Author: hnienaber

The defending champions of the annual inter-provincial sevens tournament, Free State, will once again be the favourites to walk away with the honours at this year’s tournament in Bethlehem.

The matches will be played at Voortrekker and will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Free State will face South Western Districts in the opening match on Friday in a Pool A clash. Limpopo Blue Bulls and Namibia are also in Pool A.

Free State’s team, consisting mostly of players from Grey College, will be a force to be reckoned with. Grey College was crowned Champion of Champions of the Toyota High School Sevens Series last week. The Free Staters defeated the Sharks 15-14 in last year’s inter-provincial final.

Two players from the defending champions to look out for are Ethan Adams and Junior Titoti. The latter scored a vital try during last year’s final for the Free Staters.

In 2022, Eastern Province were the champions, while the Sharks lifted the trophy in 2019.

The hosts, the Griffons, will face the Sharks in their opening clash. The Purple People Eaters have a good record in sevens as they’ve produced Blitzbokke like Cecil Afrika, Hoffman Maritz, Seabelo Senatla and Branco du Preez, to name just a few.

The Griffons will however be without players from their top sevens’ school, Welkom Gimnasium. The Gimmies decided to play in the Heidelberg-leg of the Toyota High School Sevens Series, which took place on the same weekend as the Griffons’ trials.

The fact that Western Province, the Valke and Border have decided not to send a team to Bethlehem is truly a sad day for sevens rugby in those three regions.

With sevens rugby being part of the Olympics it is alarming that those unions don’t provide the schoolboys in their systems an opportunity to showcase their talent at the highest level available for schoolboy players in South Africa.

Pool C will probably be the toughest pool as the Golden Lions, Eastern Province, Pumas and Free State B will lock horns. The Pumas have produced Blitzbok heroes like Kwagga Smith and Werner Kok in recent years.

The final will be played on Saturday.

The Pools: 

Pool A: Free State, South Western Districts, Limpopo Blue Bulls, Namibia.
Pool B: Sharks, Griffons, Griqualand West, TBC.
Pool C: Golden Lions, Eastern Province, Pumas, Free State B.
Pool D: Boland, Blue Bulls, Griffons B, Leopards.

The Fixtures | Day 1

08:00 – South Western Districts vs Free State; 08:20 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Namibia; 08:40 – Griffons vs Sharks; 09:00 – Griqualand West vs TBC; 09:20 – Eastern Province vs Golden Lions; 09:40 – Pumas vs Free State B; 10:00 – Blue Bulls vs Boland; 10:20 – Griffons B vs Leopards; 10:40 – Free State vs Limpopo; 11:00 – Namibia vs South Western Districts; 11:20 – Sharks vs Griqualand West; 11:40 – Griffons vs TBC; 12:00 – Golden Lions vs Pumas; 12:20 – Free State B vs Eastern Province; 12:40 – Boland vs Griffons B; 13:00 – Leopards vs Blue Bulls; 13:20 – Free State vs Namibia; 13:40 – South Western Districts vs Limpopo Blue Bulls; 14:00 – Sharks vs TBC; 14:20 – Griffons vs Griqualand West; 14:40 – Golden Lions vs Free State B; 15:00 – Eastern Province vs Pumas; 15:20 – Boland vs Leopards; 15:40 – Blue Bulls vs Griffons B.

Hoërskool Kathu‘s Gregory Julie produced a remarkable T20 bowling performance during his school’s clash against the Kalahari Eye Warriors Hub in a Northern Cape Schools SA20 showdown in Kathu on Wednesday.

In a very rare occurrence, Julie didn’t concede a single run, and he further enhanced that feat by picking up a five-wicket haul, which included dismissing four frontline batsmen. That must surely rank as one of the best T20 bowling performances at any level of the game.

With the medium-pacer’s jaw-dropping performance leading the way, Kathu restricted the Kalahari Eye Warriors to 62 all out. Tshidiso Phou, with 23, was the only batsman to make it into double figures for the losing side. TJ Lategan also bowled well for Kathu, taking 2/8.

Set a low target for victory, Kathu crossed the line in 14.3 overs to record a seven-wicket win, with Christiaan Erasmus (27*) and Garren Stonestreet (15) making the biggest contributions with the bat.

