After two days of cricket, which included a rained-out final on Saturday, St John’s College was crowned the champion of this year’s Johnny Waite T20 tournament after beating St Stithians College by 21 runs at the University of the Witwatersrand on Sunday.
Alec Loveland was a difference-maker for St John’s, playing a key role with the bat and the ball, and deservedly being named the man of the match.
When St John’s batted, he scored a patient 38 from 43 balls, while wickets fell all around him. It was a hugely important contribution as St Stithians were set 125 to win. Then, Loveland captured 3/16 from four overs to leave the Saints’ middle order and their run chase in tatters.
St John’s College all-rounder Alec Loveland delivered a man of the match-winning performance when it was most needed.
Richard Seletswane, who had been racking up the runs – with 77 not out in the semi-final win over KES, and 60 not out in Saturday’s rained-out final – added to his tally by top scoring for St Stithians with 40 runs from 42 balls, which included three fours and a six. However, Saints managed only one other four in their innings and, unfortunately for the classy right-handed batsman, his team-mates were unable to build upon the foundation he had laid for them.
Cole Francis, the tall right-arm fast bowler, cleaned up the Saints’ tail, adding three wickets to the earlier crucial dismissal of Emile Odendaal, just when he was threatening to take the game away from St John’s.
Earlier in the match, after winning the toss, left-hander Joe MacRobert carried his good form from the semi-finals into the final by compiling a well-played 42 runs from 36 balls, which included five fours.
Saints’ spinner Tahseen Hanslo gave St John’s trouble, snagging 3/22 from his four overs. His victims included the prized wickets of MacRobert and Loveland, the leading run scorers for St John’s, which stemmed the flow of runs and reduced the scoring rate.
Final
St Johns College 124/6 (Joe MacRobert 42, Alec Loveland 38; Tahseen Hanslo 3/22 Ethan Jacobs 2/21); St Stithians College 103/9 (Richard Seletswane 40 runs, Emile Odendaal 24; Cole Francis 4/23, Alec Loveland 3/16) St Johns College won by 21 runs.
The Johnny Waite T20 Final on Saturday -between Stithians College and St John’s College – ended with the weather having the final say as the match was abandoned after only 14.2 overs had been played, with Saints powering their way to 115/3 in that time.
Opening batsman and South African u19 star, Richard Seletswane, took to the St John’s attack with relish, scoring 60 runs from 42 balls, which included three fours and four sixes. He was still at the crease when the storm rolled in.
Seletswane opened the Saints’ innings with his SA u19 teammate and rising star, Kwena Maphaka, who was sent up the order to give the ball a good whack. He weighed in with 14 runs from 12 balls, but David Ireland then rattled his timber to send him on his way.
Before the premature end to the contest, Alec Loveland was pick of the St John’s bowlers, capturing an economical 1/15 from three overs.
The unfortunate timing of the thunderstorm meant the match would have to be played from the start at Wits University on Sunday.
Earlier, on Saturday, both teams were in semi-final action, playing for a place in the title-decider later in the day.
Semi-final 1:
In a tight affair, St John’s College took on Jeppe High School for Boys and recorded a narrow three-run victory after successfully defending a low total of 111 all out.
After a solid 47-run opening partnership from Joe MacRobert (29, 14b) and Nkosana Sibiya (28, 25b), the St John’s middle order collapsed, as five wickets went down in the space of four overs.
Luke Cannon and Chris Elston shared seven wickets between them to undo the good work done by the St John’s opening pair. Left-arm spinner Sipho Potsane also bowled well, picking up 2/14 from his four overs, after taking the new ball responsibilities.
Chasing a moderate total, Jeppe would have fancied their chances, but they struggled against an energetic effort from St John’s in the field. Aiden Reyenke struck a valiant 38 runs from 30 balls, which included three sixes and two fours, but there was little meaningful support for the number three batsman.
Cole Francis was outstanding for St John’s at the death, conceding only eight runs from his last two overs, with the final over going for only three, which made the crucial difference in a hard-fought battle.
Semi-final 2
St Stithians College cruised to a 64-run win after posting 155/2 in their match against King Edward VII (KES). Richard Seletswane starred with 77 not out from 56 balls, which included three fours and four sixes.
He rode his luck after being caught off a no-ball, and the KES mood was dampened further when Emile Odendaal (31, 31b) was dropped on 15.
