Author: asawula

The Rhenish Girls’ High first hockey side has produced another brilliant season under the guidance of head coach Chris Gerber.

After a stellar showing in 2024, the girls from Stellenbosch picked up from where they left off, dominating most of their opponents while excelling at both ends of the field – scoring plenty of goals while conceding few.

They went unbeaten throughout the season in the Western Cape and experienced just two hiccups at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival and All Girls’ National Festival in May.

In their most recent outings, against top opposition, Rhenish defeated fellow Super 12 qualifiers, Paarl Gimnasium and HMS Bloemhof, 1-0. Now their attention has shifted to the prestigious Fairtree Super 12 Tournament.

The annual event runs from Thursday, 7 August, at Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein, and finishes on Saturday, 9 August.

Rhenish won the whole thing a year ago when they defeated St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) 3-1 on penalties after the final ended level at 1-1 in regulation time.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the tournament, coach Gerber said his charges have prepared well for the event and are ready to get going. “The girls are in a good space heading into the Super 12,” he said.

“They have worked hard and done everything they possibly could to be prepared and ready for the challenge of Super 12.”

Since their first appearance in the Super 12 in 2017, the Stellenbosch-based has qualified for the tournament five times.

In their maiden appearance, they placed sixth. Two years later, in 2019, they finished fourth. Three years on, in 2022, they ended in 11th place. Then, in 2023, they sneaked into the top four. In 2025, they were crowned the champions.

Gerber admitted that being the defending champions creates a level of pressure, but it’s top tournaments like these that Rhenish likes to embrace.

“I think it does bring some pressure. However, that is what motivates us as a team,” he explained. “This Rhenish team thrives under pressure, and they live for this type of opportunity.

“We have prepared extremely well and will not leave any stone unturned, but we are taking it game by game and will take on each game as a new challenge.”

When asked what he would like to see from his side, the coach said: “I would like to see our girls making it count and owning the opportunity. If they manage to do this, we will be unstoppable.”

Rhenish has been drawn in Pool A and will face Eunice High School, Oranje, Bloemhof, Hoërskool Waterkloof, and St Mary’’s DSG, Kloof.

Squad: Grace Hobbs, Pippa Viljoen, Chelsey Woolf, Jasmine Aitken, Amy-Leigh Gibson, Frankie Henn, Emma Lurie, Lily Newton, Shene Du Plessis, Nicola van der Merwe, Puck Bakker (vc), Ruby Cilliers, Sarah Oscroft, Katherine Sickle, Leah du Plessis (c), Sarah-Ellen Groenewald.

Rhenish’s fixtures at the Super 12

Thursday, 7 August

07:30 – Rhenish vs St Mary’s DSG (Kloof)
12:30 – Rhenish vs Waterkloof
17:30 – Rhenish vs HMS Bloemhof

Friday, 8 August

09:10 – Rhenish vs Oranje
17:30 – Rhenish vs Eunice

Hockey fans in Paarl, in the Western Cape, will be treated to high-quality hockey action this week when La Rochelle Girls’ High School hosts the 2025 edition of the Challengers’ Cup.

The much-anticipated event starts on Thursday, 7 August, with the final to be contested on Sunday, 10 August.

Matches will be played at La Rochelle’s and Paarl Girls’ High‘s main AstroTurfs.

Somerset College was victorious in last year’s competition after beating St Mary’s Waverley in the final, but they won’t be defending the title.

The event, nonetheless, features a stacked lineup, including six teams – St Mary’s Waverley, Rustenburg Girls’ High, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies), Parel Vallei, Paarl Girls’ High and Fairmont High – who were part of last year’s event.

Joining them will be St Cyprian’s School, Hoërskool Outeniqua, Pretoria’s Hoërskool Garsfontein, Herschel Girls School, Springfield Convent School, and Durban Girls College (DGC).

It’s a fantastic opportunity for those teams to end their seasons on a high note.

In Pool A, Garsfontein and St Mary’s Waverley will face a stern challenge from four Cape Town schools – St Cyprians, Fairmont, Rustenburg, and Parel Vallei.