In the Eastern Cape, Graeme College smashed Port Alfred by 227 runs.

Batting first, the team from Makhanda amassed 262/2 in their 20 overs. Luphelo Mdyesha led the way, top-scoring with an unbeaten 124, while Andrew Muir weighed in with 54 not out.

Port Alfred was skittled for only 41 runs in their reply. Corbin Tidbury (3/3) and Ethan Bokbaard (3/14) removed three batsmen each, and Kits McConnachie (2/21) helped speed Graeme to a one-sided victory.

Selborne College was every bit as dominant in a 10-wicket win over Stirling, whose innings lasted only 11.1 overs as they were skittled for just 61.

Reece Wait removed five of Stirling’s batsmen for only three runs in two overs, while Aaron Senekal, who claimed 2/17, also troubled the losing side’s batsmen.

Selborne College then reached the required target in only 4.4 overs thanks to some aggressive batting by Joshua Wilkie (33*, 17b) and Senekal (24*, 13b).

Dale College defeated Central Hub by 56 runs. The team from Qonce posted 113/8 in their allotted overs before restricting Central Hub to 57 runs.

Marais Viljoen of Alberton is the early favourite to be crowned the champion in the Easterns’ region. They defeated Actonville Hub by six wickets.

Actonville batted first and tallied 102/9 in their 20 overs. Yousuf Teladia kept the Marais Viljoen bowlers at bay, making 38, and he received solid support from Mabutho Maseko, who contributed 21. The pick of the bowlers was Tiaan Hall, who snapped up 2/8, while Abdullah Tadwala bagged 2/12.

Marais Viljoen was made to work hard for their win, but after 17.2 overs they had scored 106/4, thanks to Rieshaeel Hashim (43*) and Jaden Govender (33).

Summarised Scorecards:

Kalahari Eye Warriors Hub 62/10 (Tshidiso Phou 23; Gregory Julie 5/0, TJ Lategan 2/8); Hoërskool Kathu 63/3 (Christiaan Erasmus 27; Leungo Mosiane 2/2). Hoërskool Kathu won by seven wickets.

Graeme College 262/2 (Luphelo Mdyesha 124*, Andrew Muir 54*); Port Alfred 41/10 (Corbin Tidbury 3/3, Ethan Bokbaard 3/14, Kits McConnachie 2/21). Graeme College won by 227 runs.

Stirling 61/10 (Reece Wait 5/3, Aaron Senekal 2/17); Selborne College 62/0 (Joshua Wilkie 33*, Aaron Senekal 24*). Selborne College won by ten wickets.

Actonville Hub 102/9 (Yousuf Teladia 38, Mabutho Maseko 21; Tiaan Hall 2/8, Abdullah Tadwala 2/12); Marais Viljoen 106/4 (Rieshaeel Hashim 43*, Jaden Govender 33). Marais Viljoen won by six wickets.

This year’s Currie Cup final will have a strong shade of Grasshopper green with a tint of Maroon.

Glenwood High School from Durban and Paul Roos Gimnasium from Stellenbosch have the biggest representation in this year’s final with four old boys from each that will be in action at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Lions will host the Sharks in the first Currie Cup final between these two sides since 2011.

In total 26 schools will be represented in the final. The Lions have four players in their squad of 23 who were schooled in the union. They are Darrien Landsberg (Northcliff), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (St Stithians College), Morné Brandon (Monument) and Kelly Mpeku (King Edward VII).

All four have also represented the Golden Lions at the Craven Week during their school careers.

The Sharks have eight players in their squad who also played their school rugby within the union. They are Jordan Hendrikse, James Venter (both Glenwood), Ethan Hooker, Tian Meyer (both Westville Boys’ High), Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Mawande Mdande (all Maritzburg College) and Dylan Richardson (Kearsney College).

Interesting is that four KwaZulu-Natal school scrumhalves Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba (Durban High School), Nico Steyn (Glenwood) and Meyer will take the park in the final.

