Author: asawula

The 2025 hockey season has been a very successful one for Collegiate Girls’ High School.

The girls, coached by Michael Abrahams, have delivered a stellar campaign in which they’ve showcased their skills on  big stages and competed against some of the best teams in the country.

They will be intent on ending their season with a win when they go up against Clarendon High School for Girls in a Hyundai Friday Nite Lights clash in East London.

Push-back is at 16:55 and the match will be live on DStv Channel 216, the SuperSport Schools App, and the SABC Plus App.

Collegiate heads into the game off the back of facing the toughest opposition in the country at the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, which was hosted by Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein last week.

There, they finished seventh after beating St Anne’s DSG 2-0 on the final day.

“It was a tough tournament but also an incredible experience,” Collegiate skipper Gemma Bower told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The Super 12 is the most competitive tournament in South African school girls’ hockey. To be recognised as one of the top schools in the country means so much to us.

“Representing Collegiate hockey is also a huge privilege, and the girls worked hard to achieve that goal.”

Before heading to the Super 12, the Gqeberha school recorded some impressive results, including thumping Hoërskool Framesby 11-0 and beating York High 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with Oranje and 2-2 with Eunice at home.

Earlier in this season, they were outstanding in most of their outings and even added silverware to their cabinet after winning the All Girls’ Festival in Cape Town.

“This season has truly been amazing,” Bower said.

“The All Girls’ Festival was a standout moment for us. Winning the tournament after many years was filled with passion, sweat and tears. Making history for our school is a moment that I simply can’t put into words.

“Another highlight has been the Top 12. Since the start of the year, it was our main objective to work towards, and we finally achieved that. There have been ups and downs but, as a unit, we always trusted the process.

“The support has also been unreal. Just knowing that it’s all for the girls that have come before us and the girls that will come after us made those moments much more meaningful.”

There is no question that Collegiate hockey has exhibited a massive uptick in its fortunes in 2025. Last year, they were in a rebuilding phase and endured a topsy-turvy season.

Twelve months later, they’re among the best teams in the country, having only lost one game in the Eastern Cape against DSG Makhanda.

Bower and her teammates now prepare to face Clarendon, a team that’s known for its exciting and expensive brand of hockey.

The skipper said they’re not underestimating their opponents. “As a team, we are very excited,” she shared.

“We have gone through so much together, so it is bittersweet, as it is the matriculants’ last game for the school, but we are ready to finish the season off on a high note.

“It’s never an easy game against the girls from East London, but we know that if we stick to the process, the result will take care of itself.”

Bower is one of the players who will be representing her school for the final time.

Other matriculants in the team are the vice-captains, Anna Porter and Tayla Paxton, Darcey Brown, Cassidy Williams, and Aimee Pienaar.

It will also be a special occasion for Porter, who will make her 100th appearance for the school on Friday.

TEAMS

Clarendon: Soyama Dzengwa, Jessica Schaefer (vc), Kate Booyens, Quinn Carr, Keira Botha, Lara Schwedhelm, Hannah Viviers, Megan Phillips, Caroline Kretzmann, Cara Knott ©, Hannah Hattingh, Amber Viviers, Chadlyn Johannes, Holly McClure, Kiara Dart.

Collegiate: Amy Wilmot, Kate Brennan, Anna Porter, Jenna Coetzee, Taryn Peltenburg, Tayla Paxton, Eden Jade Oliver, Jade Grobler, Jana Prinsloo, Gemma Bower ©, Aimee Pienaar, Kerrin Gillies, Ayanda Klass, Cassidy Williams, Darcey Brown.

Eastern Cape fixtures

Friday, 15 August

17:00 – Clarendon vs Collegiate

Saturday, 16 August

11:15 – Merrifield College vs Stirling High
11:15 – Kingsridge Girls High vs Hudson Park

The SA u16 teams have done very little wrong in their first two matches against Zimbabwe in the Allister Fredericks
Africa Challenge this week.

The four-day series, which concludes on Friday, is being hosted in Johannesburg at St David’s Marist Inanda.

South Africa was dominant on the first two days and, between the u16A and B teams, they scored a staggering 25 goals without conceding.

After beating Zimbabwe u16A 10-0 on Tuesday, the u16B side returned on Wednesday seeking to emulate or better their previous performance.

