Author: captainmorgan

While the Johannesburg Invitational XI, a team made up of players from King Edward VII (KES), Jeppe High School for Boys, and St John’s College, went two for two on the opening day of the St John’s Rams T20, in Harare, the other South African participants, Clifton College and Kearsney College, also recorded dominant victories.

Clifton, especially, ran roughshod over their Zimbabwean opposition, needing only 10.4 overs to overhaul Churchill‘s 132/6 to claim an eight-wicket win, and then using just 12.3 overs to canter to a nine-wicket victory over Wise Owl.

Kearsney was also on cruise control, charging to a seven-wicket win over St George’s College, with four overs to spare, before hanging a 30-run defeat on Hellenic Academy.

Churchill vs Clifton College

Brandon Sam paced Churchill’s innings of 132/6 against Clifton, making 43 at a run a ball, with three fours and a six, while Takunda Rakabopwa flayed four fours and a six in his 32 from 38. Zvikomborero Masango added some impetus, matching Sam’s boundary output while making 31 from only 22 balls.

Caleb Naicker, on as the first change bowler, led the Clifton attack with a haul of 2/17 from three, while Blake Johnson returned 2/18 from four.

Hayden Drieselmann and Cohen Naidoo then propelled Clifton to a convincing victory by laying on an opening stand of 104 in only 7.3 overs.

Naidoo was the first to go, but by then he had destroyed any chance Churchill had of restricting Clifton to less than the 136 they had scored. He blasted eight sixes and five fours in a spectacular 79 from only 30 deliveries.

Drieselmann followed 15 runs later, with the total on 119, also caught and bowled by Brandon Sam. He had weighed in with 33 off 22 and hit four fours and a six.

An over-and-a-half later, Clifton had sealed a comfortable win.

Sam did well to snap up 2/8 in two, but it was an expensive outing for most of the Churchill bowlers.

St George’s College vs Kearsney College

St George’s College, meanwhile, mustered a moderate 117/9 against Kearsney, with only Tyshawn Zuze, who made 25, making it beyond the teens.

Michael Groom was the pick of the bowlers, capturing 3/3 in three overs, while Rivan Moodley claimed a tidy 2/15 in four, and Matthew Gorrie chipped in with 2/20 in four.

A hard-hitting and unbeaten 51 from 44 deliveries, with six fours and a six, from Keegan de Jager, along with 30 not out from 30 by Asher Hollister saw the Botha’s Hill boys to a convincing win.

After Kearsney had slipped 46/3 in the fifth over of their reply, the pair shared an unbroken stand of 72 from 11.1 overs to see their side home.

Wise Owl vs Clifton College

Later in the day, Tim Saulez starred with the ball, removing five batsmen for only 16 runs in four overs to undermine Wise Owl’s batting effort against Clifton. Regan Radley, with 2/9, and Blake Johnson, with 2/16, also played their part as the school from Marondera struggled to 90/10.

Had it not been for 40 from 42 by Simbarashe Mudzengerere, which was 30 more than the next highest score made, Wise Owl’s innings would have looked especially miserable.

When Clifton batted, Cohen Naidoo was again explosive, bashing 33 off 19 balls, seven of which he dispatched for four, before he departed with the total on 49 in the sixth over.

Byron Ward and captain Tim Saulez, then, smoothly steered Clifton to victory, adding a further 42 runs. Ward was undefeated on 29 from 35, while Saulez ended on 24 not out.

Hellenic Academy vs Kearsney College

Batting first, Kearsney posted 187/6 against Hellenic Academy, with Cole Young leading their charge. Remarkably, his 58 off 30 didn’t include a single four, but he did launch seven sixes.

Asher Hollister made his mark again, with 35 off 29, while captain Jason De Gryse clattered 31 off 22 at the top of the order and shared an opening stand of 43 in five overs with Aaron Blackburn, who made 21.

Jonty Wiggett, with an unbeaten 26 off 13, with three fours and a six, provided Kearsney’s innings with a timely late boost.

Kirby Madaramete picked up 2/38 in four overs, but the best economy rate that any of the Hellenic Academy bowlers managed was eight an over by opening bowler, Matthew Martell, who conceded 32 from his four overs.

The Harare school, then, tallied 157/5 in reply, with brothers, Kian and Michael Blignaut, giving them a vague hope of victory with a third-wicket partnership of 58 off 5.5 overs before Michael was caught by Keegan de Jager off Rivan Moodley for 42 from 21 balls, six of which he struck for four, and two which went for six.

Kian Blignaut fell in the 17th over for the innings’ top score of 58 off 48, with eight fours. Following his dismissal, though, Hellenic Academy was unable to accelerate their innings, and they came up well short of Kearsney’s challenging total.

Michael Groom, the bowling star of Kearsney’s win over St George’s, once again led the KZN school’s attack, snaring 3/14 in four.

SCORES

Churchill 132/6 (Brandon Sam 43, Takunda Rakabopwa 32, Zvikomborero Masango 31; Caleb Naicker 2/17, Blake Johnson 2/18); Clifton College 136/2 (Cohen Naidoo 79, Hayden Drieselmann 33; Brandon Sam 2/8).

Clifton College won by eight wickets.

