Author: captainmorgan

Beaten by 17 points earlier in the season on Brooks Field, Pretoria Boys High turned the tables on Maritzburg College and scored a morale-boosting 31-27 victory over the Red, Black, and White on Goldstone’s, in Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday.

The shock loss made for a somewhat sombre last walk off of their famous home ground for the College 1st XV’s grade 12 learners.

At halftime, the home team led 17-12 and a fantastic long-range try – which Dom du Toit dotted down beneath the uprights after a scintillating run down the right touchline by Caleb Scheepers – put the home side 27-12 clear just five minutes into the second stanza.

It appeared as it would be another clear-cut win for College over Boys High, but they were unable to add a single point after that and, for the first time since 2017, the Candies got one over the Pietermaritzburg school.

The contest started well for College, who scored an early try through Amahle Hadebe, converted by the accurate Du Toit, to take a 7-0 lead within the opening 10 minutes.

Captain Wasi Vyambwera then showed why he was selected for the SA Schools side, blasting his way through a would-be tackler from close range to lift his team into a 14-0 lead after only 12 minutes. It looked so easy, but, of course, it wasn’t.

Boys High opened their account in the 18th minute when, after they had charged down an attempted clearance, prop Jeffrey Singo caught out the home side’s defence by picking up and powering his directly over a ruck for a try. Rheece Holman added the easy conversion from just right of the uprights to half the deficit.

Boys High needed to have their wits about them straight from the kick-off as College surged onto the attack, stacking phase after phase together, but the Candies scrambled well to eventually force a turnover and clear their lines.

A penalty from Du Toit extended College’s lead to 10 points. The response from the visitors was excellent. They forced their way deep into College’s 22 and came ever so close to scoring a second try. Tristan Heinz was halted less than a metre from the try line. Unfortunately for Boys High, his pop pass went forward, and the home team breathed a sigh of relief.

The Candies’ pressure was unrelenting, however, and they made it across the try line in the 29th minute, only to be held up by desperate College defence.

Vyambwera and his team were unable to escape their half, and they were made to pay just before the break when Ofentse Matlebjane rounded off wide on the right after a period of sustained pressure from the visitors.

The momentum swung back College’s way early in the second half and the reliable boot of Du Toit made it 20-12, taking the home team clear by more than a converted try. From the restart, the contest opened up as both teams probed with the boot to play the game in the opposition’s half, and both chose to counterattack with the ball rather than the boot.

Then came the superb score orchestrated by Scheepers and Du Toit. College was in control, but Boys High were not having any of it. They had suffered more than their fair share of tough losses during the season, going down to Queen’s College by three points, Kearsney College by two, and Jeppe and KES by one each. This time, they were the team to pull off a hard-fought, tight win.

Again, Singo was the catalyst. The SA Schools A front ranker took an inside pass as the Candies mounted an attack just inside the College half. From there, his power took him through two tacklers, but a third tackler swept Singo’s feet from under him. As he went down, though, he flung a spectacular pass out the back of his hand to outside centre Callum Nel, who was ranging up on Singo’s right shoulder.

A sharp sidestep and Nel was through to score beneath the uprights. Holman’s conversion kick made it 27-19 to College.

Just after the hour-mark, Boys High was back behind the hosts’ try line. This time it was their lanky lock Pieter Lindeboom who stretched over to score next to the uprights. Another easy conversion kick for Holman meant there was only one point in it.

Then, an adventurous counterattack down the right gave wing Ofentse Matlebjane some space. When he was closed down, he kicked infield just before being brought down. College looked to have it covered, but a nasty bounce led to Amahle Hadebe missing the ball and going to ground. Boys High regathered, but with the try line just 10 metres away, they knocked on. Five minutes remained.

The Candies had the bit between their teeth, and they were soon back in the College 22 when flank Banele Mashaba ran onto a short ball and charged his way towards the whitewash. Recycling possession, they went blind, then brought the ball back inside. Mashaba, who had started the attack, finished it, picking up and spinning his way across the try line.

It wasn’t a difficult conversion, but Holman struck the right upright. That meant Maritzburg College could snatch victory with a late try.

From the kick-off, they won a penalty and an accurate kick to touch put the Red, Black, and White on Boys High’s try line in the last minute of the contest. College won the throw-in and turned to the maul, but the Candies stopped them and won a five-metre scrum.

A knock-on by Pretoria Boys High gave Maritzburg College one last chance to win it from another five-metre scrum. They charged towards the visitors’ try line, but also knocked on, and Boys High cleared the ball over the dead ball line.

The final whistle blew, and the Candies were flooded by their jubilant schoolmates, who charged onto the field to celebrate a long-awaited win with them.

Scorers:

Maritzburg College 17 (27) – Tries: Amahle Hadebe, Wasi Vyambwera, Dom du Toit. Conversions: Dom du Toit (3). Penalties: Dom du Toit (2); Pretoria Boys High 31 (12) – Tries: Jeffrey Singo, Ofentse Matlbjane, Callum Nel, Pieter Lindeboom, Banele Mhlaba. Conversions: Rheece Holman (3).