They were not far off it, but they had to work a little bit harder to break down Zim’s defence early on, with skipper Peter Mutimutema putting in a solid defensive shift for South Africa’s northern neighbours.

The home side eventually broke the deadlock after Matthew Jung picked up a poor clearance attempt from Zim inside the opposition’s circle, and he slapped the ball into the back of the net.

Caleb Cilliers, who scored five goals on Tuesday, was back on the scoresheet, striking after smart play between Ben Wilson and Dante Moore on the right-hand side set him up with a chance. Wilson, then, made it three just before the end of the chukka.

Before halftime, South Africa tacked on two more, with Jung converting a penalty stroke before Cilliers tapped in at the far post.

The floodgates opened in the second half, and Cilliers completed his hat-trick after clever play from Peter Abrahams put Cilliers through on goal.

Soon after, Wilson made it a brace from his stick, and Buhle Kama got in on the scoring action with Limani Makeleni assisting his Western Province teammate.

Anthony Crossley completed the drubbing with the ninth goal of the game to seal another comprehensive victory for coach Siya Sityana‘s side.

The u16A side was  in action later in the day against Zimbabwe’s u18A team.

On Tuesday, South Africa u16A, led by coach Dalan Phillips, scored a 3-0 victory, courtesy of a Stephan Malan brace and a Blaine Candy strike.

It was a composed performance from the South African defenders, while the midfielders controlled the contest, with Callum Anderson pulling the strings.

Their second outing was no different.

Although Zimbabwe put up a heroic fight, South Africa was never fazed, enjoyed more ball possession, and linked up well.

The first chukka was goalless, but that changed quickly in the second when Kade Lottering fired home a short corner to open the scoring.

Malan, who was influential on day one, scored a thunderbolt drag flick to double his side’s lead in the 30th minute.

Then, the captain of the South African side, Jeandré Van Zyl, sealed the game and another 3-0 win with a penalty stroke conversion in the third chukka.

Results and scorers

SA u16B 9: Caleb Cilliers (3), Matthew Jung (2), Ben Wilson (2), Buhle Kama, Anthony Crossley. Zimbabwe 0.

SA u16 A 3: Kade Lottering, Stephan Malan, Jeandre Van Zyl. Zimbabwe 0.

Day 3 fixtures, Thursday, 14 August

15:30 – SA u16B vs Zimbabwe u16A
18:30 – SA u16A vs Zimbabwe u18A

The Parel Vallei (PV) first boys’ side will be aiming to end their season on a high when they host Pearson High in their annual interschools derby on Friday night.

The clash, set to take place in Somerset West, will kick off at 19:00 and will be streamed LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.

For many years, the showdown between the sides has been a massive event on each school’s calendar. It’s a full derby, with the action stretching from the AstroTurf to the netball courts, rugby fields, and onto cultural events, and chess.

Friday night, however, will belong to hockey, and both teams will be highly motivated to give a solid account of themselves in their final match of the season.

It has been a season of solid progress for PV, who caused some shocks in the Western Cape. Led by coach Michael van Rensburg, they punched above their weight, recorded some big results, and included themselves in the conversation of “top schools” around the country.

In his assessment of the team, Van Rensburg told SuperSport Schools Plus: “The season has been successful by all accounts. We only lost one home game, and it was against South African College High School (SACS).

“We have made some good strides over the last five years from where we were as a programme, going forward and doing well.

“There were one or two results that didn’t go our way, but that’s also what happens in youth sport, and it depends on the day.”

In their most recent outing, coach Van Rensburg’s boys drew 2-2 with Wynberg Boys’ High.

They also competed in the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament and finished inside the top 10.

While those results are cause for optimism, Van Rensburg understands that Pearson will pose different challenges.

“Pearson is always a big one,” he said. “It’s a full school derby, the last one of the year, and the pavilion will be packed.

“Nothing changes for us, maybe one or two small adaptations, but we are 28 games into the season. We don’t want to change much. We just want to be better.

“We want to put ourselves in the best possible position again to make sure that we grab the win. The nice thing, as well, is that 12 of the 16 guys that will be playing on Friday night will be returning in 2026.

“So, we look forward to Friday night. It’s always nice to play at home, and we are trusting our preparation and making sure we are ready.”

Pearson, meanwhile, heads to the Western Cape after a topsy-turvy season.

Under the guidance of coach Karl Lavender, the boys in green and white made a rough start, but they have found some good form in recent weeks.