Callum Ritchie nabbed 1/27 from his four overs and was, by far, the pick of the bowlers.
In their reply, KES struggled to build any sort of momentum after finding themselves in trouble on 19/3 before the end of the powerplay. Kwena Mapaka kept KES locked down, going for only four runs from his two overs up front.
Joshua Meyer delivered a decisive return for Saints, picking up 3/16 from his four overs, which included a number of key batsmen in the KES middle order, and that served to further dial up the pressure on their run chase.
Afterwards, KES coach Vincent Jordaan, commenting on the spilled opportunities, which would have seen Seletswane and Odendaal dismissed, said: “In big games you need to win those moments.”
Scores
Final
St Stithians College 115/3 from 14.2 overs (Richard Seletswane 60*, David Ireland 1/13, Alec Loveland 1/15) Match abandoned.
Semi-Final 1
St Johns College 111/10 (Joe MacRobert 29, Nkosana Sibiya 28, Luke Cannon 4/19, Chris Elston 3/13, Sipho Potsane 2/14); Jeppe High School for Boys108/8 (Aiden Reyneke 38; David Ireland 2/13, Malan Du Plessis 2/39) St Johns College won by 3 runs.
Semi-Final 2
St Stithians College 155/2 (Richard Seletswane 77*, Emile Odendaal 31*; Callum Ritchie 1/27); King Edward VII 91/9 (Khwezi Nyamathe 24; Joshua Meyer 3/16, Ethan Jacobs 2/18) St Stithians won by 64 runs.
Powerful Kuthadzo Rashivaga (Craven Week 2023) takes on Witbulle Photo Credit: Theo Garrun
As the rugby season approaches, there’s a buzz of anticipation at Jeppe High School for Boys, fueled by the accolades and achievements of 2023.
Two of last season’s matches stand out vividly – a home win against Monument and a thrilling clash against Affies on 27 May, which was decided in the last minute.
Despite a valiant effort from Jeppe, Affies clinched a narrow victory just before the final whistle, which left a bit of a bitter taste in the mouth of Johannesburg side. However, despite the disappointment of defeat, there were moments of brilliance which showcased the team’s potential to lock horns with the bigger, very physical Afrikaans schools.
With 12 wins under their belt, including standout victories against formidable opponents, like King Edward VII (KES) and Durban High School (DHS), Jeppe’s first XV earned admiration, from spectators and referees alike, for their playing ability and their sportsmanship.
At the end of the season, at the prestigious Bestmed Golden Lions Referees Society’s annual prize-giving dinner, Jeppe was named the School of the Year.
That recognition from the Lions union’s referees was a testament to the exceptional sportsmanship, skill, and dedication displayed by Jeppe’s rugby teams at all levels throughout the season, and the boys in black and white will aim to carry that legacy forward this season, when they take to Collard Field.
With a reshuffle in the coaching staff, including the transition of Carl Spilhaus to the role of Director of Rugby and the appointment of Drickus Venter as Head Coach of the first XV, Jeppe is aiming for further growth.
Spilhaus said: “I didn’t quite know what to expect, having not worked with all the boys, but there’s undoubtedly talent and I’ve always wanted to do this job as Director of Rugby.
“I’m looking forward to it, and we’ll see how the season unfolds, giving us an opportunity to put new structures in place.”
Venter is well-known in the Jeppe community, having served it for over a decade, and he brings a deep understanding of the school’s rugby tradition to his new post, coupled with some fresh insights and ideas. His appointment promises a continuation of the prevailing strategy and team culture while also encouraging an infusion of new energy and an opportunity enhance a positive culture amongst the players.
Ahead of the new season, Jeppe is gearing up for more than just another successful run on the field. They’re aiming to build on the performances of the past two very successful seasons. The first team, which will include several members of last year’s outfit, is set to welcome some fine young talent into it ranks.
With Venter setting the course for the side, the team is focused on honing their skills and pushing boundaries to reach new heights of success.
Jeppe will be in action at the King Edward VII Easter Festival, where the team will kick off its season against some of the country’s top schools. The festival will also allow the coaches to gauge where their teams are, what their strengths are, and what weaknesses need to be addressed.
Five Players to Watch This Season
Luke Cannon firing for Jeppe Photo Credit: Theo Garrun
Players to watch out for include lock Luke Cannon, who is not afraid to get physical in the mauls and rucks while providing the scrum with plenty of horsepower to contend with the front rows of larger opposition. The talented sportsman is also a key member of the school’s 1st XI cricket team.