St George’s College 117/9 (Tyshawn Zuze 25; Michael Groom 3/3, Rivan Moodley 2/15, Matthew Gorrie 2/20); Kearsney College 118/3 (Keegan de Jager 51*, Asher Hollister 30*).

Kearsney College won by seven wickets.

Wise Owl 90/10 (Simbarashe Mudzengerere 40; Tim Saulez 5/16, Regan Radley 2/9, Blake Johnson 2/16); Clifton College 91/1 (Cohen Naidoo 33, Byron Ward 29*, Tim Saulez 24*).

Clifton College won by nine wickets.

Kearsney College 187/6 (Cole Young 58, Asher Hollister 35, Jason De Gryse 31, Jonty Wiggett 26*, Aaron Blackburn 21; Kirby Madaramete 2/38); Hellenic Academy 157/5 (Kian Blignaut 58, Michael Blignaut 42; Michael Groom 3/14).

Kearsney College won by 30 runs.

The Chatsworth Hub Girls’ u18 XI fired off a massive salvo in the opening rounds of the KwaZulu-Natal Schools SA20 competition, powering their way to a one-sided 264-run win over Umlazi Comtech High on the weekend, in Chatsworth.

Thando Matamela led the way, blasting 103 from only 46 deliveries, including 16 fours and three sixes.

Her opening partner Shreya Subbiah, meanwhile, took only 28 balls to tally 66, with 10 fours and three sixes, before she was the first to fall, hit wicket.

By then, the opening pair had put on an astounding 156 runs in just 8.3 overs.

Mohana Rugnath, in at three, contributed a more measured 49 not out from 40, and the Chatsworth Hub was further boosted by 59 extras as they totalled 282/2.

Umlazi Comtech was unable to mount any sort of challenge, spending 10 overs at the crease before being bowled out for 18, with five successive ducks from batters two to six. In total, seven players were dismissed without scoring.

Sihana Naidu, with 3/3, led the Chatsworth attack, while Asanda Mkhize picked up 2/1, and Sayurie Govender 2/5.

Chatsworth found the going tougher later in the day against Sivananda Technical High and were on 40/3 in the eighth over when rain brought an end to that game.

In the opening match of the Schools SA20, played at Grantleigh, Mtubatuba Hub beat Felixton College by 52 runs on 5 September.

Mtubatuba posted 92/7 in their 20 overs, with Sphiwe Dladla‘s patient 22 off 51 balls their best batting effort, while Smangaliso Mjadu claimed 3/14 in four overs. The batting side was also hugely boosted by 39 extras.

Felixton mustered only 40 all out in reply, with Ziyanda Ndaba returning a sparkling 4/2 from three overs for Mtubatuba.

The KCCD Hub Girls XI faced Grantleigh High on the same day and charged to an easy nine-wicket win despite a fine innings from Leandri Marinus. She made 43 from 41 to help Grantleigh to 89 all out, but that wasn’t nearly enough. Noxolo Biyela did most of the damage, knocking over 4/11 in four.

In just 7.3 overs, the KCCD Hub Girls’ side cruised to 90/1 in reply, with Noxolo Biyela making 35 not out from 18 balls, and Amanda Shandu contributing an unbeaten 27 from 24.

On 7 September, Nqabakazulu beat Chesterville by seven wickets at Ocean View Primary, in Chatsworth, and Qhilika High pulled off a heart-stopping two-wicket win over Phezula, thanks mostly to 42 extras.

Nqabakazulu, then, added a second win, easing to a 53-run victory over Qhilika.

The highlight of those games was Ziyanda Xulu‘s 5/12 in Nqabazulu’s win over Chesterville.

SCORES

Mtubatuba Hub 92/7 (Extras 39, Sphiwe Dladla 22; Smangaliso Mjadu 3/14, Zenande Mncwabe 2/17, Uyanda Sithole 2/18). Felixton College 40/10 (Extras 27; Ziyanda Ndabane 4/2, Amukelwa Ngwane 2/11).

Mtubatuba Hub won by 52 runs.

Grantleigh School 89/10 (Leandri Marinus 43, Extras 29; Noxolo Biyela 4/11, Angelo Mlambo 3/11); KCCD Hub XI 90/1 (Noxolo Biyela 35*, Amanda Shandu 27*, Extras 27).

KCCD Hub XI won by nine wickets.

Chesterville u18 66/10 (Extras 24, Lesedi Molotsi 16; Ziyanda Xulu 5/12, Nonjabulo Gcwena 2/8). Nqabakazulu u18 68/3 (Ayabonga Zwane 23*, Omuhle Buthelezi 20*, Extras 20; Wendy Cele 2/21).

Nqabakazulu won by seven wickets.

Phezulu u18 109/3 (Naledi Shozi 33, Akhona Maretlana 29, Extras 20); Qhilika High 111/8 (Extras 42, Lwandle Mthembu 24, Snothile Zuke 20; Thembelihle Khanyile 2/16).

Qhilika won by two wickets.

Nqabakazulu 131/5 (Extras 31, Nonjabulo Gcwensa 30, Ziyanda Xulu 24*, Lethokuhle Mbili 24; Luyanda Mbanjwa 2/30); Qhilika High 78/7 (Snothile Zuke 25; Ziyanda Xulu 3/3).