Those solid performances, which, most recently, included a 2-0 victory over Graeme College, in Makhanda, will give them some much-needed confidence ahead of the big clash.

Lavender said his side’s preparations for the derby have been smooth, although not ideal. 

“Our training prep has been good, but a lack of competitive matches this term is a concern,” he explained.

“Hopefully, the boys will be well rested from this and manage to match the tempo quickly.”

Looking back on Pearson’s season, Lavender said he’s been impressed by his team’s gritty character when the chips have been down.

“We have been resilient,” he said. “We’ve lost several matches by one goal to big-name schools this year and have managed to bounce back after heartbreak. If this group goes a goal down, I back them to come back.”

Victory in the Parel Vallei derby would be a big boost and finishing a season on a high note is never a bad thing. “The boys just have to go out and enjoy it. For some, it’s their last game for the school in front of 4000 spectators,” Lavender said.

“They must enjoy the moment and leave no regrets behind as they get to play with their brothers one last time.”

Other matches taking place in the Western Cape

While an all-action encounter is expected in Somerset West, there are several other games taking place within the province, most notably two southern suburbs’ derbies.

SACS faces Rondebosch Boys’ High while Bishops Diocesan College plays host to Wynberg Boys’ High at the Woodlands AstroTurf.

Stellenberg is set for a tight battle with Durbanville in their interschools clash, while DF Malan will lock horns with Bellville High.

Worcester Gimnasium will be in action against Hermanus, and, in George, Outeniqua takes on HTS Drostdy while York High School faces Oudtshoorn.

The atmosphere will be electric, the stands will be packed to the rafters, and a sea of black and white will greet Grey High School when they take on Selborne College in East London on Friday night.

The much-anticipated Hyundai Friday Nite Lights hockey clash will kick off at 18:30 and will be LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The meeting between the schools is one of the biggest in the Eastern Cape, and it’ll be the final match of 2025 for both.

They’ve delivered some excellent performances this season under the leadership of KJ Friend (Selborne) and Andrew Beynon (Grey High).

They’ve dominated most of their derby matches, usually scoring plenty of goals, and entertained with attractive brands of hockey.

In their most recent outing, Selborne thumped Dale College 6-1 in Qonce, while Grey recorded a gritty 3-1 victory over Grey College, in Gqeberha, a fortnight ago.

In their most recent meetings, victory has gone the way of coach Beynon’s side. At the Hibbert Shield, back in May, Grey beat their East London rivals 4-0. They also won last year’s interschools game 3-1.

Friday’s showdown will likely be a different ball game, though, with Selborne firing on all cylinders ahead of the clash. They’ve made massive strides since the start of the season.

This term, they’ve beaten Queen’s College 8-0 and Hudson Park 2-1. Grey, meanwhile, defeated York High 5-1 and, before that, mustered a 1-0 victory over St Andrew’s College.

It will also be a special occasion for the captains, Gray van Heerden and Luke Tait, who will don their school colours on the AstroTurf for the final time. SuperSport Schools Plus caught up with both skippers ahead of the clash.

Gray van Heerden – Selborne College

“There are a lot of emotions flying around,” Van Heerden said. “I think there’s a bit of sadness for the matrics as we’re coming to our last ever schoolboy game, but we are also excited and keen.

“We know it will be a fantastic game, and we want to leave everything out on the field for the last time.”

Van Heerden and his troops will be banking on their supporters coming out in their numbers. He believes sticking to their structures and playing their particular brand of hockey could propel them to victory.

“If we can just play Selborne hockey and block out the crowd [we could win],” he said. “If we play the hockey we’ve played in all our derbies this year, I’m confident we will be good.

“We will need to work hard, run that extra metre, and play our own game.”

Luke Tait – Grey High

“We are ready. Training has been intense in preparation for this one. The boys are ready to leave it all out there at Selborne,” the Grey High captain said.

“Selborne away is always tough. They have been in good form of late, but if we stick to our principles and take our chances, I’m positive we will come out on top.”

Tait is one of the most experienced players in the Grey side after making his 100th appearance for the school in June. He’s now gunning for the “perfect send-off.”

“It’d be massive to end the season on a high,” he said.

“Ending away with a big win would be the perfect send-off for the matrics and Grey.”

