Author: asawula

When the Western Province (WP) u18A side of 2019 won the SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament, they did it on the famous Pape’s AstroTurf at Maritzburg College.

The Province boys dominated Pool B, finishing atop the standings, before edging out KZN Coastal A 3-2 in the semifinals to set up a title decider against KZN Inland A.

In a close and heated contest, they defeated Inland A 3-2. That triumph was the start of something special for the men in blue and white.

Since winning in 2019, Province has successfully defended the title three times. 

They will enter this year’s tournament, set to once again be hosted on Pape’s Astro at Maritzburg College, in search of the inter-provincial crown for a fifth straight time. When their run of unbroken success began six years earlier, none of the 2025 team’s players was yet in high school.

It may sound like a fairytale, but the Western Province boys will feel, given the venue for the tournament, as if the stars are aligning for them as they seek to extend their dominance of South African schoolboy hockey.

The tournament runs from 30 June to 5 July, and the WP selectors have named a star-studded outfit to be coached by the experienced Jody Erasmus.

Erasmus, who has been part of the winning train at South African College High School (SACS), takes over the coaching reins from Bryce West, who will serve as an assistant to both the WP u18A and u18B sides, and as the technical director.

West offers a wealth of experience after leading Province to glory in last year’s tournament in Bloemfontein, which they won after defeating Boland A 3-2 in the final.

Six players who were part of that winning effort return to the squad. Four of them are from SACS: captain Jo le Roux, Reece Theunis, Aiden Hughes, and the dangerous Litha Kraai. Joe Gitlin, from Reddam House Constantia, and Wynberg Boys’ High captain, Zach Gibbon, have also cracked the nod again.

Those returning players have, not surprisingly, been making their mark this season.

The four SACS boys have been ripping it up. Le Roux and Hughes have matured well over the year, while Kraai and Theunis have taken their games to the next level.

Gitlin has been Reddam’s standout performer in a very good season for the school, while Gibbon remains a difficult problem to solve for any opposition. 

Other SACS representatives include Matthew Lassen and Zach Redfern, who both played for the WP u18B side last year. Mohlodi Maseko, who represented the u16A team in 2024, has been promoted straight to the senior side.

Rondebosch Boys’ High is represented by Daniel Fisher, Joshua Beattie, and Thomas Gordon.

Aiden Topper, from El Shaddai Christian School, who ran out for the Province u18B team in 2024, makes the step up to the u18A side. 

WP has been drawn in the pool of death, Pool A. They’ll be up against Southern Gauteng A, KZN Inland A, KZN Coastal B, Eastern Province A, and newly promoted Boland B.

Western Province u18A Team

Aiden Hughes (SACS), Aiden Topper (El Shaddai Christian School), Daniel Fisher (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Ethan Daniels (Wynberg Boys’ High), Ethan October (SACS), Jo le Roux (SACS), Joe Gitlin (Reddam House Constantia), Joshua Beattie (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Litha Kraai (SACS), Luc Dicey (Bishops), Matthew Lassen (SACS), Mohlodi Maseko (SACS), Reece Theunis (SACS), Thomas Gordon (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Zach Gibbon (Wynberg Boys’ High), Zach Redfern (SACS).

Head Coach – Jody Erasmus
Assistant Coach and Technical Director – Bryce West
Manager – Anton Augustyn

POOL FIXTURES 

Monday, 30 June

10:20 – Western Province A vs Boland B

Tuesday, 1 July

13:10 – Western Province A vs Eastern Province A

Wednesday, 2 July

08:55 – Western Province A vs Southern Gauteng A
17:25 – Western Province A vs KZN Coastal B

Thursday, 3 July

14:35 – Western Province A vs KZN Inland A

Herschel Girls School and Paarl Gimnasium lock horns on Friday night in a highly anticipated derby in the Western Cape.

The clash, which will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools App, kicks off at 19:00 at Herschel’s main AstroTurf, in Cape Town.

The sides will meet for the second time this season, having tackled each other in the final of the Belgotex Sport Girls Challenge in Paarl last month.

That meeting was closely contested. There was nothing to separate the teams after four chukkas, with the match a goalless draw at the end of regulation time. It, then, went to penalties, and the home side kept their nerve to secure a 3-2 win.

A lot has happened since that triumph, with Gim maintaining their unbeaten run in the province while Herschel has endured a bumpier ride.

