Author: asawula

Four goals by Reece Theunis highlighted a comprehensive 6-3 victory by South African College High School (SACS) over Paarl Gimnasium in the final of the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha, on Saturday evening.

In an all-Western Cape final, SACS controlled most of the clash and kept Paarl Gim at arms’ length on their way to lifting the title.

The build-up to the title game featured exhilarating u14 and u16 finals. Paul Roos Gimnasium beat SACS 5-4 in a shootout for the u14 crown, after the teams had shared a 1-1 draw, while the Stellenbosch school emphatically overran Grey High School 4-0  to claim u16 gold and the Hibbert Cup.

After those two curtain-raisers, it was time for a highly anticipated 1st XI final, and the stands at Grey High School’s Rectory AstroTurf were filled to the rafters.

SACS and Paarl Gim had produced similarly dominant runs to the title decider. Gim went unbeaten in Pool C after thumping Grey High School and Westville Boys’ High before playing to a 1-1 draw with St Stithians College.

In the quarterfinals, they edged out Clifton College 3-2 before outplaying Hoërskool Garsfontein 4-2 in the semis.

SACS, meanwhile, was untouchable in Pool A. They dominated St Alban’s College and Pearson High, and produced a thrilling performance in a high-scoring match against Grey College.

In the last eight, they rolled to a 6-2 win over Durban High School (DHS). However, in the semi-finals, they were made to sweat for a 5-4 victory on penalties against Paul Roos Gimnasium after a high-quality match ended tied 3-3.

Past results counted for nothing with the title on the line, though. Just four chukkas, and possibly a shootout, stood between the finalists and the prestigious shield.

SACS made an excellent start. Within a sizzling opening minute, Reece Theunis had logged his first goal after some silky skill by Mohlodi Maseko set him up and Theunis did the rest.

That goal fired SACS up. Their midfield bossed Paarl Gim and they find each other with relative ease.

Four minutes after opening the scoring, Theunis doubled his tally. This time around, it was a well-executed strike to make it 2-0, which was the score at the end of the opening chukka.

A midfield battle developed in the second chukka and Gim grew into the game with skipper Juan Swanepoel and Rikus de Kock inspiring their side to go forward.

Unfortunately for Gim, they were struck by successive blows. The first came from a goal by Adam Thompson, after an assist by Reegan Wille, and Paarl Gim then lost defender, John Coetzee, to a head injury.

They weren’t going down without a fight, however, That’s not the Gim way, and they pulled one back through Ryan van der Merwe after a solo run into the circle by Swanepoel caught SACS napping, and Van der Merwe pounced to provide the tap-in and his side’s first goal.

At the break, SACS led 3-1. The message from coach Sam Holmes to his team was simple – keep applying pressure and avoid falling into the two-goal trap.

The boys from Cape Town had an opportunity to extend their advantage early in the third chukka, but a PC drag flick by Theunis was well saved by Joe van Coller.

It was evenly contested, and the scoreboard remained static until the closing minutes of the quarter. Litha Kraai, then, extended the SACS lead to 4-1 with a thunderbolt drag flick that whistled past Van Coller.

With their passionate and vocal supporters cheering them on, Paarl Gim made inroads in the fourth quarter.

Coetzee returned from the sidelines with a bandage wrapped around his head and, soon after, Gim’s captain, Swanepoel, converted a penalty stroke to up the tension on the Rectory AstroTurf.

With the clock running down, Gim needed something special, and that’s exactly what they got when Ebert Sabbagha collected a superb overhead pass from Swanepoel and wiggled his way past a couple of SACS defenders to slide one past Ethan October.

Gim was back within one goal, but SACS was not about to allow the contest to go to a shootout and Theunis made sure of that by netting twice to make it 6-3 and put some space between the boys in blue and white and their yellow and green-clad opponents.

His third goal came after he got his stick onto a shot from Aiden Hughes. Kraai, then, teed him up with a goal against the run of play.

By then, the clash was done and dusted. Gim had an opportunity to pull one back with a late PC, but Stefan Wiehahn‘s flick was kept out.

The final whistle blew and SACS, for only the second time in their history, was crowned the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield champion.

Paul Roos Gimnasium, the winners of the previous two editions of the event, clinched a tight 2-1 victory over Garsfontein to finish in third place.

St Stithians College thumped Grey College 5-2 to finish in fifth, while Clifton College beat DHS 2-1 in an all-KZN clash to claim seventh. Grey High edged out Westville Boys’ High 3-2 to end in ninth place.

