Unbeaten at the 2024 Founders Festival, Jonty Wiggett and Kearsney College face a stiff challenge to match that record at Affies in 2025. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Ten schools from across the country will travel to Pretoria for the Founders Hockey Festival that will be hosted by Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) from Saturday, 29 March, to Monday, 31 March.
The hosting side’s coach, Colin Mendoza, said he was ecstatic to lead his boys for the first time in the prestigious event. He’ll be assisted by Jaydon Lincoln.
The Founders Festival takes place at u14, u16, and 1st team levels, with the u14 matches being played at Parktown Boys’ High and the u16 games at Pretoria High School for Girls. Day one will see 30 matches taking place.
In the senior category, Northwood School gets the action rolling with an early 07:30 meeting against Rondebosch Boys’ High School. They’ll be followed onto the Astro by St Davids’ Marist Inanda and Dale College, with a repeat of Gauteng versus the Eastern Cape when St Stithians College takes on Queen’s College.
The hosts will kick off their tournament run in the fourth fixture against Kearsney College. Last year, when they hosted the Founders Festival, the KwaZulu-Natal outfit recorded three wins and two draws. In 2025, they’re a young side, but they’re talented.
Mendoza reckoned the Founders Festival will be a tough challenge for all the participants: “I think it is one of the top boys’ tournaments in the country, established in 1982,” he said. “Most of the teams participating will be knocking at getting a top 10 ranking in the country.
“I am very nervous and excited. There are some good schools, and there will be some very hard games,” he told SuperSport Schools about Affies’ chances.
The Pretoria school’s preparations began only two weeks ago, so they’ve had to hit the ground running. However, Mendoza has confidence in his charges.
He explained: “Unfortunately, due to athletics, we only get to do trials at the beginning of March, which leaves very little time to get games in before Founders. So, the preparations were short, but I think the boys will be ready. We had a few hard sessions, and the boys are looking good.
“Having to host two tournaments (the u16 boys will also be accommodated at Affies) made it a little harder. Jaydon had to step up a bit during prep as I have been busy with all the administration, organising the tournaments. He is an intricate part of the coaching staff.”
Mendoza expressed his appreciation of his number two’s support, adding: “He is a super kid. He currently plays at Tuks in their high-performance side, as well as for Northern Gauteng u21s.” Lincoln is a Jeppe old boy, and his father, Dave, is the Director of Sport at the Kensington school.
The 1st team festival will wrap up on Monday just before midday when Kearsney faces Paarl Gim.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 29 March
07:30 – Northwood vs Rondebosch 08:35 – St David’s Marist Inanda v Dale 09:40 – St Stithians vs Queen’s 10:45 – Kearsney vs Affies 11:50 – Parktown vs Paarl Gim 13:00 – Northwood vs Dale 14:05 – St David’s vs Queen’s 15:10 – Kearsney vs Rondebosch 16:15 – St Stithians vs Paarl Gim 17:20 – Parktown vs Affies
Sunday, 30 March
07:30 – St David’s Marist Inanda vs Paarl Gim 08:35 – St Stithians v Affies 09:40 – Northwood vs Queen’s 10:45 – Parktown vs Rondebosch 11:50 – Kearsney vs Dale 13:00 – St David’s Marist Inanda vs Affies 14:05 – Northwood vs Paarl Gim 15:10 – St Stithians vs Rondebosch 16:15 – Parktown vs Dale 17:20 – Kearsney vs Queen’s
Monday, 31 March
07:30 – Parktown vs Queen’s 08:35 – St Stithians vs Dale 09:40 – Northwood vs Affies 10:45 – St David’s vs Rondebosch 11:50 – Kearney vs Paarl Gim
Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) hosted Parktown Boys’ High and Springs Boys’ High on Friday for a full load of hockey matches across all age groups.
Last weekend, Pretoria Boys High went down against Jeppe, losing a tight game 0-1, but on Friday they came out on the right end of the result, defeating Parktown 2-0.
Across the age groups, Boys High sparkled, with their junior sides also producing strong results.
The clash of the 1st XIs featured quick movement and strong defensive play from both teams, but PBHS, with some superb saves from their goalkeeper, kept a clean sheet and claimed the win.
The other PBHS open age group teams also recorded victories, with the 2nd XI winning 2-0, while the 3rd XI ran out 4-0 winners, and the 4th XI eased to a 6-0 win.
The clash of the u16A teams ended in a stalemate, while Parktown’s u16B side was the only visiting team to win, claiming a 2-1 success.
The Springs Boys’ High 1st XI took on Pretoria Boys High’s 6th side and picked up a 3-0 victory.
In Johannesburg, St Stithians College and St Benedict’s College duelled on Thursday.
In a lively contest, there was plenty to keep the fans entertained and their nerves on edge. After an even start, Saints began to assert control and slowly started to dictate play. It brought them a 3-1 win after a tight tussle.
“Saints dominated in the first half. [They were] a lot more confident, a lot more calm, [with] good defenders at the back.” Bennies‘ head coach Owen Mvimbi said.
“Saints’ defenders were calm on the ball, and they tried to manipulate the press. Sometimes it went well, sometimes we turned them over, but they were a lot calmer and more confident and holistic as a team. Therefore, they created more chances.”
Despite being kept on the back foot, St Benedict’s stuck manfully to their task, making St Stithians work hard for their goals and the win. It was a game of high intensity, said Mvimbi.
“The energy from both teams was quite high. I think they controlled more of the game. Our boys wanted to play but were quite frustrated, and they kept giving the ball away, sometimes not knowing where to pass, sometimes not knowing how to defend against the St Stithians’ outlet.
