SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball
North Coast Regional
Empangeni High School: Saturday 31 August
After a vibrant day of netball, the Nseleni’s compact team from Tholokuhle High School took the top honours in the first North Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball hosted by Empangeni High School.
The excitement rippled around the court during the finals as Tholokuhle took on hosts, Empangeni High School in an action packed, fast flowing game that ended on 15 for the visitors and 11 for the home school, Empangeni.
In total 38 attempts were shot at goal, with 26 of them successfully finding the middle of the net. On-song Goal Shooter, Magubane Ntokojo netted all but four of her team’s 15 points while her hard working opponent on the opposite side of the court, Zethembiso Buthelezi was the only name to feature on the Empangeni’s scorecard.
Empangeni started the game, firing the ball out of the middle and straight away took the play up into Tholokuhle’s circle. After two ‘freshies’ floated beyond the net, the local team settled their nerves when Buthelezi opened up their team’s account with just over 90 seconds on the clock. Buthelezi put the second point on the board soon after, while Tholokuhle had two near misses on the other end.
Midway through the game, there was nothing separating the two teams with the scoreline level on 5 a piece. Nonjabulo Nhlengethwa fired in her first goal of the second half for Tholokuhle. The second half was a phenomenal adventure as play swiftly bounced between the two nets, with only 3 attempts going awry, as the shooters fired off goal after goal. 16 goals were scored in the 8 minute second half, with a whole lot of action in between. As the sands of time drained away, Ntokojo floated her final shot of the day, as the action paused with all eyes watching the ball neatly enter the goals as the whistle blew as the players erupted into joyous celebrations.
Leading up to the two semi-finals, Empangeni High School were victorious over Richards Bay High School with a 9-4 victory, while Tholokuhle dominated their game against Khombindlela High School with a 14-4 win.
Pool A was abuzz with goals, with 164 goals being netted. Empangeni finished on top of the log with 61 goals scored, Khombindlela High finished second with 51 goals, St Catherine’s were third with 28 goals, Sunnydale Secondary School fourth with 19 goals and Izibuko Secondary School with only 5 goals. Pool B had Tholokuhle in first with a total of 43 goals scored, Richards Bay High School second with 38 goals scored, Felixton College managed an impressive 30 for their third place in the pool, followed by Aquadene Secondary School in fourth and Richem Secondary School with only 8 goals.
The day started off with a refreshing light drizzle after the wonderful rains on Friday. The weather warmed up as did the action on the courts. Heading into the finals, the players had to contend with the wind that picked up and whipped across the court.
This is the third tournament in the inaugural SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball, with the final game tipping off in Pietermaritzburg at Voortrekker High School on Saturday 5 October.
For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Results
1 Tholokuhle High School, 2 Empangeni High School, 3 Khombindlela High School, 4 Richards Bay High School, 5= St Catherine’s, 5= Felixton College, 7= Sunnydale Secondary School, 7= Aquadene Secondary School, 9= Izibuko Secondary School, 9= Richem Secondary School.