SCORERS IN THE FINAL

SACS 6 (3): Reece Theunis (4), Litha Kraai, Adam Thompson. Paarl Gimnasium 3 (1): Ryan van der Merwe, Juan Swanepoel, Ebert Sabbagha

RESULTS

DAY 

Clifton College 2-1 DHS
St Stithians College 5-2 Grey College
Maritzburg College 2-1 Selborne College
Parel Vallei 3-0 St Alban’s College
Bishops 5-2 Pearson High School
Grey High 3-2 Westville Boys’ High
Paul Roos 2-1 Garsfontein
SACS 6-3 Paarl Gimnasium

FINAL STANDINGS

SACS
Paarl Gimnasium
Paul Roos Gimnasium
Garsfontein
St Stithians College
Grey College
Clifton College
DHS
Grey High School
Westville Boys’ High
Parel Vallei High School
St Alban’s College
Bishops
Pearson High
Maritzburg College
Selborne College

Heartbreak, joy, and elation highlighted day three’s action of the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha, on Friday as South African College High School (SACS) and Paarl Gimnasium booked places in the final, at Grey High School.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

On a day filled with anticipation and nerves, the two sides kept their calm, played some entertaining hockey, and put themselves in pole position to clinch the prestigious title.

SACS, after defeating Durban High School (DHS) 6-2 in the quarterfinals, met their rivals, Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in the final four while Paarl Gim faced off against Hoërskool Garsfontein.

In the quarterfinals, Paarl Gim had claimed a 3-2 victory over Clifton College, while Garsfontein had stunned Grey College 2-0.

Playing for a place in the title game, Gim asserted their dominance against the Pretoria school, outscoring them 4-2, courtesy of goals by Mikal Janse van Rensburg and Martin Ferreira and a brace from their dangerman, Stefan Wiehahn.

While Gim bossed their way into the final, SACS was made to sweat in their semifinal clash with Paul Roos.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the sides delivered a pulsating clash, which drew a big crowd to the Rectory AstroTurf despite the unwelcoming, freezing conditions.

The tension was high during the build-up, so high it could’ve been sliced with a knife. On the sidelines, anticipation and nervousness flittered among the parents about to watch their sons in action.

PRG started brilliantly, playing at a high tempo, and exerted early pressure on SACS. That relentless pressure was soon rewarded when Caleb Cilliers and Matthew Cardoza partnered to set up Callum van Oudtshoorn, who was unmarked and tapped in to make it 1-0.

After a slow start, SACS warmed to the task and they netted four minutes into the second chukka to level the scores after Reece Theunis picked up the scraps from a PC.

It was evenly matched after that goal, but Litha Kraai put his side into the lead two minutes before halftime with a thunderbolt of a drag flick.

The scoreline remained unchanged in the third chukka, but the fourth chukka delivered goals and drama as both teams felt the pressure, with some allowing their discipline to slip and their tempers to flare.

Two SACS players, Mohlodi Maseko and Theunis, were shown yellow cards, while PRG skipper, Christo Swanepoel joined them in the naughty seat.

With six minutes left in the contest, the Stellenbosch boys pulled one back when, from a short corner, Ruben Gouws delivered the goods.

SACS responded quickly and, after some brilliant play by Matthew Lassen inside the circle, he picked out Cameron Cordeiro, who was unmarked, and beat goalkeeper Josh Boden to regain the lead.

SACS thought they had it in the bag, but a dramatic finish was in store.

With seconds remaining on the clock, PRG was awarded another penalty corner after Kraai and Aiden Hughes were controversially adjudged to have wasted time by the umpire after the ball hit their feet while being hit out of the D by a PRG player for a long corner.

The call was contested by the SACS boys, but the decision stood, and from the resulting penalty corner, Paul Roos pulled off another variation. This time, Gouws linked up with Tylor Carter, who had the final touch, to level the match at 3-3 and send it to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Seth Paterson, Gouws, and Van Oudtshoorn converted for PRG while their skipper, Swanepoel fired wide.

For SACS, it was Jo Le Roux, and Maseko who scored, while Theunis’s attempt resulted in a penalty stroke, which was converted by Kraai, who had earlier missed his eight-second attempt.

That sent the shootout into sudden death. Lassen and Le Roux converted for SACS. Logan Lackay fired one in for PRG, but when Gouws missed, that sealed the deal for SACS.