Since winning the silverware, coach Danelle van Zyl‘s side has beaten HMS Bloemhof 2-1, Parel Vallei 3-1, and Hoërskool Durbanville 3-0.

While the margins of victory in those matches may seem close, Gim has dominated, playing their style of hockey as they continue to fine-tune their approach.

They’ll come up against a Herschel side that’s taken many by surprise this season. The girls from Claremont have produced some outstanding hockey, but their last four outings have produced mix results.

Since the Girls Challenge, they have played Rhenish Girls’ High, Springfield Convent School, Stellenberg High, and Fairmont High.

They won 2-0 against Springfield in the Herschfield Derby, drew 1-1 with Rhenish and Fairmont, but went down 2-3 against Stellenberg.

Bouncing back in front of their home supporters will be Herschel’s agenda, and they’ll view an opportunity to take down the team that beat them in the final of the Girls Challenge as an enticing opportunity. After that, they’ll have a week off before facing DF Malan in their last fixture of the term on 20 June.

Also on Friday, St Cyprian’s School hosts Rustenburg Girls’ High. Last time out, St Cyprian’s drew 2-2 with Durbanville. Rustenburg, meanwhile, suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to Reddam House Constantia.

On Saturday, Springfield visits Fairmont High for a 10:00 clash.

WESTERN CAPE GIRLS’ FIXTURES

Friday, 6 June

18:35 – Rustenburg Girls’ vs St Cyprian’s School
19:00 – Herschel Girls School vs Paarl Gimnasium

Saturday, 7 June

10:00 – Fairmont High vs Springfield Convent School

The mid-year exams are rapidly coming into view, but there is no shortage of hockey action on the first weekend of June.

While some schools have taken a step back, it will be business as usual in the Western Cape with mouthwatering fixtures lined up for the weekend.

All of the top teams will be in action on Friday night, and the matches will be broadcast LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.

One of the most intriguing games is a showdown between Paarl Boys’ High and Parel Vallei High School (PV), in Paarl.

They have, arguably, the most improved hockey programmes in the province, and both have played entertaining and winning hockey this season.

In their last outing, Paarl Boys’ High defeated Stellenberg High 3-1, while Parel Vallei claimed a hard-fought 3-2 win over Paarl Gimnasium in Somerset West.

It was an outstanding performance from coach Michael van Rensburg‘s side, who frustrated Gim and pounced on their opportunities in front of goal.

After that clash, PV captain JP van der Walt said: “We knew the game would be in the balance. We prepared well for Paarl Gim, and we focused on implementing what our coach wanted us to focus on, and we came out on top.”

Commenting on the strength of the school’s hockey programme, the skipper explained: “At Parel Vallei, we focus on building the person first, then the player.

“This is a major part of our hockey programme. We know we can trust each other and will always keep fighting for one another. We trust our coach and know if we follow the plan, we will succeed.”

There’s no doubt PV will head into the clash with their tails up, but it won’t be easy against a Paarl Boys’ High side that has found its feet this season.

While that clash in Paarl will be in the spotlight, Cape Town will host two massive games.

Bishops Diocesan College faces Paarl Gimnasium in the Mother City, while Wynberg makes the short trip to face Rondebosch Boys’ High in a southern suburbs’ derby.

Bishops and Gim both registered wins last weekend when coach Ryan Julius’s troops beat Reddam House Constantia 5-4 while Gim thumped HTS Drostdy 5-0.

It has been a season of mixed fortunes for Bishops, but facing Paarl Gim on their iconic Woodlands AstroTurf is a fantastic opportunity to grab a signature win.

Wynberg, meanwhile, will be seeking a bounce-back performance after being held to a 3-3 draw by Stellenberg a week ago.

Coach Ben Wiley’s boys would’ve been disappointed with that result. They led 3-1 before allowing Stellies to come back and snatch a share of the spoils.

They face a dangerous Rondebosch side that defeated DF Malan 2-1 last week.

Paul Roos Gimnasium, meanwhile, welcomes Stellenberg to the Maties AstroTurf, in Stellenbosch.

South African College High School (SACS) hosts Reddam Constantia at the Brewery AstroTurf, and DF Malan takes on Durbanville.