Other matches in the Eastern Cape

While the match in East London promises to deliver top-quality hockey, there are three other games on which to keep an eye.

In Komani, Queen’s College hosts Cambridge High on Saturday. Queen’s, led by coach Michael Baiden, are coming off a 4-0 win over Graeme College, so they’ll fancy themselves to get the job done.

Merrifield College, which is celebrating its founder’s weekend, goes up against Stirling High, while Dale College locks horns with Hudson Park in Qonce.

Eastern Cape boys’ fixtures

Friday, 15 August

16:00 – Dale College vs Hudson Park
18:30 – Selborne College vs Grey High

Saturday, 16 August:

11:15 – Queen’s College vs Cambridge High
11:15 – Merrifield College vs Stirling High

Caleb Cilliers, from Paul Roos Gimnasium, scored a whopping five goals to lead the South African u16B side to a comprehensive 10-0 win over Zimbabwe on day one of the Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge, in Johannesburg, on Tuesday.

The event, organised by South African Schools Hockey (SASHOC), is being held at St David’s Marist Inanda and runs through until Friday, 15 August.

It was a successful opening day for the SA u16 boys. Apart from the B team running riot against Zim’s u16A before, the u16A team posted a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe’s u18A team.

The B-team, led by coaches, Siya Sityana, from Jeppe High School for Boys, and Siya Lusiba, from Queen’s College made an early statement in their first outing.

They dominated Zimbabwe in the early exchanges, scored some brilliant team goals, and at the break, led 4-0.

Skipper  Jason Joiner opened the scoring in the first chukka after Caleb Cilliers won a penalty stroke. A minute later, Cilliers got his name on the scoresheet when he linked up well with Buhle Kama before calmly placing the ball in the back of the net.”

Kama and Cilliers were at it again and combined for the game’s third just before the second chukka.

South Africa, then, netted another goal in the second quarter through Kamohelo Tsoka, who latched on to a loose ball inside the circle after a piece of individual brilliance by Michael Meiring.

The home side was just getting started and they came out firing in the second stanza.

Limani Makeleni, from Cape Town’s Langa Hockey Club, was at the right place at the right time to tap in at the far post and make it 5-0.

Zim struggled to outlet, and South Africa’s press worked effectively as they turned over the ball with relative ease, which ensured that the visitors remained under heavy pressure.

After Cilliers made it 6-0, the floodgates opened up, and Tsoka completed his brace before Kama scored arguably the goal of the day when he smashed a tomahawk into the back of the net.

Cilliers wasn’t done and netted two late goals to complete his fiver and make it 10 for his side.

The sides meet again on Wednesday at 14:00.

The second boys’ game featured SA u16A against Zimbabwe’s u18A side.

The home side made a blistering start, with Stephan Malan converting from a short corner to give them the lead.

Blaine Candy made it 2-0 in the second chukka before Malan, from Parel Vallei High, completed his brace in the third quarter.

South Africa pushed for a fourth, with Callum Anderson and Kgotsofalang Lehloenya bossing proceedings, but Zimbabwe’’ defence remained resolute.

Anderson, from Bishops Diocesan College, was named the Player of the Match, and he will aim to continue playing a vital role in South Africa’s quest for more glory.

The coaches in charge, Dalan Phillips and Anthony Woodhouse, would’ve been pleased with the win but will demand more from their boys as the series continues and intensifies.

Results and scorers

SA u16B 10: Caleb Cilliers (5), Kamohelo Tsoka (2), Buhle Kama, Limani Makeleni, Jason Joiner. Zimbabwe 0.

SA u16A 3: Stephan Malan (2), Blaine Candy. Zimbabwe 0.

Day 2 fixtures, Wednesday, 13 August

14:00 – South Africa u16B vs Zimbabwe u16A
17:00 – South Africa u16A vs Zimbabwe u18A

The 2025 hockey season wasn’t the best of seasons for the Hoërskool Noordheuwel girls’ first-team , but they capped it off with silverware.

Nories, as they’re affectionately known, defeated their Krugersdorp rivals, Hoërskool Monument, 4-1 on Sunday, in Pretoria, to lift the Noordvaal Cup.

While the boys’ tournament took place in Polokwane, at Hoërskool Pietersburg, the girls’ event was hosted by Cornwall Hill College, from 7 to 10 August.

Noordheuwel put together an impressive tournament run, which began with them winning their three pool games convincingly.