Ben Vorster from Tzaneen will probably for the first time have two representatives in the final with Renzo du Plessis and Trevor Nyakane who will be on the opposing side. Du Plessis matriculated in 2019 while World Cup winner Nyakane matriculated in 2007.

The teams: 

Lions: 15 Quan Horn (Paarl Boys’ High), 14 Rabz Maxwane (Dale College), 13 Rynhardt Jonker (Glenwood), 12 Marius Louw (Grey College), 11 Tapiwa Mafura (Ermelo), 10 Sanele Nohamba (Durban High School), 9 Nico Steyn (Glenwood), 8 Jarod Cairns (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 7 Ruan Venter (Paarl Boys’ High), 6 Renzo du Plessis (Ben Vorster), 5 Darrien Landsberg (Northcliff), 4 Ruben Schoeman (Grey College), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (St Stithians College), 2 Jaco Visagie (Augsburg Landbou – captain), 1 Morgan Naudé (Hoërskool Nelspruit). Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon (Monument), 17 Juan Schoeman (Affies), 18 Conrad van Vuuren (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 19 Siba Qoma (Hudson Park), 20 Raynard Roets (Garsfontein), 21 JC Pretorius (HTS Middelburg), 22 Kade Wolhuter (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 23 Kelly Mpeku (King Edward VII).

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse (Glenwood), 14 Eduan Keyter (Affies), 13 Jurenzo Julius (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 12 André Esterhuizen (Klerksdorp), 11 Ethan Hooker (Westville Boys’ High), 10 Siya Masuku (Piet Retief), 9 Bradley Davids (Paarl Gimnasium), 8 Emmanuel Tshituka (Northcliff), 7 Vincent Tshituka (Northcliff – captain), 6 James Venter (Glenwood), 5 Emile van Heerden (Paarl Boys’ High), 4 Corné Rahl (Oakdale Landbou), 3 Hanro Jacobs (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 2 Fez Mbatha (Maritzburg College), 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu (Maritzburg College). Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson (Kearsney College), 17 Trevor Nyakane (Ben Vorster), 18 Mawande Mdande (Maritzburg College), 19 Jason Jenkins (St Alban’s College), 20 Gerbrandt Grobler (Affies), 21 Tinotenda Mavesere (Churchill High, Zimbabwe), 22 Tian Meyer (Westville Boys’ High), 23 Lionel Cronjé (Queen’s College).

Schools represented in this year’s Currie Cup final: 

4 – Glenwood (Rynhardt Jonker, Nico Steyn, Jordan Hendrikse, James Venter); Paul Roos Gimnasium (Jarod Cairns, Kade Wolhuter, Jurenzo Julius, Hanro Jacobs).

3 – Paarl Boys’ High (Quan Horn, Ruan Venter, Emile van Heerden); Northcliff (Darrien Landsberg, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka); Maritzburg College (Ntuthuko Mchunu, Fez Mbatha, Mawande Mdande); Affies (Juan Schoeman, Eduan Keyter, Gerbrandt Grobler).

2 – Ben Vorster (Trevor Nyakane, Renzo du Plessis); Westville Boys’ High (Ethan Hooker, Tian Meyer); Hoërskool Nelspruit (Morgan Naudé, Conrad van Vuuren); Grey College (Marius Louw, Ruben Schoeman).

1 – St Alban’s College (Jason Jenkins); Dale College (Rabz Maxwane); Piet Retief (Siya Masuka); Paarl Gimnasium (Bradley Davids); Oakdale Landbou (Corné Rahl); Queen’s College (Lionel Cronjé); St Stithians College (Asenathi Ntlabakanye); Ermelo (Tapiwa Mafura); Hoërskool Klerksdorp (André Esterhuizen); Hudson Park (Siba Qoma); Garsfontein (Raynard Roets); King Edward VII (Kelly Mpeku); HTS Middelburg (JC Pretorius); Augsburg Landbou (Jaco Visagie); Monument (Morné Brandon); Durban High School (Sanele Nohamba); Kearsney College (Dylan Richardson); Churchill High (Tinotenda Mavesere).

Die Hoërskool Kempton Park se Cassidy Bosman het haar seisoen met ‘n goeie vertoning in die 3 000m vir meisies o.17 tydens die jaarlikse Bestmed Egoli-byeenkoms in die UJ-stadion in Johannesburg afgeskop.

