Ladysmith wins Umvoti & Othukela challenge for the first time since 2012
Ladysmith head coach Christo Pieterse believes winning the Spar KZN Umvoti & Othukela Challenge will inspire girls from the school to take up hockey and gain interest in the sport as the school looks to go from strength to strength regarding their hockey program.
The Durban side, who put in a solid performance at the tournament, won three of their round-robin matches, finishing on top with 17 points, and qualifying for the final.
In the final, they met last year’s champions, Domino Servite, in a brutal battle that ended with Ladysmith winning (2-1).
Speaking to SuperSport Schools after the momentous victory, head coach Christo Pieterse expressed how happy the team was with the win and how much of an impact a win like this will have on the school.
“We are really happy with the result of the Spar tournament after an absence of a few years and with COVID preventing us from taking part in hockey,” said Pieterse.
“With a result like this and the trophy we won; I think the interest in hockey will grow in the school.”
“Seeing that we’ve only got a limited number of girls playing the sport, and for us to be able to achieve a result like this, it will motivate most girls at the school to take up hockey.”
Despite the team producing some brilliant hockey, defending well, and taking their chances in front of the goal, special mention must go to Nosipho Madonsela and Kara Fourie, who were picked out as standout players for the team.
Pieterse’s side will carry the momentum into their remaining matches in the Northern Natal League this season, two of them being against Escourt High and Greytown.
Full results from the tournament:
Wartburg Kirchdorf 1, Hermannsburg 0; Domino Servite 0, Greytown High 0; Escourt 0 Wembley College 1; Ladysmith 1, Hermannsburg School 0; Wartburg Kirchdorf 0, Domino Servite 0; Greytown High 1, Escourt High 0; Ladysmith 1, Wembley 0; Greytown 2, Hermannsburg 0; Domino Servite 5, Escourt High 0; Wartburg Kirchdorf 1, Wembley College 0; Ladysmith High School 1, Domino Servite 1; Greytown High 1, Wartburg Kirchdorf 0; Hermannsburg School 1, Escourt High 0; Wembley College 0, Domino Servite 0; Greytown High 0, Ladysmith High 0; Wartburg Kirchdorf 4, Escourt High 0; Domino Servite 2, Hermannsburg 0, Wembley College 1, Greytown High 0; Ladysmith High 1, Wartburg Kirchdorf 1; Hermannsburg 0, Wembley College 1; Escourt High 0, Ladysmith High School 4;
FINAL: Ladysmith High School 2, Domino Servite 1.
