SuperSport Schools and South African Hockey are thrilled to announce their partnership aimed at bolstering support for the national hockey teams as they gear up for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
This collaboration marks an exciting milestone in the journey of both organizations as they unite to provide hockey fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes content and unprecedented access to their favourite players.
As part of this sponsorship, SuperSport Schools will extend its support to the South African hockey teams, offering a platform for fans to connect with the athletes on a deeper level.
Through South African Hockey’s feed on social media channels, in collaboration with SuperSport Schools’ platforms, supporters will be treated to a plethora of engaging content showcasing the dedication, hard work, and some of the fun that goes into preparing for the PARIS 2024 Olympic Games. From captivating training sessions to intimate glimpses into the players’ lives off the field, fans can expect content that brings them closer to the action like never before.
Shaune Baaitjies, CEO ofSouth African Hockey, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to join forces with SuperSport Schools as we embark on our journey towards the Olympic Games.
“This collaboration presents an incredible opportunity for us to engage with our fans in new and innovative ways, offering them an insider’s perspective into the world of hockey and the incredible athletes who represent our nation on the global stage.”
Kelvin Watt, CEO of SuperSport Schools said, “South African Hockey is one of the great examples of a sport that benefits from the incredible school sport environment in South Africa that annually develops such incredibly talented young men and women who go on to represent South Africa so proudly.
“We have a saying at SuperSport Schools that World Cups are won 10 years before they are played. We have been delighted to stream and broadcast the progress so many of these young hockey players have made through their school and youth careers, and we are delighted to be able to support them on their journey to Paris.
“We, at SuperSport Schools, are committed to bringing you the sport you care about most and this partnership with South African Hockey is a great way to pull back the curtain on what it takes to make it at the highest level of sports.”
For more information, visit supersportschools.com or follow us on social media for updates
Western province’s Litha Kraai in action for his side in this year’s SASHOC National Week. Photo credits: TeamPhotoSA
Litha Kraai, who plies his trade for SACS in Cape Town, scored a total of 10 goals and finished the u16 tournament this past week as the player of the tournament in Bloemfontein.
The Province boys, who were looking to replicate the feat of their senior side that won the u18 title a week ago, dominated proceedings from the first game until the final where they thumped the KZN Inland A side (6-2).
The side opened their campaign with an emphatic (9-1) victory against the KZN Inland B side on day one. It was the second day of the tournament when Province kicked on, as they were scheduled to play two competitive matches against Northern Gauteng A and Eastern Cape’s Amathole side.
The side looked untouchable as the days went by. Southern Free State were always going to prove to be a tough nut to crack; however, Jody Erasmus’s side manned up, scoring four goals and only conceding one in the process.
For a spot in the final looking possible than ever, the side brushed off Boland to cement their spot in the showpiece. Kraai and Theunis Reece both scored a brace in that game.
The final was one-way traffic for the Cape side. They opened the scoring in the first minute through Zachary Gibbon. A flurry of goals in the 12th, 13th and 28th minute saw the side take a (4-0) lead after the first two chukkas.
Province added two more goals to their tally in the third chukka through Gibbon and Matthew Lassen.
The Inland side finished the game the strongest, when they registered two goals in the 49th and 60th minutes respectively.
The match ended (6-2) in favour of Western Province.
Captain Joshua Le Roux finished the campaign alongside the top goal scorers with six to his name. Reece Theunis finished the campaign on eight goals.
As the second term draws towards its conclusion, some teams in the Western Cape are still in action and they’ll be looking to sign off with wins this weekend.
The action begins on Friday with four highly competitive matches, followed by a tasty spread of fixtures on Saturday.
Rustenburg Girls’ High and Paarl Gimnasium welcome Reddam Constantia and Herschel Girls School to their turfs respectively, while Parel Vallei takes on Springfield Convent School.
Herschel heads to Paarl with their sights set on causing an upset against one of the top teams in the country.
Last week, the side from Claremont played matches against Parel Vallei and DF Malan. They went 1-2 down against a well-structured Parel Vallei side but, on the weekend, they roared to an emphatic 6-1 win over DF.
The last time coach Stacey-Lee Gedult’s side played against Gim was in last year’s Top Schools tournament, with Paarl claiming a narrow 1-0 win on that occasion.