Results:

u19 – Maritzburg College I 27 Pretoria Boys’ High I 31; Maritzburg College II 24 Pretoria Boys High II 5; Maritzburg College III 10 Pretoria Boys High III 7; Maritzburg College IV 26 Pretoria Boys High IV 10; Maritzburg College V 10 Pretoria Boys High V 7; Maritzburg College VI 17 Howick I 5; Maritzburg College VII 32 Pretoria Boys High VI 7; Maritzburg College VIII 50 Pretoria Boys High VII 0; Maritzburg College IX 29 Pretoria Boys High VIII 19.

u16 – Maritzburg College A 14 Pretoria Boys High A 7; Maritzburg College B 5 Pretoria Boys High B 0; Maritzburg College C 27 Pretoria Boys High C 5; Maritzburg College D 12 Pretoria Boys High D 19; Maritzburg College E 5 Pretoria Boys High E 40; Maritzburg College F 10 Pretoria Boys High F 32.

u15 – Maritzburg College A 10 Pretoria Boys High A 22; Maritzburg College B 8 Pretoria Boys High B 11; Maritzburg College C 3 Pretoria Boys High C 7; Maritzburg College D 12 Pretoria Boys High D 0; Maritzburg College E 32 Pretoria Boys High E 0; Maritzburg College F 24 Pretoria Boys High F 21.

u14 – Maritzburg College A 18 Pretoria Boys High A 25; Maritzburg College B 29 Pretoria Boys High B 17; Maritzburg College C 21 Pretoria Boys High C 12; Maritzburg College D 19 Pretoria Boys High D 12; Maritzburg College E 42 Pretoria Boys High E 28; Maritzburg College F 26 Pretoria Boys High F 12.

Playing away, under lights on Reece-Edwards Field on Friday evening, Durban High School (DHS) made themselves at home, powering their way to an emphatic 36-5 victory over Northwood.

Recent clashes between the Durban rivals had been tight, hard-fought affairs. Earlier in the season, at DHS, School won 22-19 after trailing 0-12 at halftime. This time around, the result was not in doubt.

Peter Engledow‘s charges led only 10-0 at the break, but they pulled clear early in the second half, bolstering their advantage until they had put victory out of Northwood’s reach. After 10 minutes of the second stanza, the Horseflies led 29-0, and there was no coming back for the Knights.

The enthusiastic support for the home team had quietened down, but the DHS supporters felt a lot better about the state of the game and made themselves heard.

DHS was accurate, executed the basics well and, like they had done against Jeppe the previous Saturday, they hurt the opposition out wide by moving the ball smartly to the touchlines, with the left flank, especially, bringing them great success.

It took a while to get the scoreboard moving, but after 15 minutes captain Daniel Ikotela and his men at last breeched the stubborn Northwood defence, scoring from a lineout inside the hosts’ 22. It began on the right and ended in the left-hand corner, with a solid rolling maul setting the Knights on the back foot.

The home team’s defence was dented with a hit-up from the midfield, and when DHS received quick ball from that move Northwood was in trouble. The ball went swiftly through the hands to left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane, and he finished in the corner.

An excellent conversion kick from the touchline by flyhalf Jordan van Wyk made it 7-0.

DHS did a fine job of playing the game in Northwood’s half, keeping the pressure on the home side. That would come to bear with time the further the contest progressed. However, for all their endeavour and hard work, School had only a penalty to show for the remainder of their efforts in the first half, with Cilermo Carolus slotting a simple kick from almost in front, 22 metres out.

Towards the end of the half, Northwood, finally, was able to spend considerable time in the DHS 22, but the visitors stood firm and the Knights went unrewarded.

DHS was back on the attack early in the second stanza, but a missed five-metre lineout robbed them of another try-scoring opportunity. Soon, though, they were back at it, forcing Northwood deep into their 22.

The Knights couldn’t escape their half. DHS coach Peter Engledow must have been very pleased with how his side managed the territorial game.

As was the case in the first half, it took 15 minutes before DHS cracked the Northwood defensive line again. After making good ground up the left flank, School stayed patient and hit the ball up through eight phases before Okhule Mbanjwa crashed over for a try.

Van Wyk nailed the conversion and DHS led 17-0. Northwood, forced to play from deep, had, thus far, posed few threats to their Durban rivals. 

When they made ground into the visitors’ 22, however, they found themselves torched by a scintillating DHS counterattack.

A scorching breakout that turned defence into attack saw DHS make 50 metres up the left-hand touchline. Very briefly, their charge was halted, but a sharp scissor move gave the skipper Daniel Ikotela a sniff of the try line and he pumped his legs hard to drag a defender over the whitewash with him, which put DHS 22-0 up after 20 minutes of the second half.

Van Wyk’s conversion attempt never happened because the referee ruled that he had taken too long to get his kick off. Still, the boys in blue were well in command.