Nqabakazulu won by 53 runs.

Chatsworth Hub 282/2 (Thando Matamela 103, Shreya Subbiah 66, Extras 59, Mohana Rugnath 49*); Umlazi Comtech 18/10 (Sihana Naidu 3/3, Asanda Mkhize 2/1, Sayurie Govender 2/5).

Chatsworth Hub won by 264 runs.

Chatsworth Hub 40/3 vs Sivananda Technical High

Match rained out.

Clifton College‘s Director of Water Polo, Pierre le Roux, is one of the most experienced South African internationals in history and he wants to infuse his experience of international competition into the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, which takes place from 24-28 September.

The underlying goal is to ensure the prestigious event is a player-focused tournament that elevates the experience to the next level. 

“I have put in player recovery areas,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “I’ve cornered off the whole pool area, so that when you arrive, as an athlete, you have a designated athletes’ seat. You have your own private change rooms.

“We’ve got Prime (Human Performance Institute). They’ve got physios on the pool deck. They’ve got ice baths available for the guys.

“There will be a full-on recovery room with chocolate milks and protein shakes, bananas, and crunchies, so, as an athlete, you’re going to be treated as being at the top of your game, the best of the best. This is how we treat our athletes.

“We want to fill up the stands, with the parents and spectators separated from the athletes. If you go to World Champs, and you’re playing in Europe, that’s how you’re treated. You’re not with the general public. You’re ushered into your change room. You have your own warm-up. It’s all about the sport. That’s what I want. I want to give the guys a taste of what sport should be about when you leave school.”

Parents and supporters have not been left out, he added. “I’m trying to create an atmosphere for the parents, where they want to be on site for the duration of the day.

“We’ve got 17 vendors already confirmed. They’re all local people, Durban businesses, people who have relationships with the school, and people who have worked on small school projects that we have around Durban.

“For those who are coming into the province, come watch a water polo game, come down, have a lekker chow, have a drink – we’ll have the bar open – but spend time here, enjoying Durban, enjoying the heat, enjoying the polo.

“At the parent function, which we’re doing on Friday night, I’ve asked my parents to reach out to the other parents and invite them to attend. Let’s be hospitable and good hosts.

“The message to people is that we can be competitors on the pool deck, but we must remember these kids are going to be playing in provincial sides together. They’re going to be playing in national sides together. They might be contracted together.

“This builds up friendships after the games and not just between the boys but also between the parents. We can be fierce rivals, but afterwards we can share a meal or have a beer and talk about the game.

“On Friday night, we’re trying to get every single person that has come to Durban to visit. They must come.”

“We went to be good hosts and help those people to enjoy what we have to offer here. Let’s enjoy the polo, but let’s also leave with some new friends.”

The Clifton Water Polo tournament title has in recent year gone the way of teams from outside the province, but Le Roux feels that a local team could win it for KwaZulu-Natal in 2025.

“I think you’re going to have tight competition. We have some really strong competitors here this year. It would be nice to keep the trophy here [in KZN],” he said.

“SACS are coming back as the two-time defending champions. Paul Roos will be up there. Hilton College is very strong.

“Your top KZN contenders will probably be Hilton, Clifton, and Kearsney, but Selborne, with 12 strong matrics – good players, and two SA Schools players, as well – could do very well.

“St John’s came second at the St Andrew’s Shield and then struggled at KES.

“I think it is going to be a very tight year.”

Another team that Le Roux rates highly is Westville Boys’ High, who didn’t have a player selected for the KZN u19 side this year. Their form in the KZN winter league, though, suggests they’re a dark horse of which to be wary.

“Westville lost to Kearsney by one in the winter league, and, I think, they won the rest of their games,” he said.

Another team he mentioned that could make some waves is Reddam House Constantia. They showed their potential in the SACS Nite Series earlier in the year when they thumped SACS 15-7.

“I think it’s going to be a good competition, especially on Thursday night, with all the big matches. I’ve gone with all the local derbies first to start the tournament. Then, all the travelling teams play. The next day, you play your first travelling team.”

Next year, the event is going to be even bigger, he explained: “The intention was to include a Prep section this year – eight Prep teams to play between the high school games. The school has agreed that in 2026 we will do that. We are even looking at upping the event to 20 [high school] teams.

“We’ll keep it over five days in the holidays and make it a massive tournament.”

The second last day of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, Saturday, is the same day that the Springboks and Pumas meet in The Rugby Championship at Hollywoodbets Kings Park. Clifton has catered for rugby fans, too, with the game set to be broadcast on five Jumbo screens from 15:00.

With 17 confirmed vendors already, it’s shaping up to be a festive event – rewarding for the athletes and rewarding for the supporters.

But what about the hopes of the hosts? Le Roux returned from New Zealand in late 2024 to take over the water polo programme at Clifton. That meant he wasn’t able to enjoy a full pre-season with his team. Now, though, he has had time to prepare.

“It has been gold,” he enthused. “We started late at the beginning of the year. I was just moving in. When we went to St Andrew’s, we weren’t as fit as we could have been. By KES, we sort of got to a level where it was acceptable. But the level that we were at KES was probably where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year.

