GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Kingswood College are geared up for their title defence but know they face a stiff examination when the opening leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge gets under way on Friday.
The Port Elizabeth North tournament will take place at Union High School in Graaff-Reinet, with the host school one of the strong contenders to regain the title they won in 2017.
A total of 11 schools will compete in two pools, striving to become the first qualifiers for the provincial finals to be held in late July.
Kingswood, from Grahamstown, are the defending champions but coach Bevan Bennett said they realised the competition would be keen this year.
“Overall the opposition looks much stronger this time and we have Grahamstown rivals DSG in our pool, so it will certainly be a tough battle to end top of the section,” he said.
“Similarly, Union High will be a difficult side to beat in the other pool.”
The SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge consists of five regional tournaments across the province.
The winners of each qualify for the provincial finals.
Matches are limited to 20 minutes, which makes for an intense format.
However, even though the nature of the tournament is competitive, the objective is to create a sense of camaraderie among opposing teams.
It is also a great opportunity for schools to play against teams who they would not normally meet on the field.
SPAR EC sponsorships and events manager Alan Stapleton said they were looking forward to the forthcoming tournaments.
“SPAR Eastern Cape is excited once again to be able to support the Hockey Challenge,” he said. “There will be some tough, competitive weekends ahead, with heaps of camaraderie and friendship thrown in. Some innovation and new ideas should make the 2019 Hockey Challenge just that little bit more interesting and enjoyable.”
The teams taking part are: Pool A: Union High, Volkskool, Cradock High, Riebeek, PJ Olivier; Pool B: Uitenhage High, Gill, DSG, Kingswood, Victoria Girls’ and Brandwag.
The Kingswood College squad that will defend their title in the PE North tournament of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge in Graaff-Reinet on Friday. Photo: Supplied
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