Last week, Gim drew 1-1 with Parel Vallei. The week before that, they downed a spirited HMS Bloemhof side 2-0, with Anya Swanepoel and Tanya Pieterse scoring against the side from Stellenbosch.
Gim will be boosted by their home support, and they’ll be seeking a good performance ahead of a clash with Fairmont High School next weekend.
The Parel Vallei versus Springfield Convent School game on Saturday should be interesting. PV heads into the game after a demanding week in which they played tough matches against Herschel, Rhenish, and Gim.
They picked up a 2-1 win against Herschel, drew 1-1 with Gim and lost 0-2 to Rhenish.
Parel Vallei coach Jarred Pitout will want to see his team finish the term strongly, but it will be a challenging match once again.
The schedule also includes St Cyprian’s hosting Fairmont on Friday night.
Brackenfell has two big matches, taking on Milnerton on Friday, before facing Pinelands on Saturday morning. Stellenberg High tackles DF Malan.
Western Cape fixtures
Friday, 31 May
15:30 – Milnerton vs Brackenfell
18:15 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Reddam House Constantia
18:15 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Herschel Girls School
19:20 – St Cyprian’s vs Fairmont High
Saturday, 1 June
08:00 – Brackenfell vs Pinelands High
09:30 – Parel Vallei vs Springfield Convent School
11:00 – Stellenberg High vs DF Malan
The St Andrews team during the Bishops 175 Hockey Festival in Cape Town this year. Photo credits: Bishops 175
St Andrew’s College, after going down 1-2 to Grey High School last weekend, faces a stiff challenge in its quest to return to winning ways, with a Friday night showdown against highly motivated Selborne College in East London.
Push-back for the big clash is set for 18:45 on Selborne’s main AstroTurf, and a sea of black and white will fill up the stands.
St Andrew’s will enter the match as the underdogs, considering the excellent season Selborne has put together. But the boys from Makhanda have proven themselves to be a tough outfit, too.
At home, Selborne has only lost once in 2024, and that 2-5 defeat came against the dangerous Grey College last month. Apart from that loss, they drew 1-1 with Queen’s College and swept their opponents at both the Tony Godding Festival and the Nomads Festival in March.
In the past two weeks, despite playing away from home, coach KJ Friend’s side has scored a whopping 16 goals while only conceding one.
They thumped Dale College 10-1 at the Qonce school’s reunion and, last week, they outscored Cambridge High School 6-0.
Waeden Plaatjes, captain Tre’ Gilbert, and Kungothando Macanda were among the goal scorers in both matches.
The hosts are not short of confidence and will want to continue their record of success against the Makhanda side. Post the Covid-19 pandemic, the teams have met twice, in 2022 and 2023, and it’s Selborne who’ve won both times, winning 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
St Andrew’s head coach Dean Ferreira will be eager to reverse that trend and his side will be inspired by the promising season they’ve put together.
They began their 2024 campaign sublimely, going undefeated at the Tony Godding Festival, where they also defeated Grey College 2-1.
They were also in action at the Bishops 175 Hockey Festival and the St Stithians Easter Hockey Festival.
At Bishops, Ferreira’s side won their first three matches, but they then went down 1-2 to the hosts, before losing their final match 0-3 against Michaelhouse.
They had mixed results, including a couple of draws, at Saints. Then it was on to their Eastern Cape derby matches. So far, they’ve been on a good run.
Apart from last week’s defeat against the in-form Grey High, they’ve posted wins over Hudson Park (3-0), and Cambridge High (7-1).
Winning away from home will be a big ask, but the boys from Makhanda have the quality to spring a surprise ahead of their matches next month against Queen’s College and Kingswood.
Other matches
In an early game, on Friday, Graeme College faces Dale.
Stirling hosts Hudson Park, while Woodridge takes a short trip to Pearson High School in their final match of the term.
Eastern Cape fixtures
Friday, 31 May
15:30 – Graeme College vs Dale College
18:00 – Stirling High vs Hudson Park
18:45 – Selborne College vs St Andrews College
19:15 – Pearson vs Woodridge College
In their final match of the term, Woodridge Collegetravels from Thornhill to Gqeberha with their sights set on victory when they battle Pearson High School on Friday night.
The clash takes place at 18:00 on Pearson’s Top Astroturf.
Woodridge, after a promising start to the season, will enter the clash as the underdogs, but they have a point to prove.
