Zululand Observer - Weekender

SPAR hockey challenge is back in business this weekend

- Dave Savides

THE seventh regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirl­s’ Hockey Challenge takes to the turf at Grantleigh Schools this Saturday.

Seven teams will be gathering for the Northern KZN Coastal Regional.

Tipping off the day’s action, the two teams that have dominated the regional since 2016 will be meeting in what could be the rehearsal for the regional final.

Host school, Grantleigh takes on Felixton College at 8am, both of whom have participat­ed in the regional final for the last six years of the tournament.

Hoping to shine and release the dominating hold of the two defending champs are Empangeni High School who raised the regional cup from 2012 to 2015, Eshowe High School, John Ross College, Richards Bay Christian School, and St Catherine’s School.

The tournament runs in a roundrobin format, with 21 games lasting a rapid 20 minutes, with action going only one way.

The top two teams on the log will then meet for the second time in the concluding game for the regional, the final.

Points will be awarded to all teams after each game. Four points go to the winning team; two points to both teams if they score an equal number of goals; 1 point if both teams end their game nil-nil and, of course, no points for a loss.

The challenge that travels to ten regions annually has already had five teams reserving a berth at the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s DSG.

All games will be livestream­ed on SuperSport Schools. For more informatio­n, like the SparSchool­GirlsHocke­yTournamen­t Facebook page or follow sparkznhoc­key on Instagram.

 ?? ?? No task too tough. Grantleigh players Nkanyezi Xulu and Jessica Sparks take some time out ahead of defending their title at the Northern KZN Coastal Regionals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirl­s’ Hockey Challenge Val Adamson
No task too tough. Grantleigh players Nkanyezi Xulu and Jessica Sparks take some time out ahead of defending their title at the Northern KZN Coastal Regionals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirl­s’ Hockey Challenge Val Adamson

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