In a nail biting final, Rhenish Girls’ High won the Cape Town Spur Hockey International Tournament on Sunday 30 July.
Twenty-four teams participated in the competition, which was initially played in pool stages. Rhenish Girls’ High won its pool and progressed to the quarter finals, where they beat Paarl Girls’ High on showdowns after a 0-0 draw. In the semi-finals, they faced Potchefstroom Gymnasium and beat them 3-0.
Rhenish Girls’ High faced Parel Vallei in the finals, making it practically a home derby for both teams. Ironically, the schools were indeed meeting each other over that weekend for a host of hockey and netball matches.
Rhenish was slow to start and Parel Vallei managed to score the first goal. Rhenish was strong, dominating the second half, but failed to capitalise on a host of opportunities until, in the last five minutes of an intensely exciting final, Rhenish managed to score the equalising goal off a corner (Natasha Marnewick).
With the full-time score on a 1-1 draw, the match and tournament were decided on showdowns. Thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping by Rhenish goalkeeper Moya Smith (SA U18B), and some on-target shooting, Rhenish walked away victorious.
Monique Bartsch, captain of the Rhenish team, playing in a match that marked her 100th cap for the team, was also named Player of the Tournament.
