Amanzimtoti High School defends title at iconic hockey tournament
It took AHS 40 seconds to reveal their hand as they charged down field, displaying their pure determination to keep possession of the ball and the game up in New Forest’s half.
COMPETITIVE hockey action took place throughout Sunday, 7 April as the iconic Spar KZN Durban South Regional schoolgirl’s hockey tournament was underway at the Three Schools Trust Astroturf.
Amanzimtoti High School retained its title, notching its winning streak up to five years.
The defending champions met the surprise package of the tournament, the fantastic and zealous team representing New Forest High School, who were making not only their first semi-final appearance but also progressing all the way to the regional final. The game ended 3-0 in favour of Amanzimtoti but not after a valiant, brave and enthusiastic tussle from New Forest.
It took AHS 40 seconds to reveal their hand as they charged down field, displaying their pure determination to keep possession of the ball and the game up in New Forest’s half.
Just shy of eight minutes into the game, putting her team on the scoreboard, feisty forward Anani Xozwa scored a killer goal, balancing herself a few feet out from the box, she rocketed a solid shot that deflected off a defenders stick, not giving the New Forest keeper, Tamia Wilde any possibility of stopping the ball as it landed in the top net.
Check out action shots in the gallery: Hockey action at the Spar Ladies regional hockey tournament 2019
Back in the thick of things, Xozwa teased the defense as she weaved her way to the edge of the field, knocking the ball goal-wards. The soft attempt got lost in the scramble, the ball brushing Xozwa’s stick on its way to a crowded goal mouth as an unsighted Wilde diverted the ball as it hit the back of her leg, crossing her line giving Toti their second goal.
With the clock winding down, Toti earned a short corner. Injecting from the left side of the field, the ball was rolled out to Tayla Potgieter, who wasted no time in settling the ball and quickly firing in a shot that pummelled the right side of the box giving her team a 3-0 win.
Finishing third was the hard-working team from Kingsway High School. From the get-go, Kingsway’s defence was out of the top drawer. Backed by fearless keeper Keisha Tsouros, who wasn’t afraid to charge down the ball, she saved countless goals. Tsouros and her defence did a superb job during the course of the day.
Kingsway met Werda in the bronze medal game where the majority of the game was played between the two 22s. A rare break on either end resulted in fumbles or misses. At full time with the scoreboard not moving, the game progressed to a penalty shoot out to reveal third place.
Check out this gallery: Out and about at the Spar Ladies regional hockey tournament
Kingsway’s Leoni de Beer went first, notching up the first goal. She was followed by Amy Rust from Werda who couldn’t round the charging frame of Tsouros. Keely Crocker was next to go for Kingsway and her solid strike met the outstretched right foot of Werda’s keeper, Mikeyla Snyders. Tyralee Meyer was second to go for Werda and her diving attempt went agonisingly past the right hand upright, the score was still 1-0 to Kingsway.
In the third round, Kingsway’s Thapelo Moumakwa set off to the right side of the circle, drawing out Snyders. Moumakwa calmly slapped the ball to the right of Snyders watching it all the way as she earned her team a 2-0 victory and third place.
In Pool A the teams were decided easily as Amanzimtoti topped the log followed by Werda. Pool B resulted in three teams all being level in points. As two teams needed to advance to the semi-finals, the three teams were required to have a penalty shoot out. Lining up first was three players each from New Forest and Kuswag with New Forest taking it 2-1.
Second round saw three players each from Kuswag and Kingsway with Kingsway taking that 2 to Kuswag’s 1. In the final round was Kingsway and New Forest which Kingsway also took 2 to New Forest’s 1 forcing out Kuswag from the top four.
Amanzimtoti High School is the fifth team to secure a spot at the grand finals, that will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof. They join St Anne’s (PMB North Regional), Epworth School (PMB Central Regional), Crawford La Lucia (Durban North Regional) and Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional). The next regional is this coming weekend with teams converging for the Southern KZN Regional taking place at Creston College.
Final placings:
1 Amanzimtoti High School
2 New Forest High School
3 Kingsway High School
4 Werda Skool
5 Kuswag Hoerskool
6 Queensburgh Girls’ High School
7 Grosvenor High School
8 Invitational team
For more information, visit the tournament’s Facebook page or follow it on Instagram.
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