SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg Central and North Regionals Saturday 14 March & Sunday 15 March

Action-a-plenty awaits schools from the greater Maritzburg area in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge with Epworth School hosting the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday 14 March and St Anne’s Diocesan College welcoming schools for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on Sunday 15 March.

The busy weekend of hockey will see 12 schools taking to the turf in the hopes of being crowned regional champion. On Saturday, joining Epworth School on their astro are Alexandra High School; Carter High School; Maritzburg Christian School; Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School; Russell High School and St John’s D.S.G. 

On the prowl for their fifth title, Epworth School looks forward to defending the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on their astro on Saturday 14 March for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. Lining up for the host team are Cara Macfarlane and Siphokazi Mpontshane. Pic by Val Adamson

Sunday sees five schools head to St Anne’s for the annual contest. The guest schools are Howick High School; Riverwood College; Treverton College and The Wykeham Collegiate. 

The weekend’s fixtures have all teams meeting in a round robin format, with games in the Central Regional lasting 20 minutes, and 25 minutes in the North Regional. A victorious team will earn themselves 4 points on the log, while drawn games – both teams will share the points. If both teams have the same number of goals, they will each earn 2 points while a goalless draw will add 1 point to your tally. A loss registers zero points. 

There have been five schools that have had the honour of representing their regions at the Grand Finals since the tournament’s inception in 2011. The top ten schools from around KZN converge on St Mary’s D.S.G. in the hopes of being crowned overall champion in the challenge. Both hosts schools are defending champs.

Leaders of the pack. St Anne’s Diocesan College’s Hannah Schwegmann (vice-captain), Holly Hofmeyr (captain) and Willow Crawford (vice-captain) prepare to defend their title in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. The only matrics donning the St Anne’s kit this year, the trio will be welcoming teams onto their turf on Sunday 15 March. Pic by Val Adamson

The two home teams will be walking on to the fields as defending champs. St Anne’s have lifted the regional trophy 11 times while Wykeham Collegiate have three. In the Central tournament, Girls High have their name engraved on the trophy seven times, followed by Epworth with four wins and St John’s three successes. 

Two teams have already secured their spot at the Grand Finals in the 2026 edition. First to qualify was Our Lady of Fatima waving the Durban North Regionals flag and joining them is Amanzimtoti High School from the Durban South Regional who were victorious last weekend. 

Matrics present on the day should keep an eye out for eta College. The leading Sport Science, Coaching and Management tertiary institution in Durban is offering a year’s bursary at eta College, which one lucky player could win. The bursary will be awarded to a lucky young lady at the Grand Finals.

All games at these two tournaments will be livestreamed by SuperSport Schools, so if you can’t make it to the sidelines to support, you can still catch all the action online. 

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook: SPARSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament and Instagram  sparkznhockey or TikTok spar.kzn.hockey or use the hashtags: #ChixWithStix #HearthoftheCommunity #SuperLocal #MyKZNMySPAR 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban South Regional - 3 Schools Trust: Saturday 7 March

The most decorated team in the Durban South Regional reclaimed the title when hosts Amanzimtoti High School hoisted the trophy for the seventh time in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 7 March at 3 Schools Trust. 

This is the first time in over a decade that Toti have met Kingsway High School in the regional finals with Kingsway stepping onto the field as the defending champs. In recent years Kingsway have featured four times in the main game, with Toti only making it to the final round twice – both times victorious. 

Up close. Defending, Kingsway High School’s Sisipho Mathenjwa works hard to keep the ball away from top shooter, Nadine Smit from Amanzimtoti High School during the final of the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that Toti hosted at the 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 7 March. Pic by Rogan Ward

Drawn in the same pool, the two teams met in the first fixture of the day and wrapped up the challenge, with both results going the way of the hosts. The first score had Toti 3 nil up but their persistent neighbours dug deep, not giving Toti much freedom in their circle. With only 76 seconds on the clock, Toti fired off their first shot but in haste, fumbled her attempt and Kingsway’s keeper, Nosipho Mhlongo easily redirected the shot. 

A minute later, Toti earned their first of two short corners, but both set pieces made no impact to the scoreline. Kingsway gained confidence and turned the possession around, taking the ball up several times into the Toti circle but were unable to penetrate agile keeper, Revthi Singh’s defences. 

Celebrations. Amanzimtoti High School’s Naledi Duma; Revthi Singh (goalie) and Zethu Ngwenya relish their success after Singh kept her opponents, Kingsway High School’s attempts out during the concluding penalty shootout at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that Toti hosted at the 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 7 March. Pic by Rogan Ward

Nearing full time, Toti had a glimmer of hope when they took the ball up into Kingsway’s circle. A generous umpire allowed advantage when the attacker accidentally nudged the ball with her foot, giving her an opportunity to fire off a shot but, again, Mhlongo pounced on the shot quickly booting it out of danger. The final whistle sounded with the scoreline unchanged on nil nil. 

With the regional final heading to the penalty spot for the decider, Toti stepped up to the spot first. Shayla Schwarz confidently ran the ball directly for the right hand post, nearing the goals she tapped the ball under Mhlongo who was bearing down on her. Diyaru Pillay’s turn didn’t make it past Singh who calmly watched the challenge, acting quickly as the ball made its way towards her, clearing it neatly. 

With their tails up, Toti’s Zibusio Mkhize charged into the goals, wasting no time as she rocketed off her attempt that pummelled into the box. With the mounting pressure, Sisipho Mathenjwa started the do or die penalty, making a beeline towards Singh. Sensing victory, Singh dashed out to confront Mathenjwa, cutting off all angles of attack, the nimble goalie halted the valiant endeavour earning a sensational win for her team. 

This was the second time that Kingsway’s outcome played out in a penalty shootout. In the second semi final they met their next-door neighbours and long-time rivals, Kuswag School. At the final whistle the scoreline was level with no goals being scored, similar to last year’s final where in a dramatic upset – Kingsway walked away winners. The final scoreline this year going 2-1 to the defending champs. In the second semifinal Toti defeated New Forest 2 nil. 

In the third-place playoff, Kuswag took on the hard-working New Forest High School. This is the second time that New Forest have been a fantastic surprise package, having finished second in 2019. This year the underdogs took on a determined Kuswag for the final step on the podium. Having held Kuswag to a 1 all draw earlier in the second fixture of the day, the tenacious team ran out of steam after Kuswag were lucky enough to find the back of the net going 1 nil up. Kuswag battered the New Forest defenders with several well crafted attacks but were only able to double their scoreline, claiming third place with a 2 nil triumph.

Referring in his first SPAR Challenge, Kingsway High School’s up and coming Grade 12 learner, Bayanda Sangweni (12) had a fabulous day with the whistle. Umpiring for next door neighbours, Kuswag, the matric pupil earned the recognition of Umpire of the Day. Durban Academy High School’s Vuyokazi Titus, a Grade 9 won for herself a grand new Princess hockey stick. After winning her prize, the youngster traded in her old stick and played out her remaining games in style. 

The challenge heads inland this weekend with a back-to-back fixture for the two Pietermaritzburg challenges with Epworth School hosting teams for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday St Anne’s Diocesan College welcoming their opponents for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on Sunday. 

Results

First place playoff

Kingsway High School 0 (0) vs Amanzimtoti High School 0 (2)

Third place playoff

Kuswag School 2 vs New Forest High School 0

Positions

1 Amanzimtoti High School; 2 Kingsway High School; 3 Kuswag School; 4 New Forest High School; 5 Werda Skool; 6 Queensburgh High School; 7 Port Natal School; 8 Durban Academy High School