Tough challenge for York High

GEORGE NEWS - Four-time champions York High from George will have a target on their backs when they defend their title in the Southern Cape leg of the Spar Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge in George this Saturday, 7 May.

The annual event, which features five tournaments across the Eastern and Southern Cape, is back full steam after being disrupted by the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

DSG (PE Inland leg) and Collegiate (PE Coastal leg) have already secured their places in the provincial finals, which will take place at Collegiate in Gqeberha on 13 and 14 August.

Five teams will line up to try to claim the bragging rights in George when the Southern Cape leg takes place at Outeniqua High.

Tournament organiser Matthew Blair said they were thrilled to be back on track with a full version of the challenge.

"York will be looking to defend their title from 2019, but I believe it will be a tight race for the top honours."

In the four years of the competition taking place in George, York have finished as the winners on each occasion.

They shaded Oakhill in the 2016 decider and have had the better of Outeniqua in the remaining three finals, although two of those went to a penalty shootout.

York also reached the provincial final in 2017 but were beaten by East London outfit Clarendon High.

Blair said with matches restricted to 25 minutes one way, there was always a lot of pressure on the players to achieve a result.

"But they always seem to embrace the challenge and there have been some really good contests already this year," he added.

"In George, the teams will play in a round-robin format, with the top two sides qualifying for the final."

The teams competing in George are Outeniqua, York, Oakhill, Knysna High and Glenwood House.

This tournament will be followed by the EL Coastal leg in East London on 15 May and the EL Inland leg in Queenstown on 22 May.

York High, winners of the last tournament in 2019, will be looking to make it five in a row when the Southern Cape leg of the Spar Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge is played at Outeniqua High in George on 7 May.