Garsies, who have enjoyed a superb season under the guidance of head coach Charlene Johnson, are among the favourites to go all the way.

They recently competed in the Pullen Cup in Johannesburg, where they finished as the runner-up, losing out to Affies after a penalty shootout was required to decide the final.

The four Western Cape sides should make the group interesting.

St Cyprian’s has been playing good hockey under head coach Natalie Esteves, while Parel Vallei and Rustenburg Girls are evenly matched. They recently played to a goalless draw.

Fairmont High should be a strong contender. They showed how well they can play tournament hockey when they won the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament earlier this year.

Pool B is, undoubtedly, the “group of death”. Herschel, Paarl Girls’ High, Affies and DGC appear likely to be the frontrunners, but Springfield and Outeniqua will have other ideas.

Affies finished in fourth place at the Challengers’ Cup last year, but they head into the tournament brimming with confidence after winning the Pullen Cup this past weekend.

For DGC and Paarl Girls’ High, the tournament presents an opportunity to add some gloss to their seasons, while coach Ziyaad Ismail and his Springfield outfit will be out to upset the apple cart.

Outeniqua are the dark horses. They’ve been in great form. A week ago, in their most recent outing, they scored an impressive 5-1 victory over Worcester Gimnasium.

It promises to be a cracking event, and tournament director Leani Neethling is optimistic everything will run smoothly.

“This will be the third year that we are hosting the Challengers’ Cup,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“At La Rochelle, we pride ourselves on being accommodating to everyone and on hosting a prestigious and well-organised tournament. We go all out to ensure that it’s a memorable experience for every team, player, and supporter involved.”

Apart from ensuring there is smooth action on the AstroTurf, Neethling said the options alongside the fields will include a tasty variety of food and coffee tents to ensure players, supporters, and spectators are looked after well.

“From an organisational standpoint, spectators can expect a well-structured and seamless tournament experience,” she reckoned.

“Our on-site Feedem Café will be open throughout the tournament, along with additional vendors like E-Vida and Chip ‘n Dip to provide food and beverages.

“We invite parents, players, and spectators to be part of this annual event and enjoy a weekend of high-energy, quality hockey.”

All 42 matches will be broadcast LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App, and live scoring will be available via the Sportivo App for real-time updates.

Pool A

St Cyprian’s School, Hoërskool Garsfontein, St Mary’s Waverley, Parel Vallei, Fairmont High, Rustenburg Girls’ High

Pool B

Herschel Girls School, Durban Girls’ College, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool, Hoërskool Outeniqua, Paarl Girls’ High, Springfield Convent School

FIXTURES

Thursday, 7 August

@La Rochelle 

15:00 – Durban Girls College vs Affies; 16:00 – Outeniqua vs Paarl Girls’ High; 17:00 – St Mary’s Waverley vs Parel Vallei; 18:00 – Herschel vs Springfield; 19:00 – Fairmont vs Rustenburg Girls; 20:00 – St Cyprian’s vs Garsfontein.

Friday, 8 August

@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.

Saturday, 9 August

@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.

After a near-perfect season in the Western Cape, Paarl Gimnasium shifts its attention to the prestigious Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, which takes place at Oranje Meisieskool in Bloemfontein from 7-9 August.

The elite event hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for Paarl Gim in past seasons.

In 2024, the Western Cape side beat Eunice High School 2-1 to finish in fifth place.

They came close to winning it all in 2023, when they finished as the runner-up, while they were also fifth in 2022.

History and past results won’t matter much this week, though, and coach Danelle van Zyl and her charges will be aiming to go all the way.

They head into the tournament after another superb season in the Western Cape during which their only defeat was a tight 0-1 loss at the hands of Rhenish Girls’ High School.

Besides that setback, they’ve wiped the floor with every other opponent they’ve come across, and they also won the inaugural Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge.

They also concluded their local season with an emphatic 4-1 win over Paarl Girls’ High in the interschools derby, with two goals apiece from Alanda Rademeyer and Karea de Ridder sealing the win.

“I’m proud of the girls,” coach Van Zyl told SuperSport Schools Plus. “Playing interschools is a big mental game because you play in front of a big crowd, and Paarl Girls’ High really played their best game this season, so we had to dig deep.