Bosman het die wedloop in tien minute en 10.56 sekondes voltooi. Dit het aan haar ‘n stewige 916 punte op die puntestelsel verdien. Bosman het ook in die 1 500m koning gekraai toe sy in vier minute en 42.22 sekondes oor die wenstreep is.

Haar tyd in die korter nommer sou aan haar verlede jaar ‘n goue medalje tydens die SA Junior- en Jeug-kampioenskappe verower het.

Kempies se Carla Muller (o.14) het ook in die 90m-hekkies gewys dat sy nog in die toekoms haar stem dik kan maak. Sy het dié nommer in 13.57 sekondes gewen.

Dominique Nel (Helpmekaar) is ook ‘n atleet om in die toekoms dop te hou. Sy het die gewigstoot vir meisies o.14 met ‘n poging van 13.11 meter gewen. Dit het aan haar 902 punte besorg.

Noordheuwel se Charné Fourie was ‘n lid van die Bestmed Uitnodigingspan en het soos gewoonlik vir heelwat opwinding in die 200m vir meisies o.14 gesorg. Fourie was in 2023 die SA Skole-kampioen in dié nommer.

Sy het tydens die Egoli byeenkoms dié nommer in 24.98 sekondes afgeblits om goud te verower.

Nog ‘n naelloper van die Bestmed Uitnodiging-span Oluchi Ndubueze (Northcliff) het die 200m vir meisies o.15 in 24.89 sekondes afgeblits.

In die o.16-afdeling het Marais Viljoen se Luanne du Plooy (24.94) hakskene vir haar teenstanders gewys, terwyl die Hoërskool Klerskdorp se Jenna van Dyk in die o.17-afdeling in ‘n tyd van 24.81 sekondes koning gekraai het.

Nog ‘n atleet van die uitnodigingspan Matsidiso Makgato (Secunda) het vir ‘n blink vertoning in die verspring vir meisies o.17 gesorg toe sy op 6.06 meter in die sandput geland het. Dit het aan haar 943 punte besorg.

Marais Viljoen se verspringer Janine Berry (o.15) het goud in haar ouderdomsgroep met ‘n sprong van 5.66m verdien.

Helpmekaar Kollege se spiesgooier Jan-Hendrik Heymans het vir die hoogtepunt van die jaarlikse Bestmed Egoli-byeenkoms in die UJ-stadion in Johannesburg gesorg.

Dit is wel vroeg in die seisoen, maar Heymans (o.17) het die blikassegaai ‘n allemintige 73.12 meter gegooi. Dit is ook natuurlik die redelik nuwe byeenkoms se rekord vir dié nommer. Dié byeenkoms is verlede jaar vir die eerste keer aangebied.

Heymans het verlede jaar die o.16-rekord met ‘n gooi van 60.63m opgestel. Sy poging op vanjaar se byeenkoms was die enigste vertoning wat ‘n volle 1 000 punte verdien het.

Helpies se Hanro van den Berg (o.16) het ook ‘n skitterende vertoning in dié nommer gelewer. Hy het die spiesgooi vir seuns o.16 met ‘n poging van 60.19m gewen.

Darius Botha van Dr. Malan het die seisoen ook op ‘n hoë noot begin. Hy het in die gewigstoot asook diksus vir seuns o.14 koning gekraai. Botha het die gewigstoot met ‘n poging van 17.90m gewen, terwyl hy die diskus 53.79m ver gegooi het.

King Edward VII se Chinedu Amadi was in ‘n hewige tweestryd in die gewigstoot vir seuns o.17 met die Hoërskool Klerksdorp se Hanro Nel gewikkel. Amadi het goud met ‘n poging van 17.45m verower, terwyl Nel (17.33m) met silwer tevrede moes wees.

Amadi het ook in die diskus met ‘n poging van 45.79m gewen.

Die beste vertoning op die baan is deur Jeppe se Kgoputso Manaleng (o.15) in die 100-hekkies opgedis. Hy het die nommer in ‘n nuwe rekordtyd van 12.54 sekondes gewen.