Kuthadzo Rashivaga was instrumental in the side’s strong performances last year, with the fullback earning a spot in the Golden Lions Craven Week team. The number 15 shows great promise both on attack and defence, he will be hungry to produce another successful year. It’s seldom that his name doesn’t appear on the try scorers’ list.
Another leftover from last season’s side, is Risimi Khosa, who wears the number four jersey. He ensures the second row is blessed with experience and the power to bolster the front row. Khosa wears his heart on his sleeve and has a non-stop motor. Last year, he was part of the Golden Lions Academy squad, which won the Academy Week, played at Jeppe, beating Western Province in the final. This year, he’ll have his eyes on a place in the Craven Week team.
Tight-head prop Luca Trevisan, who represented the Golden Lions u17 team in 2023, will also be aiming to make the step-up as he chases a place in the Lions’ Craven Week side, too.
Thulani Shabalala started the 2023 season on the bench but forced his way into the starting XV, playing on the right wing. He often took on the goal-kicking duties, with great success. It will be interesting to see which position he plays in this season.
Last year, against DHS, Shabalala put 17 points on the board to help his side to a hard-fought 39-36 victory. He’ll be aiming for more of those kinds of days in 2024.
As the countdown to the first game begins, Jeppe is a team many will be eager to see in action, as they seek to add another exciting chapter to the school’s storied rugby legacy.
Jeppe’s motto is Forti Nihil Difficilius, which translates to Nothing Is Too Difficult For The Brave, and that neatly encapsulates the spirit of the boys of Jeppe, and the attitude they will bring to the field in pursuit of another outstanding season.
Jeppe’s Luke Cannon on his way to a five-wicket haul against St Stithians College. Photo credit: Theo Garrun
On Saturday in Johannesburg, King Edward VII(KES) hosted Bloemfontein’s Grey College and, after the hosts won the toss, they put Grey in to bat first on the John Hurry Oval.
Niels Momberg, a Grey College old boy (Class of 1983) and now a member of the KES governing body, was afforded the privilege of opening the day’s play with the ringing of the bell to signal the start of the action.
It proved to be a good toss to win, with the hosts restricting the visitors to 169 all out from 44.5 overs.
Daniel Hattingh, with 38 not out from 39 balls, and Cullen Marais, with 33 from 30, performed well on a difficult batting surface.
In response, the Red Caps’ opener Tiaan Goosen made light of the conditions, blasting his way to 77 runs from 73 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes, before falling to Darion Rabie, who picked up 2/36.
Skipper Troy Gordon’s patient innings of 42 not out from 72 balls then saw his side to a four-wicket victory with just under 18 overs to spare.
Just down the road in Houghton, at St John’s College, St Andrew’s School, too, fell victim to a strong bowling performance, with the hosts successfully defending a moderate total of 174 to win by a margin of 20 runs.
After opting to bat first, St Johns were bowled out in the 49th over, with only Joe MacRobert properly coming to terms with the Saints’ attack. All-rounders’ Cole Francis (23, 39b) and Oliver Tait (24, 35b) chipped in with twenties to help their side post a fair total.
St Andrew’s bowlers, FG Botha and Daklo Leketa, picked up three wickets a piece, which also served to stem the flow of the runs. Botha’s wickets were particularly timely, coming just when the St John’s tail threatened to wag.
Cole Francis and Alec Loveland then set the tone for St John’s in the field, with both bowling disciplined lines and picking up crucial wickets early on to exert severe pressure on the visiting batsmen.
St Andrew’s appeared well out of it, but a courageous last-wicket partnership between CM Geel (29*, 65b) and Mosa Maqunqu (26, 39 b), which produced 51 runs, made the game a lot closer than it had appeared it would be.
Spinner Daniel Bruwer was the pick of the home team’s bowlers, snaring 4/23 from 10.1 overs, while Alec Loveland continued his wicket-taking form with a return of 3/34, and Cole Francis contributed, as usual, with his tight spell being rewarded with 2/21 from nine.
Jeppe High School for Boys squared up against St Stithians College in a 60/50 declaration match.