It didn’t take long for them to extend their advantage, either. Again, from a lineout around the halfway line, they found success down the left touchline, thanks to their accurate, fast movement of the ball. When scrumhalf Marcwin Nero went over, the visitors celebrated with more freedom. They knew it was all over bar the shouting.

This time, Van Wyk neatly split the uprights, and the gap grew to 29 points.

Northwood had few answers. DHS took charge of territory once more, forcing the Knights to play from deep. They did well to eventually extricate themselves from their half, but when DHS turned over possession on their 22, they burst down the left flank through centre Nathan Aneke.

Northwood was scrambling to catch up. They couldn’t, and Aneke rounded the home team’s defence in the left-hand corner before running in towards the poles and finishing with a flourish.

 Van Wyk knocked over the easy conversion and DHS was out of sight at 36-0 in front.

To their credit, Northwood kept working hard and they avoided the egg by scoring the last points of the game after, for pretty much the first time in the match, being able to spend considerable time in the DHS 22.

They scored in a familiar manner, opening up an opportunity from a rolling maul, which Chulumanco Kholisa finished to being a roar out of the home supporters. The die had long been cast, however, and DHS improved their record on the season to an impressive 14 wins and only two losses.

Scorers

Northwood 5 (0) – Try: Chulumanco Kholisa; Durban High School 36 (10) – Tries: Zenkosi Mthiyane, Okhule Mbanjwa, Daniel Ikotela, Marcwin Nero, Nathan Aneke. Conversions: Jordan van Wyk (4). Penalty: Cilermo Carolus.

Results

u19 – Northwood I 5 DHS I 38; Northwood II 17 DHS III 35; Northwood III 5 DHS III 24; Northwood IV 10 DHS IV 12; Northwood V 5 DHS V 36.

u16 – Northwood A 21 DHS A 17; Northwood B 8 DHS B 14; Northwood C 42 DHS C 5

u15 – Northwood A 13 DHS A 19; Northwood B 0 DHS B 31; Northwood C 22 DHS C 22; Northwood D 5 DHS D 60

u14 – Northwood A 0 DHS A 17; Northwood B 0 DHS B 49; Northwood C 14 DHS C 52

King Edward VII School (KES) visits Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg on Saturday for a blockbuster King Price Derby Series clash in which the already high stakes have been turned up even higher, with their showdown being the 100th meeting between the schools’ 1st XVs.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

They first played in 1935 and the historic record favours KES, who built up a big advantage during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. However, in recent years, it’s been more a case of tit-for-tat, with the last 10 matches being split evenly – five wins each.

Earlier this season, it was Jeppe who triumphed, winning 35-28 away from home. They’ll be boosted by the friendly confines of Collard Field on Saturday, but playing at home is not a guarantee of victory. Last season, KES won 38-28 at Jeppe, but Jeppe returned the favour, winning 23-13 at KES.

Both teams made spluttering starts to the 2025 season, but both have, undoubtedly, taken major steps forwards in the latter part of their campaigns.

Jeppe’s record sits at an even eight wins and eight defeats, but they’ve played one of the tougher schedules in the country, including facing Durban High School (DHS), Affies, Oakdale, Northwood, Noordheuwel, Grey College, Rondebosch, and Garsfontein. Those are all upper tier teams, and it was only against Northwood that Jeppe came away with a win.

KES has a record of seven wins and seven losses, also 50/50. They’ll be boosted by their most recent outing, against Pretoria Boys High, a team that had beaten the Red Army earlier in the year. In their second meeting, KES staged a late fightback to claim a come-from-behind 24-23 win, the kind of victory that builds belief and strengthens bonds.

KES features a Golden Lions‘ Craven Week duo in their loose trio, captain Sam Bruwer and 8th-man Chinedu Amadi, a powerful ball carrier who will ask lots of questions of Jeppe’s defenders around the fringes of the rucks and mauls.

Jeppe will, meanwhile, be very happy to welcome back two of their stars who were missing from the 10-24 loss to DHS last Saturday.

SA Schools A front-ranker André Poulton will bring his power game to bear, while in the midfield the dangerous Lindelani Nkambule, who ran out for the Golden Lions at the FNB Craven Week, adds his shifty moves and speed to Jeppe’s arsenal.

There’ll be an interesting battle within the war between Jeppe captain and scrumhalf Talent Sithole, who was also included in the Golden Lions’ side, and Regan McGurk, who represented the Golden Lions’ Academy team but was a member of the Craven Week side in 2024. He would like nothing more than to make a statement by bossing his battle with Sithole.

It won’t, though, be about the stars making plays. They may have their place, but it’s going to be about a 15-man or even a 23-man effort, plus the impact of the support, that will carry one of the rivals to a meaningful win.

As is so often the case with big matches, playing the game and not the occasion is going to be crucial. The team that is better able to focus on the task in front of them will have an advantage. It won’t be easy on such a momentous occasion, but cool heads and accurate execution will go a long way towards securing victory.

It’s going to be a cold day on the Highveld, but the action alongside and on the field is going to be hot.