Jeppe se naelloper Mukona Manavhela het ook ‘n goeie dag op die baan beleef. Hy het die 200m vir seuns o.16 in net 21.35 sekondes voltooi. Die 100m het hy in 10.51 sekondes afgeblits vir nog ‘n goue medalje.

King Edward VII se verspringer Joshua Wilkinson spog nou met die enigste verspring-rekord van dié byeenkoms. Hy het die nommer vir seuns o.16 met ‘n sprong van 7.07m gewen.

Wilkinson het verlede jaar ook in die o.15-afdeling met ‘n sprong van 6.87m gewen.

Die Noordvaal Skolerugby-vereniging (NVSRV) sal vanaand tydens ‘n vergadering so bietjie poets aan die SDC Noordvaal Cup se struktuur.

“Die struktuur van dié reeks moet dinamies bly. Krag teen krag bly vir ons ongelooflik belangrik. Ons het wel versoeke ontvang en daar is ‘n paar opsies op die tafel. So ons moet maar die politoer uithaal en so bietjie poets aan die struktuur,” het Tinus Diedericks, voorsitter van die NVSRV gesê.

Die huidige struktuur van die kompetisie is sedert 2018 in plek. Dié struktuur is destyds bymekaar gesit om te verseker dat krag teen krag teen mekaar in die onderskeie afdeling sake sal uitspook.

Die twee jaar wat die reeks weens die Covid-pandemie in 2020 en 2021 nie kon plaasvind nie, het sonder twyfel in ‘n impak gehad dat die reeks se model homself regskud.

Boonop het die Hoërskool Waterkloof van Pretoria in 2019 weer tot die reeks toegetree na hy in 2017 daaraan onttrek het. Dit het veroorsaak dat die Beker-afdeling tot nege skole gegroei het.

Daarna was daar ook ‘n twis aan die einde van 2023 waarna daar besluit is dat die Hoërskool Menlopark nie sou afskuif na die Plaat-afdeling nie. Hoërskool Rustenburg het wel opgeskuif wat die Beker-afdeling tot tien spanne vergroot het.

“Ons het versoeke ontvang om die struktuur van die reeks te hersien. Daar is skole wat ‘n magdom kilometers aflê in die reeks, maar ons kan ook nie wegbeweeg van krag teen krag nie. Nie alle skole is dieselfde nie en beskikbare begrotings verskil,” het Diedericks gesê.

Daar is ‘n hele paar opsies op die tafel wat onder andere ‘n opsie insluit waar skole soos voor 2018 eers in hul onderskeie unies sake uitspook asook waar daar in van die afdelings eers in streke meegeding word. Die huidige struktuur is ook steeds op dié tafel.

Die bestuur het terugvoer vanuit al die provinsies ontvang en behoort vanaand ‘n finale besluit te neem. Skole betree binnekort hul begrotingstydperk en die reeks se bepalings van 2025 sal voor dan uiteengesit moet word.

Indien die status quo vir 2025 behou word sal Transvalia van Vanderbijlpark volgende jaar tussen die groot honde van die Beker-afdeling grom. Marais Viljoen van Alberton sal afskuif na die Plaat-afdeling.

In die Plaat-afdeling sal Wesvalia van Klerksdorp die nuweling wees. Wesvalia was in 2022 nog in die Bowl-afdeling in aksie. Montana van Pretoria sal afskuif na die Skild-afdeling.

Piet Retief het ook die afgelope twee jaar gesorg dat hy elke jaar die voorste skool in sy afdeling is. Hy sal dus die nuweling in die Skild-afdeling wees na hy nog in 2022 in Groep II gespeel het.

In die Bowl-afdeling sal daar drie nuwelinge in Dinamika van Alberton, Hoërskool Ermelo en Bergsig Akademie wees. Die drie skole wat sal afskuif na Groep II is Hoërskool Alberton, Dr. Malan van Meyerton en Wagpos van Brits.

The South African sprinter Viwe Jingqi qualified for the 100m women’s final at the World u20 Championship during the opening day in Lima, Peru. She is a former pupil of the Tuks Sports School in Pretoria.