Saints compiled a challenging 270/6 from 60 overs, with their captain Emile Odendaal reveling in his decision to bat first, scoring a fine 112 from 139 balls, which included seven fours and five sixes. He was well supported by Tahseen Hanslo, who ended on 51 runs from 79 balls.
Together, they shared in a third-wicket partnership of 123 runs before Jeppe’s first change bowler, Luke Cannon, separated them and went on to capture 5/60 from 13 overs, which included two maidens. Both batsmen were set, but Cannon then accounted for them, thus ensuring that the St Stithians’ innings did not get out of hand.
In response, Jeppe’s classy opener Kai Van Aardt put together a well-played 110 runs from only 96 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes, before he was caught and bowled by opening bowler Joshua Meyer.
Van Aardt received solid support from his fellow opener Munib Ayob, who batted patiently for his 50 from 100 balls, before he was the first man out after an opening stand of 130 runs.
The game was called a draw after Jeppe had faced 44 overs and made an assured 220/3.
St David’s Marist Inanda clinched a humdinger, sneaking a seven-run win over Helpmekaar Kollege. Man of the match Jason Rowles delivered with both ball and bat for the winners, grabbing 5/41 from his 10-over spell, before weighing in with a valuable 34 runs from 32 balls at the top of the order.
Helpmekaar’s frontline batsmen came out all guns blazing, with Kyle Swanepoel (74, 43b) and Anrich Liebenberg (38, 34b) sharing an opening partnership of 87 runs from 61 balls. A mix-up between the pair resulted in a run-out, with St David’s Amaan Manack acting swiftly to take advantage of the opposition’s misstep.
After the breakthrough, Rowles picked up wickets regularly, which led to Helpmekaar running out of steam and getting bowled out in the 34th over. In retrospect, Helpmekaar might look back on the match as a missed opportunity. Their openers had set them up for victory and had the rest of the batsmen simply applied themselves, because most of the damage had been done upfront, the result could have favoured them.
Reece Reddy scored a crucial 71 runs from 88 balls in the St David’s innings, which steadied the ship. He was well aided by Kamogelo Phiri’s knock of 50 from 65 balls, which helped his team total 209 all out.
Meanwhile, the Parktown Boys’ High fixture against Queens High was abandoned due to bad weather. Parktown tallied 173 all out in 41 overs, with openers’ Miles Makudo (51, 66b) and Zain Jansen (34, 77b) scoring the bulk of the runs for their team.
Pranay Tailor, the Queens’ skipper, snared 4/11 from four overs, which included an impressive 17 dot-balls as he ended the Parktown innings. Before the match was called off, he had scored an unbeaten 20, which helped Queens to 44/2 from nine overs in their reply.
Scores
Grey College169/10 from 44.5 overs (Daniel Hattingh 38*, Cullen Marais 33; Zieg Roos 2/19, Matthew Burgess 2/53); King Edward VII172/6 from 32.2 overs (Tiaan Goosen 77, Troy Gordon 42*; Darion Rabie 2/36) King Edward VII won by four wickets.
St John’s College174/10 from 48.5 overs (Joe MacRobert 39, Oliver Tait 23; FG Botha 3/32, Dakalo Leketa 3/33, JC Young 2/18, Mosa Maqunqu 2/24); St Andrew’s School154/10 from 49 overs (CM Geel 29*, Mosa Maqunqu 26, FG Botha 23; Daniel Bruwer 4/23, Alec Loveland 3/34, Cole Francis 2/21) St John’s College won by 20 runs.
St Stithians College270/6 from 60 overs (Emile Odendaal 112, Tahseen Hanslo 51, Liam Mudenda 39; Luke Cannon 5/60); Jeppe High School for Boys220/3 from 44 overs (Kai van Aardt 110, Munib Ayob 50, Aiden Reyneke 25; Oliver Watson 1/35) Match Drawn.
St David’s Marist 209/10 from 48.1 overs (Reece Reddy 71, Kamogelo Phiri 50, Jason Rowles 34; Zander Jackson 3/26, Juan Minnaar 2/35); Helpmekaar Kollege202/10 from 34 overs (Kobus Swanepoel 74, Hannu Marais 39, Anrich Liebenberg 38; Jason Rowles 5/41, Shavir Maharaj 2/45). St David’s Marist won by seven runs.