Teams:

Jeppe High School for Boys vs King Edward VII School on Collard Field in Johannesburg at 14:00

Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Ndimphiwe Mjiji, 13 Lindelani Nkambule, 12 Phano Letsie, 11 Lethabo Mashao, 10 Nehemia Holenbach, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Grady Ngui, 6 Kuhle Shitlangu, 5 Glodi Tshipamba, 4 Lagan Leisher, 3 Andre Poulton, 2 Ayanda Funeka, 1 Joshua Hamman.

King Edward VII School: 15 Indibabele Mboniswa, 14 Jarell Mbuyi, 13 Sky Segal, 12 Sam Smith, 11 Junior Shivuri, 10 Andrew Jackson, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Sam Bruwer (c), 6 Nkosen’hle Mafu, 5 Ashton Vreugdenburg, 4 Michael Bownes, 3 Kenneth Prins, 2 Tristan Randall, 1 Siya Nkomo.

Friday evenings are usually the domain of Hyundai Friday Nite Lights hockey matches, but on Friday the Northwood and Durban High School (DHS) 1st XVs will clash under lights on Reece-Edwards Field. Kick-off is at 18:30.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

While DHS has enjoyed the advantage in recent meetings, their showdowns with the Knights have been among their most physical and challenging outings.

They met earlier in the season, in late April, on Van Heerden’s Field, and it took a gritty come-from-behind performance for School to score a narrow 22-19 victory over the visitors. Northwood led 12-0 at halftime.

They’ve made it tough on DHS in recent seasons by taking the contest down into the gutter – mauling, hitting the ball up on the fringes, contesting every ball – and that has restricted the Horseflies‘ opportunities.

On Saturday, in Johannesburg, DHS ran in four tries in an impressive 24-10 victory over Jeppe, with three of those four coming from long range, and because Daniel Ikotela and his side moved the ball quickly wide. That’s where the Knights enjoyed success against DHS in their meeting in May, so there could be an interesting mirror image approach to attacking from both outfits on Friday evening.

It all starts up front, however, as any South African rugby fan will tell you, and both sides have rugged, powerful packs. Both went down to Paarl Gim at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley, but both had the Gim pack in reverse on a number of occasions at scrum time. Both packs add up to more than the sum of their parts with their cohesive contestation of the ball.

Last weekend, though, Northwood struggled at lineout time during their patchy 19-11 win over Glenwood. Usually, lineouts are one of the Knights’ strengths, both on their own ball and on the opposition’s throw-in – coach Jacques Deen is an outstanding mentor at the set piece – but did the match reveal something that DHS might target on Friday evening?

When one thinks of game breakers, it’s the midfield of both teams that catches the eye, except, though, that DHS will be without their powerful inside centre, Zingce Simka, a huge try-scoring threat, especially from close range. He’s out of the contest, with Peleneo Shakwane tasked with filling Simka’s big boots.

Outside of him, SA Schools’ centre Nathan Aneke is a thrill waiting to happen with his electric pace and eye for a gap. He’s silky skilled.

On the Northwood side, Bongane Khumalo is usually at the heart of the Northwood’s attacking forays. He’s fast footed, with a sharp sidestep, and also is adept at creating overlaps. Besides him, Tristan Parkinson is more physical and an effective foil to Khumalo’s playmaking.

If it’s playmaking one’s discussing, then Northwood and Sharks’ 8th-man, Jamie Wimble, is a player that has to be part of the conversation. A top all-rounder on the cricket field, he brings those ball skills to his game. He’s a physical defender and a dangerous runner, often breaking the gain-line by running well considered lines.

On the DHS side of things, their captain Daniel Ikotela is an all-out lead-by-example type – not the biggest flank, but a powerful ball carrier and a hard-hitting defender.

One player missing from Northwood’s win over Glenwood was SA Schools A loose forward/lock Lian Terblanche. His return to the Knights’ ranks is a big boost for the home team, and his addition could be what they need to solve their lineout issues.

Friday’s teams are, in many ways, similar. They’ve had some tremendous battles in recent seasons, and, for that reason, a deep respect resides in the players for one another. At the same time, that makes them all the more determined to take the win.

The last time DHS visited Northwood, in 2024, the Knights frustrated the Horseflies and held them to a 7-7 draw. Later in the season, DHS scored a hard-fought 18-11 win.

The last time they met under lights at Northwood was in July 2023, when DHS won 27-5. It’s been nothing but tough sledding for School against the Knights since, and Northwood would like nothing more than to get one over DHS in front of their home supporters.

Teams:

Northwood vs DHS at Reece Edwards Field, Durban, at 18:30 on Friday evening

Northwood 

15 Trevor von Volenstee, 14 Anesu Kuzonyei, 13 Bongane Khumalo, 12 Tristan Parkinson, 11 Aphiwe Maphisa, 10 Savio Stevens, 9 Jed Mun-Gavin, 8 Jamie Wimble, 7 Ayavuya Makula, 6 Omari Mabuza, 5 Chad Howe, 4 Lian Terblanche, 3 Janco Visagie, 2 7 Chulumanco Kholisa, 1 Sphe Ntshangase.