“That made it made it difficult in the second half. When you are chasing the game, you have to give your all and fight through it so that the confidence comes back.
After Saints scored their third, Bennies forced a couple of penalty corners, but St Stithians remained composed to ensure the result went their way.
The Rhenish Girls’ High 1st XI, with three emphatic victories, has proved itself to be the team to beat. Photo: Shot by Shani Photography.
A smattering of games on Thursday set the table for a full menu of exciting girls’ hockey at the Synsport Greg Beling Hockey Festival on Friday, in East London.
Last year, it was a 5-1 win over Eunice that caught that eye. This time, Rhenish overpowered Eunice’s Bloemfontein rivals, Oranje, 3-0.
After recently making a remarkable 150th appearance for the Rhenish 1st XI, Leah du Plessis led the way by putting them in front with a superb field goal in the first chukka.
With most of their team of last year returning, big things are expected of the Stellenbosch girls and they went big in their first outing, overrunning Voortrekker, of Bethlehem, 6-0.
Those wins followed up a 4-0 defeat of Clarendon High School for Girls on Thursday, where goals from Frankie Henn, Emma Lurie, Ruby Cilliers, and Grace Hobbs, set them up for two outstanding wins on Friday.
The action began early in the morning with Hudson Park High School taking on Paarl Vallei at Clarendon, and it was the Western Cape school that enjoyed the better of the clash, coming away with a convincing 4-0 victory.
At Selborne, Hoёrskool Sasolburg met Queenstown Girls’ High School (GHS). In a tight contest, Sasolburg claimed a narrow 2-1 win.
Union High, from Graaff-Reinet, after romping to an 8-1 win over Cambridge High on Thursday, was involved in a back-and-forth tussle with GHS on Friday. The sides produced six goals between them but had to settle for a 3-3 draw.
In other outings, Eunice High School came out on top against Parel Vallei, scoring a 3-1 victory, St Anne’s Diocesan College edged out Gqeberha’s Pearson High School 1-0, and Kingsridge shared 10 goals with Westering in a thrilling 5-5 draw.
RESULTS
Friday, 21 March
Hudson Park 0-4 Parel Vallei
Queenstown GHS 1-2 Sasolburg
Kingsridge 6-1 Cradock
Rhenish 6-0 Voortrekker
Duineveld 3-1 Lilyfontein
Merrifield 3-0 Montana
Stirling 3-0 Framesby
Cambridge 2-0 Hoër Volkskool Graaff-Reinet
Kingswood College 0-1 Witteberg
Kingsridge 5-5 Westering
Pearson 5-1 Hoërskool Middelburg
Hudson Park 0-5 Collegiate
Queenstown GHS 3-3 Union High
Lilyfontein 2-1 Brandwag
Framesby 0-2 Duineveld
St Anne’s 5-0 Voortrekker
Eunice 3-1 Parel Vallei
Cambridge 1-0 Curro Waterstone
Merrifield 3-0 Alexander Road
Clarendon 2-0 Glenwood House
Stirling 1-1 Woodridge
Pearson 0-1 St Anne’s
Rhenish 3-0 Oranje
The boys’ schools’ hockey season hit its stride in Gauteng on the weekend with a slate of tasty clashes, beginning on Friday with Hoërskool Zwartkop welcoming Hoërskool Klerksdorp to Pretoria for their first meeting since 2018.
It might have been a warm welcome off the pitch, but on the ‘turf Zwartkop was ruthless, blasting 13 goals into the back of the net, with six players – Roche Oberholzer, Emile Roussouw, Gareth Jooste, Handre Coetzee, Douw Nel, and Divan Coertze – sharing them
Jeppe High School for Boys, who won 4-2 at St Benedict’s College earlier in the week, took on Pretoria Boys High on Saturday on the Boden Astro.
The game got off to a cautious start, with both sides’ defences keeping their opposition at bay. The hosts were the first to find their rhythm in the second half, but Boys High continued to keep them out.
Jeppe Boys’ coach Siya Sityana lauded the Pretoria Boys High’s effort. “It was a good contest between two schools that are pretty much the same, with the same traditions,” he said. “Pretoria was a very organised team, and it was difficult to break them down.”
In the last chukka, Jeppe’s pressure was rewarded. When they won a penalty corner three minutes from time, Juan Martin made it count, scoring the contest’s only goal.
“In the second half, we started getting more outcomes. We started to create beautiful attacks,” Sityana said.
Looking back on the first half, he commented: “It was like a chess battle between two well-organised teams.
“We then dominated most of the proceedings,” he added. “Our defense was good. We won four short corners. Otherwise, both teams were sound at the back.”
Like Jeppe, St John’s College also played a midweek game and another on Saturday. On Wednesday evening, they ran out comfortable 5-1 winners over Cornwall Hill College. Then, on Saturday, they took on King Edward VII School (KES) at home. In a seven-goal thriller, KES snatched a 4-3 win.
It was a back-and-forth clash with the lead changing hands four times before the Red Sticks found the winner in the fourth chukka after the schools had entered it level-pegging at 3-3.
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) recorded a 3-0 win over Helpmekaar Kollege in Pretoria on Saturday.
Affies appeared to have broken a goalless deadlock in the last seconds of the first chukka, but the umpire ruled out the goal.
In the second chukka, though, they hit the front. Helpies gave Affies a tough time of it, but the home side added further goals in the third and fourth chukkas to seal the victory.