Parktown Boys’ High 173/10 from 41 overs (Miles Makudo 51, Zain Jansen 34, Extras 31; Pranay Tailor 4/11, Aditya Tandel 2/25, Fuzail Faroom 2/32); Queen’s High 44/2 from 9 overs (Pranay Tailor 20*; Yahya Baba 2/31) Match Abandoned.
Kwena Maphaka, the rising left-arm speedster from St Stithians College, has been replaced by all-rounder Keith Dudgeon, who represents the KZN Inland Tuskers in the domestic structure, for the forthcoming Betway SA20.
Maphaka was picked by the Paarl Royals for the second edition of the T20 competition but will miss out on parts of it to represent the South African u19 team at the ICC u19 Cricket World Cup, which is being hosted in South Africa.
He will not be the only one young star affected by the u19 World Cup. His fellow competition rookies, Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Paarl Royals, St Stithians College) and Steve Stolk (Pretoria Capitals, Hoërskool Menlopark), will also be in action for the South African u19 team.
Maphaka’s selection for the prestigious tournament has left a void in the Paarl Royals’ bowling lineup and opened up a spot for Dudgeon, who has performed well domestically with both bat and ball this season.
Dudgeon attended Parktown Boys’ High School from 2009-2013, and represented South Africa u19 in 2014, playing a handful of Youth ODIs against England.
He joins fellow Parktown Boys’ old boy, left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who matriculated in 2008, at the Royals. The pair will hope to feature together during the tournament, especially at The Wanderers, where supporters from their school would, no doubt, turn out in their numbers.
Dudgeon represented Central Gauteng, before making the move down to KZN where he has represented the KwaZulu-Natal Inland team for a number of seasons.
His performances were instrumental in helping the Tuskers earn promotion from CSA Division Two to CSA Division One. Apart from his bowling, Dudgeon hits a clean ball down the order and will be aiming to build on his all-round game.
The Betway SA20 gets underway on 10 January, while the ICC u19 World Cup kicks off on 19 January.
The standout moment of the day came in the nail-biting Second Semi-Final between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Central Gauteng.
The match went down to the wire in the final chukka, culminating in a dramatic 7-7 draw. Thomas Francke proved to be the hero for Kwa-Zulu Natal, securing a spot in the finals with a hat-trick.
The day also witnessed other compelling encounters, including Western Province A’s commanding 11-3 victory over Buffalo City in the first Semi-Final.
In a thrilling day of water polo action, the Quarter Final matches showcased intense competition and determined performances. Kwa-Zulu Natal emerged victorious in Quarter Final 1, overpowering Western Province B with a convincing 11-1 win.
The stage is now set for an eagerly anticipated final, promising fans another thrilling display of water polo excellence.
RESULTS DAY 4
Quarter Final 1
Western Province B 1 – Goals: Tim Farrel. Kwa-Zulu Natal 11 – Goals: Levi Thom (2), Oliver Ludig (2), Thomas Aylward (2), Elliot Springate, Garrick Phillips, Tane Greene, Sebastian Laudenberg, Musawenkosi Mpongda.
Quarter Final 2
Buffalo City 3 – Goals: Cullen Mortlock (2), Tiago Williams. Nelson Mandela Bay 2 Goals – Stefan Polderman (2).
Quarter Final 3
Northern Tigers 1 – Goals: Sean Van Der Merwe. Western Province A 14 – Goals: Benjamin Bigara (3), Harry Oldham (3), Alex Barret (2), Andrew Reynolds (2), Matthew Fenn, Daniel Fisher, Tim Young.
Quarter Final 4
Central Gauteng B 2 – Goals: Daniel Pronk, Matthew Peacock. Central Gauteng A 9 – Goals: Roan Wessels (2), Connor McJannet (2), Dylan Gander, Cooper Haworth, Troy Pasqualle, Ryan Morely, David, Latilla-Campbell.
5A vs 6B
Eastern Gauteng 4 – Goals: Andrew Christopher Castley (2), Daniel Rheeder, Travis Kempen. Eden District 3 – Goals: Luca Whitehead (2), Matthew Tindall.
Northern Tigers 6 – Goals: Ardan Robertson (3), Imraan Hussein De Gama, Etienne Van Der Merwe, Christiaan Truter . Nelson Mandela Bay 9 – Goals: Dane Paterson (4), Blake Parker (2), Carter Rosser, Christian Chandler, Adam Ball.