“Our biggest challenge was to manage the girls after the big hype of interschools, and to focus on what we want to achieve at Super 12.

“You don’t have an easy game at Super 12, so we have to be ready and prepared for every game.”

Van Zyl is fortunate that she hasn’t had to deal with many injuries to key players this year. The team that began the season is almost identical to the one that will do duty at the Super 12.

It’s now a case of managing the demands of the event while taking on some of the best in the country.

“I think we are a well-conditioned and fit team,” Van Zyl said, “so that always helps us at a tournament where you play two or three matches a day.

“If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best, so it’s such a privilege playing against the best schools in the country,” she added.

Paarl Gim will kick off their Super 12 campaign against Our Lady of Fatima on Thursday at 10:50.

Paarl Gim’s fixtures at Super 12

Thursday, 7 August

10:50 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Our Lady of Fatima
16:40 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Collegiate Girls’ High

Friday, 8 August

08:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Anne’s DSG
12:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Die Hoërskool Menlopark
18:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs DSG Makhanda

The HTS Witbank boys’ first-team hockey side will head off to the Noordvaal Cup Tournament, set to take place in Polokwane, brimming with confidence after winning the Mpumalanga Schools’ League a week ago.

They took on Hoërskool Nelspruit in the boys’ final, and after a tight clash had ended 1-1, they stretched clear to win 3-0 on penalties.

The league title was their second in succession.

The side, led by coaches Anel Tolmay and Kobus Dörfling, performed strongly throughout the playoffs, dismantling their oppostion and scoring goals for fun.

They downed Hoërskool Oosterland 3-0 before smashing 11 goals past Hoërskool Nelspruit’s B-team.

In the quarterfinals, they scored a comprehensive 5-1 win over Hoërskool Rob Ferreira before beating Oosterland 3-0, once again, in the semifinals.

The final, against Nelspruit, had been scheduled for 26 July, but lightning caused it to be rescheduled to Wednesday, 30 July. It was a tightly contested affair. However, after the 1-1 draw in regulation time, penalty conversions from Lehan Roux, Amogelang Ntjane, and Lwazi Nchabeleng, and some fantastic saves from goalkeeper Jeandre Schoombie, sealed the win for HTS Witbank.

“I’m beyond proud. The boys played some good hockey and defended their title well,” coach Anel Tolmay told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Most of our games in the league were not that difficult. We faced Middelburg Hoërskool, and that was a tough game. They tested us, and the game was very tight.”

To qualify for the knockout stages of the Mpumalanga league, a team must finish in the top four in their region. Witbank advanced from the Nkangala District.

Tolmay believes the side’s success will have a major impact on their school. “This is very big for our school,” she explained. “It’s something we have been working on for the past two/three years.

“We want to get the level of hockey up and promote more development and have more teams being competitive in the region.”

The HTS Witbank side, led by captain Daniel van Wyk, after taking a little time to enjoy their title-winning success, has since set its sights on the Noordvaal Cup, which will be hosted by Hoërskool Pietersburg, in Polokwane, from 7-9 August

Last year, HTS Witbank finished fourth, while Hoërskool Monument lifted the title.

Coach Tolmay understands the level of competition awaiting her side, but she backs her players to give a solid account of themselves.

“I’m hoping that we can compete and potentially come back with another trophy.

“With that said, the competition at Noordvaal is very tough. We will need to work hard, but I’m confident the boys have it in them,” she reckoned.

HTS Witbank opens their challenge with two matches on day one of the Noordvaal Cup, facing Hoërskool Zwartkop at 11:15 and Sasolburg High School at 15:45.

All matches will be played on Hoërskool Pietersburg’s AstroTurf.

“This is a special group” – Those were the words of Paarl Boys’ High captain, AJ Mostert, after leading his side to a famous 2-1 victory over Paarl Gimnasium on Saturday.

In front of a packed crowd, the teams reignited their long-standing rivalry in a highly anticipated interschools clash at Paarl Gim’s Top AstroTurf.