DHS

15 Cilermo Carolus, 14 Amo Mataboge, 13 Nathan Aneke, 12 Peleneo Shakwane, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Jordan van Wyk, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Bradley la Grange, 7 Jose Lottering, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Zion Smith, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Omphiwe Kola, 2 Okhule Mbanjwa, 1 Elvino Witbooi.

In 2023, Durban High School (DHS) lost a nailbiter on the Collard Field, in Johannesburg, going down 36-39 to Jeppe High School for Boys. In 2024, on Van Heerden’s Field, in Durban, they beat Jeppe 24-20. On Saturday, the Horseflies returned to Johannesburg and claimed a 24-10 victory.

With the win, DHS improved their record in 2025 to 13 wins and only two defeats, both against unbeaten teams, Paarl Gimnasium and Westville Boys’ High.

Very quietly, School has produced a superb follow-up to their outstanding 2024 season, which, interestingly, concluded with the same 13 wins and two losses record. Their 2025 season is not yet done, however. They visit Northwood on Saturday.

When the teams met in Durban last year, Jeppe entered the game averaging 33 points a match while DHS had surrendered only eight a contest. It finished in the middle ground in favour of coach Peter Engeldow‘s boys. On Saturday, Jeppe repeated their 24-point output, but halved Jeppe’s output.

The visitors made a fine start to their quest for back-to-back wins over the Zebras, with their first points coming from a typically well-practiced and well-executed move. From a lineout five metres out, they hit the ball up through their forwards before feeding their bowling ball inside centre, Zingce Simka, with a flat, long pass.

Jeppe knew what was coming, but not even three tacklers were able to keep the powerhouse midfielder out. It wasn’t a difficult conversion, but Jordan van Wyk pinged his kick off the left upright, leaving the score at 5-0.

From the kick-off, it became something of a tactical kicking battle, with Jeppe playing the game down near the DHS 22, but when the home side bobbled a pass Simka picked up the ball and released left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane. Hitting the afterburners, he raced down the left-hand touchline for a thrilling 70-metre try in the left-hand corner.

Van Wyk was narrowly wide from the touchline, but School could hardly have hoped for a better start, up 10-0 in the 10th minute.

In the absence of SA Schools A prop, André Poulton, Jeppe came ever so close to surrendering another try when they were shoved off their own put-in, just five metres from their try line. They survived, but DHS forwards’ coach Ronnie Uys must have loved what he saw.

To their credit, Jeppe rebounded, worked their way downfield, and put DHS under sustained pressure. The visitors had a narrow escape when an attempted clearance was charged down, but the in-goal area on Collard Field is small and the ball richocheted out of the field of play.

After DHS’s bright start, Jeppe had begun to boss the territorial battle. However, a decision to try a set piece move rather than kick to touch when they won a penalty only 10 metres from the DHS try line appeared peculiar. The end result was the visitors winning a penalty after effectively contesting a ruck.

Then, when DHS spilled a ball inside the Jeppe 22, a searing counterattack by the home side almost finished with a try, but their final pass, flat to a charging 8th-man Mihle Dyakala was forward.

Right before the halftime whistle, Jeppe’s industry and efforts were rewarded when captain, scrumhalf Talent Sithole, wriggled through the slightest of gaps to dive over from close range. Nehemia Hollenbach nailed the conversion, leaving only three points separating the sides after a fascinating first half of thrust and counter-thrust.

Coach Drikus Venter‘s players then carried the momentum they had enjoyed late in the first half into the second stanza and played a lot of rugby in the DHS half without managing to truly penetrate the rugged defence of the Durban boys.

With 17 minutes of the second half played, a massive clearance kick by flyhalf Jordan van Wyk into the Jeppe 22 was kicked into touch, but it put DHS on Jeppe’s halfway line with possession for the lineout. A pinpoint throw-in to the back enabled DHS to get a rolling maul moving. Then, a couple of dummy runners and two accurate long passes played centre Nathan Aneke into an outside gap.

Aneke, the lightning to his midfield partner Zingce Simka’s thunder, received the ball 45 metres out, pinned his ears back and rounded the Jeppe defence for a spectacular score. It was a gut punch for Sithole and company after they had played so much of the second half in the visitors’ half.

Fullback Cilermo Carolus took over the kicking duties and slotted the kick to, once again, open up a 10-point lead at 17-7.

DHS turned to a slow poison approach in the last 10 minutes, taking it to Jeppe with their pack driving the ball up, drawing the hosts’ defenders in to make strength-sapping tackle after strength-sapping tackle. Jeppe struggled to exit their 22. Eventually, though, they won a penalty, but when their kick for touch missed the mark, they were made to pay.

DHS quickly shifted play from the left-hand touchline back infield and to the right flank. It took only two passes, and Richard Gyamfi saw space in front of him. He raced through from 47 metres out for another five-pointer. Carolus, then, rubbed salt in the Jeppe wound by converting from the touchline.