Winner Match 31 vs Winner Match 32
Western Province B 10 – Goals: Tim Farrel (2), Connor Mortlock (2), Thomas Cruikshank (2), Ross Prinsloo, Oyama Mketse, Daniel Fyfer, Anthony Lampe. Central Gauteng B 3 – Goals: Luke Shipway (2), Daniel Pronk.
Semi-Final 1
Western Province A 11 – Goals: Benjamin Bigara (3), Matthew Fenn (2), Alex Barret (2), Tim Young, Caleb Hartely, James Pinnock, James Malan. Buffalo City 3 – Goals: Daniel Woodin (2), Michael Russel.
Semi-Final 2
Kwa-Zulu Natal 7(7) – Goals: Thomas Franke (3), Levi Thom (2), Thomas Aylward. Central Gauteng 7(6) – Goals: Cooper Haworth, Connor Mc Jannet, Matthew Cross, Craig Toet.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 15: Captains of teams participating in the world cup interviewed by the media during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup captains media day at Lesedi Cultural Village on January 15, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
Talented all-rounder Alexander Volschenk has been appointed the captain of Namibia‘s u19 cricket team for the 2024 ICC u19 Cricket World Cup. The event, which is being hosted by South Africa, begins on 13 January and runs until 4 February.
Volschenk has developed his game while attending Pretoria’s Hoërskool Waterkloof, one of the leading cricket-playing schools in South Africa. His appointment as the captain of Namibia is a testament to his cricketing skills and prowess.
Volschenk’s cricket journey has been marked by impressive performances, with one standout moment being a classy century he scored at the Fasken Time Cricket Festival in September 2023.
In that match, the all-rounder tallied a brilliant 112 against a strong St Stithians College side, which featured three of the recently announced South Africa u19 squad. His innings not only showcased his ability to play shots but also his ability to perform under pressure against quality opposition.
Recently, Waterkloof won the Fain Noordvaal final against Marais Viljoen, in which Volschenk scored a valuable 31 towards the end of his team’s innings to put them into a commanding position. That match was played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, which has been earmarked as one of the potential Cricket World Cup host venues.
Namibia finds itself in Group C for the forthcoming tournament, facing Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa’s northern neighbours, Zimbabwe. It’s a challenging draw against formidable opponents, but Namibia will be intent on causing an upset or two on the global stage.
Sri Lanka was originally handed the hosting rights to the tournament, but they were stripped of those rights by the ICC in late November because of government interference in the sport. The event was subsequently moved to South Africa. The change of venue adds an extra layer of complexity to the event and has resulted in some teams adjusting the make-up of their squads as they adapt their preparations for the South African pitches.
Volschenk, who attended St Paul’s College in Namibia before making the move to Waterkloof, will be familiar with South African conditions. The Nambians’ understanding of the tracks, the weather, and other local factors, could prove to be a valuable advantage.
Namibia, as a cricketing nation, has made big strides in recent times. The senior national side recently qualified for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup tournament, which was a significant achievement that reflected favourably on cricket in the country.
With the focus now shifting to the u19 team, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement surrounding the emergence of the next generation of Namibian cricketers.
Alex Volschenk and Namibia will be placed in the spotlight as they measure their young talent against the best from around the world. The tournament offers an early glimpse at the top players and the potential stars of the not-too-distant future.
Day 3 of the u15’s showcased several matches with remarkable score lines, capturing the essence of fierce competition and outstanding performances.
One standout moment was in the match between Northern Tigers B and Western Province, where Benjamin Bigara delivered an exceptional double hat-trick, scoring six goals.
His outstanding contribution, alongside performances from Matthew Fenn and Alex Barret, powered Western Province to a dominating 21-0 victory.
In another high-scoring encounter, Kwa-Zulu Natal asserted their dominance with a commanding 24-3 victory over Eastern Gauteng. Levi Thom and Thomas Francke led the charge with five goals each, showcasing their offensive firepower. The comprehensive win highlighted Kwa-Zulu Natal’s depth and skill in front of the goal, setting the stage for their strong presence in the tournament.
The day featured other notable matches, including Central Gauteng A’s 13-0 triumph over Northern Tigers A and Western Province A’s 14-6 victory against Buffalo City.
RESULTS DAY 3
Central Gauteng B 19 – Goals: Luke Shipway (5), Bryden Macfie (5), Daniel Pronk (3), Peter Zigiriadis (2), Ethan Kempen , Matthew Peacock, Adam Stoutjesdyk, Mazimus Choriotopoulos. Northern Tigers B 1 – Goals: Jordan Davids.
