Thrilling regional final at SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge

A new name appears on the KZN South Coast regional trophy at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge, with Kuswag Hoërskool being crowned champions at Southcity Christian School on Saturday, August 16.

In a monumental regional final, a determined Kuswag met the small in stature but big in heart team from KwaMakhutha Comprehensive High School. After a solid first pass, Kuswag whipped the ball down to an attacking position in three passes, but were denied their first attempt. Forty seconds later, Kuswag had knocked in the first point of the game.

Going into half-time, Kuswag was sitting two points clear of their rivals, with the scoreline at six to four for KwaMakhutha. An icy wind was gusting across the courts, with the testing conditions – both teams opted to play conservatively, concentrating on a more solid attack, securing one point, rather than the more flamboyant flighted points that would have been difficult in the breeze.

Starting off the second half, Kuswag netted their seventh point, followed by a KwaMakhutha response with two attacking plays reeling in Kuswag. Nearing two minutes, Kuswag managed another goal, giving them a two-point breather. Play flowed down to KwaMakutha’s forwards, who found the centre of the goal, clawing them back to 7 – 8.

ALSO READ: Netball extravaganza sets the bar for school sports

Midway through the second half, Kuswag pocketed two more goals compliments of the two faithfuls up front, the Goal Attack XYZ followed by her teammate XYZ in Goal Shooter. Kuswag’s score was sitting neatly on 10 points, three points clear of their opponents. A spirited patch of play by KwaMakutha’s Olwethu Mkhize in the goal defence ignited her team. In the final two and a half minutes of the final, KwaMakutha magicked up some magnificent attacks, landing three more points to level the score at 10 all.

A consistent Goal Attack, Nomcebo Vilakazi pocketed nine of her team’s 10 points, while Sakhina Nozipho Xaba, who played more of a support role as Goal Shooter, got her name on the scoresheet with the final point slotted in with four seconds left on the clock.

For the first time this year, and the third time in the five years of the tournament, the regional final’s decider moved to a lightning-quick one minute of extra time. After a short team talk, Kuswag came out firing on all cylinders, quickly taking control and going up by two more points to claim their first regional win.

Having narrowly lost out to eventual 2024 winners – Kingsway High School last year, going down by the slimmest of margins of only one point. This year, the 2024 silver medallists were on a mission.

Finishing second in the round robin, only one behind first-placed KwaMakhutha, who ended their day on 19 points after their seven games, the Toti team were determined to finish their SPAR challenge on the top step of the podium, dislodging their neighbouring school, who had dominated this region for the last three years.

This weekend (Saturday, August 23), the tournament heads inland to Matatiele for the KZN Southern Regional hosted by King Edward High School.