Ferrum reclaim hockey crown
FERRUM High School reclaimed the Northern Regional title in the first of the Spar KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge qualifying tournaments hosted by Pongola Akademie in sweltering heat last Saturday.
The Newcastle school defeated Pionier by a single goal, scored by left wing Lucrecia Struwig after Ferrum had earlier beaten the Vryheid side 2-1 in a pool match.
It was the sixth time Ferrum had been crowned Northern KZN champions, while defending champions Sarel Cilliers were unable to hold on to the cup which they scooped from Ferrum last year, missing out on a semi-final place in Pool A on goal difference to Pionier.
Ferrum were unbeaten and clear winners of Pool A, which had Sarel Cilliers and Pionier equal on points and joint second. Pionier needed to beat Newcastle in their last pool game by more than two goals to clinch the runners-up spot.
This they did with ease, with centre striker Lara Dedekind in great form as they overwhelmed Newcastle 6-0.
Pool B was topped by Dundee with hosts Pongola in second place so that the semifinal draw resulted in Ferrum v Pongola and Dundee v Pionier.
The first semi-final saw Ferrum score the only goal of the match in the first half, but they failed to add to their score as Pongola defended valiantly throughout the second half.
Dundee High were no match for Pionier when they met for the first time in over a decade in the second semi-final, Pionier winning 4-0 with Dedekind netting another two goals for her team in between goals scored by teammates Johanette Wilken and Anlie Knoetze.
As the clock wound down in the final, left wing Lucrecia Struwig managed to get past Pionier’s water-tight defence to slip the ball past goalkeeper Lorna Janse van Rensburg.
Pionier fought courageously and were awarded backto-back short corners in the last minute of play but were unable to equalise, which meant Ferrum High was the first team to qualify for the grand finals to be played at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof at the end of July.
The Most Promising Umpire was Que Mdletshe, who was representing Dundee High.
The captain of the winning team, Sunny Mnguni, was elated with Ferrum’s win. She said: “We had to work hard and persevere, especially when our energy levels were low.”
Northern KZN Region final standings: 1 Ferrum High, 2 Pionier High, 3 Dundee High, 4 Pongola Akademie, 5 Sarel Cilliers, 6 Vryheid High, 7 St Dominic’s Akademie, 8 Utrecht High, 9 Newcastle High.
MORE than 400 youngsters between 8 and 14 will assemble at Addington Beach today for the Spar Sola KZN Surf Lifesaving Nipper Championships from 1pm. It will continue at 7.30am tomorrow.
The Durban Surf team come to the championships as defending champions but will meet strong opposition from the two other Durbanbased clubs, hosts Marine SLC and Suncoast Pirates, while smaller coastal clubs from Ballito to Margate will all be vying for the provincial title.
The programme aims to test the efficiency and preparedness of individuals and teams in events such as flags, beach sprints, beach long runs and relays, surf swims, bodyboarding, kneeboarding and the coveted Iron Man and Woman events.
There will be ample parking near the Marine SLC with no charge for spectators.