Ashton College, Durban Girls Join Hockey Finalists

Defending champions, Durban Girls College were on top form as they slammed their way to glorious victory on home turf in the Durban Central Regionals of the SPAR aQuellé School Girls’ Hockey Tournament on Saturday whilst Ashton College (Ballito) swiped a surprise and well deserved conquest from defending champs Danville in the Durban North Regionals at the Three Schools Trust Fields on Sunday.

Durban Girls College, who won all four of their round robin games, scored 27 goals out of the total 34 scored on the day, with their striker Caroline Meek claiming eight of these, guaranteeing them an opportunity along with nine other KZN schools to scoop the winning title in the finals at St Mary’s and Thomas More College in July.

In the Durban North regionals, hosted by Our Lady of Fatima, seven schools battled it out with some new contenders for champions. Danville played some strong, hard games but at the end of the tournament tied with Ashton, however the winner was decided on total goals scored, which meant Ashton’s 8 topped Danville’s 5.

The fourth to last game of the tournament Ashton was pitted against Fatima in a game which needed to be either a draw or a win for them to ensure either first or second position. It was an even game to start, and Fatima started to get the upperhand when a fantastic set up by right half, Jennifer Smit from out of the circle, deflected off Lauren Huber’s stick into goals. The balance tipped, Ashton were able to convert a short corner into a point as Danelle van der Linde tapped the ball into goal after a good defense by Fatima’s goalie followed by some muddled play in front of the net. This secured Ashton in the lead on the log at this point.

Danville then had to win by at least 4 goals against Durban North College in the next game to be able to take the lead but a well defended game by their opponents resulted in a score of 1-0 to the defending champs, proclaiming Ashton as winners.

“We have been really pleased with the level of commitment shown by these players.” says Les Galloway, former SA Women’s Hockey Manager and Tournament Director. “The girls played with such enthusiasm and vigor showing true integrity and respect for the game and their opponents.”

“The festival spirit at these tournament regionals has really created a great atmosphere.” says Managing Director for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson. “While the actual games themselves are competitive and the girls are focused on the job at hand, there is still a sense that everyone is having a great time – something which we are pleased to be fostering.”

Voted as the Most Promising Umpires for the Durban Central and the Durban North Regionals was Avril Jacobs from Ridge Park College and Mark Ziegler from Danville.

Regionals still to compete in April are North Coastals hosted by Felixton College and Umvoti hosted by Greytown High School. Regionals have been played in Dundee (Northern KZN), Port Shepstone (Sisonke and Ugu), Pietermaritzburg Central, Durban South with defending champions for all these regions, Ferrum High, Creston, Pietermaritzburg Girls High and Durban Girls High all making it once again through to the finals. St Anne’s, the inaugural 2011 overall winners reclaimed their regional title last Saturday from last year’s winners Wykeham Collegiate.