They defeated both Pietersburg High School and Montana High 4-0 before thumping Kempton Park High 5-1 on day two.

Those wins set up a semifinal showdown against Potchefstroom Gimnasium. That proved to be a far tougher challenge and Nories had to dig deep to win it on penalties after the match ended in a draw.

One last hurdle remained, and it was Monument in the final. Noordheuwel, led by coaches Natasha le Roux and Martin Daniel, showed class and scored some eye-catching goals to clinch the title.

“We are very happy to have won the Noordvaal trophy,” coach Le Roux told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Our season has been a little bit up and down throughout, but we are very happy to end it on this high. A final between Noordheuwel and Monument will always be a game worth watching, and I’m very proud of how the team played.”

Before they met in Sunday’s final, Nories and Monnas had met in a league fixture, and it was Monument who won on that occasion, coming out on top by a narrow 3-2 margin.

Tournament hockey is a different kettle of fish, though, and Le Roux’s players rose to the challenge.

“We were lucky enough to score quite a few goals in the tournament, but we knew it wouldn’t be easy once we got to the final,” she said.

“For some reason, we tend to always end in a shootout against Gimmies (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), but the girls stepped up when they needed to.“

Winning the Noordvaal Cup is always at the top of the priority list for Nories each season, and, said Le Roux, they’re always focused on improving.

“We always aim to do well in Noordvaal, so, as a school, winning it is a very big accomplishment,” she explained.

“In general, our Noordheuwel hockey had a very good weekend, and we will be hoping to build on this for the 2026 season.”

It was a full team effort that helped Nories win the title, but Ciara van der Walt deserves special mention as the tournament’s Top Goal Scorer.

Final standings

Hoërskool Noordheuwel
Hoërskool Monument
Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Hoërskool Ermelo
Hoërskool Middelburg
Helpmekaar Kollege
Hoërskool Pietersburg
Kempton Park High
Hoërskool Transvalia
Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen
Midstream College
Montana High

Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) ended their season in the best way possible by winning the Challengers’ Cup, at La Rochelle Girls’ School, in Paarl, on Sunday.

They defeated Cape Town’s Herschel Girls School 1-0 in the final to cap off an amazing run at the tournament.

The Pretoria outfit was one of the favourites heading into the event after putting together a stellar season under the guidance of head coach Nicolene Terblanche.

They were aggressive, played some exciting hockey, and asserted their dominance in Pool B from the get-go.

During the group stage, Affies recorded 2-0 wins over Durban Girls’ College and Hoërskool Outeniqua and beat Springfield Convent School 1-0.

They played out a goalless draw with Paarl Girls’ High and suffered only one defeat, going down to Herschel in their last group fixture on Saturday. 

Those results meant they finished second in Pool B with 10 points, which qualified Affies for the semifinals.

In the last four, coach Terblanche’s troops came up against their Pretoria rivals, Hoërskool Garsfontein, and, after the clash ended 1-1, they went to penalties, with Affies advancing to the title game by a narrow 1-0 margin.

That set up a date with Herschel, who remained unbeaten after shrugging off St Mary’s Waverley 2-0 to reach the final.

It was a competitive match, directed by two outstanding coaches, whose teams asked tough questions of their opposition from the first chukka.

There were no goals in the opening half, but Affies took the lead in the third chukka when Minke Van Heerden latched on to a loose ball inside the circle and tapped it into the back of the net.

After scoring, the Pretoria side defended as if their lives depended on it, with skipper, Hannah Henderson, leading Herschel’s push for an equaliser.

However, the Affies’ defence, backstopped by goalie Cara Bouwer, held their nerve to see the game out and claim a maiden Challengers’ Cup title.

“How can any coach not be proud?” coach Terblanche asked SuperSport Schools Plus after the game. “This is an amazing group of girls.

“It’s special to win tournaments, but there is much more than the trophy. Medals and trophies are the bonus, but there are small things that make a team.”

Affies arrived in Paarl just a week after winning the Pullen Cup, where they defeated Garsfontein 2-0 in the final.

Terblanche revealed the message she had delivered to her girls heading into the Challengers’ Cup: “I told them that the Pullen and Howell was over and done, and we needed to focus on the next goal.

“We went into the tournament with a winning mentality and belief. This is a team on and off the field, and that is something that I cannot explain.”

