Hudson Park new champs

Hudson Park emerged as the latest champions in the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge when they defeated Alexander Road in the provincial finals at Woodridge, near Port Elizabeth, on Saturday.

In a tense, well-contested encounter, the East London side overcame their Port Elizabeth rivals 1-0, with a goal by Tayla Jade Marais in the third minute deciding the issue.

Both sides had chances thereafter, but neither team were able to find the net and Hudson claimed their first title in the 30-minute final.

It completed a successful year for the school, which also qualified for the inaugural provincial finals in 2016, ending as runners-up.

In May, Hudson defeated 2017 provincial champions Clarendon to win the East London Coastal tournament and on Saturday were unbeaten in the round-robin phase of the finals.

They beat Alexander Road 1-0 in the round-robin and confirmed their status as the top side in the final. Hudson Park team manager Rosanne De’ath said it had been a wonderful tournament, to which they had been fully committed.

“We had a fantastic time and are really grateful to SPAR for the exposure this tournament gives us,” she said.

“It gets our hockey to a good level early in the year, playing against a number of teams we would not normally face.”

De’ath said they had entered the provincial finals with a plan to take the title.

“We wanted to make a good start and got off on a roll [with a 5-0 win over York] and finished off on a high,” she said.

“We are lucky to have a very good coach in Jerry Snyman, who sets out a game plan, but is also able to change that if necessary.

“The girls were well drilled and we are always prepared for any situation we face.”

For some players, such as Hudson captain Zimkhitha Weston, this was their final SPAR tournament because they are in matric.