Author: vndudane

Oranje Meisieskool continued their torrid start to the 2024 hockey season with a crushing 9-0 defeat of Woodridge College on Saturday at the Greg Beling Festival in East London. No team has been able to hang with the Bloemfontein girls.

Against Woodridge, Oranje was on it from the start, putting three into the back of the net in the first quarter. Playing a beautiful game at high speed and attacking with full force down both flanks, Oranje added a goal or more in every quarter.

In the third quarter, they struck three times in four minutes. Then, just before it ended, they added yet another goal. One more in the final quarter completed the 9-0 rout. Later, Oranje overran Clarendon 6-0.

Rhenish, like Oranje, unbeaten at the festival, with some impressive victories over big-name opposition, cruised to a 4-0 win over Pearson and repeated that feat against Affies, while Volkskool overwhelmed Krugersdorp High, matching Oranje’s result against Woodridge.

On Friday, Cale Potgieter and Georgia Kambanis had celebrated their 100-cap milestones in style when Eunice swept to a 6-0 victory over Cambridge, but on Saturday it was a tough slog against Hudson Park, who held them to a 1-1 draw.

Neither side’s defence was broken through the first two quarters, In the third quarter, Hudson broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke, but it didn’t take long for Eunice to equalise in the same quarter.

In their second match of the day, Eunice got back to winning ways, with a 2-0 victory over Stirling High. Meanwhile, Hudson went on to a narrow 1-0 win over Collegiate. It was an excellent bounce-back day from the East London locals following a 0-5 defeat at the hands of St Anne’s yesterday.

The girls from KZN added two more wins, beating Clarendon 3-0 and DSG 1-0.

Results

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Curro Waterstone 2-0 Brandwag
08:15 – Framesby 4-0 Krugersdorp
10:45 – Cambridge 3-4 Alex Rd
13:15 – Framesby 1-3 GHS
18:15 – Cambridge 0-4 Woodridge

Clarendon School for Girls Astro

07:00 – Clarendon Inv 1-4 Cradock
08:15 – DSG 2-2 Voortrekker
09:30 – Collegiate 2-1 Affies
10:15 – Oranje 9-0 Woodridge
12:00 – Clarendon 0-3 St Anne’s
13:15 – Union High 1-0 Duineveld
13:15 – Pearson 0-1 Voortrekker
15:45 – Rhenish Girls 4-0 Affies
17:00 – DSG 0-1 St Anne’s
18:15 – Clarendon 0-6 Oranje

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – GHS 4-0 Volkskool
08:15 – Merrifield College 0-2 Duineveld
14:30 – Merrifield College 1-2 Montana

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Sasolburg 1-2 Union High
09:30 – Pearson 0-4 Rhenish

Stirling High School Astro

07:00 – Kingswood College 0-0 Linden High
09:30 – Stirling 0-4 Witteberg
12:00 – Curro Waterstone 0-2 Westering
13:15 – Krugersdorp High 0-9 Volkskool
14:30 – Kingswood College 1-1  Witteberg
15:45 – Alex Rd v Linden
18:15 – Stirling 0-2 Eunice

Bunkers Hill Astro
10:45 – Hudson Park 1-1 Eunice
14:30 – Hudson Park 1-0 Collegiate

Fixtures

Sunday, 17 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Alex Rd v Krugersdorp
10:45 – Clarendon Inv v Curro Waterstone
13:15 – Cambridge v Pearson
07:00 – Collegiate v St Anne’s
08:15 – Oranje v Hudson Park
09:30 – Eunice v Affies
12:00 – Clarendon v Woodridge
09:30 – Kingswood College v Sasolburg High

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – Brandwag v Lilyfontein
09:30 – Union High v Witteberg
12:00 – Merrifield v Volkskool

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Framesby v Montana
07:00 – DSG v Linden
10:45 – Stirling v Voortrekker
12:00 – GHS v Duineveld
13:15 – Westering v Cradock

The action hotted up on day two of the Greg Beling Festival in East London, with a number of teams catching the eye with their slick play and top results.

In the opener, Eunice was on song and on target, overwhelming Cambridge High 6 -0 on the East London side’s home Astro.

The Bloemfontein girls were resolute on defence and efficient on attack, making good use of the opportunities they created.

In the second game, Cradock HS beat Krugersdorp HS 3-0, while Brandwag suffered a 0-6 defeat at the hands of Montana.

Later, Cambridge suffered a second defeat of the day, going down by a 1-3 margin to HS Linden.

Rhenish then grabbed the spotlight. Following an impressive 4-1 win over Clarendon on the opening day, they put a halt to Eunice’s winning ways for the first time in the festival in emphatic fashion.

The Stellenbosch side out played the Bloemfontein school 5-1 on the Clarendon Astro and they kept their record clean by securing a narrow 1-0 victory over DSG Makhanda later in the day.

At the same venue, Framesby ran into a dialled in Witteberg and were handed a 1-5 defeat. Oranje, meanwhile, laid claim to being the class of the field with a 6-0 drubbing of DSG.