Coach Herman Kitshoff’s side has built on the pre-season momentum they accrued during the two Belgotex tournaments, namely the Greg Beling, in East London, and the Easter Tournament, in Cape Town. At the Easter tournament, they finished a commendable seventh in the 40-team field.
Since then, they’ve produced quality performances in victories over Union High School (3-1), and Victoria Park (2-1).
The side, has, however, tasted defeat at the hands of York High (1-3), Collegiate Girls’ High (0-1), and Pearson (0-3).
“The season has been very positive so far,” Kitshoff told SuperSport Schools Plus this week.
“We were able to take the preseason momentum into the regular season and have only really had to tweak minor things. I’m blessed with a great squad that catches onto coaching tips quickly and almost instinctively adjusts to different scenarios during games.
“Being a three-term school, the fear is always that the long April holiday will break preseason momentum, but this has, fortunately, not been an issue.”
Coach Kitshoff, as it typical in schools, has had to build new combinations with a young team this year.
He has only five matric learners in the lineup, but, he said, they’ve helped the junior players fit into and adjust to the system.
“It’s a very new team this season,” he explained. “The five matrics in the side have been incredible in leading by example and in creating a team environment that encourages a growth mindset and a joy in playing hockey.
“Our captain, Jemma (Maartens), and vice-captains, Kirsty (Price), and Emilee (Tinderholm) have been extraordinary in this sense, leading on and off the field with humility and dedication.”
Pearson will pose a serious challenge for Woodridge on Friday night.
Photo credits: Pearson High School
The Gqeberha side is playing some of its best hockey, and last weekend played to a 3-3 draw away at DSG Makhanda.
The previous week, they defeated Framesby 2-0 in the semi-final of the u18 EP Knockout Cup, and they won both of their encounters on the road vs York High (4-1), and Outeniqua (2-1) in George.
“It’s always exciting to play a top side, like Pearson. They’re superbly coached and conditioned,” Kitshoff said.
“We always prepare well for them, and our girls enjoy the challenge they pose. We have tended to play our best hockey against tough opposition, like Pearson and Collegiate, and will be looking to do the same on Friday.
“We will be focusing on improving on the previous two performances. This is our focus, the systematic upward curve in all areas. We also may have one or two tricks up our sleeve for the derby,” he concluded.
Other matches
DSG Makhanda, after sharing six goals in a thrilling draw with Pearson last weekend, faces Clarendon on Saturday.
The East London school is coming off a nervy 3-2 win over Cambridge High School last weekend, and they’ll need to sharpen up on their attack and defence if they’re to claim victory.
The clash in East London will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools DStv Channel 216.
In another clash in the coastal city, Stirling High School, after a weekend off, hosts Hudson Park on Saturday morning.
Hudson is brimming with confidence after beating Queenstown Girls’ High 2-0 last weekend in Komani.
Westering will also be in action, taking on Kingswood College.
Eastern Cape fixtures
Friday, 31 May
18:00 – Pearson High School vs Woodridge College
Saturday, 1 June
10:00 – Clarendon vs DSG Makhanda
11:00 -Westering High School vs Kingswood College
13:00 – Stirling High School vs Hudson Park
SACS’s Reece Theunis attempting a drag flick for his side in their clash vs Rondebosch this season. Photo: Ray Chaplin
Cape Town bragging rights will be on the line on Friday evening, when all four of the southern suburbs’ top guns go at it, with South African College High School(SACS), Bishops Diocesan College, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Rondebosch Boys’ High taking to the turf to battle for supremacy.
Rondebosch takes a short trip to face Bishops on the Woodlands Astroturf at 18:30. An hour later, Wynberg hosts SACS.
The clash between Bishops and Rondebosch Boys’ High, commonly known as the Bish/Bosch derby, has the potential to be a humdinger.
Bishops are, undeniably, the favourites, while Rondebosch might be a little underdone, which is unfortunate, because there have been signs of significant progress in a season that has become somewhat stop/start for coach Waseem Domingo‘s side.
Bishops, under Ryan Julius, have enjoyed a strong season and they remain undefeated in the Western Cape. A solid defence has underpinned their campaign. The creation of goal scoring opportunities has not been in short supply either, but they’ll be keen to improve their finishing rate.