They progressed to the final, advancing 5-4 on penalties.

They’ll have an opportunity to go one step further than 2024 when they meet Paarl Gimnasium for the title at 18:45 on Saturday evening.

RESULTS

DAY 3

SACS 6-2 DHS (Quarterfinal 1)
Paul Roos (3) 1-1 (2) St Stithians College (Quarterfinal 2)
Grey College 0-2 Garsfontein (Quarterfinal 3)
Clifton College 2-3  Paarl Gimnasium (Quarterfinal 4)
St Stithians College 3-1 DHS (Loser of quarterfinal 1)
Grey College 2-1 Clifton College Loser of quarterfinal 2
SACS (5) 3-3 (4) Paul Roos (Semifinal 1)
Garsfontein 2-4 Paarl Gimnasium (Semifinal 2)

Collegiate AstroTurf

St Alban’s College 2-1 Bishops
Maritzburg College 0-1 Westville Boys’ High
Pearson 2-3 Parel Vallei
Selborne College 0-4 Grey High School
Bishops 2-2 Maritzburg College
Pearson High 3-1 Selborne College
St Alban’s College 1-1 Westville Boys’ High
Grey High 4-1 Parel Vallei

South African College High (SACS) and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) will square off for a place in the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield final after both won their quarterfinals on Friday morning, in Gqeberha.

SACS faced Durban High School (DHS) and overran the KwaZulu-Natal outfit 6-2. PRG, meanwhile, was made to sweat for their 3-2 win on penalties by St Stithians College after their clash had ended deadlocked at 1-1.

Catch the Hibbert Shield LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Both sides entered their quarterfinal fixtures with unbeaten records after dominating Pools A and B, respectively.

SACS tallied 16 goals in three matches and conceded only four in wins over St Alban’s College, Grey College, and Pearson, while PRG defeated Maritzburg College, Selborne College, and Clifton College in Pool B.

The first half of the first quarterfinal, between SACS and DHS, was far from convincing from the Cape Town boys, but they showed character, grit, and composure to seal the win.

At halftime, they trailed 1-2 to goals by Tyrique Cloete and Sithsaba Siyoyo, while Aiden Hughes had found the back of the net for SACS.

In the third chukka, SACS came out firing and they drew level when Litha Kraai fired a penalty corner drag flick into the back of the net.

That goal opened the floodgates. Kraai quickly made it a brace before Reece Theunis rocketed in a flick to make it 4-2.

Kraai wasn’t done yet and, with some individual brilliance, he completed his hat-trick before Daniel Graser bagged the final goal in a 6-2 win.

The second quarterfinal, between PRG and Saints, was evenly matched, but the Stellenbosch boys hit the front in the second chukka, courtesy of a strike by Callum van Oudtshoorn.

After that goal, St Stithians had to play catch-up, but they also needed to keep Paul Roos quiet on the scoresheet.

Their efforts brought reward in the fourth quarter when their dangerman Aiden Blatch scored a blinder to level the scores.

It ended 1-1, and, with that, the teams headed to a penalty shootout. PRG’s Ruben Gouws converted the first, and Saints’ skipper, Liam O’Flaherty, followed suit.

Seth Paterson misfired for the Bolanders, but Jason Joiner missed for the Gautengers to keep matters level. The scoreline, then, moved to 2-2 when Logan Lackay deposited his eight-second opportunity into the goal box and Blatch did the same for Saints. That sent the contest into sudden death.

Lackey, again, scored for PRG. Then, Josh Boden rejected Blatch’s goal-scoring attempt, and the Maroon Machine moved on to the semi-finals.

The final four showdown between SACS and PRG, a repeat of the 2024 final, starts at 17:45.

2024 – SACS vs Paul Roos

SACS 2-2 Paul Roos
SACS 6-2 Paul Roos
SACS 3 (1)-(2) 3 Paul Roos

While the first semifinal was confirmed early in the morning, Hoërskool Garsfontein stunned Grey College 2-0 to book their spot in the last four. Paarl Gimnasium joined them after beating Clifton College 3-2.

Their semi-final clash will start at 19:00.

The annual Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, hosted by Grey High School, is headed towards the business end of matters, with the eight quarterfinalists having been confirmed after Thursday’s action in Gqeberha.

After a cracking opening day that produced 42 goals, the 16 teams returned to the turf with their sights set on securing play-off places.

On a windy day, teams were left to make calculations and consider permutations. While the action was hot, parents and other spectators were swathed in winter jackets and blankets on the sidelines.