RESULTS
Zwartkop 13-0 Klerksdorp
Jeppe 1-0 Pretoria Boys High School
St Benedict’s 2-4 Jeppe
Affies 3-0 Helpmekaar
St John’s College 5-1 Cornwell Hill
KES 4-3 St John’s College
The schools’ hockey season hits full throttle this weekend, and it includes Hoërskool Zwartkop welcoming Hoërskool Klerksdorp to Pretoria on Friday for matches between the boys’ 1st, u16, and u14 teams.
It will be the first time that the schools have met since 2018.
Zwartkop heads into the season full of confidence after a strong 2024 during which they played 34 games, won 22, lost only 8, and drew four.
The school’s Boys’ Hockey Director, Marthinus Gouws, told SuperSport Schools his 1st XI has 350 caps of experience between them.
“Our preparation is going to plan,” he said, “although one always feels that we can do more.”
There has been a change to the coaching setup at Zwartkop, as Gouws explained: “We have had a change in coach from last year, with our previous coach moving to Noordheuwel to take up the reins as 1st team boys’ coach there. We are lucky enough to have snatched up Connor Flowers to take over.”
First games present special challenges, Gouws admitted, and Friday’s outing will be no exception with the Zwartkop team needing to adjust to the change of coach.
“It is an entirely new playing philosophy and structure that might take a match or two to get used to. First games are always a nervy affair with the new boys needing to get used to the higher intensity of the game and the new players,” he said.
The Pretoria school should not find it too difficult to gel, though. At least half of their successful 1st team of 2024 was in grade 11, and that has given them a base from which to build.
“We are lucky to have had almost a 50/50 split for the last two years,” Gouws said, before detailing the make-up of 2025’s squad: “Eight of the 16 are matric learners, seven are in Grade 11, and one from Grade 10.”
The 2025 hockey season is about to take off, with many teams playing their first matches of the year this week.
While most are gearing up for their opening encounters, some sides have already got their seasons underway, and that includes St Benedict’s College and Jeppe High School for Boys, who met in Bedfordview on Saturday.
In an entertaining clash, Jeppe scored a 4-2 win. In other matches, Jeppe 2nds won 4-0, the u16A side scored a 6-0 win, and the u14A team powered its way to a 9-0 victory.
The early returns were good as the coaches guided their charges to a win after a hard-fought clash with Bennies.
In recent seasons, Jeppe has produced some outstanding hockey during which they’ve won the Aitken Cup and the Top 8 Trophy.
On Wednesday, they’ll take on St Stithians College, while St John’s College will begin their season against Cornwall Hill College.
The Johannesburg school has dominated their last three meetings with Cornwall, winning 1-0 last year, 3-0 in 2023, and 4-0 in 2022.
Parktown Boys’ High School after a strong season in 2024, which included finishing as the runner-up in the Aitken Cup, will be eager to build upon the optimism generated last year. Coach Kyle Reddy has declared himself “quite excited about the new season”, and he’ll see his side in full-on action for the first time on Friday, 14 March, against St Stithians.
There’ll be wholesale changes in the Parktown lineup with 12 players from last year’s side having matriculated.
King Edward VII School (KES) runs out for the first time on Saturday, 15 March against St John’s.
The neighbouring schools have produced some thrilling matches in recent seasons. Last year, the spoils were shared. In April, KES edged out St John’s 3-2, but St John’s won their most recent meeting 5-3, in May 2024.
St Alban’s College who finished last season with seven wins, three draws, and three defeats, travels from Pretoria to St Benedict’s College on Friday.
Coach Guy Elliott‘s side has played three preseason games, beating Parktown Boys’ High 1-0, drawing 0-0 with St John’s, and going down 0-2 against KES.
In Pretoria, on Saturday, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) takes on Helpmekaar.
Hoërskool Zwartkop visits the North West Province for a showdown with Klerkdorp High School.
Coach Megan Sileno and her St Stithians team celebrates winning the Reef Cup with the traditional plunge into the pool. Photo: Debbi Adcock Photography.
The Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational Tournament ended on Sunday afternoon at the St Stithians Aquatic Centre with Saints clinching the girls’ title and St David’s Marist Inanda winning the boys’ event, both by two goals.
It was tight, but St Stithians lifted the girls’ trophy for a ninth consecutive time after a hard-fought 9-7 win over Reddam House Bedfordview.
“I am very happy,” Saints’ coach Megan Sileno declared after her side’s victory.
“We have met Reddam House Bedfordview twice now in our season. We narrowly lost to them at Kingswood in the semi-finals [of the Brian Baker Water Polo Tournament].
“We also had a very nice league game against them. We came out [as the winners], I think by one, and then to meet them in the final, they are always such a nice team to play against. There is no drama, no issue, nothing. It is good water polo, and I am very very happy with the team’s results.”
The final produced a back-and-forth contest from the first whistle to the last. Saints edged into the lead, but Reddam House Bedfordview kept reeling them in. In the fourth chukka, Reddam trailed 4-7, but they pulled within one by striking twice. St Stithians, though, kept their composure and hit back to eventually pull off a 9-7 victory.
Reflecting on the game, Sileno said she has worked hard at handling pressure situations. “It has taken a lot of practice, a lot of years to maintain composure,” she said. “If your coach is losing her mind on the side of the pool, the players just follow suit, so they kind of take your lead. So, staying calm and trying to think of different options to break whatever is being done on the other side’s defence, it comes with a little more experience than just winging it.”
In the third-place playoff, Beaulieu College held on for a 7-6 win over St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls. Zimbabwe’s Hellenic Academy finished fifth after a convincing 5-1 win over Kingsmead College.
Despite the loss, Masibonge Namba, Kingsmead’s head coach, lauded her players, saying: “For us to make the top eight in this tournament is great for our school.”
Reddam House Umhlanga took seventh place after cruising to an 8-1 victory over Falcon College.