In their biggest challenge of the season thus far, against SACS, the teams shared a 1-1 stalemate. Bishops would probably feel they should’ve won it, based on the opportunities they created.
Their recent form has been consistent and impressive. In their past three matches, they’ve scored 17 goals and conceded only one, beating Stellenberg High 6-1, Paarl Boys High 6-0, and Fairmont High School 5-0.
Bishops will, however, be without their coach for Friday’s showdown. Julius is on national duty for South Africa and is set to play in the second edition of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Poland.
They will, as usual, though, turn to their core performers, who include James Grieve, Joshua Mettler, and captain Robert Veldtman, to steer their merry ship.
Rondebosch began their league season on a massive high, defeating Paul Roos Gimnasium 1-0. However, the last time they played a full match was three weeks ago, when they delivered a spirited performance in a 2-2 draw with Paarl Gimnasium.
Since then, unfortunately, their two most recent fixtures, against Curro Durbanville and Paarl Boys’ High, were called off.
Key players to look out for in the ‘Bosch side include their skipper Hilton Lima, Noah Heath, and Jamie Hundermark.
Wynberg vs SACS
Wynberg Boys’ High hosts a dangerous SACS’ side after being handed a heavy defeat last time out against Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Ben Wiley‘s boys made the trip to Stellenbosch hoping to cause an upset, but PRG was dialled in and ruthless from the first whistle to the last, powering their way to a 7-1 victory.
There’s no let-up for Wynberg against SACS, who have made a strong case for being the number one team in South Africa again.
Under the guidance of Sam Holmes, SACS has been in superb form, losing only once all season. That defeat, 5-6 on penalties, came at the hands of Paul Roos in the final of the Hibbert Shield in Gqeberha at the beginning of May.
Since then, they’ve been dominant, outplaying PRG 6-2 in their derby meeting, following the Hibbert Shield, smashing Stellenberg High 11-1, and blanking DF Malan 8-0.
SACS should feel confident ahead of the clash, remembering how they romped to an 11-1 win in 2023. The lineups, though, have changed considerably, so it’s a blank slate for both teams.
If SACS is successful on Friday, Litha Kraai, Reece Theunis, Cohen Williams, and skipper Stéphan Meyer will surely have plenty to do with it. They’re a deep, well-drilled unit, which has remained largely intact after an outstanding u16 season together in 2023, and the threats come from all angles.
For Wynberg, their focus will be about defensive composure, absorbing SACS’ best shots, and bouncing back. Dayle Gertson, Zachary Gibbon, Ethan Lee, and Jordan Paulsen are quality players, but they will need to be on their games if they’re to challenge SACS.
TEAMS (updates will be made if there are changes)
Bishops Diocesan College: Mu’aath Ganief (GK), Adam Diggle, Thomas Malan, Albert Steyn, Carl Van Wyngaarden, Robert Veldtman (Capt), Andrew Betty, James Grieve (Vice-capt), Thomas Ludlam, Joshua Mettler, Andrew Raubenheimer (Vice-Capt), Christopher Gray, David Handley, Harry Morgan, Bryn Parry
Rondebosch Boys’ High: Marley Musasa (GK), Thomas Gordon, Joshua Beattie, Hilton Lima (c), Nathan Ball, Noah Heath, Raeeq Daniels, Daniel Powell, Anam Nkohla, Jamie Hundermark, Martin Barnard, Cade Miller, Jasper Southwood, Imaad Martin, Oliver Roach.
SACS: Noah Venter (GK), Jo le Roux, Aiden Hughes, Dave Versfeld, Nick Paxton, Kevin Oosthuizen, Stéphan Meyer (c), Zac Redfern, Litha Kraai, Reece Theunis, Cohen Williams, Regan Wille, Cole Allam, Matthew Jones, Mike Mthunzi, Matthew Lassen, Connor van der Schuyff.
Western Cape fixtures:
Friday, 31 May 2024:
17:30- Fairmont High vs Curro Durbanville
18:30- Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys High
18:45- DF Malan vs Stellenberg High
19:00- Brackenfell High vs Fish Hoek
19:30- Wynberg Boys High vs SACS
After a three-week lay-off and time away from the turf, the Hudson Park girls’ hockey side returned to action on the weekend and beat Queenstown Girls’ High 2-0 in a highly anticipated match.
With the win, Hudson continues to pad an impressive run of results which dates back to their pre-season matches in March.