“With a proper pre-season, I’ve got athletes now. The guys are fit. The guys are strong. You can see it in the water. You can see it in their assessments and their conditioning tests.

“The big thing is getting the mental aspect right. That’s probably my biggest challenge with the squad. We don’t have matrics, and that extra year of competition does make a difference.”

“We need to trust the process. I definitely think we’re a different team to what we were in term one. We’re looking forward to the competition.”

A superb batting performance from Josh van Biljon and a destructive spell of bowling by Ethan Cooper highlighted the final of the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club on Tuesday.

With those two leading the way, Durban High School (DHS) powered their way to an emphatic 64-run victory over Maritzburg College to underline their status as the top T20 side in KwaZulu-Natal.

Earlier in the year, the Horseflies, under the guidance of coach Fabian Lazarus, went back-to-back as champions of the Clifton T20 Tournament, which featured all the province’s top teams, along with St John’s College, of Harare, and Hoërskool Waterkloof, of Pretoria. Tuesday evening’s emphatic win was further evidence of their pedigree in the short form of the game.

The DHS duo, Van Biljon and Cooper, were the difference makers in a contest in which batsmen struggled. Van Biljon’s 62 off 45 balls, with 10 fours, was 46 runs more than any other DHS batsman achieved, and 39 more than Kyle de Bruyn‘s 23, which was Maritzburg College’s highest score.

The toss went College’s way, and they chose to field, which, it turned out, was a good call. Their opening bowlers, Sam Hughes and Reece Willson, did what opening bowlers need to do, they took wickets, and having Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper back in the hut in the fifth over, with only 26 runs on the board, was a good early return.

DHS struggled to create partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals, but Van Biljon held their innings together.

While he was at the crease, School added 90 runs, and he was responsible for more than two-thirds of them. Only Omar, with 12 at the top of the order, and Syad Basha, with 16, batting at eight, reached double figures in support of Van Biljon.

Any hopes that DHS had of boosting their innings with some late hitting were undermined by Dom du Toit, who spun a web around the lower order, snaring 3/17 from his four overs.

Two balls before the end of their 20 overs, DHS was all out for 135. Reece Willson matched Du Toit with a three-wicket haul, returning 3/23 from 3.4 overs, while his new ball partner, Sam Hughes finished with 2/22 from four. Nathan Pembridge played his part with 2/31 from four.

Maritzburg College needed to bat at 6.8 runs per over to win. They didn’t come close.

Left-arm spinner Dhilan Naraidu struck a big blow early for DHS when he bowled College captain Daniel Nadasan with the last ball of the second over. Deolyn Naidoo followed for a duck, caught by wicketkeeper Van Biljon off of captain Bayanda Majola, which reduced the Red, Black, and White to 13/2 in the third over.

De Bruyn followed for 23 from only 17 balls, which included four fours. He was out on 28, but that was merely the start of a disastrous four-wicket collapse, which left College on 34/6 in the seventh over as Cooper destroyed their run chase, removing the dangerous Karl Dedekind for a duck and Reece Willson for four.

Dom du Toit became Bayanda Majola’s second victim, bowled by the pace merchant for a single and Cooper struck again to end a defiant 15 from only seven balls from Sphamandla Dzanibe, which left College on life support on 50/7 in the eighth over.

The Pietermaritzburg school’s innings didn’t last much longer. In only 11.3 overs, they were bowled out for a meagre 71.

Cooper’s star turn brought him 5/15 from 3.3 overs. Fittingly, he ended the contest by bowling Sam Hughes for three to complete his five-for.

Bayanda Majola also shone, knocking over 3/26 in four overs, which helped to speed College’s demise.

Scores

Durban High School 135/10 (Josh van Biljon 62; Dom du Toit 3/17, Reece Willson 3/23. Sam Hughes 2/22, Nathan Pembridge 2/31); Maritzburg College 71/10 (Kyle de Bruyn 23; Ethan Cooper 5/15, Bayanda Majola 3/26).

Durban High School won by 64 runs.

The Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium played host to Durban High School (DHS), Clifton College, and Kearsney College on Saturday, with the three 1st XIs in T20 action.

DHS, who’ve made a strong start to the fourth term, continued on their winning ways, scoring a 17-run win over Clifton.

Clifton, though, rebounded with a five-run win over Kearsney, whose win over DHS in a T20 in mid-August is the only loss that School has suffered this term.

Durban High School vs Clifton College

The action got underway early, with DHS choosing to bat against Clifton after winning the toss. They suffered an early setback, though, when the in-form Ethan Cooper was bowled by Tim Saulez for a single.

Lazlo Jooste, batting third in the absence of Josh van Biljon, added 78 runs with Ismaeel Omar, but when Jooste was run out by Cristiano Borrageiro with the total on 90, he had been responsible for only 13 of those runs.

Earlier in the year, at the Clifton T20 Tournament, Omar had shown his ability to take charge at the top of the order when he scored a superb unbeaten 104 against Kearsney. On Saturday, he was at it again, clubbing 109 from only 59 balls, which included 13 fours and five sixes – a total of 82 runs in boundaries.

One of Omar’s strengths is how well he plays the format and the situation. In matches of a longer length, he is often circumspect and a very difficult man to dislodge. In the shorter formats, he has proved he is a potential match-winner.