Last year’s finalists, Paul Roos Gimnasium and South African College High School (SACS), cemented their spots in the last eight early. PRG outplayed Maritzburg College 6-2, while SACS claimed a thrill-a-minute 6-4 win over Grey College.

By midday, the focus had shifted to other teams chasing places in the last eight.

Joining SACS and PRG in the quarterfinals were Clifton College, from Pool A, and Grey College, from Pool B. Clifton scored a gritty 3-1 victory over Selborne College in the morning, while Grey bounced back from the SACS defeat with a 2-0 win over St Alban’s College, courtesy of strikes by Warena Legaiwa and Matthias Visser.

Visser has been Grey’s dangerman all season long with his fiery drag flicks from the top of the D and he said he wants to bring his A-game in their knockout game on Friday.

“It’s been a great tour, but I think we haven’t had the best of games,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“In the quarters, we want to come out with more energy and play our hearts out. As a flicker, I have to bring everything I’ve got.”

Clifton had to wait on the result of the contest between Maritzburg College and Selborne College before knowing whether or not they had made it through to the quarterfinals. In the end, they advanced, but it was a nail-biting time for the Durban school’s players.

Clifton’s victory over Selborne meant Maritzburg College needed to win by five goals against the East London side if they were to surpass their provincial rivals on goal difference. College won, but the match ended 2-0, and Clifton booked their place in the quarterfinals.

Before a ball had been played in the Hibbert Shield, Pools C and D looked as if they were going to be highly contested, and that proved to be the case.

Paarl Gimnasium, who fired on all cylinders on day one, beating Grey High 5-0, scored four against Westville Boys’ High before being held to a 1-1 draw by St Stithians College.

The Western Cape side conceded late in the game, with Liam O’Flaherty providing the finish for Saints, but Gim struck back through a Stefan Wiehahn PC drag flick.

“That was probably the most important flick since we played Saints at the Founders Festival and lost 3-4 to them,” he reckoned.

“I missed a shorty there, but this time I knew it was an important one for me and the team.”

While Saints didn’t pick up the win, skipper Liam O’Flaherty was pleased with his team’s display. “It’s our first time getting into the quarters, and the boys are chuffed,” he said.

“I think we have momentum on our side now. We want to take our opportunities in the quarterfinal and reward ourselves when we do get opportunities.”

Gim and St Stithians were confirmed as the top two sides in Pool C on Thursday afternoon, but Pool D was far from done and it went down to the wire.

Durban High School (DHS) didn’t do themselves any favours when they drew 1-1 with Parel Vallei, while goals by Armand van der Vyfer, Luken Brunette, Lesego Msiza, and Duardt Tollig lifted Hoërskool Garsfontein to an impressive 4-2 win over Bishops.

That result put Garsies through, but the last pool match, between Parel Vallei and Bishops would determine who would finish first and who would finish second, with DHS in with a chance at ending in first place if the result went their way.

Earlier in the season, Parel Vallei powered their way to a big 7-2 win over Bishops. This time, though, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. That meant Garsfontein finished atop Pool D with DHS in second place.

Commenting on his team’s progress to the quarterfinals, DHS captain Josh Mungherera said: “We had a slow start to the tournament.  I feel like we are leaving games we should be winning, but hopefully we come alive in the quarterfinals.

“It means a lot going to the last eight, but we need to convert our opportunities. You can’t win games without scoring.”

While the eight that remain in with a shout of winning the Hibbert Shield celebrated that feat, it continued to be a tough time for teams like Selborne, Westville Boys’ High, Pearson, and Bishops.

Grey High ended the day with a 1-0 victory over Westville, courtesy of an Athi Voigt strike, but that wasn’t enough and the hosts bowed out of contention.

Friday’s action kicks off with a cracking clash between SACS and DHS at 07:30.