The coach also credited her side’s competitiveness, discipline and sisterhood in shaping what will go down as one of the school’s best seasons after they added two more trophies to their cabinet following their win at the All Girls Festival, in Potchefstroom, last year. 

Other matches

In other contests, Garsfontein defeated St Mary’s Waverley 2-0, courtesy of goals by Jana Seebach and Daniella Grobbelaar, to win the bronze medal.

Parel Vallei also finished on a high note, beating Durban Girls’ College 2-0, while Fairmont High put four past Outeniqua to win by three.

Day 4 | Results and scorers

Springfield Convent School 1: (Mackenzie Cathcart-Gates). Paarl Girls’ High 1: (Halle Williams).

Parel Vallei 1: (Skylar Bougaard). Durban Girls’ College 0.

Rustenburg Girls’ High 2: (Agcobile Kata, Ashley Henwood). St Cyprian’s School 2: (Cayleigh Charton, Carolyn Lords).

Garsfontein 2: (Jana Seebach, Daniella Grobbelaar). St Mary’s 1: (Lucy Viljoen).

Fairmont 4: (Madison Ackerman 2, Camryn Corner, Jorja Kruger). Outeniqua 1: (Milla Kruger).

Affies 1: (Minke van Heerden). Herschel 0.

Individual awards

Goalkeeper of the tournament – Cara Bouwer (Affies)
Top goal scorer – Daniella Grobbelaar (Garsfontein)
Most Valuable Player – Caprice Bengtson (Durban Girls’ College)

Final standings

Affies Meisies
Herschel Girls School
Garsfontein
St Mary’s Waverley
Parel Vallei
Durban Girls’ College
Fairmont
Outeniqua
Rustenburg Girls’ and St Cyprian’s School – Joint ninth place
Paarl Girls’ High and Springfield Convent School – Joint 11th place

Herschel Girls School continued their fine form at the Challengers’ Cup on Saturday and booked themselves a place in the final of the tournament, at La Rochelle Girls’ High, in Paarl.

The Cape Town school defeated St Mary’s Waverley 2-0 in the semifinals, setting up a title game against Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) at 11:20 on Sunday.

Catch all the playoff action LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.

The journey to the title-deciding clash was similar for both sides, with both dominating during the group stage while playing attractive hockey and scoring numerous goals.

They were both in Pool B, which Herschel topped after four wins in five matches, while Affies picked up three wins and 10 points to occupy second place.

In the semifinals, they faced St Mary’s and Hoërskool Garsfontein respectively, the top two teams from Pool A.

Herschel made a cracking start in their showdown with St Mary’s and opened the scoring with a well-worked field goal, netted by Anna Sherren, after only six minutes.

It was evenly contested after that, and it took Herschel another 32 minutes before they doubled their lead through Katie Featherstone, who converted from a short corner opportunity.

St Mary’s, the 2024 runner-up, gave it all they had but were kept out by Herschel’s stubborn defence.

Sunday’s final will be Herschel’s second of the season. They reached the final of the Belgotex Sport Girls Challenge in May but were beaten on penalties by Paarl Gimnasium.

Affies faced a familiar Pretoria rival when they met Garsies in the semi-finals. When the teams met a week ago in the Pullen Cup final, in Johannesburg, Affies scored a 2-0 victory.

It was much closer on Saturday, however, and the contest went down to the wire. Mia Pretorius scored early for Affies before Daniella Grobbelaar equalised in the 40th minute.

After regulation time ended at 1-1, a penalty shootout was required to separate the sides. Affies, who placed fourth in 2024, held their nerve and secured a slim 1-0 win to book their place in the final.

Day 3 | Results – Group stage playoffs 

Parel Vallei (2) 1-1 (1) Outeniqua
Durban Girls’ College 3-0 Fairmont
Herschel 2-0 St Mary’s Waverley
Rustenburg Girls’ High 1-0 Springfield
Affies (1) 1-1 (0) Garsfontein
St Cyprian’s School (1) 1-1 (0) Paarl Girls’ High

Day 4 | Fixtures

08:00 – Springfield vs Paarl Girls (11th/12th playoff)
09:00 – Parel Vallei vs Durban Girls College (5th/6th playoff)
09:10 – Rustenburg Girls vs St Cyprian’s School (9th/10th playoff) @Paarl Girls’ High
10:10 – St Mary’s Waverley vs Garsfontein (3rd/4th playoff)
10:20 – Outeniqua vs Fairmont High (7th/8th playoff) @Paarl Girls’ High
11:20 – Herschel vs Affies (Final)