For the first time in six years, it was difficult to predict a winner after both teams had produced strong seasons under the tutelage of Jacques Grobler (Paarl Gim) and Rowan McLachlan (Paarl Boys’ High) respectively.

Before Saturday’s big game, though, Paarl Gim had enjoyed the better of the derby. In 2019, they won 2-1 before picking up a 2-1 win in 2023 and a 2-0 victory in 2024. The teams also shared a 2-2 draw in 2022, while the meetings in 2020 and 2021 were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Given the recent past, Paarl Gim was the favoured team, but Boishaai had other ideas, and their motivation to pull off an upset was high.

It was a serious battle between the rivals in the first half, with nothing to separate them after 30 minutes. Both had their fair share of opportunities, but the defensive units stood firm until the third chukka, when the visitors broke the deadlock.

With four minutes remaining in the quarter, Mijan Heroldt found himself in space inside the circle, and his well-directed touch landed in the back of the net for the opener.

Boishaai kept the lead until the fourth chukka, when Paarl Gim responded through their captain, Juan Swanepoel.

The clash appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw, but captain Mostert was presented with an opportunity to steal a victory when his side was awarded a penalty corner with 36 seconds left.

Instead of going for a direct drag flick, Boishaai played a variation to Mostert, on the left of the castle. He slapped the ball goalwards, and it rocketed between the legs of the Paarl Gim goalie for a dramatic last-gasp winner.

There was no time to restart, and the umpires called the game, resulting in Boishaai beating Paarl Gim for the first time since 2018.

It was an extra special outing for Mostert, who also made his 100th appearance for the team.

“This is a game I will remember for the rest of my life,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus after securing an emotional win.

“It was a tight game, but the whole team stuck to the process, and we fought hard. Scoring the winning goal in the last minute was very special.”

Mostert also explained what went through his mind at the set piece that won it.

“I just stayed calm,” he said. “It’s a PC move we trusted in most.

“Everyone was confident about it, and we knew it was going to work.”

Mostert also had a final word for his coaches and teammates: “I will forever be thankful for the whole team and the coaches who have coached me since I was in grade eight.

“This is a special team because I have never felt such unity in a team.”

Western Cape results

Paarl Boys’ High 2-1 Paarl Gimnasium
SACS 5-2 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Bishops 4-1 DF Malan
Rondebosch Boys’ High 4-1 Durbanville
Reddam House Constantia 4-2 Somerset College
Outeniqua 5-0 Worcester Gimnasium
Fairmont High 11-0 The Settlers
Parel Vallei 2-2 Wynberg Boys’ High
York High 12-1 Oakhill

When the Eunice High School first-team made their way to the Eastern Cape to take on Collegiate Girls’ High and Pearson High over the past weekend, the objective was simple: They wanted to test themselves against two of the province’s best teams while fine-tuning their systems and getting in some game time ahead of next week’s Fairtree Super 12 Tournament.

The side, under the guidance of coach Nika Coertzen, took on Collegiate on Friday afternoon before facing Pearson on Saturday.

It was a back-and-forth tussle against Collegiate, the All Girls’ Festival champions, with the teams scoring four goals and settling for a scintillating 2-2 draw, which gave a true reflection of the game.

Kerrin Gillies netted twice for the home side, while Lanique Brider and SA u18B star Georgia Kambanis found the back of the net for Eunice.

After that tough outing, the girls from Bloemfontein quickly shifted their attention to a Saturday showdown with Pearson, a side that had suffered a 0-2 loss against Oranje Meisieskool the day before. This time, Eunice made sure of the win.

Coach Coertzen’s charges were more clinical and ruthless inside the circle and used their chances well to power their way to an impressive 5-1 victory. Bianca Rees-Gibbs led the way with a brace, while Storm Harris, Claire Volschenk, and Megan Pelser also scored to complete an impressive drubbing.

“I’m very happy with the team’s performance over the weekend,” coach Coertzen told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We executed exactly what we’ve been working on over the past two weeks at training. The girls played a strong, cohesive brand of hockey, and I’m incredibly proud of their effort and commitment.”

The weekend in Gqeberha was also a special one for Iliana de Gouveia and Storm Harris, who both made their 100th appearances for the team against Collegiate.