St David’s Marist Inanda demonstrated BMT, turning a two-goal half-time deficit into a two-goal win in the boys’ Reef Cup final. Photo: Debbi Adcock Photography.
In the boys’ competition, St David’s Marist Inanda staged a battling fightback to overcome Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) to claim the title with a 10-8 victory.
In the opening chukka, Affies was onto the score sheet first, but St David’s levelled to make it 1-1 at the end of the quarter.
The second chukka belonged to Affies, who outscored St David’s 3-1 to take a 4-2 lead into the halftime break. St David’s needed to reverse the momentum and they responded well with an outstanding third chukka that saw them move from a two-goal deficit into a one-goal lead at 6-5.
With the bit between their teeth, coach Dean Whyte‘s charges extended their advantage by a further goal in the final chukka to secure their second title of 2025 after winning the Vides Water Polo Tournament title two weeks earlier.
“I am ecstatic,” Whyte admitted after the final. “It’s great! The boys have been working hard, and it is nice to win.
“The last time we played, at Vides two weeks’ ago, and no one really looked at St David’s. We won that tournament and came back over here, and everybody is like yeah, St David’s.
“It is difficult when you have a massive target on your back, but those guys over there,” he said, pointing at his players, “are the guys who are workhorses. They were unbelievable today.”
Commenting on how his players managed to seize control of the contest in the second half, Whyte said: “There is no point in putting more pressure on the players. The boys are achievers. They know that there is work to follow, so it was a tactical change that played in our favour.”
“I am very proud of the boys. We started very well. We got into the lead. Yeah, it is tough to lose that way but I am very proud of the boys. I could not be any prouder.
“They played their hearts out, and that is how you learn, and it’s the games we would want to play. We would love to play more of these games, maybe we can be invited to the King Edward VII Tournament.”
“We are getting there with our players,” he added. “Our senior players are standing up when they need to, and they take control of the game and the youngsters.
“And the tournament is well run. These are long days. It’s not that ideal to travel from Pretoria, but we love this tournament and, if we are here next year, who knows, we may go for gold,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
In the battle for the bronze, Michaelhouse edged out Durban High School(DHS) 6-5 in a KZN clash, while Woodridge College beat St Benedict’s College 7-5 in the fifth-place playoff.
In another tight match, St Alban’s College claimed a narrow 4-3 win over Zimbabwe’s Hellenic Academy to finish seventh.
RESULTS
GIRLS
G63: 19th/20th (L53/L54): Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria 7-6 Pretoria High School for Girls
G64: 17th/18th (W53/W54): Rand Park 10 -9 Reddam House Helderfontein
G65: 15th/16th (L57/L58): Steyn City 7-6 Parktown Girls’ High
G66: 13th/14th (W57/W58): Maris Stella 5-9 Tournament Inv.
G67: 11th/12th (L55/L56): St Peter’s College 12-6 Crawford College Lonehill
G68: 9th/10th (W55/W56): Durban Girls’ College 1-4 Woodridge College
G69: 7th/8th (L61/L60): Falcon College 1-8 Reddam House Umhlanga
G70: 5th/6th (W61/W60): Hellenic Academy 5-1 Kingsmead College
G71: 3rd/4th (L62/L59): St Dominic’s 6-7 Beaulieu College
G72: 1st/2nd (W62/W59): St Stithians 9-7 Reddam House Bedfordview
BOYS
G63: 19th/20th (L53/L54): Rand Park 8-9 Reddam House Umhlanga
G64: 17th/18th (W53/W54): Beaulieu College 9 -13 Parktown Boys’ High
G65: 15th/16th (L57/L59): Reddam House Helderfontein 8-6 Glenwood High
G66: 13th/14th (W57/W59): Falcon College 12-13 Reddam House Bedfordview
G67: 11th/12th (L55/L56): St Peter’s College 5-7 Steyn City
G68: 9th/10th (W55/W56): Maritzburg College 11-5 Grey College
G69: 7th/8th (L62/L61): St Alban’s 4-3 Hellenic Academy
G70: 5th/6th (W62/W61): St Benedict’s 5-7 Woodridge
G71: 3rd/4th (L60/L58): Michaelhouse 6-5 DHS
G72: 1st/2nd (W60/W58): St David’s Marist 10-8 Affies
The Reef Cup Water Polo tournament hosts, St Stithians College, secured a place in the final for the ninth consecutive time on Saturday in their home pools.
Coach Megan Sileno’s side was in scintillating form in their playoff matches, starting an easy 13-2 win over the visitors from Zimbabwe, Falcon College, in the quarterfinals.
They faced St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls in the semi-finals and it was again a comprehensive victory for Saints, who secured a place in the title decider against Reddam House Bedfordview with a 10-2 win.
Reddam Bedfordview was every bit as dominant as St Stithians in their playoff games, outplaying Reddam House Umhlanga 12-1 in the quarterfinals before matching Saints with a 10-2 win in their semi-final against Beaulieu College.
That leaves St Dominic’s to face Beaulieu College in the playoff for third and fourth, while another Zimbabwean school, Hellenic Academy, will tackle Kingsmead College in the fifth and sixth playoff.
Hellenic beat their fellow Zimbabweans, Falcon College 4-2, and Kingsmead College edged out Reddam House Umhlanga 4-3 to secure their places in the fifth-place playoff.
Kingsmead coach, Masibonge Namba, reflected on her side’s win over Reddam Umhlanga: “We did not play too badly. I think our first chukka was incredible. The girls stuck to the game plan. The game plan worked, and we scored when we needed to score.
“In the second chukka, we could have taken way more opportunities than we did but, other than that, for us to make the top eight in this tournament is great for our school,” she added.