In their in-season derby matches, Hudson kicked their campaign off with a 1-0 win over Cambridge High School last month, when Inathi Lubelwana netted the solitary goal.
Soon after that, the team headed to Knysna for the Oakhill Festival, where they recorded five victories in their seven games.
They returned home, had a weekend off, and then travelled to Makhanda to face a dangerous DSG side.
Hudson, despite showing grit and character in that clash, were undone by the hosts, losing 1-2.
They entered the clash against Queenstown Girls’ High, chasing another win, ahead of a meeting with Stirling High School next week.
Playing on the Chris Harker AstroTurf at Queen’s College, Busiwe Mayekiso and Mackenzie Goss struck for the East London school to see them to victory.
Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus after the match, head coach Jerry Snyman said he was pleased with the performance and believes his side will draw inspiration from it.
“It’s been three weekends since we’ve had a fixture, but it is good to be back on the turf,” he commented.
“The girls played well, had good structure, and maintained the goals for the season. The intensity could have been better for the match, but the GHS team is a force to be reckoned with.
“This win is a good start ahead of the Stirling derby next weekend, as well as a step in the right direction as we face Clarendon in the first derby in term three.
“We have a few girls in the Border set up, so they will be playing hockey during the holidays.”
Hudson Park’s showdown with Stirling High will be their final match of the term.
In term three, they will take on Clarendon, both Stirling and Cambridge High in return fixtures, and also host Kingsridge High School for Girls and Framesby.
In an eagerly awaited clash, DSG Makhanda, and Pearson High played to a 3-3 draw.
Pearson made the trip to Makhanda after a successful visit in George, where they beat York High and Outeniqua, which was followed by a 2-0 win over Framesby in the u18 EP Knockout Cup.
DSG, on the other hand, tasted defeat last weekend, going down 1-2 against Collegiate Girls’ High.
It was Pearson who started the brighter on Saturday, opening the scoring in the first chukka through Zoey Mostert.
They doubled their lead in the second, and this time it was Chanelle Venter who netted.
DSG came alive in the third chukka, scoring twice through Lucy Holderness and Kayleigh Clayton. However, just before the start of the final chukka, Jody van Aardt put Pearson 3-2 ahead.
Clayton netted her second to pull DSG level once again in the final chukka, and the contest ended all square.
Eastern Cape results
Clarendon 3-2 Cambridge High
DSG Makhanda 3-3 Pearson High
Hudson Park 2-0 Queenstown Girls’ High
Woodridge College 2-1 Victoria Park
Kingswood College 2-0 Framesby
Grey High School and Selborne College asserted their supremacy in the Eastern Cape, picking up victories over St Andrew’s College, and Cambridge High School respectively over the weekend.
Grey travelled to Makhanda for the clash and won 2-1, while Selborne thumped Cambridge 6-0 away from home.
Grey and Selborne are unbeaten this season in their respective regions and, despite both tasting defeat at the Hibbert Shield earlier this month, they have continued to make good progress.
Heading into the clash in Makhanda, coach Andrew Beynon’s Grey side had racked up three impressive performances in succession, beating Queen’s College 6-0, Woodridge College 6-1, and Pearson High School 7-1.
St Andrew’s, who have enjoyed a strong season, were always going to ask questions of the Gqeberha side, and they made it tough on the visitors.
Grey, however, is a side that’s managed to find answers throughout their campaign, and they, once more, produced the goods when it counted, scoring through Logan Goddard-Ford and the lively Luke Tait.
Tait has been on a rich goal scoring run in recent matches, including scoring a hattrick against Queen’s on Grey’s reunion weekend. He’ll take that confidence into the Eastern Province A side, which is set to do battle at this year’s SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein next month.
The clash was also Grey’s last of the term. Their next action is on 12 July, when they host York High School.
East London’s Selborne College comprehensively outplayed Cambridge High away from home.
Last week, coach KJ Friend’s side dominated Dale College, thumping the side from Qonce 10-1.
Against Cambridge, they picked up from where they left off. This time around, Waeden Plaatjes scored a hattrick, skipper Tre’ Gilbert contributed a double, and Kungothando Macanda added another to complete the 6-0 drubbing.
Selborne face a much tougher challenge next weekend when they take on St Andrew’s College.
Other matches
On Friday afternoon, Woodridge College scored a 2-1 win over Victoria Park in the first match of the weekend.
