Durban High School, St Mary’s DSG crowned Kearsney Hockey 5s champs
BOYS
Contesting the Kearsney Hockey 5s, presented by Belgotex Sport, for the first time, Durban High School (DHS) took to the game like a duck to water, going unbeaten through pool play before downing Michaelhouse in the final to lift the trophy.
Skilful and creative, School looked as if they were experienced competitors in the Youth Olympics’ format. They were effective at creating space and finished well.
However, they found the going tougher on Saturday than on Friday, which had brought them five wins. Twice, DHS won in a shootout, after drawing 3-3 with Garsfontein, and then 3-3 with Michaelhouse in the final.
In a key game on day two, Michaelhouse and Garsfontein met in what was effectively a semi-final showdown, and it was ‘House who rose to the challenge, controlling the contest by owning the majority of possession.
Thandanani Zuma scored a couple of stunners to put Michaelhouse into a 2-0 lead before Garsfontein replied late in the second half to give themselves some hope of rescuing a draw. But ‘House held on to deservedly claim the win.
Hilton College, the defending champion, had to settle for third after edging out Garsfontein 3-2.
The hosts, Kearsney, took fifth place after outplaying their neighbours, Westville Boys’ High, 7-2. St Alban’s beat Ashton to finish seventh.
Results
Michaelhouse 8-0 Ashton
Kearsney 3-7 Hilton
Michaelhouse 4-4 Westville (Michaelhouse won on shootout)
Kearsney 3-2 Westville
Kearsney 11-3 Ashton
Westville 2-8 Hilton
Garsfontein 3-3 DHS (DHS won on shootout)
Ashton 1-8 St Alban’s
Westville 7-1 St Alban’s
DHS 4-0 St Alban’s
Garsfontein 1-2 Michaelhouse
St Alban’s 5-1 Ashton (7th/8th)
Westville 2-7 Kearsney (5th/6th)
Garsfontein 3-4 Hilton (3rd/4th)
DHS 3-3 Michaelhouse (1st/2nd, DHS won on shootout)
GIRLS
St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, dominated, the girls’ competition. They produced a clean record and won 4-1 against Maris Stella in the girls’ final after beating the same team 7-2 earlier in the day.
In 2024, Saints beat Danville Park 5-1 in pool play but then went down to Danville after a shootout in the final. They didn’t allow a similar upset to happen again. They were in full control of every match they played.
Epworth, who suffered a crucial 1-2 loss to Maris Stella, edged out Ashton 3-2 to finish third, while Curro Hillcrest won 2-1 against Danville to leave the Durban school at the opposite end of the standings to 2024.
Results
Maris Stella 2-1 Epworth
Ashton 5-0 Curro Hillcrest
St Mary’s 7-2 Maris Stella
St Mary’s 5-0 Danville
Epworth 2-1 Ashton
St Mary’s 12-1 Curro Hillcrest
Danville 1-2 Curro Hillcrest (5th/6th)
Epworth 3-2 Ashton (3rd/4th)
St Mary’s 4-1 Maris Stella (1st/2nd)
BOYS’ JUNIOR
Results
Highbury 8-0 Kloof
Bonsanani 3-6 Ashton
Westville Senior Primary 3-3 Hillcrest
Reddam 1-5 Penzance
Ashton 5-1 Kloof
Westville Senior Primary 2-2 Umhlali
Reddam 0-9 Atholl Heights
Umhlali 4-2 Bonisanani
Kloof 4-3 Hillcrest
Reddam 1-3 Winston Park
Cowan House 2-2 Penzance
Umhlali 9-1 Atholl Heights
Winston Park 1-1 Cowan House
Highbury 3-4 Atholl Heights
Hillcrest 4-2 Bonisanani
Winston Park 3-1 Penzance
Cowan House 2-9 Ashton
Highbury 5-3 Westville Senior
Hillcrest 1-2 Penzance
Westville Senior Primary 7-1 Reddam
Kloof 0-10 Umhlali
Bonisanani 3-3 Westville Senior Primary
Highbury 3-3 Winston Park
Atholl Heights 2-4 Penzance
Highbury 3-2 Ashton
Bonisanani 4-2 Cowan House
Atholl Heights 0-1 Winston Park
Ashton 8-2 Hillcrest
Reddam 0-3 Kloof
Cowan House 0-3 Umhlali