WESTERN CAPE BOYS’ FIXTURES

Friday, 6 June

19:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Stellenberg High
19:00 – Bishops vs Paarl Gimnasium
19:10 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’ High
19:15 – SACS vs Reddam House Constantia
19:15 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Parel Vallei
19:45 – DF Malan vs Durbanville

Faith, hard work, and discipline have been at the forefront of Luke Tait’s hockey career at Grey High School.

Tait is the first-team hockey captain at the Gqeberha school and embodies great leadership on and off the turf. He carries himself well and and gives his all between the four lines.

He’s led his side through mostly ups and some downs this season, but, on the final weekend of May, he celebrated a personal milestone when he played his 100th match for the 1st XI against St Andrew’s College.

Tait was the first player to achieve the feat in almost 22 years. Before him, Mpumelelo Slwana reached triple figures in 2003.

It was a momentous occasion for the captain, his teammates, and his family when he received a warm guard of honour at the Rectory AstroTurf before leading his team to a hard-fought 1-0 win against their Makhanda rivals.

Reflecting on the milestone, he told SuperSport Schools Plus:”“It’s an honour and privilege to have represented the first team at Grey for four years.

“Every Grey boy wants to represent their school at a first-team level, and since I’ve done it for a long time, I feel grateful and blessed.”

Tait, who attended Grey Junior in his primary school days, made his first team debut in grade nine against Queen’s College on his school’s Reunion Day. He recalled the moment he heard the news: “When I was told I was benching for the first team against Queen’s, I was nervous, to be honest with you.

“I used to watch the senior players play at a high tempo, and I didn’t think I deserved to be there. Nevertheless, I stuck in and learnt a lot from all the senior guys. I came off the bench, played as well as I could, and I haven’t stopped since then.”

During his tenure representing the Azzurri, Tait has been exposed to several leadership styles that have influenced his style of captaincy.

He’s played under three captains, namely Casey Keevy, Matthew Kingston, and the 2024 skipper, Kian Cambier.

“Each one of them was different and had their style of captaincy, and I’ve tried to implement those with my style, of course.

“Casey Keevy led with his performance on the pitch. His inspirational team talks were great, and he always lifted everyone and made us feel we were more important than him.

“Matthew Kingston was different. He was the type of captain you’re afraid of. He gave everything on the field, his blood and sweat, and you wanted to follow him just because of how much he cared about the team.

“And then, Kian Cambier was an exceptional player. He was almost like a full player, on and off the pitch. I could ask him anything, and he would advise me. He was inspirational.”

While the leaders who guided him were influential, Tait was also heavily influenced by his first team coaches, Mazan Dos Santos (former) and Andrew Beynon (current).

His family has also been there through thick and thin, with his father providing much-needed guidance on and off the turf.

“My dad always tries to find solutions to problems I face, and how to resolve key issues, whether it be my playing style, the way I speak to players, or my body language.

“I try to take it all in and use his advice. But my whole family, as well, has been very supportive and wants me to succeed, whether it be on the AstroTurf or in my academics.”

As previously mentioned, Tait speaks openly about his faith and how it has positively impacted his life. He said it’s something he passes on to his teammates.

“I’ve tried to instil faith in Grey’s hockey. It had been fading for the last few years.

“I started by praying for the team and speaking more openly about my faith and love of the Lord because it always transitions back to my hockey.

“I couldn’t have done it without my matric group, who are devoted to the Lord. I think, for us, we understand that we only play the game because the Lord has given us this talent, and he wants us to succeed. We’ll continue spreading the gospel.”

The skipper and 10 of his teammates will represent the Eastern Province u18A side at the SASHOC National Week, set to be hosted at Maritzburg College.

The tournament runs from 29 June to 5 July.

Schoolgirls’ hockey within the Border region has been dominated by Clarendon High School for Girls, Hudson Park High, and Stirling High over the past five years.

That has changed in 2025 with the emergence of the so-called “smaller” schools, which are now making their presence felt.

Over the past week, Lilyfontein School achieved a notable 2-1 victory over Cambridge High, their first-ever against that opponent.

Then, Queenstown Girls’ High made their share of history when they defeated Hudson Park 2-1 on Saturday, courtesy of goals by Joylyn Maytham and Keeziah Essop.

It was a massive victory for the girls from Komani, who have had a topsy-turvy season and have been on the receiving end of some tough losses.

Their last two outings before facing Hudson resulted in defeats to Union High (1-4) and DSG Makhanda (2-5), away from home.

They did, however, get one over their biggest rivals, Kingsridge High School for Girls (KHS), winning 4-2 in May, but the win against Hudson was the cherry on the top.

