Exciting U14 Hockey Action at NHS Festival in March

The Hoërskool Nelspruit U14 Hockey Festival was a roaring success as young boys and girls from all over the country gathered in Mbombela for four days of intense hockey action earlier in March. A total of 12 schools and 25 teams participated in the festival, with schools traveling from as far as Bloemfontein to showcase their skills in the Lowveld.

Organized and hosted by the Nellies, the matches were split between the hockey turfs at Hoërskool Nelspruit and Penryn College. The atmosphere was electric, with teams displaying great spirit and competitiveness throughout the tournament. Each player gave their all to secure victory for their school.

The competition kicked off with round-robin matches in separate boys’ and girls’ divisions for the first three days. The excitement reached a fever pitch on the fourth day as knockouts were played in the thrilling eight-second shoot-out format, adding an extra element of suspense to the games.

In the boys’ final, Hoërskool Fichardtpark faced off against Uplands College, with Fichardtpark emerging victorious. The girls’ final saw Hoërskool Nelspruit take on Merensky Agricultural Academy, with the hosts clinching the top spot.

Hoërskool Nelspruit finished third in the boys’ competition, while Penryn College claimed the fourth spot. In the girls’ competition, Penryn College secured third place, with Uplands finishing in 11th place.

Overall, the NHS U14 Hockey Festival was a showcase of young talent and sportsmanship, with players leaving it all on the field in pursuit of victory. Congratulations to all the teams for their outstanding performances!