Raising the trophy for the second time, Grantleigh scooped the honours for the Northern Coastal Regional in a nail biting final against Hoërskool Richardsbaai at the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday (7 May).
In a thrilling final, the host team Grantleigh managed to go one up after a riveting 20minute game dominated by Grantleigh. The only goal in the medal game was awarded to star player Nicole Anderson who knocked the ball threateningly across the HSRB’s goals, only to find the foot of defender Some Stander, with the ball deflecting it into the goal.
Five minutes earlier Hoërskool Richardsbaai made a run down to Grantleigh’s goals. After a free hit outside the circle, Dominique Skinner brilliantly fired the ball in with a reverse stick shot that rocketed towards the top right hand corner, hitting the upright and dropping agonisingly directly down. A mad tussle ensued, with the ball eventually rolling across the line and the umpire awarding a hard-fought goal. The umpires conferred and the decision was reversed, with the score-line still sitting on zero.
Captain for Grantliegh, Micaella Forbes said, “It was a tough challenge but we focused on playing good hockey. We fought strongly right until the end. We are delighted with the result and can’t wait until the finals.”
Both teams topped their respective logs in the pool games, with Hoërskool Richardsbaai levelling on points with eventual third placed Felixton College and their pool being decided on goal differences.
Grantleigh had a smoother ride to their semi-finals, were they met an impressive Felixton outfit. The first semi-final ended with the scorecard nil nil, and the game concluding with a penalty shootout. The first to take the eight second rolling penalty was Anderson who confidently slotted in her attempt. Felixton’s Aphiwe Nene was first up for her team, and her attempt scraped past the right hand upright. Danielle van Onselen was second up for Grantleigh, and in similar fashion confidently took her team to 2 nil. Fourth was Kayla Jansen from Felixton, who bravely tried a different approach of sending the ball over Grantleigh’s keeper, Sajana Nagesur’s head. Both Nagesur and Jansen watched as the ball slowly looped up, getting ever so tantalisingly close but bounced just wide of the goal allowing Grantleigh to play for the regional trophy.
In the second semi-final, Hoërskool Richardsbaai met a strong-willed St Catherine’s. In a more traditional result, the Hoërskool knocked in two with their left wing, Charlene Duminy, scoring both goals.
Most Promising Umpire for this year was Mandini’s Eleone Engelbrecht who showed great potential with the whistle.
Tournament Director, Les Galloway stated, “It was a great turn out with exciting hockey being played. What really was impressive was the animated and supportive crowd that was there cheering the girls on from the side lines.”
MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson said, “We are pleased with how this tournament went. We welcome Grantleigh for the second time to the finals in Durban. For the defending champs, Empangeni, it just wasn’t meant to be this year.”
Getting their names engraved on the Northern Coastal Regional trophy for the second time, Grantleigh are the eighth team to secure their spot at the Grand Finals. They won the inaugural regional tournament in 2011.
Joining them are Sarel Cilliers from the Northern KZN Regional; St Anne’s College and Pietermaritzburg Girls High School both from the Pietermaritzburg Regionals; Durban Girls College, winners of the Durban Central Regional, Amanzimtoti representing the Durban South Regional; Ashton International from the Durban North Regional and most recently King Edward High School from the Southern KZN Regional.
The finals take place at the end of July at St Mary’s DSG.
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Results
1 Grantleigh, 2 Hoerskool Richardsbaai, 3 Felixton College, 4 St Catherine’s, 5 Empangeni High School, 6 Mandini, 7 Eshowe High School, 8 Richards Bay Christian School
Pic by Sophie Thompson