Kingsmead was unbeaten on the first day, beating Durban Girls’ College(DGC) 5-2 before being held to a 3-3 draw with Woodridge College. On day two, they romped to an 11-1 win over Rand Park High School and blanked Pretoria High School for Girls 12-0.
Then, in the quarterfinals, they suffered their first loss, going down 5-9 to Beaulieu College. They returned to winnings ways against Reddam House Umhlanga.
“I think we have been growing every day,” coach Namba said. “We had fewer games than other teams before the tournament. However, I think we have done incredibly well. We have grown in every game. My girls are getting stronger and more confident. They are listening better, so, I think, day by day we are playing better, and the tournament is getting better.
“The weather has its ideas but otherwise, overall, the vibe of the tournament has been very good. My team’s morale has been great, as well. I coach a very positive team. It is very nice, my girls tend to not shout at each other, and are very good at uplifting one another, so those are some of the most important and critical things in our team – positive affirmation at all times,” she concluded.
In the boys’ competition, St David’s Marist Inanda beat St Benedict’s College 11-4 in the quarterfinals before withstanding Michaelhouse’s challenge and winning their semi-final clash 9-6..
Affies posted a 9-2 win over Hellenic Academy in the quarterfinals and then handed Durban High School (DHS) an 8-4 loss in a hard-fought semi-final showdown.
That result means that the battle for third place will be an all-KwaZulu-Natal affair between DHS and Michaelhouse.
The fifth-and sixth-place playoff will be between Woodridge and Bennies. Woodridge beat Hellenic Academy 8-5 in their playoff game to book their spot, while St Benedict’s beat St Alban’s 7-4.
RESULTS – GIRLS
Saturday, 1 March
Playoffs
G41: 5-12 (A2/B3): St Dominic’s 4-3 Durban Girls
G42: 5-12 (B2/A3): Woodridge 2-3 Falcon College
G43: 5-12 (C2/D3): St Peter’s 6-7 Reddam Umhlanga
G44: 5-12 (D2/C3): Beaulieu College 7-3 Crawford Lonehill
G45: 13-20 (A5/B4): Maris Stella 10-0 Rand Park
G46: 13-20 (A4/B5): Tournament Inv. 10-1 Pretoria HSG
G47: 13-20 (C5/D4): AHMP 8-12 Steyn City
G48: 13-20 (C4/D5): Parktown 9-5 Reddam Helderfontein
G53: 17-20 (L45/L47): Rand Park 7-4 AHMP
G54: 17-20 (L46/L48): Pretoria HSG 3-4 Reddam Helderfontein
G55: 9-12 (L43/L41): St Peter’s 6-9 Durban Girls
G56: 9-12 (L44/L42): Crawford Lonehill 1-2 Woodridge
G57: 13-16 (W47/W45): Steyn City 7-11 Maris Stella
G58: 13-16 (W46/W48): Tournament Inv. 8-6 Parktown
G60: 5-8 (L50/L49): Kingsmead 4-3 Reddam Umhlanga
G61: 5-8 (L52/L51): Falcon College 2-4 Hellenic Academy
Quarterfinals
G49: QF1 (A1/W43): Reddam Bedfordview 12-1 Reddam Umhlanga
G50: QF2 (W44/B1): Beaulieu College 9-5 Kingsmead
G51: QF3 (W41/C1): St Dominic’s 7-5 Hellenic Academy
G52: QF4 (D1/W42): St Stithians 13-2 Falcon College
Semifinals
G59: SF1 (W50/W49): Beaulieu College 2-10 Reddam Bedfordview
G62: SF2 (W52/W51): St Stithians 10-2 St Dominic’s
BOYS
Playoffs
G41: 5-12 (A2/B3): St Alban’s 10-9 Maritzburg College
G42: 5-12 (B2/A3): St Benedict’s 14-8 Grey College
G43: 5-12 (C2/D3): Woodridge 15-5 St Peter’s
G44: 5-12 (D2/C3): Hellenic Academy 7-6 Steyn City
G45: 12-20 (A5/B4): Beaulieu College 5-8 Falcon College
G46: 12-20 (A4/B5): Reddam Bedfordview 8-3 Parktown Boys’
G47: 12-20 (C5/D4): Rand Park 6-11 Reddam Helderfontein
G48: 12-20 (C4/D5): Glenwood 6-2 Reddam Umhlanga
G53: 17-20 (L45/L47): Beaulieu College 20-12 Rand Park
G54: 17-20 (L46/L48): Parktown Boys’ 9-7 Reddam Umhlanga
G55: 9-12 (L43/L41): St Peter’s 8-10 Maritzburg College
G56: 9-12 (L44/L42): Steyn City 5-6 Grey College
G57: 13-16 (W47/W45) Reddam Helderfontein 3-10 Falcon College
G59 13-16 (W46/W48): Reddam Bedfordview 9-5 Glenwood
G61: 5-8 (L50/L49): Hellenic Academy 5-8 Woodridge
G62: 5-8 (L52/L51): St Benedict’s 7-4th Alban’s
Quarterfinals
G49: QF1 (A1/W43): DHS 10-4 Woodridge
G50: QF2 (W44/B1): Hellenic Academy 2-9 Affies
G51: QF3 (W41/C1): St Alban’s 3-9 Michaelhouse
G52: QF4 (D1/W42) St David’s Marist 11-4 St Benedict’s
07:50 G63: 19th/20th (L53/L54): AHMP vs Pretoria HSG
07:50 G64: 17th/18th (W53/W54): Rand Park vs Reddam Helderfontein
07:50 G65: 15th/16th (L57/L58): Steyn City vs Parktown
09:30 G66: 13th/14th (W57/W58): Maris Stella vs Tournament Inv.