It was a tight battle between Pearson and Affies as both sides bent but didn’t break, leaving the match goalless at its conclusion.

At Selborne College Astro, St Anne’s were the queens of the castle as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over Hudson Park.

Saturday’s action begins with Curro Waterstone against Brandwag at 07:00, followed by Framesby against Krugersdorp at 08:15.

Results

Friday, 15 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

09:00 – Cambridge 0-6 Eunice
12:45 – Cradock HS 3-0 Krugersdorp HS
15:15 – Brandwag 0-6 Montana
16:30 – Cambridge 1-3 HS Linden

Clarendon Astro turf

10:15 – DSG 0-1 Rhenish
11:h30 – Clarendon 0-0 Union High
14:00 – Framesby 1-5 Witteberg
15h:15 – DSG 0-6 Oranje
16:30 – Pearson 0-0 Affies
14:45 – Rhenish 5-1 Eunice

Merrifield College Astro

11:00 – Lilyfontein 1-6 Volksool
13:30 – Westering 1-2 Sasolburg
14:45 – Merrifield 0-1 Kingswood

Selborne College Astro

14:00 – Curro Waterstone 2-1 GHS
16:30 – Hudson Park 0-5 St Anne’s

Stirling High School Astro

11:30 – Alex v HS Duinveld (TBC)
15:15 – Woodridge 0-5 Voortrekker
17:45 – Stirling 1-7 Collegiate

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Curro Waterstone v Brandwag
08:15 – Framesby v Krugersdorp
10:45 – Cambridge v Alex Rd
13:15 – Framesby v GHS
18:15 – Cambridge v Woodridge

Clarendon School for Girls Astro

07:00 – Clarendon Inv v Cradock
08:15 – DSG v Voortrekker
09:30 – Collegiate v Affies
10:15 – Oranje v Woodridge
12:00 – Clarendon v St Anne’s
13:15 – Union High v Duineveld
13:15 – Pearson v Voortrekker
15:45 – Rhenish v Affies
17:00 – DSG v St Anne’s
18:15 – Clarendon v Oranje

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – GHS v Volkskool
08:15 – Merrifield College v Duineveld
14:30 – Merrifield College v Montana

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Sasolburg v Union High
09:30 – Pearson v Rhenish

Stirling High School Astro

07:00 – Kingswood College v Linden High
09:30 – Stirling v Witteberg
12:00 – Curro Waterstones v Westering
13:15 – Krugersdorp High v Volkskool
14:30 – Kingswood College v Witteberg
15:45 – Alex Rd v Linden
18:15 – Stirling v Eunice

Bunkers Hill Astro

08:15 – Montana v Westering
10:45 – Hudson Park v Eunice
12:00 – Clarendon Inv v Brandwag
13:15 – Sasolburg v Cradock
14:30 – Hudson Park v Collegiate

Sunday, 17 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Alex Rd v Krugersdorp
10:45 – Clarendon Inv v Curro Waterstone
13:15 – Cambridge v Pearson
07:00 – Collegiate v St Anne’s
08:15 – Oranje v Hudson Park
09:30 – Eunice v Affies
12:00 – Clarendon v Woodridge
09:30 – Kingswood College v Sasolburg High

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – Brandwag v Lilyfontein
09:30 – Union High v Witteberg
12:00 – Merrifield v Volkskool

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Framesby v Montana
07:00 – DSG v Linden
10:45 – Stirling v Voortrekker
12:00 – GHS v Duineveld
13:15 – Westering v Cradock

Eunice, Cambridge, Rhenish and Stirling all claimed wins in Thursday’s opening games of the Greg Beling Hockey Festival in East London.

Ranked number one in South Africa in 2023, Eunice had a challenging start to their season at the Balling Hockey Festival in Bethlehem, suffering three defeats in succession before righting the ship and scoring successive victories. Against DSG Makhanda, they made it three wins on the trot after a 2-1 victory.

The teams are no strangers to each other. They met last year at the Greg Beling Festival, too, and Eunice powered their way to a 5-0 victory on that occasion.

In the festival’s first game, Cambridge crushed Montana 3-0 on their home Astro. Rhenish impressed with a comfortable 4-1 win over Clarendon, while Stirling High School scored a 2-1 win over Curro Waterstone in the last match of the day.

On Friday, the action ramps up, with 18 matches on the schedule.

Eunice locks horns with Cambridge in the day’s first match, while Cradock High School takes on Krugersdorp High School in an early afternoon game.

Montana, after going down in their first match, will be out to redeem themselves when they take on Die Brandwag.

Stirling wraps up the second day’s action with an outing against Collegiate.

The girls from Gqeberha have produced consistently good hockey in recent seasons, but based on Thursday’s results, they’ll be in for a tough test from Cambridge.

Some of the teams running out for the first time in the Festival on Friday are expected to be among South Africa’s best in 2024, including Oranje, Pearson and St Anne’s.

