Durban Central winners, Durban Girls’ College with their SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge trophy. Pic by Rogan Ward

In a nail-biting conclusion against the defending champions, Luthayi High School, only one point separated the two teams at the tournament at Westville Girls High on Saturday 2 September.

College’s goal shooter, Amber Thomson’s pinpoint perfection opened her team’s account seconds into the final after College got the game rolling with a determined centre pass. Shortly after that, the left handed shooter netted her team’s second. 
Luthayi got onto the scoreboard with a well-crafted attack down the left, finding goal shooter, Khomo Nosipho who had had a magical day with her fantastic form in her opposition’s circle. College responded quickly, adding two more to their tally on the other end. The taller players from College devised a tactic of aerial attacks, looping in passes to their shooters, over the valiant jumps of the shorter defenders from Luthayi. 

College dominated in the opening quarter, leading 4 goals to 1 but the defending champs were patient, waiting to pounce. An intercept on the goal line ignited Luthayi, just as College was ringing out three rolling subs. With a spring in their step, they didn’t let the new College players settle and quickly leveled the score line, with 3 grand shots on target. 

Nearing half time, both College and Luthayi knocked in one more goal each with nothing between the two. The scoreline was 5 a piece at the break. The physical game continued after a short team talk, Luthayi hustling big time, advanced with back-to-back goals. College looked to break Luthayi’s dominating streak, with a successful run up to the other end, clawing back 1 point. 

Firing on all cylinders, Luthayi went up with two more goals by their target shooter, Nopsiho. And then the wheels fell off. College were clearly rattled in the high energy closing game. Midway through the second half Luthayi took the strange decision to play for time, with some entertaining skills passing the ball around their backline, running circles around College who seemed dumfounded. The defending champs wasting precious seconds, teasing their rivals with whizzing passes in their back third. A chance intercept saw College snaffle the ball and net a point that gave them a glimmer of hope. The score was 9 – 7 in favour of Luthayi with around 2 minutes remaining. Playmaker for College, captain Erin Girodo amazingly got her hands on the ball, deep in the circle and launched an attempt. The ball floated goalwards and then, success! Girodo had sunk a game changing 2 pointer. The spirits of College were visibly lifted, while Luthayi’s flair seemed to have taken a knock. 

With the scoreline level again, and time running out, College earned a turn over, and rocketed the ball up to Thomson who took her team 1 point up. Taking a deep breath, Luthayi dug deep and responded with Nosipho bringing her team up again, leveling the playing fields at 10 all. Seconds remaining, College had the final centre pass, and again produced a no-nonsense attack in the final play, getting the ball into the circle to Thomson, who fired off her shot from under the poles as all eyes watched it fall through the middle of the net as the buzzer sounded. College had won by one point. 

Twelve schools from the greater Durban area took part in 33 games with the teams divided into two pools. Matches were 16 minutes long with a 2 minute half time, and a total of 533 goals were scored in 528 minutes of play.

Only three more tournaments remain this year. Heading north, the tournament moves to Pionier Hoërskool where teams participating in the Northern KZN Regional on Saturday 16 September.

For more info on the Netball challenge, like the Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final Result
Durban Girls’ College 11 points vs Luthayi High School 10 points
Semi Finals
Luthayi High School 11 points vs Durban Girls’ High School 7 points; Durban Girls’ College 11 points vs St Henry’s Marist College 9 points
Pool A
1 Durban Girls’ High School 13 points; 2 St Henry’s Marist College 13 points; 3 Gelofte Skool 9 points; 4 Curro Hillcrest 6 points; 5 Kloof High School 3 points; 6 Westville Girls’ High School A 0 points
Pool B
1 Durban Girls College 15 points; 2 Luthayi High School 12 points; 3 Hillcrest High School 7 points; 4 Westville Girls’ High School 6 points; 5 Ridge Park College 3 points; 6 St Benedict’s School 0 points