Eunice’s attention now shifts to the Super 12 Tournament, which takes place at Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein, from 7 to 9 August.

Coach Coertzen said her side still want to improve ahead of the spectacle.

“Of course, there are still areas where we can improve,” she said, “but that’s part of the journey. We’ll keep building on this momentum, one step at a time.”

Eunice kicks off their Super 12 campaign with a clash against Hoërskool Waterkloof.

Other matches 

Eunice wasn’t the only side that travelled to Gqeberha. Their great rivals, Oranje, also took on Collegiate and Pearson.

As mentioned above, they defeated Pearson 2-0 but were held to a 1-1 draw by Collegiate in their second outing after Kerrin Gillies scored a penalty stroke in the final minute of the match for the home team.

In East London, Hudson Park picked up a 2-0 win over Stirling High, thanks to goals by Mackenzie Goss and Kara Batting.

Clarendon High School for Girls was held to a 1-1 draw by Queenstown Girls’ High in Komani.

RESULTS

Eunice 5-1 Pearson High
Collegiate Girls’ High 2-2 Eunice
Oranje 2-0 Pearson High
Collegiate Girls’ High 1-1 Oranje
Hudson Park 2-0 Stirling High
Queenstown Girls’ High 1-1 Clarendon High School for Girls

A remarkable second-half performance, coupled with some stunning goals, helped South African College High School (SACS) overcome a two-goal deficit on their way to a 5-2 win over Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) on Friday in Cape Town.

The highly anticipated Hyundai Friday Nite Lights clash delivered top-quality hockey and served as a reminder to many why SACS is regarded by most as the best schoolboy team in the country.

The rivalry between SACS and PRG has been fierce for the past five years, and fixtures between the teams somehow always live up to expectations.

It was their third meeting of the season, following their earlier battles in the semifinals of the Hibbert Shield Tournament, in Gqeberha, and in Stellenbosch, in May.

SACS was victorious in both those encounters, but they were closely contested, filled with drama, and it was no different this time around.

Surprisingly, though, the match got off to a slow start, with both teams playing cautiously in the early exchanges.

Early on, SACS was awarded a short corner, but captain Jo le Roux‘s drag flick was dealt with brilliantly by the first wave running of Tylor Carter.

PRG also earned themselves a PC with two minutes left in the chukka, but Reuben Gouw’s attempt was kept out.

In the second chukka, the game started to open up.

PRG dictated play, enjoying the majority of ball possession, and forced SACS into making uncharacteristic, sloppy mistakes.

The visitors, then, opened the scoring through the captain, Christo Swanepoel, who sent a penalty corner thunderbolt past Lorenzo Virissimo to silence the home crowd.

At the break, PRG led 1-0, but they quickly doubled their lead early in the third chukka when Charlie Boucher latched onto a ball inside the circle after a sharp baseline run from Seth Paterson.

That goal, though, woke SACS up. Finally, they came to life and began to play the game in the Paul Roos half. Soon, they pulled a goal back through Mohlodi Maseko.

The home side smelled blood, and a blistering run upfield by Litha Kraai earned his team a short corner after a body check by one of the PRG defenders.

Kraai took on the set piece responsibility himself and sent a drag flick whistling past Jeandre Cilliers for the equaliser. In no time at all, SACS had scored a third in three minutes, with Josh Goudling providing the finish, which gave the hosts the lead.

They were far from done, and with two minutes remaining in the quarter, Kraai made it a brace after converting another short corner.

Heading into the final chukka, SACS had turned the game on its head. They led 4-2.

PRG was stunned. They had barely made it out of their half in the third chukka, but they showed some fight in the final chukka.

They created two goal-scoring opportunities, but neither Reuben Gouws nor Caleb Cilliers was able to convert.

Then, with six minutes to play, SACS took the game out of PRG’s reach when their skipper, Jo le Roux, fired a drag flick into the top right corner for the contest’s final goal.

It was a statement performance by the boys in blue and white.

Aidan Hughes, Zac Redfern, and Mohlodi Maseko showed their class under immense pressure with the help of their teammates.

