BOKSBURG. – Paarl Gimnasium was crowned champions of the DStv Schools Challenge after defeating Helpmekaar Kollege of Johannesburg by 22-16 in a tense final.
This was, in a way, also redemption for the team from Paarl after suffering a one-point loss against Die Hoërskool Menlopark (21-22) in last year’s national final.
There was once again not a lot that separated the two top teams during the national tournament. The scores were deadlocked at 5-all after the first quarter, and nothing still separated them at half-time with the scoreline at 10-all.
Gimmies managed to turn the tide thanks to some superb turnovers in the third quarter to take a slight 16-14 lead. It was still 14-all with about 40 seconds left in this quarter before Sophia Liebenberg produced a magical turnover to give her team the advantage.
Paarl Gim secured their place in the final with an emphatic 27-15 victory over the Monument of Krugersdorp. Helpies defeated the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool of Pretoria by 27-15 in the other semi-final.
The team from Paarl also defeated Hoërskool Rustenburg (24-21) and Shayamoya (22-19) in the playoffs en route to their title.
Helpmekaar knocked out last year’s champions, Menlopark, by 32-14 in the quarterfinals.
Paarl Gim was also crowned champions of the Absa Wildeklawer tournament earlier this year. Here, they also faced Helpmekaar in the final, winning 12-11.
The team from Paarl Gimnasium has truly become one of the powerhouses of South African schools’ netball under their head coach, Juline van der Merwe. Their team manager, Leana Lourens, also deserves credit for her involvement with the side.
As a nice little bonus, Paarl Gimnasium will also depart on an all-expenses-paid trip to the United Kingdom at the end of September. They will travel to England between 26 September and 4 October and they will be based in Leicestershire’s Loughborough University.
They will play against the England national Under-18 side as well as Loughborough.
While in the UK, the team will get to visit London for sightseeing, they will also get to visit the South Africa House
Paarl Gimnasium’s victorious side:
Anja Smit (captain), Nicola van Heerden (vice-captain), Miné Smit, Mari Snyman, Daniëlle de Jonge, Mieke van Rooyen, Sophia Liebenberg, Kyla Smit, Eloné Dippenaar, Anja Arangies.
All the Results | Botho
Final: Paarl Gimnasium 22, Helpmekaar Kollege 16.
Play-offs – 3/4: Affies 28, Monument 24; 5/6: Paarl Girls’ High 30, Duineveld 20; 7/8: Hoërskool Rustenburg 28, Menlopark 21; 9/10: Stellenberg 27, Oranje 25; 11/12: Potchefstroom Gimnasium 36, Potchefstroom Volkskool 28. 13/14: Shayamoyo 27, Danville Park Girls’ High 16; 15/16: Hoërskool Pietersburg 26, Tom Naudé THS 23.
Semi-Finals: Helpmekaar 27, Affies 15; Paarl Gimnasium 31, Monument 23.
Quarterfinals: Affies 28, Duineveld 27; Helpmekaar 32, Menlopark 14; Monument 24, Paarl Girls’ High 20; Paarl Gimnasium 24, Hoërskool Rustenburg 21.
Other Play-offs: Duineveld 27, Menlopark 23; Paarl Girls’ High 32, Hoërskool Rustenburg 26; Oranje 25, Potchefstroom Volkskool 20; Stellenberg 25, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 24; Danville Park Girls’ High 24, Tom Naudé THS 22; Shayamoya 23, Hoërskool Pietersburg 22; Framesby 20, Pearson 19; Voortrekker 27, Sentraal 23; Hoërskool Middelburg 24, Diamantveld 13; Potchefstroom Volkskool 28, Danville Park Girls’ High 22; Oranje 27, Tom Naudé THS 14; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 32, Hoërskool Pietersburg 18; Stellenberg 35, Shayamoya 19; Pearson 27, Voortrekker 19; Framesby 26, Sentraal 21; Diamantveld 24, Hoërskool Nelspruit 17; Framesby 27, Diamantveld 16; Voortrekker 26, Hoërskool Middelburg 19; Sentraal 25, Hoërskool Nelspruit 22.
Round of 16: Duineveld 37, Potchefstroom Volkskool 23; Helpmekaar 35, HTS Tom Naudé 9; Monument 36, Hoërskool Pietersburg 16; Paarl Gimnasium 22, Shayamoya 19; Affies 31, Danville Park Girls’ High 18; Menlopark 20, Oranje 17; Paarl Girls’ High 40, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 20; Hoërskool Rustenburg 30, Stellenberg 28.
The Pools:
Pool A: Pearson 24, Kwamziwentsha 17; Hoërskool Pietersburg 47, Mashishing 13; Potchefstroom Volkskool 24, Pearson 19; Hoërskool Pietersburg 29, Kwamziwentsha 17.
Pool B: Helpmekaar 48, Chief Ampie 5; Framesby 49, Fumane 4; Shayamoya 41, Chief Ampie 7; Helpmekaar 36, Framesby 8.
Pool C: Sizanani 19, Ikaheng 18; Monument 43, Kgapamadi Secondary 15; Duineveld 46, Kgapamadi Secondary 13.
Pool D: Diamantveld 17, Sobaba 14; Paarl Gimnasium 53, Sobaba 5.
Pool E: Paarl Girls’ High 28, Voortrekker 19; Affies 74, Friersdale 3.
Pool F: Menlopark 30, Stellenberg 25; Aggenys 18, Sebakanakga 12.
Pool G: Khanyolwethu 24, Khanyisa 20; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 25, Danville Park Girls’ High 22; Tswelopele 20, Khanyisa 14.
Pool H: Oranje 40, Tholulwazi 4; Hoërskool Rustenburg 57, De Kruine 10; Oranje 30, Hoërskool Nelspruit 14; Hoërskool Rustenburg 56, Tlotlissong 6.
For everything you need to know about the DSTv Schools Netball Challenge, click here.