She finished third in her semi-final in a time of 11.49 seconds to qualify for the final as one of the fastest athletes outside of the automatic qualification. If she runs near her best time this season of 11.22 she will be a contender for a medal.

In the heats, Jingqi ran the 10th fastest qualifying time when she blitzed over the finish line in 11.61 seconds. Randburg’s Kaili Botje (11.92) just missed out on a place in the next round of this event.

The South African 4x400m relay team didn’t make the final but produced a season-best performance when they finished in three minutes and 27.86 seconds. The quartet consisted of Kryn Romlin, Colene Scheepers (Menlopark), Sihle Mahlangu (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) and Naledi Makgatha (Vorentoe).

Carise van Rooyen (Voortrekker, Bethlehem) secured a spot in the next round of the women’s 800m in a time of two minutes and 7.51 seconds. Another South African Izandri Jacobs (Montana, 2:12.15) just missed out.

Affies’ Timeke Coetzee (5.49m) just missed out on a place in the long jump final for women. Alicia Khunou of Menlopark also did well with a 45.68m attempt in the qualifying round for women’s discus. She however also missed out on a spot in the final round.

Sydney Rothman (Paarl Girls’ High) participated in the pole vault and sailed over the bar at 3.60m with her best attempt.

South Africa’s two junior sprinting prodigies, Bayanda Walaza (Curro Hazeldean) and Bradley Nkoana (a former pupil of Potchefstroom Boys’ High) set the track on fire during the opening day of the World u20 Championship in Lima, Peru.

Both will be in action during the 100m final of the championship. Walaza booked his place in the final by winning his semi-final in 10.33 seconds.

Nkoana came second in his semi-final in 10.30 seconds. Puripol Boonson (Thailand) who won this semi-final crossed the finish line also in 10.30 seconds.

Nkoana qualified for the semi-final with the fastest time during all eight heats. He won his heat in 10.27 seconds. Walaza also won his heat in a quickfire 10.28 seconds. Both athletes already have an Olympic silver medal at home after bagging it earlier this year in Paris as part of the South African 4×100 relay team.

Their time of 37.57 seconds during the Olympics was also a new African record.

Nkoana should be the favourite to secure a gold medal in Lima as he set a new South African u20 record earlier this year in Switzerland with a time of 10.03 seconds.

JL van Rensburg, former pupil from Noordheuwel, bagged South Africa’s first medal in Lima. He shot a personal best of 20.74 metres in the final to finish second by only two centimetres to Jarno van Daalen (Netherlands, 20.76m).

He also achieved a personal best with his best attempt during the qualifying rounds with a distance of 20.01 metres before shattering that in the final.

Hencu Lamberts (formerly from Affies) also made it to the final round with a personal best of 19m. In the final his best attempt landed on 18.38m.

Charl Greyling missed out on a spot for the final of the hammer throw with an attempt of 65.13m. The former learner from Witteberg in Bethlehem finished 24th in the qualifying round. His best-ever attempt in this item was a throw of 69.58m earlier this year.

In the javelin, Ewald Jansen (59.22m) didn’t have his best day at the office.

Ethan Olivier, who attended Overvaal in Vereeniging, qualified for the men’s triple jump final with the leading distance of 17.01m. He also represented his adopted country, New Zealand, at the Olympic Games earlier this year.

PRETORIA. – Die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling word duidelik ook nie in Mei-maand gewen nie.

Die Hoërskool Garsfontein het Saterdag ‘n sprokie-seisoen met ‘n sege van 36-30 in die eindstryd van die reeks teen die Hoërskool Waterkloof op laasgenoemde se veld hier afgesluit.

Min sou die Turkoois Bere aan aanspraakmakers op die titel beskou het na die span vroeër vanjaar ses nederlae op ‘n streep op die lyf geloop het. Die laaste van daardie nederlae was teen die einste Klofies (36-47) in hul ligawedstryd.

Die Blou Tornado se eerste sege oor Garsies sedert 2013. Die Bere se afrigtingspan onder Johan du Plessis (hoofafrigter) en Sylvester Booysen (hulpafrigter) het egter bly glo en hul span het hul met ‘n trofee beloon.