Hudson Park, after a lengthy break, was back in action, and travelled to Komani to face Queen’s College.
That clash ended in a 2-2 draw, with Ayola Rubushe and the multitalented Dante May scoring for the East London side. Bevaneo Maytham and Brett Hoffmann struck for the home side.
Kingswood College also picked up an impressive win away from home, scoring five unanswered goals against Westering High.
RESULTS
Queen’s College 2-2 Hudson Park
St Andrew’s College 1-2 Grey High
Cambridge High 0-6 Selborne College
Westering High School 0-5 Kingswood College
PRG Skipper Reuben Sendzul in action against Wynberg Boys’ High on 24 May 2024. Photo: Janco Saunders
Paul Roos Gimnasium head coach, Michael Baker will feel a sense of relief after his side produced arguably their most clinical performance of the season to dismantle Wynberg Boys’ High 7-1 on the Maties Astroturf on Friday night.
The Stellenbosch outfit, who, by their standards, haven’t quite reached their full potential this year, looked like a different outfit in front of their supporters in their final match of the term.
They were ruthless going forward, capitalised on the large number of opportunities they created, and their defence was hardly tested.
The home side headed into the clash after picking up a 1-0 win over their rivals, Paarl Gimnasium, the previous week away from home.
Wynberg, on the other hand, had dominated their encounter against Durbanville, winning 5-1 on their home turf.
However, that was quickly forgotten, as the Cape Town side was put under pressure early on with Baker’s boys taking control of ball possession and territory.
Within the first seven minutes, PRG was awarded four penalty corners but failed to convert them due to poor execution. However, they made the fifth PC count, with their captain Reuben Sendzul calmly slotting to break the deadlock.
That was the only goal scored in the first chukka, and PRG went into the break knowing they should’ve scored more.
In the second chukka, the hosts turned up the tempo and were rewarded with three goals, which, essentially, put away the match.
First up, Joshua Smit found himself in space inside the circle. After receiving the ball, he danced his way past two defenders before placing the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-0.
PRG were not about to rest on their laurels and soon after that it was the turn of Barend Geldenhuys to get his name on the score sheet.
Geldenhuys, who would’ve entered the clash gutted after failing to convert some good goal-scoring opportunities last weekend, looked sharp, and just before halftime he doubled his tally to see his team cruising at 4-0 to the good at the interval.
In the third chukka, the Stellenbosch side maintained their intensity and they quickly made it 5-0 through Keith Siebrits, before Sendzul, via another penalty corner drag flick, made it 6-0, much to the delight of those in maroon blazers.
Wynberg mustered a consolation goal through a penalty stroke, scored by Dayle Gertson, after PRG goalkeeper Beor van Reenen fouled a Wynberg player inside the circle.
PRG’s Keith Siebrits on the charge for his side against Wynberg Boys High. Photo: Janco Saunders
Paul Roos, though, had the final say, with Louán van Zyl completing the scoring.
With no goals in the fourth chukka, the match ended 7-1, and in the process, PRG recorded their biggest winning margin in the Western Cape league so far this season.
Baker’s side takes a break for exams and provincial action for some of the players until 12 July. Then, they face a big return clash against South African College High School (SACS) in Stellenbosch.
Earlier this season, Paul Roos won 6-5 from the penalty spot in the final of the Hibbert Shield against SACS. However, in a more recent derby match, SACS thumped the Stellenbosch side 6-2.
Wynberg faces the same SACS’ outfit next weekend in a southern suburbs’ derby, which promises fireworks.
Other matches
SACS and Bishops Diocesan College were, meanwhile, convincing winners on Saturday, outplaying DF Malan and Stellenberg High respectively.
After scoring 11 goals against Stellenberg last weekend, SACS returned to action at home and, this time, overwhelmed DF Malan 8-0.
Litha Kraai scored five goals in last week’s win, and this time around netted four. Matthew Jones contributed a brace, while Aiden Hughes and Cohen Williams completed the scoring.
At Stellenberg, Bishops continued their fine form, outscoring the hosts 6-1.
David Handley bagged a double, while Adam Giggle, Albert Steyn, Joshua Mettler, and Andrew Raubenheimer also scored.