Only five teams maintained their unbeaten records on Friday, day two of the Challengers’ Cup,

The event is being played on the AstroTurfs of La Rochelle Girls’ High and Paarl Girls’ High and runs through until Sunday.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

After making winning starts on the opening day, Pool A’s St Mary’s Waverley and Hoërskool Garsfontein met on Friday morning and played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Coach Cindy Brown’s St Mary’s side was dominant and scored early through Kyla Grobbelaar. Erin Krüger doubled their lead in the 28th minute, but the Garsies was not going down without a fight.

They clawed their way back into the fixture with two late goals, scored by Emma Van Rooyen and Erné Kotze, to snatch a dramatic draw and make matters in Pool A very interesting.

Later in the day, St Mary’s defeated Rustenburg Girls’ High 1-0, thanks to a Zara Colyn strike, while Garsfontein was held to a 1-1 draw by Fairmont High.

Fairmont played some good hockey on day two and will fancy their chances of sneaking into the last four. They’re currently in third place, behind Garsfontein and St Mary’s, with five points and one group fixture remaining.

Coach Wayne Coetzee’s Parel Vallei side occupies fourth place, followed by Springfield Convent School and St Cyprian’s School, who are still in search of their first win at the tournament.

Pool B is also tight, with Herschel Girls School and Pretoria’s Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) setting the pace with seven points each after recording two wins and a draw in their three matches.

On Friday, Affies was held to a goalless draw by Paarl Girls’ High. Later on, Mikela Harmse notched a brace in a hard-fought 2-0 win over Hoërskool Outeniqua.

Herschel, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Hoërskool Outeniqua and defeated Durban Girls’ College (DGC) 2-1, with Georgia Nicklin and Teagan Williamson getting their names onto the scoresheet in that win.

The Pool B leaders square off on Saturday at 10:00.

Heading into day three, Paarl Girls’ High and Outeniqua lie third and fourth respectively in the Pool B standings, with four points each after three matches.

Their chances of making the semifinals are slim, but they’ll know that anything’s possible in tournament hockey, and things can change quickly.

Outeniqua takes on Springfield and DGC on day three, while Paarl Girls’ High tackles Herschel and DGC.

The action starts at 08:00, and all the matches will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools App.

Day 2 | Results and scorers

Pool A

Garsfontein 2: (Emma Van Rooyen, Erné Kotze). St Mary’s Waverley 2: (Kyla Grobbelaar, Erin Krüger).
Fairmont 0-0 St Cyprian’s School
Fairmont 1: (Madison Ackerman). Garsfontein 1: (Andrea Groenewald).
Parel Vallei 0-0 Rustenburg Girls’ High
St Mary’s Waverley 1: (Zara Colyn). Rustenburg Girls’ High 0.
Parel Vallei 4: (Elrie Pienaar, Nikita Sulivan, Emihle Wulana, Liné Liebenberg). St Cyprian’s 2: (Carolyn Lord, Emily Brink).

Pool B

Durban Girls’ College 1: (Mary Aylward). Springfield 0.
Outeniqua 1: (Mia Buxman). Herschel 1: (Heather Kane).
Parel Vallei 0-0 Rustenburg Girls’ High
Paarl Girls’ High 0-0 Affies
Herschel 2: (Georgia Nicklin, Teagan Williamson). Durban Girls’ College 1: (Caprice Bengtson).
Affies 2: (Mikela Harmse 2). Outeniqua 0.
Paarl Girls’ High 1: (Lucia Marcus). Springfield 0.

Day 3 | Fixtures

@La Rochelle 

08:00 – Outeniqua vs Springfield; 09:00 – Durban Girls’ College vs Paarl Girls’ High; 10:00 – Herschel vs Affies; 12:00 – Outeniqua vs Durban Girls’ College; 13:00 – Springfield vs Affies; 14:00 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Herschel.

@Paarl Girls’ High 

08:00 – St Cyprian’s vs Rustenburg Girls’; 09:00 – Parel Vallei vs Garsfontein; 10:00 – St Mary’s Waverley vs Fairmont; 12:00 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Garsfontein; 13:00 – St Mary’s Waverley vs St Cyprian’s; 14:00 – Fairmont vs Parel Vallei.

