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St Anne’s, Umthoqotho High excel at Riverwood aQuellé Soccer Festival


The proud winners of the Riverwood College aQuelle Soccer Festival, St Anne's Diocesan College. Photo: St Anne's Diocesan College on Facebook.
The proud winners of the girls’ competition at the Riverwood aQuellé Soccer Festival, St Anne’s Diocesan College. Photo: St Anne’s Diocesan College on Facebook.

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

Siya Pongco
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.