The Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High first team netball girls celebrate their win. Pic: Val Adamson
 

A new team has claimed the Pietermaritzburg Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School first team were all smiles hoisting the trophy at Voortrekker Hoërskool on Saturday 14 October. 

A focused Girls’ High met a determined The Wykeham Collegiate in the regional final. Girls’ High’s ‘Green Machine’ were the first to score, opening up their account after a fiery minute of play.  Wykeham was next to try and basket their first with a bold 2 point attempt that skirted around the rim, sliding frustratingly out and back into play. In a fast-flowing game, the Green Machine’s forwards had two other endeavours with both not finding the middle of the hoop. 

After a passage of intense pointless play covering all corners of the court, Girls’ High managed to break the rift, netting a solid goal after a superb attack down the left. In response, shortly after, Wykeham skilfully netted their first point in the sixth minute. At half time, with everything to play for, the Green Machine were ahead by only one point with the score resting on 3-2. 

Tipping off the second half, the Green Machine continued to add points to their score, miraculously finding small holes in the solid Wykeham defence. Mid way through the second half, a frustrated Girls’ High started utilising the bounce pass trying to wiggle their way out of the ‘bundling’ that was occurring and finding some space as Wykeham’s resolute marking was making it hard for the players to find some clear air. 

A gritty display from Girls’ High continued to put pressure on the Wykeham backline, wasting no time when they got within firing distance. 9 Points were added in the second half, with Wykeham doubling their half time score, going up to 4 and Girls’ High ending with a tournament winning 10. 

It was the second time the finalists had played each other, having met earlier in the pool games. In their second game of the day, Girls’ High took the win 8-4, in their dress rehearsal for the regional final. 

In the build up to the concluding game, in the first semi-final Wykeham met Epworth School, just edging them out with a 7-5 victory. The second semi-final was a Maritzburg derby between Girls’ High and Maritzburg Christian School. Girls’ High’s untiring performance saw them take the win with an 8-4 score. 

In the third place final, Epworth took on Maritzburg Christian School. Epworth put in a grand feat knocking in 10 points to their opponents 4 and earning third place overall. 

With impressive stats, top scorers - Girls High earned 67 goals in their six games, with a total of 279 goals being scored throughout the tournament. The hard working ‘Green Machine’ defenders only allowed 16 goals past them, half of those in their four pool games and half in their last two games. 

Wrapping up the 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge, the tournament heads to Danville Park Girls’ High School for the Durban Coastal Regional next Saturday, 21 October. 

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools website or mobile App. 

Results

Regional Final
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 10 vs The Wykeham Collegiate 4
Third Place Final
Epworth School 10 vs Maritzburg Christian School 4
Semi Finals
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 8 vs Maritzburg Christian School 4; The Wykeham Collegiate 7 vs Epworth School 5

Pool A
1 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s First Team 12pts; 2 The Wykeham Collegiate 9pts; 3 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s Second Team 6pts; 4 St Nicholas Diocesan School 3pts; 5 Wartburg Kirchdorf School 0pts
Pool B
1 Epworth School 10pts; 2 Maritzburg Christian School 10pts; 3 Voortrekker Hoërskool’s First Team 6pts; 4 Russel High School 3pts; 4 Voërtrekker Hoërskool’s Second Team 0pts