Some cracking goals, entertaining matchups and massive upsets, highlighted the opening day of the Challengers’ Cup, in Paarl, on Thursday.

The annual tournament is being hosted by La Rochelle Girls’ High and runs through to Sunday, and the lineup includes some of the strongest teams in the country.

Day one was all about making a positive start and while some did that, others found it tough sledding.

In the opening match of the tournament, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) demonstrated their class in a 2-0 win over Durban Girls’ College (DGC).

It was an impressive showing from the Pretoria girls, who opened the scoring in the first chukka through a brilliant goal from Mikela Harmse after she had linked up well with Anouk du Plessis.

Late in the fourth chukka, Affies sealed the win, thanks to a goal from Hannah Coetzee, which helped her side claim the first three points of their campaign.

The action rolled on from there, and Hoërskool Outeniqua stunned Paarl Girls’ High 3-2, courtesy of goals by Carlien Oosthuizen, Mia Buxman, and Mieke Lotter.

Herschel Girls School came out on top in a Cape Town rivalry, defeating Springfield Convent School 3-0.

The match of the day, though, belonged to St Mary’s Waverley and Parel Vallei (PV). Led by experienced coaches Cindy Brown (St Mary’s) and Wayne Coetzee (PV), the teams delivered an entertaining clash from the first whistle.

St Mary’s got off to a blistering start and led 1-0 after only three minutes, thanks to a well-taken goal by Tanaka Matambo.

PV responded almost immediately, with Nikita Sulivan netting in the sixth minute. Two minutes later, coach Coetzee’s side made it 2-1 when Eva Blaauw slotted a short corner opportunity.

Three goals had been scored in the space of only five minutes, and the teams were just getting started.

The girls from Johannesburg didn’t back down and, just before the first chukka ended, they levelled matters when Leah Viljoen found herself in space and beat PV’s goalie for her side’s second goal.

The second and third chukkas were evenly matched, with both teams creating goal scoring opportunities but failing to find finishes.

It appeared as if the contest was headed for a draw, but Leah Viljoen had other ideas and converted a late penalty corner, her second goal of the game, to lead St Mary’s to a thrilling win.

In other matches, Leah Buckley‘s goal proved enough for Fairmont High as they edged out Rustenburg Girls’ High 1-0.

Hoërskool Garsfontein delivered a polished performance in the final match of the day to beat St Cyprian’s School 3-0.

It was a Garsies masterclass, and it began as early as the fifth minute when Jana Seebach opened the scoring for the Pretoria League champions.

Daniella Grobbelaar and Elmien du Preez added further goals in the second half to seal the win for coach Charlene Johnson‘s troops.

On Friday, Garsfontein faces St Mary’s and Fairmont High.

The matches, which are being played at La Rochelle and Paarl Girls’ High, start at 11:30 and will be broadcast LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.

Thursday, 8 August | Results and scorers

Pool A

St Mary’s Waverley 3: (Leah Viljoen 2, Tanaka Matambo). Parel Vallei 2: (Nikita Sulivan, Eva Blaauw).
Fairmont High 1: (Leah Buckley). Rustenburg Girls’ High 0.
Garsfontein 3: (Jana Seebach, Daniella Grobbelaar, Elmien du Preez). St Cyprian’s School 0.

Pool B

Affies 2: (Mikela Harmse, Hannah Coetzee). DGC 0.
Outeniqua 3: (Carlien Oosthuizen, Mia Buxman, Mieke Lotter). Paarl Girls’ High 2: (Anne Nell, Janri Dixon).
Herschel 3: (Anna Sherren, Samantha Flint, Sophie Maurel). Springfield 0.

Friday, 9 August Fixtures

@La Rochelle 

11:30 – Garsfontein vs St Mary’s Waverley; 12:30 – St Cyprian’s vs Fairmont; 13:30 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Parel Vallei; 15:00 – Garsfontein vs Fairmont; 16:00 – Parel Vallei vs St Cyprian’s; 17:00 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs St Mary’s Waverley.

@Paarl Girls’ High 

11:30 – Springfield vs Durban Girls’ College; 12:30 – Outeniqua vs Herschel; 13:30 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Affies; 15:00 – Herschel vs Durban Girls’ College; 16:00 – Outeniqua vs Affies; 17:00 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Springfield.