By Johnathan Paoli

Hoërskool Waterkloof has won the 2026 Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge title with a 1-0 victory over Collegiate Girls’ High School.

Playing at the Western Province Cricket Club in Newlands on Sunday, Waterkloof secured the win by a late goal from Elaine Haycock in a tightly contested final.

The decisive moment came in the 57th minute of a match that appeared destined for a penalty shootout.

With both teams locked in a tactical battle and struggling to break each other down, Haycock found a gap in Collegiate’s defence and fired home the only goal of the match.

Her strike capped off an unbeaten run for the Pretoria-based side, who recorded six consecutive victories en route to lifting the prestigious under-19 title.

Waterkloof’s triumph sees them being the second winners of the tournament, succeeding Paarl Gimnasium.

Waterkloof coach Omari Pienaar-Geyer, speaking after the match, praised her team’s resilience and unity.

“We are incredibly proud of the girls for winning the Challenge. Our midfield worked super hard. It could’ve been anyone’s game, but we’re happy it was ours,” Pienaar-Geyer said.

The final lived up to expectations, with both teams trading attacking phases but failing to convert their chances.

Collegiate, known for their tactical discipline, restricted Waterkloof’s attacking freedom for much of the encounter.

Pienaar-Geyer acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents, noting her side had to adapt under pressure.

“At times, we had to reset and dig deep defensively, but every player held their role and stood strong. We defended with real grit when it mattered and scored some unbelievable team goals that came from everyone contributing,” she said.

Collegiate coach Michael Abrahams said his team had relied on structure and cohesion throughout the tournament.

“We made sure that we stuck to our processes and principles. We also made sure that we were always team-oriented and just supporting one another,” he said.

Despite falling short in the final, Collegiate reinforced their status as one of the top schoolgirl hockey teams in South Africa this season.

Their campaign included notable wins over Rhenish, Oranje Girls High school, and Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) Makhanda, following a strong showing at the National All Girls Festival earlier in the year.

Individual honours at the tournament reflected standout performances across multiple teams.

Waterkloof midfielder Lenique Vogel was named Player of the Tournament, while Paarl Gimnasium striker Alanda Rademeyer secured the Top Goalscorer award after netting 12 goals.

DSG Makhanda goalkeeper Abigail Meihuizen earned recognition as Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Waterkloof’s route to the title included a dramatic quarterfinal victory over St Mary’s DSG Kloof, where they advanced 3-2 via a penalty shootout, before edging defending champions Paarl Gimnasium 3-2 in the semifinals.

Durban Girls’ College claimed the Plate title with a 2-1 win over St Anne’s, while St Andrew’s School for Girls secured the Bowl after a penalty shootout victory against St Mary’s Waverley.

The four-day tournament also featured under-16 and under-14 divisions, showcasing emerging talent from across the country.

Paarl Gimnasium successfully defended their under-16 crown with a commanding 4-0 win over St John’s DSG, while Bloemhof captured the under-14 title with a 2-1 victory over Rhenish.

INSIDE EDUCATION

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