{"id":87177,"date":"2025-12-04T06:31:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87177"},"modified":"2025-12-04T06:31:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:31:07","slug":"coastals-to-tackle-southerns-for-top-honours-in-u18-girls-indoor-ipt-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87177","title":{"rendered":"Coastals to tackle Southerns for top honours in u18 girls’ Indoor IPT final"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Codie
Codie Bestbier is challenged as she attempts to get a shot off in KZN Coastal A’s 3-1 win over KZN Inland A on Wednesday morning at Thomas More College. Photo: Brad Morgan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Powerhouses, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A<\/strong> and Southern Gauteng<\/strong>, will lock horns in the final of the SASHOC u18 Girls’ Indoor Hockey IPT<\/strong> at Thomas More College<\/strong>, in Kloof, on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Coastal A beat KZN Inland A<\/strong> to book their spot in the title game, while Southerns defeated KZN Coastal B<\/strong> to secure their berth.<\/p>\n

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Coastals A and Southerns are the only unbeaten sides in the tournament and since the first day of the event, Monday, they have been on a collision course.<\/p>\n

In the group stage, they had a dress rehearsal for the final and played out a thrilling 3-3 draw<\/strong><\/a>. On Thursday, sharing the points will not do. There will have to be a winner and a champion crowned.<\/p>\n

KZN Coastal A has impressed on their way to the final, winning five of their six matches and drawing with Southerns, who equalised in the last 10 seconds of their clash.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the local side completed a double over their provincial rivals, KZN Inland A. They met their neighbours in their last pool match and beat them 3-1. Codie Bestbier<\/strong>, Ella Bowyer,<\/strong> and Jenna-Leigh Freese<\/strong> found the back of the net for Coastals, while Emma Williams<\/strong> pulled one back for Inland A.<\/p>\n

Then, they traded blows five hours later, in the semi-finals, and Inland A, having taken lessons from their earlier loss, returned a better outfit. They were more compact and defended well. However, KZN Coastal A found a way past the resolute Inland A defence with only three minutes left in the contest when Bowyer beat Siyamethemba<\/strong> Khumalo, in goal for Inland A, to usher Coastals A into the final.<\/p>\n

\"In
In two meetings on Wednesday, KZN Inland A made KZN Coastal A work hard for victory, but, in the end, Coastals won both contests. Photo: Brad Morgan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Southerns heads into the title decider with a record of four wins and two draws from their six matches. They shared points with Coastals A on Tuesday, and also drew 4-4 earlier that day against their semifinal opponents, KZN Coastal B.<\/p>\n

They headed into their semifinal clash eager not to make the same mistakes they made in their previous draw against Coastals B and kept a good structure to keep the local lasses at bay and off the scoresheet.<\/p>\n

Southerns went in front in the fifth minute through Addison van der Byl<\/strong>, and a 24th minute strike from Chloe Potgieter <\/strong>put the game beyond Coastals B. Van der Byl and Potgieter were also on the scoresheet when Southerns routed KZN Inland B 8-0 earlier in the day.<\/p>\n