Results

Thursday, 14 March 2024

Cambridge 3-0 Montana
Eunice 2-1 DSG Makhanda
Stirling 2-1 Curro Waterstone
Clarendon 1-4 Rhenish

Fixtures

Friday, 15 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

09:00 – Cambridge v Eunice
12:45 – Cradock HS v Krugersdorp HS
15:15 – Brandwag v Montana
16:30 – Cambridge v HS Linden

Clarendon Astro 

10h15 – DSG v Rhenish
11:30 – Clarendon v Union High
14:00 – Framesby v Witteberg
15:15 – DSG v Oranje
16:30 – Pearson v Affies
14:45 – Rhenish v Eunice

Merrifield Astro

11:00 – Lilyfontein v Volksool
13:30 – Westering v Sasolburg
14:45 – Merrifield v Kingswood

Selborne College Astro

14:00 – Curro Waterstone v GHS
16:30 – Hudson Park v St Anne’s

Stirling High School Astro

11:30 – Alex v HS Duineveld
15:15 – Woodridge v Voortrekker
17:45 – Stirling v Collegiate

After ending 2023 on a high as the number one ranked team in the country, Eunice High School for Girls has entered the 2024 season with all eyes on them, deservedly so.

In late January, however, they experienced a challenging start to the season at the Balling Hockey Festival in Bethlehem.

There, Eunice suffered three losses, to St Stithians College, St Anne’s DSG, and St John’s DSG. They finished strongly, however, with convincing wins against The Wykeham Collegiate and Voortrekker Bethlehem.

They will carry that optimism into the Greg Beling Hockey Festival in East London, where the action starts on Thursday.

Eunice had a good run at last year’s early season event, beating Parel Vallei (5-1), DSG Makhanda (5-0), and Stirling High School (2-1). They, however, were beaten 1-0 by Pearson. Later in the season, they twice avenged that loss.

Every year poses its own challenges, Eunice coach Nika Coertzen believes. “Every year brings challenges, goals, and a different team dynamic,” she said.

“What is a constant every year is that it is always an honour to represent the first team, and that it takes a lot of hard work.

“Last year’s results gave us a lot of confidence and pressure, but as they say, pressure is a privilege,” she added.

The Bloemfontein school opens with a clash against DSG Makhanda on Thursday at the Cambridge High School Astro.

Coertzen says DSG will be a good first outing for her side, as they seek to improve with every game they play.

“We lost five matches in 2023,” she stated. “Our aim is just to be better every game, regardless of the result.

“Every game is an opportunity to play the game we love, no matter the opposition. I feel confident and excited to see the progress of the team in the past three weeks,” she added.

After opening their account on Thursday, Eunice will take on Cambridge and Rhenish at the Clarendon Astro on Friday.

Their last of six matches, will be played on Sunday against Affies.

Coertzen said she is looking forward to seeing what this year will bring her side. “Our first few games were a big learning curve and a good way to identify what we need to work on going forward.

“It is about learning from those experiences, good or bad, and striving to be better every game.

“I am blessed with a special group of ladies who are willing to learn and put in the hard yards. I am confident and excited to see what 2024 brings,” she concluded.

Eunice fixtures for the Greg Beling Festival

Thursday, 14 March 2024

18:00 – DSG v Eunice @ Clarendon Astro

Friday, 15 March 2024

09h00 – Cambridge v Eunice @ Cambridge
14h45 – Rhenish v Eunice @ Clarendon Astro

Saturday, 16 March

18h15 – Stirling v Eunice @ Stirling High
10h45 – Hudson Park v Eunice @ Bunkers Hill Astro.

Sunday, 17 March 2024

10:30 – Eunice v Affies @ Clarendon Astro

 

The annual Greg Beling Hockey Festival will return to the SuperSport Schools screens from Thursday with a feast of exciting hockey, featuring some of South Africa’s leading girls’ hockey schools.

The action begins on Thursday evening and runs through to early on Sunday afternoon.

Top schools from all over the country will sharpen their skills, and work on combinations and team tactics as the 2024 season speeds into focus.

Matches will be played at six different venues, with Cambridge High, Stirling High, Clarendon High School for Girls, Selborne College, Merrifield College, and the Bunkers Hill Astro hosting games.

Cambridge will set matters in motion on Thursday when they run out against Montana at 17:00. Another of the local sides, Clarendon, plays their first match, against Rhenish, at 18:15.

It’s on the second day, Friday, that a smorgasbord of action will unfold, with 18 matches taking place, including Cambridge fronting up to Eunice at 09:00 in the first game of the day.

Eunice will be aiming to up their game after an up-and-down start to their season at Voortrekker’s Balling Hockey Festival. In 2023, they won three of their four games at the Greg Beling Festival, beating Parel Vallei 5-1, DSG Makhanda 5-0 and Stirling High School 2-1, and going down 1-0 to Pearson High School. Eunice would go on to become the number one ranked team in the country.

Other matches to keep an eye out for over the course of the weekend include a much-anticipated clash between Clarendon and Oranje, who made a red-hot start to the season at the Balling Hockey Festival, scoring 33 goals and conceding only one in five outings.

Pearson will lock horns with Rhenish, before Hudson Park faces Collegiate and Eunice on the same day.