RESULTS

Pool A

SACS 6-4 Grey College
Grey College 2-0 St Alban’s College
Pearson High 1-1 St Alban’s College

Pool B

Paul Roos Gimnasium 6-2 Maritzburg College
Clifton College 3-1 Selborne College
Maritzburg College 2-0 Selborne College

Pool C

Paarl Gimnasium 4-0 Westville Boys’ High
Paarl Gimnasium 1-1 St Stithians College
Grey High 1-0 Westville Boys’ High

Pool D

DHS 1-1 Parel Vallei
Garsfontein 4-2 Bishops
Parel Vallei 1-1 Bishops

FIXTURES

Friday, 2 May 

Grey High School

07:30 – SACS vs DHS (Quarterfinal 1)
08:45 – Paul Roos vs St Stithians College (Quarterfinal 2)
10:15 – Grey College vs Garsfontein (Quarterfinal 3)
11:30 – Clifton College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Quarterfinal 4)
15:00 – Loser of quarterfinal 1
16:15 – Loser of quarterfinal 2
17:45 – Semifinal 1
19:00 – Semifinal 2

Collegiate AstroTurf

07:30 – St Alban’s College vs Bishops
08:45 -Maritzburg College vs Westville Boys’ High
10:15 – Pearson vs Parel Vallei
11:30 – Selborne College vs Grey High School
15:00 – Loser 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Loser 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
16:15 – Loser 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Loser 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
17:45 – Winner 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Winner 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
19:00 -Winner 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Winner 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C

Reaching 100 caps for your school is a schoolboy’s dream, and to do it in your matric year at a prestigious tournament adds a cherry on top.

A player that has made that dream become a reality is Paul Roos Gimnasium‘s (PRG) hockey captain, Christo Swanepoel.

He reached the milestone on Thursday, day two of the Hibbert Shield, at Grey High School, in Gqeberha.

Humble and soft-spoken, the midfield maestro was given a guard of honour by his teammates, coaches, and PRG’s u16 players as he walked out for a showdown with Maritzburg College at the Rectory AstroTurf.

If Paul Roos won the Pool B match, they would be guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals, with Clifton College, Maritzburg College, and Selborne College battling it out for second place and the other Pool B quarterfinal spot.

After a slow start, PRG turned on the afterburners and dominated the KwaZulu-Natal outfit. It was the first exhibition of “Baker Ball” at the tournament as they controlled the tempo of the game, capitalised on their chances, and gave their supporters, who had travelled from Stellenbosch, the show they had hoped to see.

They outscored College 6-2, finishing the pool with maximum points after their two victories on the opening day when they beat Clifton College 2-0 and Selborne College 4-0.

After the four chukkas had flown by, Swanepoel had a chance to reflect on reaching the 100-game milestone.

“It’s a huge privilege. I’m super grateful for this opportunity. I don’t think there are a lot of people who achieve this, and it’s something I will cherish forever,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus, in Gqeberha.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share this experience and awesome moment with. There’s still a season left, but I’m grateful.”

It’s been quite the journey for Swanepoel in the maroon jersey, and it all began in his grade nine year, in 2022, when he made his debut at the Cape Co-Ed Festival, in Cape Town. He recalled that moment.

“I remember the nerves running out for the first time, and I never thought something like this would become a reality.

“As a grade nine, to play hockey at PRG was special. I didn’t worry about the spotlight or anything. I just wanted to play hockey. It didn’t matter if it was for the first team, u14, or anything else.”

The skipper has one of the most decorated CVs in schoolboy hockey currently.

Some of his standout accolades include winning the Hibbert Shield twice, representing Boland at age-group and u18 level, and donning the green and gold at the u17 Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia last year.

Besides representing Paul Roos, Swanepoel also plays for the Central Hockey Club and has won several titles with the powerhouse club.

All of these achievements, however, wouldn’t be possible without the support of his parents, he said: “I have to give a lot of credit to my parents. They’ve been there since I was a kid, supporting me through every step.

“It wasn’t going to be possible for me to be here without them. My mom and dad have always been there for me and played an important role.”

Swanepoel is the only second Paul Roos player in history to reach 100 games for the school. Gys Steyn was the first to record the magnificent milestone in 2010.

A far-from-perfect performance filled with sprinkles of individual brilliance and cracking goals secured a hard-fought 6-4 victory for South African College High School (SACS) over Grey College on Thursday, day two of the Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha.

The sides entered the clash fresh off convincing victories on the opening day of action in Pool A.

On Wednesday, the boys from Cape Town defeated St Alban’s College 7-0 and Pearson High 3-0, while Grey College thumped Pearson 7-0.

Thursday’s showdown was the first-ever meeting between the sides, and, befitting the occasion, parents and spectators flocked to the Rectory AstroTurf to witness one of the games of the tournament.

The game got off to a cracking start, with Litha Kraai quickly making his presence felt with a missile-like penalty corner drag flick, which flew into the back of the net.

Grey, known for their never-say-die attitude, responded almost immediately, and it was their dangerman, Matthias Visser, who replied with a drag flick of his own, beating Ethan October in the cage.