The ability of DHS to strike from long-range was a feature of the clash. The accuracy of the visitors’ cut-out passes, shifting the ball wide at speed, left Jeppe exposed. If that was something that School had identified in the lead-up to the game – and knowing coach Peter Engeldow’s excellence at analysis, it likely was – they executed what they needed to do extremely well.

Jeppe, as always, kept fighting to the final whistle and it brought them the final say in the game when flyhalf Hollenbach snapped over a drop kick in the final minute. The day, though, belonged to DHS.

Scorers:

Jeppe 10 (7) – Try: Talent Sithole; Conversion: Nehemia Hollenbach; Dropped goal: Nehemia Hollenbach. DHS 24 (10) – Tries: Zingce Simka, Zenkosi Mthiyane, Nathan Aneke, Richard Gyamfi; Conversions: Cilermo Carolus (2).

Results:

u 19 – Jeppe I 20 DHS I 24; Jeppe II 38 DHS II 33; Jeppe III 14 DHS III 41; Jeppe IV 7 DHS IV 29; Jeppe V 0 DHS V 26; Jeppe VI 15 DHS VI 22

u16 – Jeppe A 35 DHS A 14; Jeppe B 7 DHS B 46; Jeppe C 14 DHS C 24; Jeppe D 10 DHS D 8; Jeppe E 21 DHS E 13

u15 – Jeppe A 22 DHS A 26; Jeppe B 27 DHS B 24; Jeppe C; Jeppe D 31 DHS D 20; Jeppe E 40 DHS E 17

u14 – Jeppe A 0 DHS A 15; Jeppe B 9 DHS B 36; Jeppe C 8 DHS C 12; Jeppe D 29 DHS D 32; Jeppe E 20 DHS E 24

Northwood School hosted Glenwood High on Reece-Edwards Field on Saturday, intent on securing a second successive season’s sweep over their Durban rivals. They did, winning 19-11, but it was far from a comfortable outing for the Knights.

For a long time, it appeared as if the day was going to belong to the Green Machine. They controlled most of the first half, more fluid than Northwood, whose rugged defence was put to the test.

For the early part of the second half, it was also Glenwood in the driving seat, but the hosts eventually found a way to win.

Glenwood started the brighter of the teams and quickly found some rhythm, hitting the ball up effectively around the rucks. Bit by bit, they forced Northwood deeper and deeper into the home side’s 22.

Then, a well-placed cross kick hung invitingly in the air. The Knights’ Savio Stevens leapt high, but Glenwood wing Sthabiso Dube had the advantage of running onto the ball and he hit it in his stride, leaping high and handsome to pluck it out of the air and crash over for a fantastic five-pointer within the first five minutes.

For the remainder of the first half, Northwood was mostly on the back foot, with Glenwood putting together some flowing passages of play, but they were kept at bay by the resilient Knights’ defence. It was 5-0 at the break to the visitors.

Early in the second half, Joshua Kopp extended the Glenwood advantage to eight points with an easy penalty kick. Another penalty put the Green Machine 11-0 ahead. They appeared in control and on course for victory.

But the match turned from the kick-off, when the Knights earned a penalty, which gave them possession and an opportunity to kick deep into the corner of the Glenwood 22.

“That’s our game plan. We spend a lot of time on our restarts, kicking to contest, so we can exert pressure, so that those things do happen. We were lucky enough for it to work out that way,” Northwood coach Jacques Deen told SuperSport Schools Plus afterwards.

Defending, the penalties began to pile up as Glenwood clung on, holding Northwood out. It came at a cost, though, as they had a player sinbinned for the deliberate collapse of a rolling maul. Even then, though, Northwood failed to take advantage of the opportunity, missing their next lineout throw-in.

They were, however, playing the match in the right area of the field and they trapped Glenwood behind their try line to force a five-metre scrum.

At last, 15 minutes into the second stanza, Northwood broke through for their first points, with scrumhalf Jed Mun-Gavin slipping through a gap from a ruck on the visitors’ try line to score.

Time continued to tick away, however, with Northwood still trailing 5-11 as the match headed into its last 10 minutes. Glenwood, though, was reduced to 14 players when the referee brandished a red card for a tip-tackle.

With four minutes to go, the Knights struck again. It was reserve scrumhalf, Ludi van der Walt, who did the trick.

Around him, with the game almost up, some of his teammates showed their frustration when he didn’t take a quick tap from a penalty, only five metres from the Glenwood try line. Van der Walt though, stayed calm, kicked to touch, and then crossed for the crucial try from the lineout that followed.

He converted his try, too, eliciting a roar from the home supporters as Northwood led for the first time in the contest, 12-11.

In the final minute, as happened when the teams met at Glenwood, the Knights dotted down, this time through ___. Van der Walt tacked on the extras, the final whistle sounded, and Northwood had won 19-11.

“Good teams find a way to win. Well done to our boys. It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win,” Northwood coach, Jacques Deen said.

