Georgia Pollock (St Mary’s D.S.G.); Caprice Bengston (DGC); Rebecca Macquet (St John’s D.S.G.) and Jenna Shaw (Our Lady of Fatima) prepare for the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. Pic: Val Adamson

 

After 217 games in total over the 10 regionals this year, ten teams have been crowned to represent their regions against the crème-de-la-crème of school teams at the Grand Finals.

The defending champions, the only team to have featured in every single Grand Final since its inception in 2011, Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional will be making their twelfth appearance. With five golds; three silvers; a bronze and two fourth places, they go into the challenge as the team to beat.

Matching College’s five golds, St Mary’s D.S.G. will be making their eleventh appearance for the Highway Regional winner at the Grand Finals. They have raised the trophy five times, the last being in 2019 and will be determined to reclaim the title. The host school has an impressive history at the Challenge, adding to their five wins with two silvers, two bronzes and a fourth place.
 
Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional) return after a few years, making their ninth appearance. Their last outing at the Grand Finals, they finished eighth and will be wanting to improve on that. Two teams feature for the sixth time, Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional) and Grantleigh College (North Coastal Regional) are back. Joining them on the turf are Our Lady of Fatima who represent the Durban North Regional for the fifth time. In all of their runs at the Grand Finals, they have notched up a consistent fifth place.
 
Three teams tackle their third outing at the Grand Finals. The two teams from the Capital City, The Wykeham Collegiate flying the flag for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional and St John’s D.S.G. representing the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional. Both teams have featured in the semi-finals in all of their Grand Finals dalliances with Wykeham finishing fourth twice and St John’s notching up a third and fourth. From up the road, Ladysmith High School will be stepping onto the turf for the uMvoti and oThukela Region.
 
Only one newcomer will be walking onto the astro this year, the travelling team from the Ugu and Sisonke Regional, St Patrick’s College gets a taste of what the Grand Finals is all about.
 
On Saturday, the ten teams will be divided into two pools. Games will last 20 minutes, with play running one way. Pool A will have the defending champs, Durban Girls’ College; St John’s D.S.G.; Our Lady of Fatima; Grantleigh College and Amanzimtoti High School. Pool B will have St Mary’s D.S.G.; The Wykeham Collegiate; Ferrum High School; Ladysmith High School and St Patrick’s College.
 
Sunday, the Challenge moves to a cross pools format, followed by positional games. All the playoff matches last 30 minutes with a quick change over midway after fifteen minutes.
 
At the prize giving, one lucky matriculant will be presented with a bursary from eta College.
 

 
Twelfth Appearance
Durban Girls’ College - Durban Central Regional Winner - Gold (2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023), Silver (2012, 2016, 2017), Bronze (2019), Fourth (2011, 2018)
 
Eleventh Appearance
St Mary’s D.S.G. – Highway Regional Winner - Gold (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Silver (2022, 2023), Bronze (2011, 2013), Fourth (2015)
 
Ninth Appearance
Ferrum High School – Northern KZN Regional Winner – Fifth (2012, 2015), Sixth (2011, 2018), Eighth (2019), Ninth (2017), Tenth (2013, 2014)
 
Sixth Appearance
Amanzimtoti High School – Durban South Regional Winner - Tenth (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), Eighth (2018)
Grantleigh College – North Coast Regional Winner – Seventh (2022, 2023), Eighth (2011, 2016, 2017)
 
Fifth Appearance
Our Lady of Fatima – Durban North Regional Winner – Fifth (2011, 2017, 2018, 2022)
 
Third Appearance
The Wykeham Collegiate – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner - Fourth (2012, 2023)
St John’s D.S.G. – Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Winner – Bronze (2022); Fourth (2017)
Ladysmith High School - uMvoti and oThukela Regional – Seventh (2012); Tenth (2023)
 
First Appearance
St Patrick’s College – Ugu and Sisonke Regional Winner