Kingswood College also had a successful run at the 2023 Festival, but they will be tested over the weekend, particularly in their matches against Sasolburg High and Linden.

To wrap matters up on Sunday, Stirling High will face Voortrekker, seeking to do the double over their opponents, after they shocked the Bethlehem side 3-2 on home soil in February.

Fixtures

Thursday, 14 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

17:00 – Cambridge v Montana
18:00 – DSG v Eunice
18:15 – Clarendon v Rhenish

Friday, 15 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

09:00 – Cambridge v Eunice
12:45 – Cradock HS v Krugersdorp HS
15:15 – Brandwag v Montana
16:30 – Cambridge v HS Linden

Clarendon Astro turf

10:15 –DSG v Rhenish
11:h30 – Clarendon v Union High
14:00 – Framesby v Witterberg
15h:15 – DSG v Oranje
16:30 – Pearson v Affies
14:45 – Rhenish v Eunice

Merrifield College Astro

11:00 – Lilyfontein v Volksool
13:30 – Westering v Sasolburg
14:45 – Merrifield v Kingswood

Selborne College Astro

14:00 – Curro Waterstone v GHS
16:30 – Hudson Park v St Anne’s

Stirling High School Astro

11:30 – Alex v HS Duinveld
15:15 – Woodridge v Voortrekker
17:45 – Stirling v Collegiate

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Curro Waterstone v Brandwag
08:15 – Framesby v Krugersdorp
10:45 – Cambridge v Alex Rd
13:15 – Framesby v GHS
18:15 – Cambridge v Woodridge

Clarendon School for Girls Astro

07:00 – Clarendon Inv v Cradock
08:15 – DSG v Voortrekker
09:30 – Collegiate v Affies
10:15 – Oranje v Woodridge
12:00 – Clarendon v St Anne’s
13:15 – Union High v Duineveld
13:15 – Pearson v Voortrekker
15:45 – Rhenish Girls v Affies
17:00 – DSG v St Anne’s
18:15 – Clarendon v Oranje

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – GHS v Volkskool
08:15 – Merrifield College v Duineveld
14:30 – Merrifield College v Montana

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Sasolburg v Union High
09:30 – Pearson v Rhenish

Stirling High School Astro

07:00 – Kingswood College v Linden High
09:30 – Stirling v Witteberg
12:00 – Curro Waterstones v Westering
13:15 – Krugersdorp High v Volkskool
14:30 – Kingswood College v Witteberg
15:45 – Alex Rd v Linden
18:15 – Stirling v Eunice

Bunkers Hill Astro

08:15 – Montana v Westering
10:45 – Hudson Park v Eunice
12:00 – Clarendon Inv v Brandwag
13:15 – Sasolburg v Cradock
14:30 – Hudson Park v Collegiate

Sunday, 17 March 2024

Cambridge High School Astro

07:00 – Alex Rd v Krugersdorp
10:45 – Clarendon Inv v Curro Waterstone
13:15 – Cambridge v Pearson
07:00 – Collegiate v St Anne’s
08:15 – Oranje v Hudson Park
09:30 – Eunice v Affies
12:00 – Clarendon v Woodridge
09:30 – Kingswood College v Sasolburg High

Merrifield College Astro

07:00 – Brandwag v Lilyfontein
09:30 – Union High v Witteberg
12:00 – Merrifield v Volkskool

Selborne College Astro

07:00 – Framesby v Montana
07:00 – DSG v Linden
10:45 – Stirling v Voortrekker
12:00 – GHS v Duineveld
13:15 – Westering v Cradock

St Stithians College successfully defended their Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational Tournament title on Sunday afternoon, beating St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls 7-5 in an exciting final.

With the victory, Saints ensured their coach, Etienne le Roux, oversaw one last title-winning effort before he moves to the Western Cape, and they did it with style.

On the first day, in their opener, Saints signalled their intent by blanking Falcon College 16-0. Then, in the afternoon, they overran Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool 20-3.

On day two, the hosts maintained their high energy performances to ease past St Peter’s College 11-1 and Reddam House Umhlanga 12-4, to secure their place on top of Pool D.

Matching them win-for-win along the way was St Dominic’s, whose only loss came in the final after they had subjected Saints to a tough examination.

Crawford College (Lonehill) also enjoyed a strong showing, losing one game when they went down 6-8 against Hellenic Academy. On Sunday, they held off Kingsmead, with a 6-5 win leaving them fifth in the final standings.

Third place went to Roedean, who overpowered Hellenic 15-5 in their last match.

In a tight final, St Stithians were on the board first and a second goal, by the outstanding Isabella Imbriolo, gave them a little breathing room.

Jessica Bott responded with a goal for St Dom’s, while Stephanie Stockenstroom and Simphiwe Zulu helped keep St Stithians at bay.

Then Ruby Carlson scored for the Boksburg school to raise the tension in the pool.

It went back and forth, with Saints edging in front and St Dom’s playing catch-up. Courtney Calenborne struck for the home side, but Stephanie Stockenstroom  found a fantastic reply for St Dominic’s, sending the ball flying into the corner of the goal.