When the left-hander finally fell after a 62-run stand with Taine Havermann, School had reached 152/3.

Havermann and Bayanda Majola added another 36 runs to see DHS to 188/3 after the completion of their 20 overs, with Havermann finishing on 41 not out from 33 deliveries after striking three fours and a six, while Majola blasted one six in his unbeaten 14.

Tim Saulez accounted for both openers, but he was a touch expensive, going for 46 from his four overs.

Clifton, led by a fine aggressive knock from Cristiano Borrageiro, gave it a good go in pursuit of a daunting victory target, but their response was somewhat patchy, with five players making four runs or less, including, unfortunately for the side, opener Cohen Naidoo being run out for a duck.

Borrageiro, batting at five, smashed five fours and four sixes in a 35-ball stay which produced 60 runs. Up front, Byron Ward, who smashed a superb ton against St John’s College, of Harare, in the Clifton T20 Tournament, did good work, too, cracking five fours and a six in his 30 from 25 deliveries, and Lawson Dinsdale blasted two sixes and a four in an unbeaten 36 from 26, but Clifton came up short, ending on 171/8.

Borrageiro and Dinsdale gave Clifton some hope of pulling off an unlikely run chase with a stand of 103 for the sixth wicket, but Borrageiro’s departure was quickly followed by two more quick wickets as Clifton ran out of overs.

Ethan Cooper might have failed with the bat, but he starred with the ball as the first change bowler, accounting for Byron Ward, Tim Saulez, Cristiano Borrageiro, and Shiraz Perumal in a superb four overs, which brought him 4/19.

Bonga Maphanga was the only other bowler to enjoy success, picking up 2/32 in four, which meant that in the entire match only three bowlers – the other was Tim Saulez – claimed wickets.

Clifton College vs Kearsney College

In a very tight contest, played in the early afternoon, Clifton held on for a nail-biting five-run win over Kearsney College.

Batting first after the toss went their way, Clifton tallied a useful 179/8, with Byron Ward and Lawson Dinsdale starring once again.

Opening, Ward was destructive, sending three deliveries over the boundary and seven into it in a hasty 59 from only 34 balls. Dinsdale, batting at seven, needed only 31 deliveries to add 53 runs to Clifton’s total. He struck six fours and two sixes.

Ward and Cohen Naidoo had given Clifton a good start, putting on 58 for the first wicket before Naidoo was out for 17 from 10 balls to James Bishop. The very next ball, Bishop bowled the dangerous Tim Saulez.

Zach Williamson, with 19 from 15, which included four fours, helped to steady the Clifton innings.

While Bishop picked up 3/40 in four, it was Rivan Moodley who inflicted the most damage on Clifton’s batting effort, snaring 4/16 in four.

Kearsney’s reply was steady, with the top eight players in the order all making it into double figures. The problem was that none of them pressed on to make fifties, like Ward and Dinsdale did for Clifton.

Cole Young, with a hard-hitting 30 from 17, with three fours and two sixes, top-scored for the Botha’s Hill boys, while the openers, Jason De Gryse and Aaron Blackburn, both weighed in with 20 from 13.

Asher Hollister, too, went at better than a run a ball, chipping in with 27 from 21, but Kearsney needed someone to press on, and they didn’t get that.

Leg-spinner Shiraz Perumal undermined their run chase, capturing 3/27 in four, while Tim Saulez nabbed 2/30 in four as Kearsney was restricted to 174/9 in reply.

Scores

Durban High School 188/3 (Ismaeel Omar 109, Taine Havermann 41*; Tim Saulez 2/46); Clifton College 171/8 (Cristian Borrageiro 60, Lawson Dinsdale 36*, Byron Ward 30; Ethan Cooper 4/19, Bonga Maphanga 2/32).

Durban High School won by 17 runs.

Clifton College 179/8 (Byron Ward 59, Lawson Dinsdale 53; Rivan Moodley 4/16, James Bishop 3/40); Kearsney College 174/9 (Cole Young 30, Asher Hollister 27, Jason De Gryse 20, Aaron Blackburn 20; Shiraz Perumal 3/27, Tim Saulez 2/30).

Clifton College won by five runs.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has announced their boys’ teams to contest the Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament in December, in Johannesburg. The diverse selections reflect the rising standard of the game throughout the province.

Only two years ago, the u19A team featured only players from Clifton College, Hilton College, and Westville Boys’ High. Interestingly, Westville, who have been in strong early season form, don’t have a player in the squad, but six schools are represented.

A number of top performers were not available for selection, with Hilton’s Tristan Uys, the Attacker of the Tournament at the 2024 SWPSA event, perhaps the most notable absentee. Still, there is plenty of quality in the 14-player group.

Durban High School (DHS) contributes Adrian Truter and Kirk Wilson, their Head Boy, who made the SA Schools’ side last year. Hilton’s representatives are Sebastian Laudenberg and Andrew Schnell, who was an impressive performer at lock in the school’s 1st XV this past rugby season.

From Michaelhouse, Elliot Springate and Oliver Guy cracked the nod, while Clifton’s Caleb Malumbete, Jamie Nicolau, and Nathan Burger earned selection, too.