With that win, Bishops remains unbeaten in the Western Cape, and they have scored a total of 17 goals in their past three matches against Stellenberg (6-1), Paarl Boys’ High (6-0), and Fairmont High (5-0).
In Paarl, coach Jacques Grobler’s Paarl Gimnasium side got back to winning ways, beating a resilient Parel Vallei 4-2.
Somerset College ended their term’s schedule with a 4-0 win over Bridgehouse, while a testy clash between Paarl Boys’ High, and Rondebosch was called off at half-time with the sides level at 0-0. What might the repercussions be of that decision?
Western Cape Results
Durbanville 3-0 Westerford
SACS 8-0 DF Malan
Somerset College 4-0 Bridge House
Stellenberg 0-6 Bishops
Paarl Boys’ High 0-0 Rondebosch Boys’ High
Paul Roos Gimnasium 7-1 Wynberg Boys’ High
Paarl Gimnasium 4-2 Parel Vallei
Punt (Mosselbaai) 2-1 Belville High
Two of the Eastern Cape’s top teams, DSG Makhanda and Pearson High School, will reignite their rivalry this weekend when they square off in a provincial derby in Makhanda on Saturday afternoon. The hosts will be eager to reverse a 1-2 defeat in last year’s clash.
The sides have experienced different fortunes in 2024, but they have still managed to play their best hockey against some of the country’s best teams.
For the Makhanda side, it’s been about bouncing back after a sub-standard start to their season at the Greg Beling Festival in East London, in March. There, coach Geowynne Gamiet’s side played six matches, lost four, drew one, and managed a solitary win.
Context is important, however, and those losses came against some of South Africa’s best sides. They lost 1-2 to Eunice, 0-6 to Oranje, 0-1 to Rhenish and 0-1 to St Anne’s DSG. One big defeat and three one-goal losses to top teams. Now, that looks a little better.
In their other matches in East London, they played to a 2-2 draw with a very good Voortrekker Bethlehem team before beating Linden 5-0 in their final match of the weekend.
Since then, DSG has been on a superb run that has seen them beat Hudson Park 2-1, Stirling High 7-0, and Cambridge High 7-1 in recent weeks.
Last weekend, they stumbled and went down 1-2 against Gqeberha’s Collegiate Girls’ High, who showed at the All Girls Festival that they’re a formidable team.
Point one on the agenda for DSG will be getting back to winning ways against a tough Pearson outfit.
The Gqeberha school has impressed in 2024, continuing to build on the upward trajectory that has been evident in recent years.
They were also in action at the Greg Beling Festival and at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival where, up against the best teams from around the country, they finished 15th out of 32 sides.
They’ve been in good form recently, too. This week, they defeated Framesby 2-0 in the last four of the u18 EP Knockout Cup to reach the final.
Last weekend, they enjoyed a fruitful outing down to George, where they picked up a 4-1 win over York High and a 2-1 win over Outeniqua.
Before that, they held Collegiate to a 0-0 draw at Collegiate’s 150th reunion, beat Kingswood College 2-0, and last tasted defeat against Rhenish Girls’ High last month.
Saturday’s contest will be an indicator of which team lies at the right end of the provincial standings. Finishing, as always, will be the key to victory.
The visitors, Pearson, will look to their provincial representatives, Annemi De Villiers, Jody van Aardt, Zoey Mostert, Nyssa Slabbert, and the influential Zanika Coetzer, to steer them in the right direction.
Among those to keep an eye on in the DSG side will be Kayleigh Clayton, Hannah Lowe, and Abigail Holderness.
Other matches
While the clash in Makhanda is the pick of the provincial matches, there are plenty of others that look like they’ll be good contests.
The action starts on Friday, when Woodridge College visits Victoria Park. That game gets underway at 16:00.
The following day, East London will be treated to a clash between Cambridge High School and Clarendon High School for Girls.
Hudson Park is away at Queenstown Girls’ High, and Kingswood College is set to battle Framesby at home.
Fixtures
Friday, 24 May
16:00 – Victoria Park vs Woodridge College
Saturday, 25 May
10:50 – Cambridge High vs Clarendon
12:00 – Kingswood College vs Framesby
13:00 – DSG Makhanda vs Pearson High
13:00 – Queenstown Girls’ High vs Hudson Park
SuperSport Schools and South African Hockey are thrilled to announce their partnership aimed at bolstering support for the national hockey teams as they gear up for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
