St John's D.S.G winners of the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. pic: Val Adamson.

This is the third time in the 14 years in the challenge’s history that St John’s D.S.G. have been victorious in this regional, their first in 2017 and then in 2022. From the onset, St John’s D.S.G. looked on fire, taking on Epworth in their first game where they netted one goal.

In their second round robin game, they met hosts and defending champions, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, and in a tightly contested game, they went up 2 nil. They continued their terrific winning ways right through the remaining round-robin games. Earning wins in all of their games and netting 19 goals in total, they topped the log comfortably, until they met Epworth for the second time in the regional final.

Epworth had to work a bit harder on their way to the regional final. Equal on points after five rounds, they met the defending champs in their last round-robin game. With Maritzburg Girls’ High having better stats in the goals scored column, they would have been content with a draw, but Epworth needed a win to proceed. With time running out, they managed just that, a magical goal that kept their hopes alive and knocked out the young team from Maritzburg Girls’ High.

Both teams had to dig deep as their energy reserves were nearly diminished after the sweltering hot day. From the whistle, the game whizzed around the turf, with fast decisive passes taking play up and down, and a few long, searching passes being let to run out, giving players a reprieve to reset and compose themselves for a 16. Only one short corner was awarded in the last 30 seconds of the 18 minutes of play, with St John’s D.S.G. having their one and only set piece in the Epworth circle. Epworth keeper, Lauren Rosaveare came into play with a game-saver of a deflection as the shot fired high was calmly smacked away with her right glove.

With the game level at full time, the decider moved to an 8-second penalty shootout. Rebecca Macquet got the ball rolling for St John’s, knocking in her team's first point. Amy Fletcher went first for Epworth but was unable to find the back of the net. In the second round, Isobel Cobbald scooped up the ball and skilfully bouncing it on her stick as she advanced towards the Epworth goal. Dashing off her line, Rosaveare tried her utmost to prevent the cheeky attempt, but Cobbald cooly looped the ball over the jumping Rosaveare as it arced into the back of the net, giving St John’s a 2 nil cushion.

Anna Schulze was next to go in Epworth’s second run, she glided right as St John’s Deanne Norman hung back waiting to see what Schulze would do. Following her, Norman cut her angle down, not giving her room to fire off a shot, Schulze was running out of time, and rattled off a desperate attempt that rebound off Norman’s pads out of reach as the 8 second timer sounded.

Recognised for his skills with the whistle, Curt Rogers representing Martizburg Christian School was acknowledged as the Most Promising Umpire at the tournament. This was the first big tournament he has officiated in and showed great composure during all of his games.

St John’s D.S.G. is the third team to qualify for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof. They join Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional and The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional the day before the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional.

This weekend, the challenge moves to Curro Salt Rock for the Durban North Regional on Saturday 16 March, followed by the Highway Regional hosted by Westville Girls’ High School on Sunday 17 March.

All games will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final

St John’s D.S.G. 0 (2) vs Epworth School 0 (0)

Round Robin Results

1 St John’s D.S.G. 24 points, 2 Epworth School 20 points, 3 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School 16 points, 4 Maritzburg Christian School 6 points, 5 Carter High School 3 points, 6 Alexandra High School 3 points, 7 Russel High School 2 points