Azola Magxunyana from hosts school, Hoërskool Richardsbaai holds on to the pass as an agile goal defence, Mvunulo Sikombo just misses an intercept in the final of the North Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Fast 5’s Netball Challenge that took place on Saturday. pic: Rogan Ward
 

A new team took the top honours at the North Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge, with a breathtaking performance by Khombindlela High School at Hoërskool Richardsbaai on Saturday 29 July.

 
Khombindlela, from Ngwelezane met host school Hoërskool Richardsbaai in an electrifying regional final. Both teams were unbeaten in the pool games earning 15 points each. Khombindlela netted an impressive 83 points topping pool A while Richardsbaai enthusiastically basketed 72 points on their way to finishing first in pool B.
 
The visitors led by the towering goal shooter, Neliswe Msweli, took an early lead 8 seconds into the final with a no nonsense start, sending the ball up to Msweli who calmly opened up her teams account. The local team retaliated with a calculated attack 17 seconds later down the other side but unfortunately the ball skirted around the rim and popped out. Keeping the ball on their side Goal Shooter, Jané Taljard managed to level the scores with less than a minute of play.
 
Taking the lead ten seconds later, Khombindlela showed their intentions, stepping up a gear. An energized pack started to build momentum with some creative, looping passes finding Msweli or Goal Attack Siphokazi Mchunu and some thrilling intercepts midfield, with Goal Defence Mvunulo Sikombo snaffling the ball in some exquisite wizzardy aerial takes.
 
The slick skills from Khombindlela rattled the home team, having dominated throughout the day. The score going into half time had the guests leading 9 to 3. Shortly after half time, Richardsbaai broke the shackles, shaking off the KHS pressure and started playing with their usual flair. Taljard finding her bearings, rediscovered her pinpoint focus and started neatly ticking over her team’s points. At the conclusion of the second 8 minute half, Khombindlela had increased their score by 8 points and Richardsbaai had floated in 6 points. The final score, in favour of Khombindlela, was 17 – 9. 
 
In the semi-finals, Khombindlela met the inaugural SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s tournament’s first successors, Tholokuhle Secondary School, on Court B where 30 goals were scored in a fast-flowing game that ran from end to end. Khombindlela doubled Tholokuhle’s efforts with the scorecard ending 20 points to the 2019 champs’ 10 points. 
 
Hoërskool Richardsbaai took on the hard-working team of Mcabango High School in the other semi. In a low scoring game, the home team didn’t allow MHS to find their feet and controlled the game with some feisty midfield play, and loads of intercepts and steals. Richardsbaai took the game 10 points to 2.
 
The pool results saw Mcabango High School finishing second in Pool A with 10 points – five points behind Khombindlela; defending champs, Empangeni High School in third with 9 points; Curro Salt Rock’s first team fourth, with 7 points; Nkombose High School fifth with 3 points and Richem Secondary School rounding up the pool with zero points. 
 
Pool B had Hoërskool Richardsbaai leading, with Tholokuhle Secondary School just 3 points behind on 12 points; in third, Felixton College ended their day with 9 points; Eshowe High School claimed 6 points; 3 points were scored by Dlangezwa High School and Curro Salt Rock’s second team finished off Pool B with zero points.
 
 
The next regional takes place at SouthCity Christian School on 12 August with teams from the area participating in the South Coast Regional. Two weeks later, it heads inland for the Kokstad Regional at Kokstad College on Saturday 26 August.
 
For more info like the challenge’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.