The second chukka belonged to SACS, and goals from Mohlodi Maseko and Adam Thompson extended their advantage to 3-1 at the break.

When SACS captain Jo le Roux, sent a thunderbolt past the Grey ‘keeper in the third chukka, it appeared as if the Capetonians, three goals to the good, were on course for a simple victory.

Visser, however, wasn’t about to allow that to happen, and he pulled one back for Grey from the top of the D. SACS replied almost immediately, though, after some individual brilliance by Kraai, who bagged his second of the game.

Heading into the final chukka, SACS was comfortably ahead, leading 5-2, but Grey was far from done. They came out hard, taking the fight to the opposition and putting on a fantastic show.

The boys from Bloemfontein were relentless on attack, and it was just a matter of time before Visser completed his hat-trick with a third rocket-propelled drag flick.

In a tense final three minutes, Neilyandro Van Schalkwyk pulled another one back for Grey, leaving them only a goal down. Kraai, however, put the game out of reach with his third and SACS’s sixth of the game.

The win assured SACS of a place in the quarterfinals, with maximum points from three games, and first place in Group A.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus after the game, SACS skipper Jo Le Roux said they’re ecstatic to progress but more hard work lies ahead.

“We’re very happy with our progress, but there’s obviously a lot of stuff to work on, and that’s always going to be the case,” he said.

“We are going to recover today and do some video analysis and prepare for the knockout games. We want to fine-tweak a few things. Our PCs weren’t firing against Pearson, and we were struggling with our stopping and injection.

“We also want to work on different pressing angles and get them fine-tuned for our next game, depending on who we play.”

SACS will face one of Bishops, Parel Vallei, Hoërskool Garsfontein, or Durban High School, who are contesting a very competitive Pool D.

There were comprehensive victories for South African College High School (SACS), Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Grey College on a wet and cold opening day of the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha, on Wednesday.

The prestigious event is hosted by Grey High School and runs through until Saturday, 3 May.

Catch the Hibbert Shield LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

It was a blistering start to the tournament for some of the top teams who came out guns blazing and made strong statements while grabbing maximum points.

In the early session, SACS took on St Alban’s College and cruised to a comfortable 7-0 victory.

The boys from Cape Town, led by coach Sam Holmes, powered to victory in style, controlling the game from start to finish.

Litha Kraai, who was named the SA Indoor Hockey Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year while at the Hibbert Shield, scored a brace along with Reece Theunis. The drubbing was completed with further goals from Zach Redfern, Cameron Groves, and the skipper, Jo Le Roux.

In their second match of the day, SACS was forced to grind out a 3-0 win over a gutsy Pearson High side. Theunis, Mohlodi Maseko, and Adam Thompson were on the scoresheet.

While the Cape Town boys dominated, their Western Cape rivals, Paul Roos Gimnasium, also enjoyed a winning start to their campaign. The defending champions defeated Selborne College 4-0 in the morning and returned later in the day to score a hard-fought 2-0 win over Clifton College.

Against Selborne, it was Callum van Oudtshoorn, Ruan Strauss, Seth Paterson, and Jeandre van Zyl who netted for the Stellenbosch school, while Caleb Cilliers scored the opener against Clifton before Paterson struck for the second time in the tournament to seal the win.

Grey College played only one match on Wednesday, but they stole the spotlight by outplaying Pearson High 7-0.

Pools C and D were highly contested. Paarl Gimnasium was arguably the big winner in Pool C after recording an astonishing 5-0 victory over the hosts. It was a clinical performance by Gim, who converted three of their short corners, through skipper Juan Swanepoel, Phillip Barnard, and Reinhardt Honiball. Stefan Wiehahn and Josh Smit netted from open play in an impressive win.

St Stithians College was made to work hard for their victory over Westville Boys’ High. The Johannesburg boys created numerous opportunities to score, but their conversion rate let them down dismally.

It took a moment of magic by dangerman Aidan Blatch to break the deadlock and snatch a 1-0 victory for his side at the death. Saints failed to build on that win, however, and were held to a 2-2 draw by Grey High in the final match of the day.

There was very little to separate the four sides in Pool D, but Durban High School (DHS) ended the day on top of the log with four points.

After edging Bishops 3-2 in the morning, the boys from KwaZulu-Natal shared a goalless draw with Hoërskool Garsfontein in their second outing of the day.

