Upsets aplenty at Saints Challenge
The netball field was dominated by Empangeni High School.
TRUE grit can be described as playing hard for the win despite knowing the opposition is a better team.
This determination was displayed on the field as hockey and netball players ploughed through the Saints Challenge on Friday and Saturday. Despite hot and dusty conditions, competitors showed the same level of commitment throughout the event.
The netball courts were dominated by Empangeni High School first team, who steamed through the semi-finals to beat eShowe High School by a narrow three points – the final scores marked at 26 – 23.
Grantleigh College lost out to eShowe in the first semi-final, while Empangeni High School second team lost to their first team in the second semi-final.
The hockey fields were not short of action as many battles had the ring of true derby classics.
Semi–finals
In the boy’s semi-finals, Richards Bay High School faced Grantleigh while Felixton College went up against eShowe High School.
Both semis went to penalty shoot-outs as the scores were tied at 0 – 0 by the final whistle. Goalkeeper for eShowe, Musa Nkosi, denied Felixton strikers the points, while Wandile Dlamini and Ayanda Mungwe scored a goal apiece for eShowe.
Grantleigh College goalkeeper Unathi Thango also put in a star performance to help his team to the final while Michael Bothma, Timothy Russell and Chad Duncan beat the Richards Bay High keeper.
Grantleigh was ultimately successful in the final against eShowe, when Phila Maxase scored off a short corner to secure the trophy.
The girl’s semi-finals had St Catherine’s facing Empangeni High School and Grantleigh against Richards Bay High in the second semi-final.
St Catherine’s managed an upset by beating Empangeni – the three year defending champs, again in a penalty shoot-out. Sarah Giles, Micaela St-Clair Mulley and Claudia Frenzel managed to score for the Saints.
Dominique Skinner netted a late goal for Richards Bay High in the second semi-final against Grantleigh, in a closely contested match.
Skinner was again pivotal in the final against the Saints, when she managed to score off a short corner late in the game to push her team to a 1 – 0 victory for the top spot.
The level of hockey on display on Saturday promises a closely fought season between the top schools -this proven by the lack of goals in the semi-final and final clashes.
Check out the gallery HERE
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