Saints retaliated through Hannah Lloyd, with a seventh goal, but St Dom’s kept at it. Morgan Harrison quickly found a way through the St Stithians defence, and Amy Hollard added a fifth for St Dominic’s, to ensure St Stithians would not be able to cruise to the title.

They maintained a two-goal gap, however, and secured the win in their home pool.

RESULTS

Pretoria 12-2 Affies
Rand Park 6-10 Steyn City
Maris Stella 11-5 Reddam Helderfontein
St Peter’s 9-10 Tournament Invitation
Woodridge 7-6 Parktown
Falcon 2-7 Reddam Umhlanga
Reddam Bedfordview 14-5 Beaulieu
Crawford 6-5 Kingsmead
Hellenic 5 -15 Roedean
St Stithians 7 – 5 Dominic’s

Final Standings

1. St Stithians College
2. St Dominic’s Catholic Schools for Girls
3. Roedean School
4. Hellenic Academy (Zimbabwe)
5. Crawford College (Lonehill)
6. Kingsmead College
7. Reddam House (Bedfordview)
8. Beaulieu College
9. Reddam House (Umhlanga)
10. Falcon College (Zimbabwe)
11. Woodridge College
12. Parktown High for Girls
13. Tournament Invitation Team
14. St Peter’s College
15. Maris Stella
16. Reddam House (Helderfontein)
17. Steyn City School
18. Rand Park High
19. Pretoria High School for Girls
20. Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Pretoria)

The hosts, St Stithians College, continued on their winning ways at the 2024 Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational Tournament on Saturday evening by beating Hellenic Academy, of Harare, 9-3 in the last match of the day.

Saints, who are the defending champions, have been on fire since the tournament began on Thursday, winning all of their matches convincingly thus far.

They started with 16-0 victory over Falcon College, which was followed by a 20-3 thumping of Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool. Saints were at their best in the opening chukka of that game, finding the back of the net an astonishing nine times.

On the second day, the hosts cruised to an 11-1 win over St Peter’s College. A 12-4 victory over Reddam House Umhlanga sealed top spot in Pool D.

St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls also boasts a clean record, but they very nearly lost it against Roedean School. The teams went blow-for-blow and a draw looked like it was on the cards before a late goal tilted the final score 8-7 in St Dom’s favour.

Meanwhile, Crawford College (Lonehill) fell from the ranks of the undefeated when they were handed a 6-8 loss by Hellenic Academy.

Saints appear to be on course to defend their crown, but that will be decided in the pool on Sunday, and St Dominic’s will be keen to change that narrative. The final takes place at 13:10 and the action is live on SuperSport Schools.

RESULTS

Hellenic Academy 9-2 Woodridge
Reddam Bedfordview 8-4 Parktown
Kingsmead 4-3 Falcon
Reddam Umhlanga 5-6 Beaulieu
Pretoria 4-5 Maris Stella
Tournament Invitation 8-7 Steyn City
Rand Park 4-14 St Peter’s
Reddam Helderfontein 14-4 Affies
Roedean 6–2 Kingsmead
Beaulieu 2-12 St Dominic’s
Hellenic 8-6 Crawford
St Stithians 6-5 Reddam Bedfordview
Pretoria 3-4 Rand Park
Steyn City 14-3 Affies
Falcon 5-3 Woodridge
Reddam Umhlanga 8-6 Parktown
St Peter’s 4-3 Maris Stella
Tournament Invitation 13–6 Reddam Helderfontein
St Dominic’s 8–7 Roedean
Beaulieu 1-7 Kingsmead
Reddam Bedfordview 3–4 Crawford
St Stithian’s 9–3 Hellenic

Day 4, Sunday 3 March 2024 @ St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (#63) Pretoria v Affies  (#64) Rand Park v Steyn City, (#65) Girls loser Game 57 v Girls loser Game 58, 09h30 – (#66) Girls winner Game 57 v Girls winner Game 58, (#67) Woodridge v Parktown, (#68) Falcon v Reddam Umhlanga,11h10 – (69) Girls Loser Game 61 v Girls Loser Game 60,(#70) Girls winner Game 61 v Girls winner Game 60, (71) Girls loser Game 62 v Girls loser Game 59; 13h10 – (72) Girls winner Game 62 v Girls winner Game 59

Zimbabwe’s Falcon College, after two losses on day one of the 2024 Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational Tournament, played themselves back into contention on Friday with back-to-back victories.

The school, from Esigodini, outplayed Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool 23-3 and then were convincing 9-1 winners over St Peter’s College.

They had begun their challenge with a tough setback, being blanked by the hosts and defending champions, St Stithians College, 0-16. Reddam House Umhlanga then handed them a 5-9 defeat.

With a day’s action under the belt, Falcon were a different proposition on Friday. They were quickly into their stride against Affies, ramming home five goals in the first chukka to open up a 5-1 advantage.

In the second chukka, they extended their lead to 14-2 and they were on their way to a confidence-inspiring day.

Beaulieu College garnered their second win when they handed Rand Park High an 11-1 defeat.