Northwood is represented by John Watkins and Matt Lortan, another SA Schools’ selection from 2024, while Kearsney, with three players – Oliver Ludwig, Thomas Aylward, and Thomas Francke – matches Clifton for the most players selected.

In 2024, it was a three-way battle for the SWPSA title. In the group stage, KZN beat Central Gauteng, but lost to Western Province. Central Gauteng, in turn, beat Province. Then, in the semi-finals, KZN accounted for Province, but they came up short against Central Gauteng in the final.

The margins were slim, and KZN will be eager to go one step further this year. They will feel they have the quality to do it.

Announcing their teams early will give KZN plenty of time to prepare for the IPT, which runs from 6-10 December, and the players will have a good opportunity to sharpen their skills in a number of big tournaments that are coming up, starting with the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, which takes place from 24-28 September in Durban.

Clifton College topped the number of selections through the four teams named, just ahead of Hilton College and Kearsney College, with Michaelhouse following closely behind in fourth spot. See below for the breakdown.

TEAMS

u19A

Adrian Truter (DHS), Andrew Schnell (Hilton), Caleb Malumbete (Clifton), Elliot Springate (Michaelhouse), Jamie Nicolau (Clifton), John Watkins (Northwood), Kirk Wilson (DHS), Matthew Lortan (Northwood), Nathan Burger (Clifton), Oliver Guy (Michaelhouse), Oliver Ludwig (Kearsney), Sebastian Laudenberg (Hilton), Thomas Aylward (Kearsney), Thomas Franke (Kearsney)

u16A

Ben Watson (Clifton), Bradley van Loggerenberg (Hilton), Daniel Nothard (Clifton), Henry Harker (Westville), Izah Roux (Clifton), Jake Frederic (Clifton), Jake Jones (Northwood), James Whatmore (Kearsney), Jed Reilly (Michaelhouse), Liam Casey (Hilton College), Lwango Ntantala (Hilton), Max Mills (Kearsney), Nabil Bejia (Clifton).

u15A

Benji Keeton (Hilton), Blake de Bruin (Northwood), Carter Seiler (Clifton), Casey Marks (Hilton), Christiano Sandri (Kearsney), Cruz Chapman (Clifton), Dru Mills (Kearsney), Everraud Raynard (Westville), Finn Mallet (Northwood),
Josh Watson (Clifton), Lincoln Burger (Hilton), Maxwell Fowlds (Clifton), Mitchell Rodgers (Michaelhouse), Oliver Hunter (Hilton).

u14A

Andrew van Oenselen (Michaelhouse), Blake Gaines (Kearsney), Cai Terblanche (Kearsney), Cooper Morrison (Michaelhouse), Cruz Marks (Hilton), Jonty Mun-Gavin (Clifton), Luke Barendse (Hilton), Malachi Mogale (Hilton),
Mason Allan (Kearsney), Matthew Warner (Hilton), Noah Brown (Clifton), Isaac Mvulana (Michaelhouse), Thomas Ludwig (Kearsney), Zach Loerens (Clifton).

Totals by School

• Clifton – 15
  (Caleb Malumbete, Jamie Nicolau, Nathan Burger, Ben Watson, Daniel Nothard, Izah Roux, Jake Frederic, Nabil Bejia, Carter Seiler, Cruz Chapman, Josh Watson, Maxwell Fowlds, Jonty Mun-Gavin, Noah Brown, Zach Loerens)

• Hilton College – 13
  (Andrew Schnell, Sebastian Laudenberg, Bradley van Loggerenberg, Liam Casey, Lwango Ntantala, Benji Keeton, Casey Marks, Lincoln Burger, Oliver Hunter, Cruz Marks, Luke Barendse, Malachi Mogale, Matthew Warner)

• Kearsney – 11
  (Oliver Ludwig, Thomas Aylward, Thomas Franke, James Whatmore, Max Mills, Christiano Sandri, Dru Mills, Blake Gaines, Cai Terblanche, Mason Allan, Thomas Ludwig)

• Michaelhouse – 7
  (Elliot Springate, Oliver Guy, Jed Reilly, Mitchell Rodgers, Andrew van Oenselen, Cooper Morrison, Isaac Mvulana)

• Northwood – 5
  (John Watkins, Matthew Lortan, Jake Jones, Blake de Bruin, Finn Mallet)

• DHS – 2
  (Adrian Truter, Kirk Wilson)

• Westville – 2
  (Henry Harker, Everraud Raynard) 

St Charles College had lifted the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League title for an outstanding three years in succession. Their chances of adding a fourth were extinguished on Thursday evening at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club, however.

Facing their Pietermaritzburg rivals, Maritzburg College, in a semi-final showdown, Saints came up agonisingly shy of victory – one big hit would have sufficed – having been set a revised target because of an interruption by Mother Nature.

All credit to College, they batted well, with their opening pair, captain Daniel Nadasan and Kyle de Bruyn, handling the St Charles bowling attack with aplomb in a stand of 150 runs, which took 17.3 overs.

When, at last, St Charles found success, De Bruyn was the man to depart, caught by Connor Simpson off Keegan Vermaak for 61 from 54 balls, seven of which he struck for four.