SACS coach Sam Holmes will be pleased with the fighting spirit shown by his team, while PRG coach Michael Baker, will take positives from the performance of his team in the first half.

SACS next faces Durban’s Northwood School on Friday, 8 August, at 15:00, before taking on Rondebosch Boys’ High a week later.

PRG will also play Northwood in a friendly fixture before their final match of the season against Grey College on 15 August in Bloemfontein.

Scorers

SACS 5: Litha Kraai (2), Josh Goulding, Mohlodi Maseko. Paul Roos 2: Christo Swanepoel, Charlie Boucher.

There were a whopping 23 goals scored in just four matches in the Eastern Cape on Friday night as Selborne College and Grey High School picked up massive wins on home turf.

Selborne thumped Queen’s College 8-0, while Grey High put up a brave performance to shock Grey College 3-1 in Gqeberha.

While there were also a 6-3 win for Dale College over Graeme College and a 2-1 win for Hudson Park over Stirling High, the fixtures to watch were the ones taking place at Selborne and Grey High.

Both matchups thoroughly entertained, with the home teams dominating and recording outstanding victories with just a couple of weeks left in the season.

Selborne entered their clash against Queen’s off the back of a shaky 2-1 win over Hudson Park a week ago. In that meeting, coach KJ Friend‘s side was forced to come from a goal down but strikes by Saneze Kweba and Inathi Gxobole in the fourth quarter saw them pick up the win.

On Friday night, they went up against a Queen’s side that had outplayed Merrifield College, scoring a 7-0 win, so both outfits were in red-hot form.

It was the home side, however, that started like a house on fire, scoring two goals in the first chukka through Thomas Caswell and Sonwabise Adonis.

Reid Drake joined the scoring spree early in the second chukka when he converted from a short corner before Adonis made it 4-0 heading into the break.

The boys in black and white had a quiet third chukka, but Caswell latched onto a loose ball inside the circle to make it 5-0 after three quarters.

Three more goals were scored in the final chukka.

Firstly, Adonis completed his hat-trick before Reece Wait fired in a scorcher to make it seven. Captain, Gray van Heerden completed the drubbing with a last-minute drag flick, sealing his side’s biggest win of the season.

“The last time we played Queen’s at home, it ended as a draw, so the only thing on our minds was getting the win,” Van Heerden told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.

“We pulled through and played Selborne hockey. We played as a team and moved the ball around well. It was a team effort, and everybody played their part.”

Seborne will be aiming to continue their fine form next weekend when they visit Dale College in Qonce. Van Heerden believes his boys will step up to the task.

“It’s Dale away next week, and we are excited to get out there,” he said. “Having two of our longest rivals, Queen’s and Dale, straight after each other is special and means more to the matrics.

“We get to do it one last time against them. Yes, it’s away, but I’m sure our boys will make it feel like home when we get there.”

While Selborne ran riot in East London, Grey High sent Grey College packing at the Rectory AstroTurf.

After conceding first, late in the first chukka, the Azzurri responded before halftime through Liam Poole, who linked up well with Keegan le Roux.

It was a tussle from then on, with very little to separate the sides, and it took a moment of magic from captain Luke Tait in the final quarter to edge Grey High in front.

Showing great awareness in the circle, he pounced on a loose ball before directing it past Sayur Pillay in the Grey College goal for his side’s second.

The hosts held on and made sure of victory when they scored off the last play of the game, a penalty corner, which was converted by James Chree.

“I’m massively pleased with the win. Grey College is always a tough opponent. They bring intensity and never seem to stop running,” Grey High captain, Luke Tait, said after the game.

“I think we showed real composure as a team. We backed each other, and we stayed switched on for the full 60 minutes. So, yes, it’s a special win and one we’ll remember.”

Tait is one of the senior players in the Grey High squad and made his 100th appearance for the team against St Andrew’s College in June. He was also part of the team that went down 0-1 against Grey College in Bloemfontein last year.

“Last year hurt,” he admitted.

“I think the difference this time around was our mindset. It was the matrics’ last home derby, so we made sure to end our journey at Grey the right way with the help of every player.