Four teams remain unbeaten: Roedean are top of Pool A, St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls leads the way in Pool B, while Crawford College (Lonehill) is out front in Pool C, and St Stithians College has been tearing it up in Pool D and are comfortably out in front of their opposition.

Saints added two more clear-cut wins on Friday, first downing St Peter’s College 11-1, which was followed by a 12-4 victory over Reddam House Umhlanga.

On Saturday, the final standings in the pools will be determined, with the playoffs then commencing at midday.

Hellenic Academy and Woodridge College set the ball in motion at 07:50 in the Olympic North Pool, while Reddam House Bedfordview and Parktown High School for Girls are first up in the Olympic South Pool.

RESULTS

Tournament Invitation 24–1 Pretoria
Woodridge 7-4 Maris Stella
Rand Park 8-8 Reddam Helderfotein
Falcon 23–3 Affies
Roedean 21-1 Parktown
St Dominic’s 15-6 Steyn City
Crawford 12-6 Beaulieu
St Stithians 11-1 St Peter’s
Hellenic 20-0 Pretoria
Reddam Bedfordview 18-1 Maris Stella
Kingsmead 10-0 Reddam Helderfontein
Reddam Umhlanga 22-0 Affies
Tournament Invitation 12-13 Parktown
Woodridge 4-5 Steyn City
Rand Park 1-11 Beaulieu
Falcon 9-1 St Peter’s
Hellenic 3-6 Roedean
Reddam Bedfordview 4-5 St Dominic’s
Kingsmead 3-6 Crawford
St Stithians 12-4 Reddam Umhlanga

Day 3, Saturday 2 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (41) A1 v B3, (42) B2 v  A3; 8h40 – (43) C2 v D3, (44) D2 v C3; 10h20 – (45) A5 v B4, (46) A4 v B5, (47) C5 v D4; 11h10 – (48) C4 v D5; 12h00 – (49) A1 v Winner Game 43; 12h50 – (50) Winner Game 44 v B1, (51) Winner Game 41 v C1, (52) D1 v Winner Game 42; 13h40 – (53) Loser Game 45 v Loser Game 47; 14h30 – (54) Loser Game 46 v Loser Game 48; 15h20 – (55) Loser Game 43 v Loser Game 41; (56) Loser Game 44 v Loser Game 42; 16h10 – (57) Winner Game 47 v Winner Game 45; 17h00 – (58) Winner Game 46 v Winner Game 48; 17h50 – (59) Winner Game 50 v Winner Game 49, (60) Loser Game 50 (QF2) v Loser Game 49; (61) Loser Game 50 v Loser Game 49; 18h40 – (62) Loser Game 52 v Loser Game 51

Day 4, Sunday 3 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (63) Loser Game 53 v Loser Game 54, (64) Winner Game 53 v Winner Game 54, (65) Loser Game 57 v Loser Game 58, 09h30 – (66) Winner Game 57 v Winner Game 58; (67) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56, (68) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56; 11h10 – (69) Loser Game 61 v Loser Game 60, (70) Winner Game 62 v Winner Game 59, (71) Loser Game 62 v Loser Game 59;  13h10 – (72) Winner Game 62 v Girls Winner Game 59 – Final

The hosts, St Stithians College, opened their challenge at the annual Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational tournament with two convincing victories on Thursday.

The defending champions beat Falcon College 16-0 in their opening match in the morning, and then thumped Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool 20-3 in the afternoon, to send out a strong message to their opponents; they’re intent on sending their coach Etienne le Roux out on a high.

Against Affies, Saints were on fire from the opening whistle, scoring eight times in the first chukka, and early in the second chukka they made it nine, while the visitors had mustered only one goal in reply.

Affies battled hard but they were simply outplayed as St Stithians ran away to a 20–3 win.

Earlier, in the first match of the day, Harare’s Hellenic Academy defeated Parktown High School for Girls 13–4. Reddam House Bedfordview saw off Steyn City School 9–3 and Kingsmead College also made it into the winning column with a 6-2 victory over Beaulieu College.

Roedean made a light work of Pretoria High School for Girls when they overran them 23–2. The Johannesburg girls received strong performances from Mia Loizides, Ziyanda Tshabalala and Taylor Billett.

It didn’t take long for them to secure a solid lead. In the first chukka they went six goals clear, netting six times while Pretoria remained goalless. By the end of the third chukka, they had stretched their advantage to 17-2.

There were a number of other one-sided results, with St Peter’s College handing Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool a 21–1 loss and St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls powering their way to an 18–1 win over Woodridge College

The second round of action splashes off at 07:50 on Friday with the Tournament Invitation Team taking on Pretoria High School for Girls in the Olympic South pool. The last clash of the day will be St Stithians College versus Reddam House Umhlanga, starting at 17:50.

