AMANZIMTOTI High School is one of 10 teams to gather for the grand finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at St Mary’s DSG on July 20 and 21.
After 217 games in total over the 10 regionals this year, 10 teams have been crowned to represent their regions against the crème-de-la-crème of school teams at the grand finals.
Also read: Amanzimtoti High School hockey team reclaims regional title
In early April, Toti met defending champs, Kuswag Skool, in a riveting Durban South Regional final. The last time these two schools met in this final was in 2018, when Toti took the honours. In similar fashion to the 2018 scoreline, Toti knocked in a solitary goal three quarters of the way through, clinching victory. This will be Toti’s sixth appearance in the grand finals.
Publicist, Sophie Thompson, said defending champions and the only team to have featured in every single grand final since its inception in 2011, is Durban Girls’ College who will be representing the Durban Central Regional for the 12th time. “With five golds, three silvers, a bronze and two fourth places, they go into the challenge as the team to beat,” she said.
There will only be one newcomer walking onto the astro this year, the travelling team from the Ugu and Sisonke Regional, St Patrick’s College, which will get a taste of what the grand finals is all about.
On Saturday, the teams will be divided into two pools. Games will last 20 minutes, with play running one way.
Pool A will have the defending champs, Durban Girls’ College, St John’s DSG, Our Lady of Fatima, Grantleigh College and Amanzimtoti High School. Pool B will have St Mary’s DSG, The Wykeham Collegiate, Ferrum High School, Ladysmith High School and St Patrick’s College.
On Sunday, the challenge moves to a cross pools format, followed by positional games. All the playoff matches will last 30 minutes with a quick change over midway after 15 minutes.
At the prizegiving, one lucky matriculant will be presented with a bursary from eta College.
All games will be livestreamed on SuperSport Schools. For more information, like the tournament’s Facebook page SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament or follow on Instagram sparkznhockey.
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