“Getting the win over Hudson was special, no doubt about that,” said Queenstown Girls’ High captain, Stella Emmanuel.

“It’s our first time beating them after some years, and we all feel very relieved that our hard work has paid off.”

After struggling for a number of years, the school acquired the services of coach Siya Lusiba, who is also Director of Hockey at Queen’s College. He’s come in and made some changes, and Emmanuel said, they’ve learnt a lot from him.

“Our season has had its ups and downs, but we just kept pushing. Our new coach is wonderful. We are very grateful for him. We have learnt a lot of new things from him and are adapting very well.”

Emmanuel and her side will next shift their attention to a clash against Aliwal North High this week and then focus on their mid-year exams before returning to action next term.

“Our goal is to keep the momentum we have going and possibly secure more wins. We want to make those who watch and support us extremely proud,” Emmanuel said.

A near-perfect performance, featuring moments of brilliance and silky skills, secured a 4-1 victory for DSG Makhanda over Collegiate Girls’ High School, in Gqeberha, on Saturday.

The clash between the teams, two of the best in the country in 2025, had been heavily hyped up. It was, undeniably, the match of the weekend in the Eastern Cape.

Both teams carried unbeaten records in the province into the match, with DSG racking up crucial wins throughout May, while Collegiate had carried on from where they left off after winning the All Girls’ Festival in Cape Town.

The week prior, Collegiate had defeated Kingswood College 4-0 while DSG thumped Clarendon High School for Girls 7-0, so both sides were in a confident frame of mind ahead of the showdown.

Collegiate started like a house on fire and reaped early dividends, scoring only four minutes in through the dangerous Kerrin Gillies.

After receiving a pass just outside her half from Taryn Peltenburg, she made a penetrating run into the circle. Unchallenged, she smashed a shot into the back of the goalbox for the contest’s opener.

DSG responded seconds before the end of the first chukka after a pinpoint long ball sliced through the middle of the Collegiate defence and found Emily Walker on the left-hand post, where she deflected it into the back of the net.

The visitors, playing with vigour, upped their intensity in the second chukka and were rewarded almost instantly.

Ava van der Walt got her name on the scoresheet before a moment of individual brilliance by Lucy Holderness made it 3-1 to the visitors at the break.

Collegiate created ample chances to get back into the game, including winning a number of penalty corners, but it was just not working out for them.

With 50 seconds left in the third chukka, Abigail Holderness made sure of the win with a pinpoint accurate PC drag flick that flew past Salome Oosthuizen, in goal, for DSG’s fourth.

The home team kept fighting and attempted a comeback in the final chukka, but DSG’s defence remained rock-solid, and the girls from Makhanda recorded an impressive win.

“We started a bit slow. They scored first, but I think we stuck to our game plan,” coach Geowynne Gamiet told SuperSport Schools Plus after the game.

“We showed more energy, played well in the right areas, and took our chances.”

The DSG hockey programme has been on an upward trajectory for the past couple of years since Gamiet joined the school as the Director of Hockey. While the results haven’t always gone their way, it’s been a work in progress, and the coach said he’s pleased to see the school reap the rewards for its commitment to the sport.

“It’s taken a while for us to get to where we are,” he admitted. “All programmes don’t just click in one go. It takes quite a while. I do think our hockey is where we want it to be now, and we can compete with some of the best teams in the country.

“I think we are playing well, and my girls are always humble. They don’t celebrate too much when they score goals. They get back and get on with it.

“We have some games remaining, but July will be a test for us because we have an empty schedule. We will try and see if we can’t get any friendly matches to fit in there before Top 12.”

In the coming week, DSG takes on Cambridge High before preparing for one of their biggest games of the season, K-Day, against Kingswood, on Saturday, 14 June.

Other matches

Woodridge College played to a 2-2 draw with Outeniqua, in Thornhill, while Pearson High proved too strong for Framesby, thumping their Gqeberha rivals 6-0.

Stirling High made light work of Cambridge, outscoring them 4-0, courtesy of braces from Mathibeni Mqeni and Kishka Baartman.

Queenstown Girls’ High pulled off a massive 2-1 win over Hudson Park.