09:30 G67: 11th/12th (L55/L56): St Peter’s vs Crawford Lonehill
09:30 G68: 9th/10th (W55/W56): Durban Girls vs Woodridge
11:10 G69: 7th/8th (L61/L60): Falcon College vs Reddam Umhlanga
11:10 G70: 5th/6th (W61/W60): Hellenic Academy vs Kingsmead
11:10 G71: 3rd/4th (L62/L59): St Dominic’s vs Beaulieu College
13:10 G72: 1st/2nd (W62/W59): St Stithians vs Reddam Bedfordview
BOYS
07:00 G63: 19th/20th (L53/L54): Rand Park vs Reddam Umhlanga
07:00 G64: 17th/18th (W53/W54): Beaulieu College vs Parktown Boys’
07:00 G65: 15th/16th (L57/L59): Reddam Helderfontein vs Glenwood
08:40 G66: 13th/14th (W57/W59): Falcon College vs Reddam Bedfordview
08:40 G67: 11th/12th (L55/L56): St Peter’s vs Steyn City
08:40 G68: 9th/10th (W55/W56): Maritzburg College vs Grey College
10:20 G69: 7th/8th (L62/L61): St Alban’s vs Hellenic Academy
10:20 G70: 5th/6th (W62/W61): St Benedict’s vs Woodridge
10:20 G71: 3rd/4th (L60/L58): Michaelhouse vs DHS
12:10 G72: 1st/2nd (W60/W58): St David’s Marist vs Affies
After Friday’s action at the Reef Cup Water Polo Tournament just two girls’ teams, Reddam House Bedfordview and Hellenic Academy boast wins from all four of their starts.
The hosts, St Stithians, remain unbeaten, but they were also held to a 3-3 draw by Beaulieu College.
The prestigious annual tournament runs through until Sunday.
Reddam House Bedfordview enjoyed a solid opening day, on Thursday. Playing in Pool A, they opened their challenge with a smooth 12-1 victory over the Tournament Invitation Side. In their next outing, they were extended by Zimbabwe’s Falcon College but came away with an 8-6 win.
On Friday, they followed through with a 12-4 win over Maris Stella and a 10-4 defeat of St Dominic’s. That was St Dom’s only loss in pool play.
Meanwhile, Pool B produced some of the most interesting results. The opening day twice produced 3-3 draws, between Pretoria High School for Girls and Rand Park, and Woodridge and Kingsmead. The latter two won their other three games, including against Durban Girls’ College, who might have been expected to top the pool.
There was some high scoring in Pool C, including a 20-0 win for St Peter’s College over Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool(Affies), and a 15-0 win for Hellenic Academy over Parktown High Schoolfor Girls. The Zimbabweans also thumped Affies 19-1.
Although they were pushed harder on Friday, Hellenic recorded successive victories by four goals each, beating St Peter’s 10-6 and Crawford College Lonehill 8-4.
In Pool C, the hosts and the defending champions, St Stithians, established themselves as the team to beat, but their record wasn’t perfect. After a six-goal win over Reddam House Umhlanga, a 21-2 romp against Steyn City, and a 19-0 whitewash of Reddam House Helderfontein, they shared the spoils with Beaulieu College.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ tournament, Durban High School(DHS), Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies), Michaelhouse, and St David’s Marist Inanda are the pace-setters after the first two days of competition. All four have won four out of four
In Pool A, DHS registered their first win by beating Reddam House Bedfordview 13-6. They followed that with a 14-3 defeat of Grey College. Their smooth run continued on Friday with a convincing 15-0 blanking of Beaulieu College, but St Alban’s College extended School before the Durban boys won 5-4.
Affies powered their way to an 18-4 win over Parktown Boys’ High in their Pool B opener and they dealt KwaZulu Natal’s Maritzburg College a 14-5 loss. On Friday, Affies beat Falcon College 15-6 and outlasted St Benedict’s College 8-6.
Michaelhouse came out guns blazing on the first day, easing to a 14-1 win over their provincial rivals, Glenwood High. In their second game, they overpowered Rand Park HighSchool 25-1. On Friday, their dominance continued with a 14-2 success against Steyn City and an 11-6 win over Woodridge.
In Pool D, the Vides Water Polo Tournament champions, St David’s Marist Inanda, were seldom extended in racking up four victories. They downed St Peter’s 16-4, Hellenic Academy 10-4, Reddam House Umhlanga 19-2, and Reddam House Helderfontein 17-1 to make a clear statement that they’re the top dogs in the group and a serious title threat.
The tournament continues on Saturday with St Dominic’s facing Durban Girls’ College, followed by Woodridge against Falcon College.
St Alban’s and Maritzburg College kick off the boys’ action. The games will run through into the evening.
RESULTS – GIRLS
Thursday, 27 February
Pool A Reddam Bedfordview 12-1 Tournament Inv.
St Dominic’s 6-3 Falcon College
Tournament Inv. 8-6 Maris Stella
Reddam Bedfordview 10-8 Falcon College
St Dominic’s 18-6 Maris Stella
Pool B Woodridge 6-0 Pretoria HSG
Durban Girls’ College 2-5 Kingsmead
Pretoria HSG 3-3 Rand Park
Woodridge 3-3 Kingsmead
Durban Girls’ College 17-2 Rand Park
Pool C Crawford Lonehill 6-8 St Peter’s
Hellenic Academy 15-0 Parktown
St Peter’s 20-0 AHMP
Crawford Lonehill 9-6 Parktown
Hellenic Academy 19-1 AHMP
Pool D Beaulieu College 13 -4 Reddam Helderfontein
St Stithians 10-4 Reddam Umhlanga
Reddam Helderfontein 8 -10 Steyn City
Beaulieu College 9-9 Reddam Umhlanga
St Stithians 21-2 Steyn City
FRIDAY, 28 FEBRUARY
Pool A Falcon College 12-8 Maris Stella
St Dominic’s 7-4 Tournament Inv.