Die Bere se kaptein en binnesenter, Luann Olivier, het welverdiend as Speler van die Wedstryd aangewys. Hy was uitstekend by die afbreekpunte en het verskeie kere hier vir sy span omgekeerde besit bewerkstellig.

Die eindstryd was voorwaar ‘n vertoonventer vir skolerugby in die Noordvaal-streek. Albei spanne het opwindende hardlooprugby opgedis.

Garsfontein moes die laaste minuut met slegs 12 spelers op die veld klaarkom na Brooklyn Newman, Thinus Oosthuizen en Morné Coetzer koelkas toe gestuur is. Die Klofies was enkele meters weg van ‘n sege voor die eindfluitjie.

Garsies se agttal het weer die grondslag voorlangs gelê met die voorryman, Luan van den Berg, en flank Oosthuizen aan die spits. Olivier se sentermaar, Ruan Enslin, was ook vuurwarm.

Vir Klofies het sy heelagter, Ronan Bastiaanse, ‘n goeie wedstryd beleef. Die binnesenter, Happy Makate, wat in sy 50ste wedstryd vir Waterkloof in aksie was, was ook soos altyd uitstaande.

Transvalia van Vanderbijlpark kon dalk nie vanjaar daarin slaag om vir HTS Middelburg se Rooi Bulle om te dop nie, maar hy kon darem Saterdag daarin slaag om sy hande op die Plaat-afdeling se trofee te kry.

Valia het danksy ‘n drie deur sy haker, Jayden McPearson, na die sirene daarin geslaag om die trofee met die Rooi Bulle te deel. Die span se losskakel, Dylan Steynman, het dié drie vanuit die hoekie verdoel om sake op 24-elk gelyk te trek.

Die span van Vanderbijlpark se heelagter, Siya Khambula, was ook uitstaande op dié dag.

In die Skild-eindstryd het Wesvalia van Klerksdorp op sy tuisveld vir Lichtenburg met 23-21 die loef afgesteek.

Wesvalia het met hierdie sege die Skild-afdeling onoorwonne afgesluit en ook sy eerste titel ooit in die Noordvaal-reeks ingepalm. Sy kaptein en agtsteman, Hanré Venter, was soos regdeur die seisoen weer uitstaande.

Die span se heelagter, Rickardt van Heerden, het ook met sy skopwerk in winderige omstandighede beïndruk.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium se binnesenter, Elrich Bosch, het na speeltyd reeds vertreke was gaan druk om sy span tot ‘n naelskraapse sege van 18-17 oor Eldoraigne in die Bowl-eindstryd.

Die wenspan se heelagter, David Ndala, het met die doelskop geslaag om Eldos se 50ste bestaansjaar se partytjie so bietjie te demp.

Al drie die verdedigende kampioene in die Kovsiestreekkompetisie se Shimla-, Irawa- en Colt-liga het hul titels suksesvol op Shimlapark in Bloemfontein verdedig.

Welkom Gimnasium het weer die bordjies teen Voortrekker van Bethlehem in die Shimla-liga se eindstryd met 27-19 verhang om weer met die trofee terug na Welkom te reis.

Die Trekkers is die Griffon-kampioen na hulle vir Gimmies vir 36-28 in daardie eindstryd geklop het. Gimmies se losskakel, Ronaldo Kiewiet, het vir oulaas vir sy skoolspan ten toon gestel waartoe hy instaat is.

Wilgerivier van Frankfort het sy titel met ‘n klinkende sege van 62-28 oor Curro Kathu suksesvol verdedig. Die Wilgies het in die tweede helfte na ‘n hoër rat oorgeskakel na hulle teen rustyd met 29-14 voorgeloop het.

Die kampioenspan se heelagter, Marnus Swart, en slot Drihan Engelbrecht het elk twee keer agter die span van Kathu se doellyn gaan kuier.

Hoopstad het sy titel as kampioen van die Colt-liga behou deur vir Vrede met 45-12 oortuigend in die eindstryd te verslaan.

Die span se agtsteman, Adam Barnard, het twee keer agter die doellyn gaan kuier. Die span se linkervleuel, Busi Mfebe, het 15 punte tot die sege met ‘n drie en vyf doelskoppe bygedra.

