Danville Park Girls’ High School defeated Our Lady of Fatima at the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge. Pic:Val Adamson

After a breath-taking ending that could have gone either way, one point was the difference between the two finalists in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge held at Danville Park Girls’ High School on Saturday 21 October.

Host school, Danville met local rivals Our Lady of Fatima in the regional final that kept supporters spellbound and on the edge of their seats. After a minute of extra time, it was the green team from Danville that ended victorious. The entire game, the scores seesawed up, with the scores level at both half time and full time. 

With two early attempts, Fatima opened the scoring after 67 seconds of play, Danville levelled 37 seconds later. With the action yo-yoing from post to post, at the midway break both teams were sitting on 5 points. Danville edged the score up to five after seven minutes of play, but the bustling visitors netted two more goals in the minute leading up to the whistle, going into the break, all tied. 

In the second half, Fatima got out of the starting blocks first, floating in a magnificent 2 pointer. Wasting no time, Danville’s Amii Storm calmly edged her team up by a point, followed by a 2 pointer by teammate, Sizolwethu Chonco. Fatima’s attack bravely tried sinking the super shots a fair distance away from the net, as the home team’s defence thwarted any advances, forcing the long-range attempts. 

Both teams’ centres were superb with aerial intercepts and acrobatic slam downs causing the exhilarating game to change direction at the jump of a midfielder. Jenna Shaw from Fatima worked hard whizzing around the court creating some quick turn overs and fast flat passes while Danville’s Takudzwa Chipanda was phenomenal with her explosive launches frustrating Fatima’s defence who were desperately trying to thread the ball through to their forwards. 

Three 2 pointers were netted in the second half, with Fatima wizarding up one early on by Chloe Lay, followed by Danville’s Chonco and then Storm hitting a game saving shot, with a clock-winding-down last-gasp effort. At full time, the score line was sitting on 12 all. 

The conclusion of the regional final progressed to one minute of extra time. Danville worked the ball up to Storm, who gracefully slotted in a single point from under the net after 27 seconds of play. Fatima’s response was immediate swiftly sending the ball down to the other end. Fatima opted to go for a long shot, which sadly didn’t find the middle of the net, but quickly followed up with another tournament winning bid which woefully went astray, earning the home team the title of the 2023 Durban North Region. 

In the third place game, Crawford La Lucia met Ashton International College in the perfect build up to the final. Only one point separated the two teams with Ashton International taking the third spot with a 15 – 14 win after a spectacular finish to their day. Ashton College narrowly went down to eventual winners, Danville in the semi-finals, with that result going in favour of the home team 12 to Ashton’s 11 points. While Fatima beat Crawford 19 goals to 13 in the other semi-final. 

This regional wraps up a tremendously successful 2023 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge. Seven regional champions have been crowned in the seven regionals played through the year. 

For more info on the Netball challenge, like the Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final
Danville Park Girls’ High School 13 vs Our Lady of Fatima 12
Third Place Final
Ashton International College 15 vs Crawford La Lucia 14
Semi Finals
Danville Park Girls’ High 12 vs Ashton International College 11; Our Lady of Fatima 19 vs Crawford La Lucia 13

Pool A

1 Our Lady of Fatima 12 points; 2 Ashton International College 9 points; 3 Starlets Invitational Team 6 points; 4 Hillgrove Secondary School 3 points

Pool B

1 Danville Park Girls’ High School 12 points; 2 Crawford La Lucia 9 points; 3 Starlings Invitational Team 6 points; 4 Riverdene Secondary School 3 points