.
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