Unstoppable Durban Girls’ College are CHAMPIONS of the St. Mary’s School Waverley Hockey Tournament!
They capped off a phenomenal tournament with a heart-pounding 3-2 victory over Eunice in the final, securing their historic THIRD St. Mary’s title! Eunice who finished the 2023 season at the No.1 ranked side in the country had a rocky start to the season but hit the ground running at the SMW tournament.
However despite enjoying a rejueventated return to form Eunice were always playing catch up against a Durban team who had been sublime the entire tournament.
DGC Joins Hockey Royalty! This win elevates DGC to legendary status, joining St. Mary’s Waverley and Oranje in the exclusive club of teams with three or more St. Mary’s championships. After a challenging season, DGC displayed remarkable discipline, adaptability, and unwavering teamwork throughout the tournament, proving they were hungry for the title and to qualify for the Super 12 later this year.
A St. Mary’s Final for the Ages! Although the championship clash against Eunice was a nail-biting spectacle it was DGC who scored first and managed to maintain their lead despite several comebacks by Eunice. Both teams showcased incredible skills, trading blows throughout the match. Ruby Kraus emerged as a star for Durban Girl’s College, dazzling the crowd with two brilliant reverse-stick goals. Captain Emily Macquet marshaled her defense with unwavering authority, repelling wave after wave of Eunice attacks. But Eunice wouldn’t go down without a fight! Megan Joubert and the prolific Bianca Rees-Gibbs (fresh off a hat-trick vs Morne Ordendaal’s girls from St.Anne’s ) kept Eunice in the game, showcasing their own brand of brilliance.
Unrelenting Belief Secures the St. Mary’s Glory!
Despite entering as underdogs based on recent results, Durban Girl’s College, refused to be fazed by Eunice’s pedigree. They had managed to beat Eunice earlier in the tournament so their confidence was high that they had the beating of the Bloemfontein team. Their high work rate and never say die approach fueled their relentless offense. Their tenacity paid off in the final minutes when Tara Pakendorf capitalized on a brilliant second-phase short corner, slapping a shoulder high rebouding ball into the goals to secure the winning goal!
This win shows the team focus on playing consistant hockey, doing the simple things well and playing as a team. Legendary DGC Director of Sport Bell Meek who had been instrumental in turning around sport at the school was rightly in attendance to witness this great result for her girls and Coach Chardinay Penniston spoke proudly of the achievement, “We are extremely proud of our team. They approached the St Mary’s Waverley Festival with commitment, passion, and a strong desire to succeed. Three years ago we saw the potential in these girls and sent a very young team to the Paarl Gimnasium U17 tournament to gain experience, intending to prepare them for future tournaments. As the first team coach Chardinay Penniston, I am happy to say that our plans paid dividends and the years of hard work and dedication have paid off.”
Director of Sport Bell Meek explained how hockey has been embraced at the school adding that “at Durban Girls’ College hockey is not just a sport, it’s a way of life. Our commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a culture of excellence is ingrained in every aspect of our hockey programme. Our programme is centered around encouraging girls to be their best by constantly improving their skills, exposing them to the latest trends, and maintaining an extremely high standard of hockey. Under the guidance of our experienced coaching staff, players are taught a sense of responsibility, sportsmanship, and integrity. They learn to compete gracefully, respect their opponents, and uphold the spirit of fair play. Beyond the scoreboard, our ultimate goal is to cultivate a lifelong love for the game, nurturing a passion far beyond their school years.”
The victory will almost certainly push Durban Girl’s College up the SA School Sport Rankings and they have set themselves up to go where no other KZN side has been before. Win the Oranje Meisies Super 12 for the first time?