Reddam Bedfordview 12-4 Maris Stella
Falcon College 6-6 Tournament Inv
Reddam Bedfordview 10-4 St Dominic’s
Pool B Kingsmead 11-1 Rand Park
Durban Girls’ College 12-3 Pretoria HSG
Woodridge 16-2 Rand Park
Kingsmead 12-0 Pretoria HSG
Woodridge 5-3 Durban Girls’ College
Pool C Parktown 14-5 AHMP
Hellenic Academy 10-6 St Peter’s
Crawford Lonehill 13-2 AHMP
Parktown 8-14 St Peter’s
Crawford Lonehill 4-8 Hellenic Academy
Pool D Reddam Umhlanga 18-5 Steyn City
St Stithians 19-0 Reddam Helderfontein
Beaulieu College 16-2 Steyn City
Reddam Umhlanga 17-4 Reddam Helderfontein
St Stithians 3 -3 Beaulieu College
RESULTS – BOYS
Thursday, 27 February
Pool A
DHS 13-6 Reddam Bedfordview
St Alban’s 19A 7-0 Grey College
Reddam Bedfordview 12-8 Beaulieu College
DHS 14-3 Grey College
St Alban’s 13-3 Beaulieu College
Pool B St Benedict’s 10-2 Falcon College
Affies 18-4 Parktown Boys’
Falcon College 3-12 Maritzburg College
St Benedict’s 18-3 Parktown Boys’
Affies 14- 5 Maritzburg College
Pool C Woodridge 9-5 Steyn City
Michaelhouse 14-1 Glenwood
Steyn City 14-4 Rand Park
Michaelhouse 25-1 Rand Park
Pool D Reddam Helderfontein 13-7 Reddam Umhlanga
St David’s Marist 16-4 St Peter’s
Reddam Umhlanga 3-14 Hellenic Academy
Reddam Helderfontein 6-11 St Peter’s
St David’s Marist 10-4 Hellenic Academy
Friday, 28 February
Pool A Grey College 8-3 Beaulieu College
St Alban’s 7-4 Reddam Bedfordview
DHS 15-0 Beaulieu College
Grey College 10-4 Reddam Bedfordview DHS 5 -4 St Alban’s
Pool B Parktown Boys’ 6-13 Maritzburg College
Affies 15-6 Falcon College St Benedict’s 7-5 Maritzburg College Parktown Boys’ 6-12 Falcon College
St Benedict’s 6-8 Affies
Pool C Glenwood 14 -7 Rand Park
Michaelhouse 14-2 Steyn City Woodridge 16-8 Rand Park Glenwood 5-5 Steyn City Woodridge 6-11 Michaelhouse
Pool D St Peter’s 7-9 Hellenic Academy
St David’s Marist 19-2 Reddam Umhlanga
Reddam Helderfontein 6-13 Hellenic Academy St Peter’s 8-2 Reddam Umhlanga St David’s 17 – 1 Reddam Helderfontein
FIXTURES
Saturday, 1 March
Girls
07:50 G41: PO 5-12 (A2/B3): St Dominic’s vs Durban Girls
07:50 G42: PO 5-12 (B2/A3): Woodridge vs Falcon College
08:40 G43: PO 5-12 (C2/D3): St Peter’s vs Reddam Umhlanga
08:40 G44: PO 5-12 (D2/C3): Beaulieu College vs Crawford Lonehill
10:20 G45: PO 13-20 (A5/B4): Maris Stella vs Rand Park
10:20 G46: PO 13-20 (A4/B5): Tournament Inv. Vs Pretoria HSG
10:20 G47: PO 13-20 (C5/D4): AHMP vs Steyn City
11:10 G48: PO 13-20 (C4/D5): Parktown vs Reddam Helderfontein
12:00 G49: QF1 (A1/W43): Reddam Bedfordview vs W43
12:50 G50: QF2 (W44/B1): W44 vs Kingsmead
12:50 G51: QF3 (W41/C1): W41 vs Hellenic Academy 19A
12:50 G52: QF4 (D1/W42) : St Stithians vs W42
13:40 G53: PO 17-20 (L45/L47): L45 vs L47
14:30 G54: PO 17-20 (L46/L48):L46 vs L48
15:20 G55: PO 9-12 (L43/L41): L43 vs L41
15:20 G56: PO 9-12 (L44/L42):L44 vs L42
16:10 G57: PO 13-16 (W47/W45) :: W47 vs W45
17:00 G58: PO 13-16 (W46/W48) : W46 vs W48
17:50 G59: SF1 (W50/W49) :W50 vs W49
17:50 G60: PO 5-8 (L50/L49): L50 vs L49
17:50 G61: PO 5-8 (L52/L51): L52 vs L51
18:40 G62: SF2 (W52/W51): W52 vs W51
Boys
07:00 G41: PO 5-12 (A2/B3) : St Alban’s vs Maritzburg College
07:00 G42: PO 5-12 (B2/A3): St Benedict’s vs Grey College
07:00 G43: PO 5-12 (C2/D3): Woodridge vs St Peter’s
07:50 G44: PO 5-12 (D2/C3): Hellenic Academy vs Steyn City
08:40 G45: PO 12-20 (A5/B4): Beaulieu College vs Falcon College
09:30 G46: PO 12-20 (A4/B5): Reddam Bedfordview vs Parktown Boys’
09:30 G47: PO 12-20 (C5/D4): Rand Park vs Reddam Helderfontein
09:30 G48: PO 12-20 (C4/D5): Glenwood vs Reddam Umhlanga
11:10 G49: QF1 (A1/W43): DHS vs W43
11:10 G50: QF2 (W44/B1): W44 vs Affies 19A
12:00 G51: QF3 (W41/C1): W41 vs Michaelhouse 19A
12:00 G52: QF4 (D1/W42): St David’s Marist vs W42
13:40 G53: PO 17-20 (L45/L47): L45 vs L47
13:40 G54: PO 17-20 (L46/L48): L46 vs L48
14:30 G55: PO 9-12 (L43/L41): L43 vs L41
14:30 G56: PO 9-12 (L44/L42): L44 vs L42
15:20 G57: PO 13-16 (W47/W45): W47 vs W45
16:10 G58: SF1 (W50/W49): W50 vs W49
16:10 G59: PO 13-16 (W46/W48): W46 vs W48
17:00 G60: SF2 (W52/W51): W52 vsW51
17:00 G61: PO 5-8 (L50/L49): L50 vs L49
18:40 G62: PO 5-8 (L52/L51): L52 vs L51
That winning feeling! Roedean School celebrates being crowned the champions of the 20th Old Petrians’ Basketball Tournament. Photo: Roedean School on Facebook.