RESULTS

Hellenic 13-4 Parktown
Reddam Bedfordview 9-3 Steyn City
Kingsmead 6-2 Beaulieu
Reddam Umhlanga 8–1 St Peter’s
Roedean 18–7 Tournament Invitation
St Dominic’s 18–1 Woodridge
Crawford 13-2 Rand Park
St Stithians 16-0 Falcon College
Parktown 10-4 Pretoria
Steyn City 8–10 Maris Stella
Beaulieu 8-3 Reddam
St Peter’s 21–2 Afrikaanse Hoër
Hellenic 8-5 Tournament Invitation
Reddam Bedfordview 13–3 Woodridge
Kingsmead 11-1 Rand Park
Reddam Umhlanga 9-5 Falcon
Roedean 23-2Pretoria High
St Dominic’s 11-4 Maris Stella
Crawford 11-4 Reddam Helderfontein
St Stithians 20–3 Afrikaanse Hoër

Day 2, Friday 1 March 2024 @ St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (21) Tournament Invitation v Pretoria High, (22) Woodridge v Maris Stella; 8h40 – (23) Rand Park v Reddam Helderfontein, (24) Afrikaans Hoër v Falcon; 10h20 – (25) Roedean v Parktown (26) St Dominic’s v Steyn City,  (27) Crawford Lonehill v Beaulieu; 11h10 – (28)  St Stithians v St Peter’s; 12h00 – (29) Hellenic v Pretoria High; 12h50 – (30) Reddam Bedfordview v Maris Stella; (31) Kingsmead v Reddam Helderfontein; (32) Reddam Umhlanga v Afrikaans Hoër; 14h30 – (33) Tournament Invitation v  Parktown, (34) Woodridge v Steyn City; 15h20 – (35) Rand Park v Beaulieu, (36) Falcon v St Peter’s; 17h00 – (37) Hellenic v Roedean, (38) Reddam Bedfordview v St Dominic’s, (39) Kingsmead v Crawford Lonehill; 17h50 – (40); St Stithians v Reddam Umhlanga

 Day 3, Saturday 2 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (41) A1 v B3, (42) B2 v  A3; 8h40 – (43) C2 v D3, (44) D2 v C3; 10h20 – (45) A5 v B4, (46) A4 v B5, (47) C5 v D4; 11h10 – (48) C4 v D5; 12h00 – (49) A1 v Winner Game 43; 12h50 – (50) Winner Game 44 v B1, (51) Winner Game 41 v C1, (52) D1 v Winner Game 42; 13h40 – (53) Loser Game 45 v Loser Game 47; 14h30 – (54) Loser Game 46 v Loser Game 48; 15h20 – (55) Loser Game 43 v Loser Game 41; (56) Loser Game 44 v Loser Game 42; 16h10 – (57) Winner Game 47 v Winner Game 45; 17h00 – (58) Winner Game 46 v Winner Game 48; 17h50 – (59) Winner Game 50 v Winner Game 49, (60) Loser Game 50 (QF2) v Loser Game 49; (61) Loser Game 50 v Loser Game 49; 18h40 – (62) Loser Game 52 v Loser Game 51

Day 4, Sunday 3 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (63) Loser Game 53 v Loser Game 54, (64) Winner Game 53 v Winner Game 54, (65) Loser Game 57 v Loser Game 58, 09h30 – (66) Winner Game 57 v Winner Game 58; (67) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56, (68) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56; 11h10 – (69) Loser Game 61 v Loser Game 60, (70) Winner Game 62 v Winner Game 59, (71) Loser Game 62 v Loser Game 59;  13h10 – (72) Winner Game 62 v Girls Winner Game 59 – Final

 

The annual Reef Cup Water Polo Invitational Tournament will again roll out the red carpet for Zimbabwean and South African girls’ schools for the 2024 edition of the event.

The four-day tournament is being hosted by the 2023 champions, St Stithians College, and it splashes off on Thursday morning, with the final being contested at the main pool on Sunday at 13:10.

There are 20 schools in attendance, each of which will face a challenging pathway to the final.

To kick things off, Zimbabwe’s Hellenic Academy takes on Parktown High School for Girls in the Saints Olympic South pool in a Pool A clash.

Alongside them, Reddam House Bedfordview tackles Steyn City School, in the Saints main Polo pool.

Last year’s runners-up, Roedean School, will kickstart their campaign by splashing it out against the Tournament Invitation Team in the main pool at 10:20.

Meanwhile, the reigning champions will welcome the Zimbabwean side, Falcon College. When the teams met last year, during an extraordinarily successful season for St Stithians, the hosts overpowered their opponents 19-1.

Coach Etienne Le Roux‘s troops will be looking to add another Reef Cup title to their cabinet after a spectacular 2023 season, which brought Saints eight tournament titles, including, among others, the Saints Invitational, Old Petrian’s, and the National Aquatics Festival titles.

Adding more significance to the weekend’s event is the fact that it will be Le Roux’s last outing with Saints, so they will, no doubt, be motivated to send their coach off on a high ahead of his departure for Rondebosch Boys’ High.

The second day will deliver more exciting action, with the Eastern Cape’s Woodridge College set to face KwaZulu-Natal’s Maris Stella. They’re not unfamiliar opponents. Last year, Woodridge doubled-up Maris Stella, recording a 10-5 win.

This year the Durban school will be aiming for a better run after going winless at the 2023 Reef Cup.

