St Anne’s, Umthoqotho High excel at Riverwood aQuellé Soccer Festival
On Saturday, Riverwood College hosted the Riverwood aQuellé Soccer Festival in Pietermaritzburg. Played over a single day, the event brought together schools from across KwaZulu-Natal to compete in the boys’ and girls’ competition.
At the end of a competitive day, Umthoqotho High School claimed the boys’ title, while St Anne’s Diocesan College won the girls’ competition.
In the boys’ event, Riverwood College topped Group A after a 1-0 win over Grace College and a 4-1 success against Treverton College. Those wins enabled the hosts to advance to the semifinals, where they faced Domino Servite High School. After a tight clash, Riverwood moved forward to the title game on the back of a 1-0 victory.
The home team’s dream run was brought to an end in the final by Umthoqotho High School. After regulation time, the sides were tied at 1-1. Then, a nail-biting penalty shootout ensued. Sudden death penalties were needed to settle it, and Umthoqotho edged it 6-5.
Umthoqotho High endured a shaky start to their winning campaign, finishing second to Linpark High in Group C. They, however, qualified for the semifinals as the best of the three runners-up.
They weren’t beaten in group play. Rather, they drew goalless with Linpark. Ironically, the way matters unfolded, the semifinals threw the same sides together. This time, Umthoqotho triumphed 1-0 to reach the final.
The girls’ final also went to a penalty shootout, featuring St Anne’s and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High. They were deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation time, but St Anne’s took victory 5-4 from the spot.
The Hilton school impressed during the group stage of play, topping Pool B with a clean record. Then, in the semifinals, they outplayed St John’s DSG, registering a comfortable 4-1 victory.
Girls’ High booked their place in the title decider with a 2-0 win over Howick High in the semifinals.
RESULTS
Boys
Group A
Riverwood College 1-0 Grace College
Treverton College 0-0 Grace College
Riverwood College 4-1 Treverton College
Group B
Domino Servite 2-1 Etham College
Domino Servite 2-1 St Nicholas
St Nicholas 2-1 Etham College
Group C
Linpark 4-3 Howick High
Umthoqotho High 0-0 Linpark High
Umthoqotho High 2-1 Howick High
Semifinals
Riverwood College 1-0 Domino Servite
Umthoqotho High 1-0 Linpark
Final
Umthoqotho High School (6) 1-1 (5) Riverwood College
Girls
Group A
St John’s DSG 2-0 Riverwood College
St John’s DSG 1-1 Epworth School
Epworth School 1-0 Riverwood College
Group B
St Anne’s 2-0 Linpark
St Nicholas 0-0 Linpark
St Anne’s 8-0 St Nicholas
Group C
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 3-0 The Wykeham Collegiate
Howick High 1-0 The Wykeham Collegiate
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 1-1 Howick High
Semifinals
St Anne’s 4-1 St John’s DSG
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 2-0 Howick High
Final
St Anne’s (5) 0-0 (4) Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High
