Toti clinches South regional leg of hockey tournament

THE Durban South instalment of the Spar KZN regional hockey tournament welcomed a newcomer to the grand finals, Amanzimtoti High School, after the school’s team snatched victory from Kuswag Hoerskool on Saturday.

An overcast, yet glary day, made for cool conditions and respite from the heat at a evenly matched yet highly exciting regional, the second round of the Spar KZN Regional Hockey Tournament which took place at the Three Schools Trust Astro.

The nail-biting finals between Kuswag and Amanzimtoti, each showing determined action by the forwards, with an equally focused defense, rendered an even score of 0-0 at the end of the game. A five minute golden goal was then played, and again the teams were well-matched with neither able to score.

The resultant penalty shootout demonstrated just how evenly matched these two teams were with five attempts each at goal resulting in an equalizing 4-4 score making a ‘sudden death’ shootout necessary. Amanzimtoti won the regional title they worked really hard for, after successfully bagging two goals in succession over Kuswag one and missing missed their last attempt. Toti’s Eirean Bowker remained calm and slotted in the seventh penalty shot, claiming the regional title.

Kuswag went up against Werda in an evenly matched semi-final game which saw the teams even out in the last minute with a 1-1 score resulting in a penalty shootout. Werda unable to convert their penalties into goals through an impressive defense by the opposition goalie, gave the win to Kuswag with their striker Bianca Oosthuizen managing to break through with a clear shot into goals.

Last year’s winners Durban Girls’ High School have been relocated into the Durban Central regionals, making a space for Amanzimtoti to forge ahead in this region. In expected form, the team dominated the games winning two out of their three games and drawing one in their pool. They then went all out to play a strong one-sided semifinal game bravely defended by their opponents Kingsway, in a game that saw them win with a clear 1-0 score.

The regionals were played in two pools with last year’s runner up, and this year’s hosts Amanzimtoti High taking the honours in pool A with two points over Kuswag’s five. In pool B Werda and Kingsway drew with 10 points each, but Werda scored more goals over their rivals, scooping the win.

The tournament also creates opportunities for umpires to develop and hone their skills by giving an award to the ‘most promising umpire’ at each regional tournament. Jason Naidoo from Kingsway High School was honoured at this regional and will go on to further develop his skills at the grand finals in July.

“Once again this region has done us proud,” said tournament director Les Galloway, “It was great to see all the teams on the field playing their absolute best, and to see them enter into the spirit of the tournament with their dancing together in one of the breaks. It was a good day of strong and truly exciting hockey for both players and spectators.”

“This regional, in particular, has always been really festive, with the teams showing brilliant team work and spirit, and really going all out to play great hockey and demonstrate the soul of the game.” says MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson. “It’s this kind of positive ethos that we encourage during the whole tournament. It makes for sportsmanship with integrity, gives the sporting code a great name and helps to grow the love of hockey.”

Amanzimtoti High School will join Ferrum High from Newcastle, which won the Northern KZN regional, with eight other teams at the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More College in July.

The third round at the 2015 SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournaments will take place on Sunday, 8 March with the Durban North regional at Crawford La Lucia, followed by the fourth round on Saturday, 15 March with the Durban Central regional being held at Durban Girls’ College.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page.

Results:

• First Amanzimtoti High School,
• second Kuswag Hoërskool,
• third Werda Hoërskool,
• fourth Kingsway High School,
• fifth Grosvenor Girls High,
• sixth and seventh place Queensburgh Girls High,
• eighth New Forest High School.