Extra-time heartbreak for Curro Salt Rock in the SPAR KZN Netball Challenge
Curro edged out in one-minute sudden death shoot-out in final.
Curro Salt Rock fell short by just one extra minute from scoring a home victory in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge at the weekend.
Curro hosted nine teams from Durban North and the North Coast for the latest round of the competition.
Aside from Curro, the North Coast was represented by Ashton International College Ballito (3rd in Pool B) and Crawford International North Coast (5th in Pool A).
But it was the hosts who had the best run of form, finishing top in Pool A with a run of four straight wins.
They proved too strong for the BSS Starlets too, beating them 14-8 in the semi-final to set up a clash of the titans with Our Lady of Fatima in the final.
Curro started well, applying early scoreboard pressure by way of goal attack Danika Willemse, who neatly slotted her chances to set up a 5-0 lead.
Photo: Val Adamson.
Fatima would strike back late in the first half however, narrowing the gap to 5-2 at the break.
The girls from Durban North would carry that momentum into the second-half, scoring twice to come within one point.
That set up a tense final few minutes, where the teams ebbed and flowed on the offensive end, eventually reaching the end of the game tied at eight points apiece.
Extra-time was used to decide the final for the first time in SPAR KZN netball history.
“When the game is tied at the end of the final, we play an extra minute. The first team to lead with two goals wins. If the score is still tied, then they play one more minute, and whoever leads with one goal wins,” said tournament director, Marguerite Wagner
Curro fought bravely in front of their home crowd, but it would be Fatima who scored two points first to claim the title.
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