In Pool C, Beaulieu College will test themselves against Rand Park High, while the 2023’s fourth place finishers, Crawford College (Lonehill), are up against local opposition when they challenge Kingsmead College.

The champions will be crowned on Sunday afternoon in the main polo pool. It’s going to be a test of endurance and skill. The teams that handle it best will play off for the silverware.

POOLS

Pool A – Hellenic Academy (Zimbabwe), Parktown High School for Girls (Johannesburg), Pretoria High School for Girls (Pretoria), Roedean School (Johannesburg), Tournament Invitation Team

Pool B – Maris Stella School (Durban), Reddam Bedfordview Girls (Johannesburg), St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls (Boksburg), Steyn City School (Johannesburg), Woodridge College (Eastern Cape)

Pool C – Beaulieu College (Johannesburg), Crawford College Lonehill (Johannesburg), Kingsmead College (Johannesburg), Rand Park High (Johannesburg), Reddam House Helderfontein (Johannesburg)

Pool D – Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Pretoria), Falcon College (Zimbabwe), Reddam House Umhlanga (KZN), St Peter’s College (Johannesburg), St Stithians College (Johannesburg)

Day 1, Thursday 29 February 2024 @ St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (1) Hellenic v Parktown, (2) Reddam Bedfordview v Steyn City; 08h40-  (3) Kingsmead v Beaulieu, (4) Reddam Umhlanga v  St Peter’s; 10h20 – (5) Roedean v Tournament Invitation, (6) St Dominic’s v Woodridge, (7) Crawford Lonehill v Rand Park; 11h10 –  (8) St Stithians v Falcon; 12h00 – (9) Parktown v Pretoria High; 12h50 – (10)  Steyn City v Maris Stella, (11) Beaulieu v Reddam Helderfontein, (12 ) St Peter’s v Afrikaans Hoër; 14h30 – (13) Hellenic v Tournament Invitation, (14) Reddam Bedfordview v Woodridge; 15h20 – (15) Kingsmead v  Rand Park, (16) Reddam Umhlanga v Falcon; 17h00 – (17) Roedean v Pretoria High, (18) St Dominic’s v Maris Stella, (19) , Crawford Lonehill v Reddam Helderfontein; 17h50 –  (20) St Stithians v Afrikaans Hoër

Day 2, Friday 1 March 2024 @ St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (21) Tournament Invitation v Pretoria High, (22) Woodridge v Maris Stella; 8h40 – (23) Rand Park v Reddam Helderfontein, (24) Afrikaans Hoër v Falcon; 10h20 – (25) Roedean v Parktown (26) St Dominic’s v Steyn City,  (27) Crawford Lonehill v Beaulieu; 11h10 – (28)  St Stithians v St Peter’s; 12h00 – (29) Hellenic v Pretoria High; 12h50 – (30) Reddam Bedfordview v Maris Stella; (31) Kingsmead v Reddam Helderfontein; (32) Reddam Umhlanga v Afrikaans Hoër; 14h30 – (33) Tournament Invitation v  Parktown, (34) Woodridge v Steyn City; 15h20 – (35) Rand Park v Beaulieu, (36) Falcon v St Peter’s; 17h00 – (37) Hellenic v Roedean, (38) Reddam Bedfordview v St Dominic’s, (39) Kingsmead v Crawford Lonehill; 17h50 – (40); St Stithians v Reddam Umhlanga

 Day 3, Saturday 2 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (41) A1 v B3, (42) B2 v  A3; 8h40 – (43) C2 v D3, (44) D2 v C3; 10h20 – (45) A5 v B4, (46) A4 v B5, (47) C5 v D4; 11h10 – (48) C4 v D5; 12h00 – (49) A1 v Winner Game 43; 12h50 – (50) Winner Game 44 v B1, (51) Winner Game 41 v C1, (52) D1 v Winner Game 42; 13h40 – (53) Loser Game 45 v Loser Game 47; 14h30 – (54) Loser Game 46 v Loser Game 48; 15h20 – (55) Loser Game 43 v Loser Game 41; (56) Loser Game 44 v Loser Game 42; 16h10 – (57) Winner Game 47 v Winner Game 45; 17h00 – (58) Winner Game 46 v Winner Game 48; 17h50 – (59) Winner Game 50 v Winner Game 49, (60) Loser Game 50 (QF2) v Loser Game 49; (61) Loser Game 50 v Loser Game 49; 18h40 – (62) Loser Game 52 v Loser Game 51

Day 4, Sunday 3 March 2024 @St Stithians College, Sandton

07h50 – (63) Loser Game 53 v Loser Game 54, (64) Winner Game 53 v Winner Game 54, (65) Loser Game 57 v Loser Game 58, 09h30 – (66) Winner Game 57 v Winner Game 58; (67) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56, (68) Loser Game 55 v Loser Game 56; 11h10 – (69) Loser Game 61 v Loser Game 60, (70) Winner Game 62 v Winner Game 59, (71) Loser Game 62 v Loser Game 59;  13h10 – (72) Winner Game 62 v Girls Winner Game 59 – Final