Northern Tigers A 6 – Goals: Ettiene Van Der Merwe (2), Imraan Hussein De Gama, Siwoo Lee, Joshua Vincent Bergh, Caleb Bowden. Eden Districts 3 – Goals: Luca Whitehead (2), Jacob Hersh.
Kwa-Zulu Natal 24 – Goals: Levi Thom (5), Thomas Francke (5), Thomas Aylward, Oliver Guy (2), Oliver Ludwig (2), Jamie Nicolau (2), Sebastian Laudenberg, Connor Donaldson, Andrew Schnell. Eastern Gauteng 3 – Goals: Luke Laporte (2), Matthew Craukamp.
Zimbabwe 0.Central Gauteng A 9 – Goals: Craig Toet (2), Cooper Haworth (2), David Latilla-Campbell (2), Connor Mc Jannet, Dylan Gander, Troy Pasqualle.
Northern Tigers B 0. Western Province 21 – Goals: Benjamin Bigara (6), Matthew Fenn (5), Alex Barret (3), Tim Young (2), Daniel Fisher (2), Joshua Ripsold, James Malan, Andrew Reynolds.
Nelson Mandela Bay 13 – Goals: Dane Paterson (5, Stefan Polderman (2), Blake Parker (2), Jed Paterson, Ben Atikinson, Christian Chandler, Player 12. Eden Districts 5 – Goals: Luca Whitehead (2), Ian Vermaark, Jacob Hersch.
Central Gauteng B 9 – Goals: Luke Shipway (2), Matthew Peacock (2), Maximus Choriatopoulos (2), Dylan Kempen, Adam Stoutjesdyk, Gui-Nam Chen. Eastern Gauteng 1 – Goals: Travis Kempen.
Zimbabwe 7 – Goals: Donovan Bodington (2), Blaise Scheepers (2), Liam Chicksen, Bongani Dube, Daniel Oxden-Willow. Northern Tigers A 8 – Goals: Ardan Robertson (3), James King, Ben Swarts, Siwoo Lee, Ettiene Van Der Merwe, Oliver Oberholzer.
Western Province A 14 – Goals: Alex Barret (3), Benjami Bigara (3), Matthew Fenn (3), James Malan (2), Caleb Harely, James Pinnock, . Buffalo City 6 – Goals: Micahel Russel (2), Tiago Williams, Cullen Mortlock, Daniel Van Biljoen.
Nelson Mandela Bay 6 – Goals: Christian Chandler (2), Stefan Polderman, Dane Paterson, Player 12, Adam Ball. Western Province B 5 – Goals: Thomas Cruickshank (2), Ross Prinsloo, Daniel Fryer, Anthony Lampe.
Kwa-Zulu Natal 13 – Goals: Thomas Francke (4), Thomas Aylward (3), Levi Thom (2), Oliver Guy (2), Jamie Niclou. Central Gauteng B 4 – Goals: Luke Shipway, Ethan Kempen, Maximus Choriatopoulos, Adam Stoutjesdyk.
Northern Tigers A 0. Central Gauteng A 13 – Goals: Danilo Giuricich (3), Matthew Cross (3), David Latilla-Campbell (2), Aiden Khoury (2), Craig Toet (2), Ryan Morely.
Captain fantastic Luke Webber put his hand up for a man-of-the-match performance scoring an incredible hattrick for St Alban’s College, leading from the front and making sure his team won a close encounter 21-15.
A slow start to the fixture saw the match starting off like a bit of a Sunday afternoon drive with not all that much happening. It was only near the end of the first half that the sides ramped up a gear to change the momentum of play.
St Alban’s were the first to score after securing a lineout through a penalty kick, The Hoops seized the opportunity to drive a strong maul scoring in the lefthand corner allowing Luke Webber to gather the ball and score.
On the stroke of the final whistle for the first half, St Albans scored a second try for the match, this time through a tap-and-go penalty which saw captain Luke Webber again burst through the defence of Northcliff to add an additional five points to the score.
Going into the break the scoreline read 14-0 with Northcliff pressing hard into the St Albans half. A few handling errors led to a number of knock-ons in strong positions which resulted in handing back possession to the home team.