Die een span is een van die suksesvolste spanne in die Shimla-liga van die Kovsiestreekkompetisie, terwyl die ander Saterdag vir die eerste keer in die eindstryd van dié liga in aksie sal wees.

Welkom Gimnasium sal vir die sesde keer aantree op Shimlapark in Bloemfontein vir die eindstryd van die liga. Die span van Welkom is boonop die verdedigende kampioen van die Shima-liga.

Volg al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Die Gimmies was in 2015, 2018, 2019 en 2023 as kampioen gekroon.

Sy teenstander, Voortrekker van Bethlehem, sal vir die eerste keer in dié eindstryd in aksie wees.

Die Trekkers het egter reeds vanjaar vir Welkom Gimnasium as Griffon-kampioen onttroon toe hy vir Gimmies met 36-28 in die eindstryd afgestof het. Die span vanuit die Riemland het boonop die Vrystaatse kampioen, Landboudal van Jacobsdal, met 24-22 uitoorlê om vir homself ‘n plek in die streekkompetisie se eindstryd te bespreek.

Gimmies het die Griekwa-kampioen, Duineveld van Upington, met 44-21 in Kimberley in die ander halfeindstryd afgestof. Die span van Welkom het dié ligawedstryd teen Voortrekker met 26-24 gewen.

Die Trekkers het in sy geledere die SA Skole-vaskopstut, Cecil Parsons, wat met sy stormramlopies ‘n spelbreker vir sy skoolspan is.

Die Trekker-agtsteman, Dawie Fourie, se tweestryd met Ethan “Slang” Jones beloof ook om een van die hoogtepunte van die kragmeting te wees. Fourie het dié tweestryd tussen die twee spelers tydens die Griffon-eindstryd gewen.

Vir Gimmies sal sy skakelpaar, Rewaldo Farmer (skrumskakel) en Ronaldo Kiewiet (losskakel), belangrike rolle vertolk. Kiewiet was in 2023 die voorste puntemaker op die Cravenweek met 48 punte. Indien hy op sy stukke is, sal die trofee weer saam sy span na Welkom reis.

Gimmies se afrigtingspan, Roean Bezuidenhout en Jacques Juries, is van die mees ervare in die sentrale streek. Juries is boonop ook die hoofafrigter van die Griffons se seniorspan. Die Trekkers word deur Justin Taylor gebrei.

Die spanne is: 

Welkom Gimnasium vs Voortrekker (Bethlehem) op Shimlapark in Bloemfontein om 14:50: 

Welkom Gimnasium: 15 Leano Williams, 14 Ruan Theron, 13 Nathan Muller, 12 Joshua Coertsen, 11 Bokang Lesenyeho, 10 Ronaldo Kiewiet, 9 Rewaldo Farmer, 8 Ethan Jones, 7 Ayden Bezuidenhout, 6 Rovaun van Niekerk, 5 Jayden Auld, 4 Ethan Africa, 3 Ryan Lemmer, 2 Kganya Molapo, 1 Buchle Ngxabayi-Mpaka. Plaasvervangers: 16 Kananelo Tutubala, 17 Alexander Olivier, 18 Moeketsi Lang, 19 Jayden Kruger, 20 Diederik Beuken, 21 Emile Mahlelebe, 22 Vusi Ndayi, 23 Dyllan Kemp.

Voortrekker: 15 Kaneng Komane, 14 Karabelo Chaka, 13 Frederik Fourie, 12 Karabo Ralentloane, 11 Kamohelo Moses, 10 Adriaan Bonthuys, 9 Craig Mann, 8 Dawie Fourie, 7 Jayden de Jesus, 6 Berto van Niekerk, 5 Tristan Meyer, 4 Luttig Roux, 3 Cecil Parsons, 2 Arnold Ras, 1 Francois Maree. Plaasvervangers: 16 Wian Muller, 17 AJ Ferreira, 18 AJ Myburgh, 19 Theo van Wyk, 20 Attila Ozturk, 21 Nolan du Plooy, 22 Thato Nthbere.

10:50 – o.15 – Hoërskool Trio vs Jim Fouché