Parel Vallei, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Garsfontein. They’ll be chasing their first Hibbert Shield win on day two.

RESULTS

DAY 1 

Pool A

SACS 7-0 St Alban’s College
SACS 3-0 Pearson
Grey College 7-0 Pearson

Pool B

Paul Roos 4-0 Selborne College
Paul Roos 2-0 Clifton College
Maritzburg College 1-1 Clifton College

Pool C

Paarl Gimnasium 5-0 Grey High
St Stithians College 1-0 Westville
Grey High 2-2 St Stithians College

Pool D

DHS 3-2 Bishops
Parel Vallei 1-1 Garsfontein
DHS 0-0 Garsfontein

DAY 2 FIXTURES

Grey High School

07:30 – Selborne College vs Clifton College
08:45 – SACS vs Grey College
10:15 – Paul Roos vs Maritzburg College
11:30 – Bishops vs Garsfontein
13:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
14:15 – Grey High vs Westville
15:45 – St Alban’s College vs Grey College
17:00 – Selborne College vs Maritzburg College
18:30 – Bishops vs Parel Vallei

Collegiate AstroTurf

08:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Westville
09:45 – Pearson High vs St Alban’s College
14:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Stithians College

Paarl Gimnasium‘s first-team hockey captain, Juan Swanepoel, praised his side after they made an impressive start at the Hibbert Shield, scoring an eye-opening 5-0 victory over the hosts, Grey High School, in Gqeberha, on Wednesday.

In their opening match of the tournament, Gim put on a masterclass, dismantling the home side and restricting them from scoring at the Rectory AstroTurf.

It was their third outing in quick succession after they beat Grey College 4-2 and St Andrew’s School 4-1, in Bloemfontein, over the past weekend.

“It was a really good game. We set a couple of goals before the game, and we achieved them,” Swanepoel told SuperSport Schools Plus, in Gqeberha.

“There’s a lot we still need to work on, but it’s always hard coming to Grey and playing them at home, so I think we did exceptionally well today.”

Like they’ve done all season, Gim sealed the win by capitalising on their opportunities at penalty corner time, while their creative players pulled the strings in the midfield.

At the top of the circle, Swanepoel, along with Phillip Barnard and Reinhardt Honiball, scored via drag flicks, while Stefan Wiehahn and Josh Smit netted field goals.

Despite the flying start, the skipper insisted that Paarl Gim is far from a finished product.

“We set the standard for the tournament, and we’re going to go out of our way to maintain that standard,” he explained. “We focus on counterattacking hockey, but I think we need to be able to keep the ball for the majority of the game.

“We want to dictate the game better, but I’m happy with how we’re playing at the moment.”

Gim had only one fixture on the opening day, but they’ll return on Thursday with matches against Westville Boys’ High and St Stithians College, with both being played at the Collegiate Girls’ AstroTurf.

“The most important thing now for us is to be humble and stay grounded. We can’t get arrogant. Yes, we are confident, but, as a group, we want to take every game as it comes,” Swanepoel said.

Paarl Gim will face Westville at 08:00 before taking on Saints at 14:00.

For all the results, match reports, and highlights, follow SuperSport Schools Hockey.

The Paarl Gimnasium girls’ first-team hockey side will enter the inaugural Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge in high spirits after recording two resounding victories against Eunice High School and Oranje Meisieskool in Bloemfontein over the past weekend.

The Western Cape girls journeyed to Bloemfontein on a mission to bounce back after their last outing, which they lost 1-2 to Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool.

Two clinical performances by coach Danelle van Zyl’s side silenced the home supporters in Bloemfontein.

On Thursday night, they took on Eunice and scored a 2-0 victory, courtesy of strikes by the experienced Isabella Nel, and youngsters, Imke Koegelenberg.

The visitors returned to action the following day in a Friday Nite Lights clash with Oranje, and it was Gim who opened the scoring in the first chukka from a tap-in at the far post from captain Joné de Winnaar.

Oranje responded with two goals in the third and fourth chukkas before Gim responded to level matters at 2-2.

It seemed that the clash would end in a draw until a late goal by the visitors, with only 30 seconds remaining in the game, sealed the win.

““Our focus on this Bloem tour was to be more clinical and process driven and to connect as a team and enjoy the game that we love so much,” coach Van Zyl told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Our girls played their hearts out. They ran hard and played together as a team in the Eunice game.

“Against Oranje, I could see their legs were tired, but we showed some real character after being down 1-2 and coming back to win the game 3-2.”

