Maris Stella lifts Durban Central regional title in Spar KZN Hockey Challenge
Maris Stella will make their first-ever trip to the KZN Spar Hockey Challenge Grand Finals in July after they scored a stunning victory over Durban Girls’ College (DGC) in a penalty shootout in the final of the Durban Central regional leg of the tournament at DGC on Sunday.
History was made because it will be the first time that DGC misses out on the Grand Finals.
In a tense title decider, Maris Stella and DGC played out a thrilling 0-0 draw in regulation time. Then, in a penalty shootout, Maris Stella triumphed 3-1.
On Saturday, St Mary’s DSG Kloof won the Highway regional title at Curro Hillcrest.
Six teams contested the regional event at DGC on Sunday. Apart from Maris Stella and DGC, Durban Girls High School (DGHS), Inanda Seminary, INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, and KwaMashu Schools), and St Henry’s School were also in action.
DGC kicked off the event with a comfortable 3-0 win over St Henry’s and looked like the team to beat. Coach Chardinay Penniston’s charges played exemplary hockey on their unbeaten five-match run, which included a 2-0 win over Maris Stella in their round-robin tie. After the group stage ended, the hosts had accumulated a maximum of 20 points.
Maris Stella also shone. In a key clash, they scored a 1-0 win over DGHS, who also produced some exciting hockey. After their loss to DGC, Maris Stella recorded four wins, including by 10-0 over Inanda Seminary, although the rules of the competition state that a maximum of seven goals are counted in the results. With four victories, Maris Stella tallied 16 points.
In the final, they put aside their earlier loss to DGC and delivered a splendid performance which culminated in their upset win.
DGHS was the next best team in the group stages. Coincidentally, they also recorded the third-highest margin of victory when they spanked Inanda 7-0. DGC’s biggest win was a 9-0 hammering of INK.
After their 0-1 loss to Maris Stella and a 2-4 defeat against DGC, DGHS finished in third place with 12 points in the group phase of the tournament.
The Grand Final takes place at St Mary’s, in Kloof, and features the champions of the nine KZN regions.
RESULTS
DGC 2-0 Maris Stella
Maris Stella 1-0 St Henry’s
St Henry’s 0-4 DGHS
Inanda 0-3 INK
DGC 3-0 St Henry’s
Maris Stella 1-0 DGHS
St Henry’s 6-0 Inanda
DGHS 7-0 Inanda
DGC 4-2 DGHS
Maris Stella 10-0 Inanda
DGC 4-0 Inanda
Maris Stella 4-0 INK
DGC 9-0 INK
St Henry’s 1-0 INK
DGHS 3-0 INK
