After being the bridesmaids in all of their appearances at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Kingsway High School hoisted the trophy for the first time on Saturday 12 April at 3 Schools Trust, hosted by Werda Skool. 

 And what is quite remarkable, they only had nine players arrive for the tournament. It was not an easy voyage to the final for the eventual winners, after three hard fought pool games, they only had 3 points on the board after levelling all of them in goalless draws against host school, Werda, New Forest High School and Port Natal. New Forest went on to top the log and Kingsway were level on 3 points with Werda so they were tasked to take each other on in a penalty shoot out to see who would advance to the semi-final. Kingsway won in sudden death, 3-2. 
 
In the first semi-final Kingsway met their next door neighbours, Kuswag Skool who have won this regional three times. Kuswag were first to attack and constructed various attacks, with a few surprise long passes to their player lurking on the post. Ten minutes in, one of these long passes caught the short manned KHS on the back foot, and Paula Roodt with no defenders around, calmly guided the ball into the goal. 
 
Not having any of it, a determined Kingsway turned play in their favour and replied almost immediately with a zig-zagged run into the circle, two passes and then a no nonsense shot by Keiyona Achary that took the score up to 1 all. At the final whistle, for the second time, Kingsway met their opponents at the penalty spot. They knocked in their two attempts and wily keeper, Mercy Onwuama managed to keep both Kuswag’s runs out. The second one, she over enthusiastically trampled on resulting in a penalty stroke but without skipping a beat, kept the flick out too. The final score, 2 nil to Kingsway with their onwards ticket stamped to advance to the final.
 
Here they met defending champions, and six times winners Amanzimtoti High School. They ended second in their pool 3 points behind Kuswag having netted 6 goals in total. They won two of their fixtures and drew in the other two playing against Durban Academy, Gelofte Hoerskool, Kuswag and Queensburgh Girls’ High School. 
 
Toti met Pool Bs leader, New Forest High School in their semi-final. Following the trend, the game was decided through penalties after ending in a nil nil draw. This was the first time the New Foresters had ever participated in a penalty shootout and learnt quickly what to do. They drew 2 all in the first round, heading to a sudden death. In the first round, they levelled but with the pressure mounting, missed their fifth attempt and Toti pouncing on the opportunity, took the game 4-3. 
 
In the regional final, Toti mounted various advances, including a long corner, and three short corners to Kingsway’s one short corner. The score at the final whistle, a deadlocked nil nil. For the fourth time, Kingsway stepped up for their penalty shootout. Both teams missed their first opportunities, and netted their second. Archary from Kingsway was third to go, running in and veering right, slotted in her attempt under a charging keeper, Revthi Singh from Toti. The score now at 2-1. Toti’s Nadine Smit set off, charging towards Onwuama, pulling right and slapping in her attempt but a fired up Onwuama snubbed the shot with her right pad, and the follow up attempt too keeping the ball out and earning her team their very first victory.
 
Assisting during the day with the whistle, New Forest’s Andisiwe Nyawose impressed with the whistle and earned the title of Umpire of the Day. Kingsway High School’s Diyara Pillay won the lucky draw prize, winning herself a brand new Princess hockey stick.
 
Kingsway High School is the fifth team to earn a berth at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. They head there meeting St Mary’s D.S.G. (Highway Regional); newcomer Maris Stella (Durban Central Regional); Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional) and St Anne’s School (Pietermaritzburg North Regional).

Pic: Val Adamson