EASTERN CAPE GIRLS’ RESULTS

DSG Makhanda 4-1 Collegiate Girls’ High
Woodridge College 2-2 Outeniqua
Pearson High 6-0 Framesby
Stirling High School 4-0 Cambridge High
Queenstown Girls’ High 2-1 Hudson Park High

The final weekend of May produced exciting and thrilling hockey in the Western Cape as teams vied to end the month on a high.

The season has delivered some scintillating hockey, but, with the mid-year exams approaching, it was an opportunity for some of the province’s best to make another tick in the win column.

The action started on Friday night with four clashes, three of them in Cape Town, while the other was played in Stellenbosch.

Reddam House Constantia, under coach Chris Hibbert, took on Rustenburg Girls’ High and claimed a tight 3-2 victory on their home turf.

It was a much-needed win for Hibbert’s side, who had shared a pulsating 3-3 draw with Springfield Convent School a week ago.

Leading the way for Reddam was Emma Hibbert, who has been a regular goal-scorer this season. She netted a brace before Jess Bester sealed the win.

That was the only victory recorded on Friday night, as Paarl Girls’ High held HMS Bloemhof to a 0-0 draw, Fairmont High School and Herschel Girls School settled for a 1-1 draw, and Durbanville and St Cyprian’s School shared the spoils, with a heated affair ending 2-2.

On Saturday, three matches were in the spotlight.

Rhenish Girls’ High made the trip from Stellenbosch to Somerset to face Parel Vallei High in a derby.

Coach Chris Gerber’s side was coming off an impressive 8-0 win over Paarl Girls’ High but managed just one goal this time around, scored by their captain Leah du Plessis, but that proved to be enough.

The big winners on the day, however, were Springfield Convent School and Stellenberg High School.

Coach Ziyaad Ismail‘s Springfield side scored a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Wynberg Girls’ High, with Annick Grobbelaar, Jenna Kalis, and Bella Amm finding the back of the net.

Stellenberg continued their fine form, following up last week’s 3-2 triumph over Herschel with a 3-1 defeat of DF Malan

On the scoresheet for the winners were Juane Meiring, Stella Zwiegers, and Ilke van der Merwe.

WESTERN CAPE GIRLS’ RESULTS

Paarl Girls’ High 0-0 HMS Bloemhof
Reddam House Constanta 3-2 Rustenburg Girls’ High
Fairmont High 1-1 Herschel Girls School
Durbanville 2-2 St Cyprian’s
Springfield Convent School 3-1 Wynberg Girls’ High
Rhenish 1-0 Parel Vallei
Stellenberg High 3-1 DF Malan

After a tough and challenging start to the season, Selborne College has finally found its mojo and is playing good hockey of late.

On Friday, the boys from East London journeyed up to Bloemfontein to face Grey College in one of the country’s oldest derbie. They came away with a 2-2 draw.

Selborne was brimming with confidence heading into the clash after recording an impressive 5-1 win over Dale College and a 1-0 victory against St Andrew’s College in consecutive weeks.

Grey College side was also confident. They had handed Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) a 4-1 loss in their last outing on home soil.

It was a tightly contested affair. After a goalless first chukka, the visitors opened the scoring through their talisman, Reid Drake.

Drake, who has been a star for the men in black and white this year, continued his searing form from penalty corners and struck with a bottom-left drag flick to put his side ahead.

Coach Dallan Phillips’ Grey team needed to respond quickly, and they found a reply just before halftime. Neilyandro Van Schalkwyk made a penetrating run along the baseline before finding Waldo Konig, who tapped in to equalise.

The home side came out firing after halftime, and Konig struck again, this time with a powerful tomahawk goal to put his side ahead for the first time.

Selborne replied through their captain Gray van Heerden to make it 2-2. Both teams had opportunities to snatch victory, but it remained deadlocked until the final whistle.

“Coming to Bloemfontein is never easy for any schoolboy team,” Van Heerden told SuperSport Schools Plus when reflecting on the game afterwards.

“It was very loud. It’s a hostile environment. The Grey boys are passionate, but it helped that we had some of our boys here as well.”

Van Heerden, who took on the responsibility of captaincy this season, said he was pleased with how his team has come alive in recent weeks after a slow start.

“It has been a great month for us after coming off some difficult tours,” he said.

“I think the presence of our schoolmates supports us, and them being there pumps us up and brings our game to the next level.

“We have more to play for, not just for ourselves but for the badge. We are keen for the next game against Cambridge High in two weeks.”