It had been a tough and frustrating slog for his side, who had struggled to put it together after a long holiday break and minimal preparation for Saturday’s match. Acknowledging Glenwood’s performance, Deen said the score should probably have been closer.

The wind was a big factor, and the Green Machine used it more effectively than the Knights for most of the match. Deen reflected: “We said let’s go against the wind in the first half and then use it in the second half, but it didn’t work out that way.”

At halftime, he said: “I told them to stick to what we need to do, stick to their instructions, stick to our good points, like lineouts. But, today, for some or other reason, we couldn’t get our lineouts right. We didn’t read them.”

In the end, though, the message about sticking to their processes produced the desired results, and Northwood came away with the win.

Scorers

Northwood 19 (0) – Tries: Jed Mun-Gavin, Ludi van der Walt, Hleleni Mpendulo; Conversions: Ludi van der Walt (2). Glenwood 11 (5) – Try: Sthabiso Dube. Penalties: Joshua Kopp (2)

Results

u19 – Northwood I 19 Glenwood I 11; Northwood II 23 Glenwood II 14; Northwood III 22 Glenwood III 5; Northwood IV 17 Glenwood IV 5; Northwood V 34 Glenwood V 10.

u16 – Northwood A 20 Glenwood A 12; Northwood B 5 Glenwood B 0; Northwood C 24 Glenwood C 12; Northwood D 26 Glenwood D 17.

u15 – Northwood A 10 Glenwood A 11; Northwood B 8 Glenwood B 17; Northwood C 24 Glenwood C 7; Northwood D 17 Glenwood D 12.

u14 – Northwood A 28 Glenwood A 7; Northwood B 22 Glenwood B 10; Northwood C 19 Glenwood C 5; Northwood D 0 Glenwood D 5.

Recent meetings between Jeppe High School for Boys and Durban High School (DHS) have produced enthralling clashes, with DHS winning 24-20 in Durban last year, and Jeppe triumphing 39-36 in Johannesburg in 2023.

On Saturday, DHS faces Jeppe in Johannesburg, again.

With 12 wins and only two losses – against unbeaten Paarl Gimnasium and Westville Boys’ High – the Horseflies boast much the better record.

Jeppe’s record is eight wins and sevens defeats, although those losses have come against, among others, Garsfontein, Grey College, Rondebosch, Oakdale, and Affies.

There is one big eyesore among Jeppe’s results and that was a 24-70 thrashing at the hands of Monument, a team that DHS beat 32-17 at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival without really getting out of second gear. That, though, appears to be an anomaly.

The good news for the home team is that they’ve been much better in the latter part of the season than they were in the early going. In many ways, their turnaround began with a win over DHS’s arch-rivals, Maritzburg College, at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival. They went down 27-42 to a strong Oakdale team in their next game, but they were on track.

Since then, they’ve beaten Northwood, St John’s College, and Pretoria Boys High and lost by just two points at Affies, who snatched victory with a last-gasp penalty. That was a painful defeat for the boys in black and white.

DHS opened their season with 10 wins on the trot before coming unstuck against Paarl Gim, who, most would say, boasts the best 1^st XV in South Africa this year.

Playing in Johannesburg will favour Jeppe. It’s not just about the home ground advantage, but it’s also about playing at altitude. Especially for teams travelling up from the coast, the latter stages of games can really burn the lungs. But DHS is well conditioned, well drilled, and a never-say-die outfit. They’re more than the sum of their parts.

Another area that might favour Jeppe is goal kicking. Jeppe flyhalf Nehemia Hollenbach has enjoyed an outstanding season off the tee and is odds-on to punish opponents if they concede penalties within kicking distance. DHS number 10 Jordan van Wyk is a solid kicker, but he has, at times, been streaky.

Counterbalancing that is the fact that Jeppe will be without two of their stars, SA Schools A loosehead prop André Poulton and Golden Lions‘ centre Lindelani Nkambule. Poulton has been a reliable cornerstone of their set scrums, while Nkambule has produced a fantastic highlight reel of tries this season.

It’s the relentless, cohesive attack of DHS that will be the biggest challenge that Jeppe faces. The Durban team is a pedal to the metal outfit and has a strong bench. There is no let-up.

They’re also a hard-hitting defensive unit and that physical defence sets up counterattacking opportunities, which they’re good at exploiting.

They feature a potent midfield partnership with the powerful inside centre Zingce Simka, an SA Schools A selection in 2024, partnering Nathan Aneke, who was included in the SA Schools side after the FNB Craven Week this year.

There’s little chance that either side is going to be surprised by the approach of the other. They both understand what awaits them – they, in many ways, play a similar game – and it will come down to which team executives their game plan better.

Disrupting the flow of quality ball will be key and the battle of the two loose trios should be fascinating. DHS captain and number six flank Daniel Ikotela is a lead-by-example type, well backed up by Jose Lottering and Bradley la Grange, while the Jeppe trio – Kazimla Manzi, Grady Ngui, and Mihle Dyakala – bring a hard physical edge to Jeppe’s challenge.