Karl Dedekind chipped in with a quickfire 10 off six, and Maritzburg College went on to finish on 176/2. Nadasan led their charge, striking a six and 11 fours in an undefeated 79 from just 59 deliveries.

Given College’s success with the bat, the Saints’ bowling figures didn’t make for pleasant reading, but Keegan Vermaak, with 1/22 from four, was a bright spot among the eight bowlers employed.

St Charles was left with 11 overs in which to score 97 runs. They gave it a good go, spearheaded by the in-form Caleb Sharp, but his departure via a run out in the last over, was a big blow to their chances of victory. The loss of captain Rico Honiball for a duck didn’t help either.

Sharp and Connor Simpson gave Saints hope with a partnership of 45 from seven overs after their openers had exited with 16 runs on the board. Dom du Toit, then, bowled Simpson for 22 from 21, which had included a six and three fours.

Rowen Rajah joined Sharp in the middle, and they smashed 30 in only 2.3 over to take Saints to within a big hit or two of victory. However, on the third last ball of the innings, Sharp was run out by Joseph Currie for 45 from 32. He had launched a six and added four fours.

St Charles was on 91/4, needing 97 to win, with two balls remaining. College held their nerve, however, conceding only two runs, to hold out for a hard-fought win.

Sphamandla Dzanibe did a good job up front, claiming 1/15 in two, while Dom du Toit was slightly more expensive, snaring 1/33 in four.

Scores

Maritzburg College 176/2 (Daniel Nadasan 79*, Kyle de Bruyn 61; Keegan Vermaak 1/22); St Charles College 93/4 after 11 overs (Caleb Sharp 45, Connor Simpson 22; Sphamandla Dzanibe 1/15).

Maritzburg College won by four runs.

The Durban High School (DHS) train kept rolling in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League when School chased down a healthy Michaelhouse total to win by six wickets on Wednesday evening at the Eston Beaumont Farmers Club.

The Horseflies‘ success owed plenty to the supremely talented Josh van Biljon, who tore through the ‘House bowling, smashing an unbeaten century.

Batting first, Michaelhouse made a moderate start and in the eighth over found themselves on 37/3 following the dismissal of opener Cody Sander for 10. His fellow opener, Graydon Leslie, had fallen for four, while Rex Wardlaw was run out by Lazlo Jooste for 18.

The Balgowan boys needed a boost, and they got it from Nic Baker and Ben Heuer. Baker provided the initial impetus, striking four fours in a hasty 28 from 13 deliveries before he was caught by Bayanda Majola off Jooste’s bowling. He and Heuer had added 38 in 3.2 overs.

Following Baker’s departure, Heuer joined forces with Hayden Hewlett and took charge. He clubbed two sixes and six fours in a 42-ball stay that brought him 66 runs, with Hewlett playing the supporting role.

One ball before the end of their 20 overs, Heuer was caught by Bonga Maphanga off the gas man, Bayanda Majola. Hewlett went on to finish on 24 not out from 22 balls, and Michaelhouse tallied 170/5, leaving DHS needing to bat at 8.55 runs per over to win.

With that total, the DHS bowling figures didn’t make for particularly impressive reading. Majola, with 1/27 from four, was the best of their attack.

In reply, DHS made a steady start, with Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper putting on 35 for the first wicket. Omar was the first to go, caught by Preston Greene off of Rex Wardlaw’s bowling for 21 from 19 balls, which had included three fours. That brought Josh van Biljon to the crease. Six runs later, on 41, Cooper exited, having made 10 from 12.

Van Biljon and Taine Havermann immediately set about the Michaelhouse attack, with Van Biljon, especially, getting on top of the bowling. Together, they added 65 runs in 7.2 overs before Havermann was caught by Radhesh Jhilmeet off Thandanani Zuma‘s bowling for 23 from 21.

Lazlo Jooste didn’t last long, but Bayanda Majola, with eight not out, helped Van Biljon see School to victory with eight balls to spare.

Van Biljon finished on exactly 100 not out, having blasted three sixes and 12 fours in an outstanding 53-ball knock. Because of that onslaught, the Michaelhouse bowling figures didn’t make for happy reading.

Red Wardlaw picked up 1/30 in four, and Ben Heuer finished with 1/32 in four, with Wardlaw’s economy rate of 7.5 per over the best that a ‘House bowler managed. Opening bowler Thandanani Zuma removed Havermann, but he went for 42 runs from only three overs.

Scores

Michaelhouse 170/5 (Ben Heuer 66, Nic Baker 28, Hayden Hewlett 24*; Bayanda Majola 1/27, Dhilan Naraidu 1/29); Durban High School 174/4 (Josh van Biljon 100*, Taine Havermann 23, Ismaeel Omar 21; Red Wardlaw 1/30, Ben Heuer 1/32).

Durban High School won by six wickets.

The Beaumont Eston Farmers Club hosted Glenwood High against the Tuskers Hub u19 XI on Tuesday evening, with the Durban school coming away with a 36-run win in their Eston One Insurance T20 Night League clash.

If there’s an area of Glenwood’s game that has been inconsistent in 2025, it has been their batting. Therefore, the Green Machine would surely have been satisfied with posting 171/5 in their 20 overs.

