Thrilling Fast 5 Netball Challenge between VHS and Pionier

Hoërskool Pionier secured the crown as Northern KZN regional champions in this year’s SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Fast 5s Netball Challenge at Dundee High School on September 14.
Pionier met Vryheid High School for the second time in a fast-flowing final. In their earlier meeting, the two teams drew 10-all. In the closing game, Vryheid drew first blood when they opened their account with a fabulous two-pointer after just 22 seconds of play. Pionier were quick to respond with two back-to-back one-pointers, levelling the score after 64 seconds.
A quick game of ‘tennis’ ensued for the next two minutes, with both teams alternating scoring, securing one-pointers, and taking the score-line up to five-all after three minutes and 18 seconds. Pionier then shifted gear, with their trademark long, probing, determined passes rapidly finding their forwards. The half-time score was 5-7.
In the second half, Pionier were first to score 15 seconds in. After just over two minutes of tussling turn-overs, Vryheid responded by nudging their score up by one point. Pionier dominated possession in the middle period but only managed to put away three shots, taking the score up to 6-12. As the weather started to move in, Vryheid knocked in two more one-pointers, followed by Pionier scoring two single points, with the final score at 9-14.
In the semi-finals, Vryheid High School took on Ferrum Hoërskool, beating them 13-10, and Pionier met two-time defending champs Dundee High School, where they won 16-8. Dundee and Pionier met in the final of the first regional in 2022, which Dundee took the honours 10-7.
This is the third time this regional has taken place since the tournament expanded. In the continued growth of this tournament, 10 teams participated this year, from the previous eight teams in 2022 and 2023.
The results are as follows:
Hoërskool Pionier (14) vs Vryheid High School (9).
Third place play-off:
Dundee High School (11) vs Ferrum Hoërskool (8).
Semi-final results:
Vryheid High School (13) vs Ferrum Hoërskool (10);
Dundee High School (8) vs Hoërskool Pionier (16).

Pool results:
Pool A:

1) Hoërskool Pionier – 10 points; 2) Vryheid High School – 10; 3) Sarel Cilliers High School – 4; 4) Newcastle High School – 4; 5) Amajuba High School – 0.
Pool B:
1) Dundee High School 12 points; 2) Ferrum Hoërskool – 9; 3) Dundee Secondary School – 6; 4) Dundee High School Seconds – 3; 5) Pongola Akademie Gekombineerde Skool – 0.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.