The visitors came out all guns blazing, with nothing to lose where a team effort saw the boys from Johannesburg setting up their first try of the game within minutes of the second getting underway. Against the run of play, the team strung together a strong offensive play which was ignited by Zenovian Johnson.
Northcliff’s Jordan Swanepoel scored the try and showed some good skill throughout the match, manoeuvring and dummying exceptionally well.
A third try from St Alban’s cemented their win, giving the team a much-needed victory after what has been a tough season thus far. Flyhalf Druan Visagie kicked very well as he converted his third kick of the match.
St Alban’s will be happy with the result and will aim to build on this as they look ahead towards their last few games of the season.
Although the first XV result did not go in the way of the visiting team, looking at the rest of the results in the other age groups, Northcliff can be proud of the number of matches won. It gives the first XV coach Tinus Diedricks much to look forward to in the future as he looks to build sides which can compete with the bigger schools.
Scorers:
St Alban’s College 21 (14) – Tries: Luke Webber (3).
Conversions: Druan Visagie (3).
Northcliff High School 15 (0) – Tries: Jordan Swanepoel, Tyler Goosen.
Conversion: Dylan Venter Penalty: Dylan Venter
Teams:
St Alban’s College: 15 John-Joshua Steenkamp, 14 Michael Rider, 13 Tumelo Mohale, 12 Luke Sass, 11 Nkosi Malaza, 10 Druan Visage, 9 Joshua Verster, 8 Daniel Bouwer, 7 Matthew Price, 6 Patrick Weir, 5 Llyod Schneberger, 4 William Von Broembsen, 3 Craig Milne, 2 Luke Webber, 1 Cody Petersen.
Northcliff High School: 15 Dylan Fourie, 14 Ziyaad Bhyat, 13 Jordan Swanepoel, 12 Luke Roos, 11 Gerrit Muller, 10 Dylan Venter, 9 Zenovian Johnson, 8 Jaden Baillie, 7 Chad Matthews, 6 Ethan Hayes, 5 Peter Diesel, 4 Liam Alderson, 3 Mpummolelo Bhehbe, 2 Tshiamo Makobo, 1 Blake Neale.
King Edward VII showed once again that they are a team with serious drive and are putting in some big performances beating St John’s College 31-6 on Burger Field.
Outside center Timi Oluwe found the scoreline on two separate occasions during the course of the game.
St John’s College only managed to score two penalties from fullback Bryson Walker. The home teamfound it difficult to break through the KES defenses to score any sort of points which would bring them back into contention.
Flanker James Kobrowisky carried over his good form from last weekend and showed his grit by scoring again this weekend.
There were some big hits from KES hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele who was strong in defence.
The Red Army go into next weekend’s match full of confidence and will be looking to make it a third win in a row.
Other Matches
Parktown Boys’ High School took honours in the other match in Johannesburg, beating St David’s Marist 14-0 at home.
Sibusiso Stefaans scored two tries which were converted easily by flyhalf Sebastian Sekoto.
Scorers:
St John’s College 6 (3) – Tries:
Conversions: Penalties:
King Edward VII 31 (7) – Tries: Mbuso Methula, Timi Oluwole (2), Kebotile Maake, James Kobrowisky.
Conversions: Tristan Maugeri (3).
Parktown Boys’ High School 14 (7) – Tries: Sibusiso Stefaans (2).
Conversions: Sebastian Sekoto (2).
St David’s Marist 0(0)
Teams:
St John’s College:
15 Bryson Walker, 14 Bradley Chabalala, 13 Tino Munyurwa, 12 Nkosi Sibanda, 11 Jacob Smith, 10 Oliver Tait, 9 Thomas Kruger, 8 Thomas Archer, 7 Grant Barnes, 6 Matt Macmaster (Captain), 5 Liam Brodie, 4 Dominic Kamangu, 3 Vincent Miles 2 Kyle Watson, 1 Finlay Holden.
After two days of cricket, which included a rained-out final on Saturday, St John’s College was crowned the champion of this year’s Johnny Waite T20 tournament after beating St Stithians College by 21 runs at the University of the Witwatersrand on Sunday.
Kwena Maphaka, the rising left-arm speedster from St Stithians College, has been replaced by all-rounder Keith Dudgeon, who represents the KZN Inland Tuskers in the domestic structure, for the forthcoming Betway SA20.