Their effort was led by Akhiel Sinath. Opening the batting, he cracked 73 from 62 balls, sending 10 of them to the boundary.

He and Kamogelo Moloto shared a stand of 55 runs for the third wicket in 7.4 overs, with Moloto striking four fours in his 29 from 25.

Sinath and Kreesan Pillai, then, advanced the total to 137 before Srinath fell in the 18th over, caught by Salmaan Essa off the bowling of Thubelihle Ndlovu.

In an effort to accelerate the late innings’ scoring, Pillai was out for a quickfire 20 from 11, with three fours, while Mishael Gunawardena provided the boost that Glenwood was after, smashing a six and two fours in his 10-ball 23, while helped the Green Machine to add 27 runs in the last two overs.

Thubelihle Ndlovu was the pick of the Tuskers’ bowlers, capturing 3/35 in four, while Aphiwe Nzama did a tidy job up front, conceding only 18 runs from his four overs.

In reply, the Tuskers lost two early wickets, with Thubelihle Ndlovu out for two, caught by Kreesan Pillai off of Vincenzo Loutz, and Siphosethu Ngcobo also out for two, caught by Sebastien Oertel, once again off of Loutz. That left the Hub XI on 19/2 in the fifth over.

Opener Joshua Kaltwasser and Aidan Subbadu combined for a 41-run partnership before Subbadu was bowled by Esihle Gasa for 18 from 22 balls.

Owami Madlala and Joshua Kaltwasser, then, took the score to 99, but Madlala fell to the last ball of the fifteenth over, caught by Vincenzo Loutz off of Akhiel Sinath’s bowling for 12.

Kaltwasser and Simelolkuhle Gumede kept Glenwood’s attack at bay the rest of the way, but they were unable to threaten the Green Machine’s total and the Tuskers Hub u19 XI finished on 135/4.

Kaltwasser did a fine job, ending on 54 not out from 53 balls, three of which he sent to the boundary. Gumede was unbeaten on 17, and the pair added an unbroken 36.

Vincenzo Loutz picked up 2/15 as Glenwood gave eight players a bowl. Esihle Gasa, who was the only one of them to bowl the maximum four overs, returned 1/21, and Akhiel Sinath picked up 1/7.

Scores

Glenwood High 171/5 (Akhiel Sinath 73, Kamogelo Moloto 29, Mishael Gunawardena 23, Kreesan Pillai 20; Thubelihle Ndlovu 3/35); Tuskers Hub u19 XI 135/4 (Joshua Kaltwasser 55*, Aidan Subbadu 18; Vincenzo Loutz 2/15).

Glenwood High won by 36 runs.

Maritzburg College halted Michaelhouse‘s strong run in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club on Monday evening, holding on for a tight six-run win, which was the difference between the extras conceded by both sides.

Batting first, College put up 149/7, and while that was a step up from the 115/8 they produced in an 11-run win over Glenwood, it was still a somewhat stop/start effort.

Dom du Toit led the Red, Black, and White batting effort, cracking three fours in a hasty 42 from 32 balls, while Karl Dedekind weighed in with 38 from 31, which included five fours. The next best, though, was just 19 from Kyle de Bruyn.

Opening bowler Thandanani Zuma did a good job, snapping up 2/23 in his four overs, while his new ball partner, Rex Wardlaw, struck twice, too, although he was a touch on the expensive side of things, going for 38 runs.

Ben Heuer went wicketless, but his return of 0/17 in four was tidy and put the College batsmen under pressure. Liam O’Dwyer‘s 1/9 in two was also useful.

Michaelhouse lost Cody Sander and Riley Muir early in their run chase to the bowling of Sam Hughes, but Graydon Leslie and Ben Heuer set them on track with a stand of 43 for the third wicket before Leslie was caught by Deolyn Naidoo off of Luke Venter for 41 from 33 deliveries, which had featured four fours and a six.

Heuer and Hayden Hewlett then combined for 38 runs for the fourth wicket before Heuer departed, bowled by College captain Daniel Nadasan for 32 from 26. He’d struck three fours and a six. That left ‘House on 97/4 after 13.2 overs, still well in the fight.

Maritzburg College, though, did well to keep Michaelhouse under pressure, and that brought them two run outs – of Rex Wardlaw, for 17 from 17, and of Preston Greene, for three from two – which undermined ‘House’s run chase.

In the end, they came up six runs short of the College total, on 143/6, with Hewlett unbeaten on 35 from 33.

Opening bowler Sam Hughes finished with 2/34 from four. Daniel Nadasan picked up 1/10 in two, and Luke Venter 1/27 from four, but Reece Willson’s 0/17 in four proved to be a vital contribution, too.

On Wednesday evening, Michaelhouse will be back in action, facing the high-flying Durban High School, who have been the dominant team in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League thus far.

SCORES

Maritzburg College 149/7 (Dom du Toit 42, Karl Dedekind 38, Kyle de Bruyn 19; Thandanani Zuma 2/23, Rex Wardlaw 2/38); Michaelhouse 143/6 (Graydon Leslie 41, Hayden Hewlett 35*, Ben Heuer 32; Sam Hughes 2/34, Daniel Nadasan 1/10).

Maritzburg College won by six runs.