“Having our school behind us like we had gave us an extra gear, and it felt like we were playing with an extra man at times.”

Tait and his troops will have a bye next weekend before they take on Selborne College in their final match of the season on 15 August in East London.

Grey College heads back to Bloemfontein to prepare for their last outing of the season against Paul Roos Gimnasium in two weeks’ time.

Other matches

In Qonce, goals from Sibongile Nzima, Caleb Ellis, Naledi Mosebi, Inga Mafanga, Solomon Qaku, and Soso Dyani propelled Dale to a 6-3 win over Graeme College.

Somila Mkokeli and Nathan Kearney were on target for coach Sipe Matafeni‘s Hudson Park, who got back to winning ways with a solid 2-1 win over Stirling High for whom AJ Durrheim scored.

EASTERN CAPE BOYS’ RESULTS

Selborne College 8-0 Queen’s College
Dale College 6-3 Graeme College
Grey High 3-1 Grey College
Hudson Park High 2-1 Stirling High

The Brewery AstroTurf will be packed to the rafters, filled with spectators, learners, and parents, when South African College High School (SACS) hosts Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in a Hyundai Friday Nite Lights fixture.

The highly anticipated derby, arguably the best in the country, takes place at Newlands at 19:00 and will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools App, with a replay available on DStv Channel 216.

Meetings between the sides in the past five seasons have delivered top-quality hockey, and this time around will be no different.

SACS and Paul Roos have faced each other twice already this season. Their first meeting was at the Hibbert Shield Tournament, hosted by Grey High School, in Gqeberha, in May. There, the giants met in the semifinals and played to a 3-3 draw before SACS won the penalty shootout 5-4.

Their second meeting, in Stellenbosch at the end of May, ended in a 3-1 win for SACS, courtesy of a Reece Theunis brace and a strike by Daniel Graser.

Both teams have produced strong seasons, dominating in the Western Cape, regularly rattling the back of the oppositions’ nets while thoroughly entertaining spectators with their attractive and creative play.

Casting an eye over their three outings, SACS overwhelmed Paarl Boys’ High 7-1 and Wynberg Boys’ High 5-1. They were, though, held to a 2-2 draw by Paarl Gimnasium, but that’s the only match they haven’t won in 2025.

As for PRG, they drew 3-3 with Rondebosch Boys’ High last week, but before that, they defeated Wynberg 4-1 and Stellenberg High 5-0.

PRG has suffered only one defeat in regulation time all season long and that was their loss in Stellenbosch to SACS.

Past form won’t count for much, though, and it won’t be difficult for the coaches, Sam Holmes (SACS) and Michael Baker (PRG), to get the best out of their boys. It’s the game by which they measure themselves.

The captains, Jo le Roux and Christo Swanepoel, will both be vital performers in their teams’ quests to win the big one. SuperSport Schools Hockey caught up with both skippers ahead of the clash.

Jo le Roux – SACS

“The group is in a very good space, and we are super excited and eager for the game ahead,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say the concern is getting too carried away because of the calibre of the PRG side. It’s more about sticking to our process and not letting the occasion of the crowd and fixture distance us from the task at hand.

“We just need to play our brand of hockey. If we get stuck in the 1 v 1 battles, then it could be anyone’s game.

“And just the mentality that we need to outrun them physically, because tactically and technically we are sound. So, it’s just that mental approach going into the match.”

Christo Swanepoel – Paul Roos

“I would say the boys are excited. We’ve had a proper week of intense training, probably one of our best yet, and the energy within the team is super high.

“We know we’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. They have beaten us twice, and now they are at home.

“This will probably go down as one of their best teams. They have some special players. So, it’s a massive opportunity for us, a chance to create some history, and make everyone at home proud.

“I don’t think there has ever been a bad PRG vs SACS game, so as a hockey person, it’s one of my favourite games.”

Last five meetings between SACS and Paul Roos

2025: SACS 3-1 Paul Roos
2025: SACS (5) 3-3 (4) Paul Roos

2024: Paul Roos 2-2 SACS
2024: SACS 6-2 Paul Roos
2024: Paul Roos (6) 3-3 (5) SACS