While Selborne produced a gutsy performance away from home, Grey High School snatched a tightly contested 1-0 victory over St Andrew’s College, in Gqebehra.

Coach Andrew Beynon‘s boys claimed the win courtesy of an Athi Voigt strike that came late in the game.

Stirling High School beat Cambridge High 3-1, with Josh Williams grabbing a brace before Matthew Wiseman sealed the win.

Queen’s College also made a tick in the win column after beating Hudson Park High 4-1. Liso Mtalaliso scored twice and further goals from Liyema Auwa and Tofiro Kagoro completed the drubbing.

In Thornhill, Woodridge College and Outeniqua played to a 1-1 draw.

EASTERN CAPE BOYS’ RESULTS

Woodridge College 1-1 Outeniqua
Queen’s College 4-1 Hudson Park
Stirling High 3-1 Cambridge High School
Grey High School 1-0 St Andrew’s College
Grey College 2-2 Selborne College
Pearson High School 5-0 Framesby

“There’s no sweeter feeling than beating Paul Roos in Stellenbosch.”

Those were the words uttered by South African College High School (SACS) forward Reece Theunis after he helped his side record a 3-1 victory over Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) on Friday night.

Theunis scored a brace, while Daniel Graser netted a jaw-dropping goal that sealed the win for SACS and ensured they maintained their unbeaten run in 2025.

The highly anticipated clash headlined the week’s Hyundai Friday Nite Lights action and was also broadcast on the SuperSport Schools App, SABC Plus, and DSTV Channel 216.

The Maties AstroTurf was filled to the rafters as spectators from Cape Town, Somerset, Paarl and other parts of the province flocked in to witness a battle between two of South Africa’s top sides, maybe even number one and two.

The teams had already met once this season. That match was in the Hibbert Shield semifinal in Gqeberha, where SACS recorded a nervy 6-5 win on penalties after the match ended 3-3.

In the context of Friday’s game, that result meant very little, and it showed early on when the hosts opened the scoring with six minutes played through Reuben Gouws.

After absorbing some early pressure, PRG found themselves inside SACS’s circle, and a sloppy clearance by captain Jo le Roux landed comfortably for Gouws, who fired past Lorenzo Virisimo for the game’s opener.

Conceding early brought SACS to life, and they bossed proceedings for the remainder of the chukka in search of a response.

Aiden Hughes had a golden opportunity to pull one back for his side, but Jeandre Cilliers, in the PRG goalbox, acrobatically kept out his shot.

The visitors kept taking it to Paul Roos and their persistent pressure paid off early in the second quarter when Theunis scored his first.

Litha Kraai played a free hit just outside the D to Hughes, who found the striker inside the circle where Theunis created space for himself. He quickly turned and fired off a powerful shot past Cilliers for the equaliser.

The game opened up after that, and both sides had their fair share of chances. PRG was rewarded with two short corners, but Virisimo, in goal, stood firm for SACS in what was panning out to be the game of his life.

With five minutes remaining in the second chukka, coach Sam Holmes‘s team took the game by the scruff of its neck.

Litha Kraai made a blistering, powerful, and unstoppable run from his half, beating four defenders in the process and entered PRG’s circle. He, then, found Graser unmarked on the far right and Graser applied the finishing touch for the game’s second goal.

PRG appeared unphased by conceding that goal and they had another golden opportunity through a short corner to draw level, but Virisimo wasn’t having it and made another save.

While the action intensified, both sides remained disciplined, with Kraai (green) and Cameron Groves (yellow) the only players who were carded all game long.

SACS sealed the win in the third chukka when Theunis completed his brace after an unbelievable assist by Josh Goulding.

There were no further goals in the final chukka, but coach Michael Baker‘s Stellenbosch boys kept piling on the pressure. Virismo, though, was up to everything Paul Roos threw at him, executing out-of-this-world stops. Cilliers, too, was also called into action late in the game. but the score stayed 3-1 in favour of SACS.

Reacting after the match, Theunis said SACS was keenly aware of the threats posed by PRG but had to stick to their game plan after conceding first.

“It was a bit of a slow start for us after we went a goal down,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We knew Paul Roos was going to come hard at us and come with everything. We picked it up as a team and just stuck to our processes and trusted that what we did as preparation would work.

“We had to dig deep a little bit at the end when defending our D. I’m proud of all the boys because we have team goals, and that has been crucial in our culture as we aim to play for each other always.”