Back in Paarl. Gimmies are gearing up to host the Girls Hockey Challenge, which runs from 1-3 May.

The exciting new tournament will see some of the country’s top sides assemble in Paarl for three days of hard and competitive hockey.

The hosts have been drawn in Pool B along with St Mary’s Waverley, Fairmont High School, and Springfield Convent School.

“We can never be too confident because we have a massive target on our back,” coach Van Zyl said.

“Every game from now on is important, and the main focus is to still improve and to be consistent in our processes.”

Paarl Gim fixtures for Girls Hockey Challenge

Thursday, 1 May

10:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Mary’s Waverley
15:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Springfield Convent School

Friday, 2 May

11:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Fairmont High School

The annual Standard Bank Hibbert Shield presents players with an opportunity to thrust their names into the spotlight at a high-profile event that attracts widespread interest from across South Africa.

The 2025 edition of the tournament, hosted by Grey High School, in Gqeberha, runs from Wednesday, 30 April, and concludes with the final on Saturday, 3 May, at the Rectory AstroTurf.

The Hibbert Shield will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

While the teams have experienced players to rely upon, many also include exciting juniors who will be playing in the prestigious tournament for the first time in their careers.

In this piece, we take a look at five young players who will be out to make their mark as they step into the pinnacle of schoolboy hockey.

James Chree – Grey High School

Grey High School is known for regularly producing some of the country’s most exciting hockey talent, and James Chree is set to become the latest in that excellent production line.

In his debut season under the guidance of coach Andrew Beynon, Chree has seized the opportunity with both hands and has introduced himself in some style.

He scored a hat-trick against Paul Roos Gimnasium in a thrilling 4-4 draw in Stellenbosch earlier this month and found the back of the net in his side’s 5-1 victory over Dale College, in their most recent match.

Chree is strong defensively and makes great reads, but his biggest threat is posed at penalty corner time. His drag flicks carry serious zip, and every time he’s at the top of the D, he’s expected to score.

He also brings some indoor hockey skills to his game, which gives him an extra edge. As young as he is, Chree will cause problems for top teams.

Callum Anderson – Bishops [Diocesan College]

Bishops is on a rebuilding mission this year, and a player who has put his hand up as someone to rely on is Callum Anderson.

The grade 10 pupil can be a game-changer by taking a contest by the scruff of the neck and exerting his skills upon it. His extraordinary spatial awareness helps him read play well and take good options to drive his team forward.

Anderson has a great engine and never runs out of gas, and he makes his teammates look good by expressing himself on the turf.

He will surely add value to Bishops, who are aiming to go further than last year’s quarterfinal place.

Zayd Mohanlall – St Alban’s College

Zayd Mohanlall is a grade nine learner and is representing the St Alban’s College 1st XI for the first time this year.

He recently turned 15. Yet, even at his young age, has become an integral member of the side, which has enjoyed considerable success this season, including at the Independent Schools Hockey Festival, which the school hosted.

He has slotted in smoothly at 1st XI level and has started every game for his team, covering multiple positions.

Mohanlall’s calm and composed approach has provided stability to the team when they’ve been in possession, and he has also defended with a high level of maturity.

Ethan James – Westville Boys’ High

Westville Boys’ High hasn’t had a great start to the season, but they’re a young bunch, with some talented youngsters, and one player who has stood out early on is Ethan James.

The centre-back has been a key player for the KwaZulu-Natal side, and he is rapidly going from strength to strength as he adds experience game by game.

James possesses exceptional distribution skills, he’s athletic, loves the game, and he’s coming into his own as the season progresses. Apart from defending and distributing, he also owns a decent flick, which he is sometimes called on to exercise at penalty corner time.

Andrea Clerihew – Hoërskool Garsfontein

Hoërskool Garsfontein pulled off a massive upset at last year’s tournament when they defeated a high-flying Bishops team in the quarterfinals to progress to the last four.

There, they fell to the eventual winner, Paul Roos, and went on to finish a sterling fourth.

Garsies returns to the Hibbert Shield knowing, through their own example, that anything is possible. If they’re to match last year’s run, or even better it, one young player who’ll be crucial to their challenge will be Andrea Clerihew.

He exhibits great composure and makes good decisions. He is also a versatile player, able to play anywhere on the field.

His reading of the game has been a real asset for the Garsfontein defence, and his ability to eliminate players and connect with forwards has helped drive the Pretoria school’s counterattacks.

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