Roedean School was crowned the champion of the 20th edition of the Old Petrians’ Water Polo Tournament after beating St Stithians College in the final on Sunday afternoon at St Peter’s College, in Johannesburg
Roedean completed the tournament with an unbeaten record after a 6-4 win over Stithians. That loss was Saints‘ only defeat all tournament long.
Commenting after watching her charges claim the prestigious title, Roedean coach Siyabonga Guzana said: “The tournament, overall, was fantastic. It was well organised. Thanks to all the organisers and people in the background.
“On my team’s performance, I am proud of the girls who stepped up, in the sense of working together.
“The biggest thing that we spoke about as a team is that we wanted to stick together, be accountable and united. That has always been the biggest motto for us.”
Guzana’s side started the tournament with a narrow 6-5 win over Diocesan School for Girls, Makhanda (DSG). They followed that with an 11-3 defeat of the hosts, St Peter’s College, and a 9-2 win over Clarendon High School for Girls, and went on to top their pool.
On Sunday morning, in the semi-finals, they were stretched by Durban Girls’ College but came away with an 11-9 victory. Saints, meanwhile, reached the title game with a 2-1 win over Reddam House Constantia in a tight defensive battle.
Reflecting on her team’s title-winning success, Guzana said: “Win or lose, we are always about building character. Secondly, it is about how we have grown as a team, and that has been another one of our biggest focuses.
“We have specific values and morals, and no player is above the values of the team. That’s what helped the results.
“I was not about coming to the tournament saying we are the favorites to win, or we should win this tournament. No, it was a conversation about wanting to grow as a team and what it was going to take for us to grow. That’s the hard question we were asking each other.”
Besides winning the title, Roedean’s Gabriella Morell was also voted the Best Attacker of the Tournament and named in the Old Petrians’ Team of the Tournament. She was joined in the line-up by her teammates Kuhlesibonge Buthelezi and Emma Pelicot.
Only one goal separated the sides in the battle for third, with Reddam House Constantia recording a 5-4 win over Durban Girls’ College. Fifth place went to DSG Makhanda after a penalty shootout against Reddam House Bedfordview.
The weather intervened to prevent some playoff matches from taking place.
DAY 4 RESULTS
25th – 28th PLAYOFFS
Springfield 5-4 Rand Park
Pretoria High School for Girls 5-2 Alexander Road
17th – 20th PLAYOFFS
Kingsmead 4-8 Chisipite
Hudson Park 10-3 Crawford College Lonehill
5th– 8th PLAYOFFS
St Anne’s 2-5 Reddam House Bedfordview
Clarendon 2-4 DSG
PLATE SEMIFINAL Pearson 3-4 Kingswood College
St Cyprian’s 4-9 Herschel
SHIELD SEMIFINAL Wynberg Girls’ High (2) 4-4 (1) Reddam House Helderfontein
BOWL SEMIFINAL Rustenburg 4-3 Collegiate
St Mary’s Waverley (2) 2-2 (1) St Dominic’s
CUP SEMIFINAL Roedean 11-9 DGC Reddam House Constantia 1-2 St Stithians
PLATE FINAL
Kingwood 6-14 Herschel
SHIELD FINAL
St Peter’s 9-3 Wynberg Girls’ High
BOWL FINAL
Rustenburg 4-6 St Mary’s Waverley
PLAYOFFS
27th/28th: Rand Park High 4-5 Alexander Road
23rd/24th: Stirling 7-1 Reddam House Helderfontein
19th/20th: Kingsmead 2-0 Crawford College Lonehill 17th/18th: Chisipite 8-6 Hudson Park
5th/6th: Reddam House Bedfordview (1) 5-5 (2) DSG
3rd/4th: DGC 4-5 Reddam House Constantia
1st/2nd: Roedean 6-4 St Stithians
Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) hosted Parktown Boys’ High and Springs Boys’ High on Friday for a full load of hockey matches across all age groups.
The schools’ hockey season hits full throttle this weekend, and it includes Hoërskool Zwartkop welcoming Hoërskool Klerksdorp to Pretoria on Friday for matches between the boys’ 1st, u16, and u14 teams.