While SACS is a star-laden team, some of their unsung heroes, like Zach Redfern, Aiden Hughes and skipper Jo le Roux, are coming to life this season.

Theunis, while he may be well-known, was once under the radar but has taken the schoolboy hockey scene by storm this season and is up there among the best forwards in the game.

“I came into this season with clear goals and high standards for myself, which has been pushing me to perform as best as I can every game,” he shared.

“The coaching staff has been so crucial in my performance this year. Coach Sam Holmes, Jody Erasmus, and my manager Looch Adriaanse give me the freedom to play my game and trust me to do my job as a forward.

“I’ve matured a lot mentally and worked on staying composed in key moments, trying to stay as calm as possible and trust my instincts,” he ended.

SACS will next shift its attention to the last three games of the term against Reddam House Constantia, Paarl Gimnasium, and Wynberg Boys’ High.

PRG, meanwhile, will close the first half of the season with fixtures against Stellenberg High and Wynberg.

SCORERS

SACS (2) 3: Reece Theunis (2), Daniel Graser. Paul Roos (1) 1: Reuben Gouws.

WESTERN CAPE BOYS’ RESULTS

SACS 3-1 Paul Roos
Stellenberg High 3-3 Wynberg Boys’ High
Bishops 5-4 Reddam House Constantia
Rondebosch Boys’ High 2-1 DF Malan
Paarl Gimnasium 5-0 HTS Drostdy
Outeniqua 1-1 Woodridge College

The debate over which girls’ team is the best in the Eastern Cape will come to an end this weekend when Collegiate Girls’ High takes on DSG Makhanda, in Gqeberha, on Saturday morning.

The highly anticipated derby between the rivals is scheduled for 09:55 and will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools App.

There is everything to play for with both teams currently unbeaten in the Eastern Cape after enjoying a fantastic couple of months on the turf.

DSG will make the short trip from Makhanda buoyed after powering to an impressive 7-0 victory over Clarendon High School for Girls last weekend.

In that clash, captain Abigail Holderness, who recently made her 100th appearance for the school, scored a hat-trick. She was joined on the scoresheet by her sister, Lucy, Anna Olivier, Jocelyn Appel and Ava van der Walt.

Before the Clarendon thumping, DSG outplayed Hudson Park 7-1, Queenstown Girls’ High 5-2, and Pearson High 2-1.

Like their rivals, Collegiate is on a healthy winning streak. Last week, they faced arguably their toughest challenge against Pearson High in a massive Gqeberha derby away from home and they aced the test.

Their Friday night clash had it all, and it was Collegiate who came out on top, winning 4-0 courtesy of a Kerrin Gillies hat-trick and a Jana Prinsloo strike.

They also put together an impeccable run before beating Pearson, cruising to a 4-0 win over Kingswood College and a 9-0 shellacking of Union High.

Both sides are playing confident hockey, and they’ll fancy their chances to get the job done in a high-stakes encounter.

It will come down to fine margins. Opportunities will need to be taken, and accuracy will be paramount in the circle.

Defensively, the sides will be wary of conceding penalty corners. Both have scored plenty of goals from the set piece.

In big games, it is always important that key players impose themselves.

For Collegiate, Anna Porter, Kate Brennan, and Jenna Coetzee will lead their team’s challenge at the back.

Jade Grobler and Jana Prinsloo will aim to boss the midfield, while Kerrin Gillies, who is having a season to savour, will surely cause problems for the visitors, especially at PC time.

DSG, on the other hand, will undoubtedly look to their skipper, Abigail Holderness, to produce the goods alongside her sister, Lucy.

Anna Olivier has been in superb form all season long and is one of the unsung heroes in the team. Others, including Jocelyn Appel and Ava van der Walt, will also have key contributions to make.

Other matches

On Saturday morning, at 11:00, Woodridge College welcomes Outeniqua to Thornhill for a derby.

There will also be a massive interschools clash between Framesby and Pearson High. In East London, Stirling High hosts Cambridge High, while Hudson Park takes on Queenstown Girls’ High.

EASTERN CAPE GIRLS’ FIXTURES

Saturday, 31 May

09:55 – Collegiate Girls’ High vs DSG Makhanda
11:00 – Woodridge College vs Outeniqua
11:15 – Framesby vs Pearson High
11:30 – Stirling High School vs Cambridge High
12:00 – Hudson Park High vs Queenstown Girls’ High