TEAMS

Jeppe High School for Boys vs Durban High School at 13:00 in Johannesburg

Jeppe High School for Boys (provisional)

15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Ndimphiwe Mjiji, 13 Joel Akilo, 12 Phano Letsie, 11 Lethabo Mashao, 10 Nehemia Hollenbach, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Grady Ngui, 6 Kazimla Manzi, 5 Glodi Thsipamaba, 4 Lagan Fleisher, 3 Aluwani Ndlovu, 2 Ayanda Funeka, 1 Joshua Hamman.

Durban High School

15 Cilermo Carolus, 14 Neo Shakwane, 13 Nathan Aneke, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Jordan van Wyk, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Bradley la Grange, 7 Jose Lottering, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Zion Smith, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Omphiwe Kola, 2 Okuhle Mbanjwa, 1 Elvino Witbooi.

Reece-Edwards Field hosts Northwood against Glenwood on Saturday, with the Knights aiming to pull off a season’s sweep of the Green Machine.

When the teams met earlier in the season on Dixon’s Field, at Glenwood, Northwood led only 18-16 with a minute to play, but they struck twice in quick succession to come away with a 30-16 victory.

If the Knights win, it would be a second successive season’s sweep of the Green Machine after they recorded 31-24 and 29-17 wins in 2024.

They own a superior record to Glenwood, too, this season, with nine wins and five defeats, while Glenwood’s record is five wins, six losses, and a 26-26 draw with Monument.

When they met at Glenwood, Trevor van Volenstee, who had played at fullback, took over at flyhalf for Northwood and delivered an outstanding performance. His goal kicking, though, has been somewhat inconsistent and that could be one of the reasons why he returns to the number 15 jersey, with Savio Stevens and his sure boot taking over at flyhalf.

It was also a game in which centre Tristan Parkinson shone, scoring a try from 55 metres out. His midfield partnership with Bongane Khumalo is a strength of the Northwood team.

The Knights will be without Lian Terblanche, who will be in action for the SA u18A team early in August in the International Series against Ireland, Georgia, and France. One of his teammates there will be Glenwood captain Lizwe Mtetwa, who is an impressive force in the midfield.

While Northwood will be favoured to bag another win in the amphitheatre-like bowl of Reece-Edwards Field, Glenwood has played some tremendous rugby this season, but they’ve lacked consistency, sometimes in the same game.

Their start against Milnerton High in the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival was spectacular and special. Midway through the first half, they led 29-0. Millies, though, pulled it back to 34-34 before a late Joshua Kopp penalty won it for Glenwood. And that’s been the challenge for the Green Machine this season – putting it all together.

Much like their performance against Northwood, Glenwood played themselves into a strong position in their most recent outing, leading Westville Boys’ High 25-21 six minutes into the second half. The unbeaten Griffin, though, tacked on 21 unanswered points to win. Glenwood showed, nonetheless, the ability to go head-to-head with top opposition.

Playing at Northwood, that same Westville team won only 16-14. That underlines the size of the challenge that awaits Glenwood.

If they’re unable to disrupt Northwood’s relentless forward pressure in the set scrums, lineouts, rucks, and mauls, they’re in for a long day. That’s what kept Westville in check. If they do, however, another interesting contest awaits.

Teams:

Northwood vs Glenwood at 13:30 in Durban

Northwood: 15 Trevor von Volenstee, 14 Josh Thondlana, 13 Bongane Khumalo, 12 Tristan Parkinson, 11 Aphiwe Maphisa, 10 Savio Stevens, 9 Jed Mun-Gavin, 8 Jamie Wimble, 7 Omari Mabuza, 6 Lusanda Mabizela, 5 Chad Howe, 4 Asanda Zama, 3 Janco Visagie, 2 Aya Makula, 1 Sphe Ntshangase.

Glenwood: N/A

In front of a jam-packed crowd, Panorama FC came from behind to stun Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 and lift the Engen Knockout Challenge Gauteng trophy at Marks Park on the weekend.

It was an unexpected outcome, but a huge achievement for Panorama’s u18s, who succeed the team they beat in the final, Chiefs, as the champion of the region.

In 2024, the Amakhosi beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the title decider.

Panorama’s exploits were richly rewarded when the individual awards were announced. Tiago Khan was named the Player and the Defender of the Tournament. The Striker of the Tournament went to Neo Maswabi, and, unsurprisingly, considering his team’s stunning march to the title, Luyanda Gcabashe received the Coach of the Tournament Award.

There was also a new champion crowned in the women’s u20 competition, with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) succeeding Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies as the Gauteng champions.

In a tight final, UJ edged out JVW 1-0. It was a tough task getting past the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, Casey Gordon, but all that was needed was one goal and UJ got it.

They also received most of the individual awards. Adrielle Mibe was named the Player of the Tournament and the Midfielder of the Tournament, while Gugu Dhlamini picked up the Striker of the Tournament Award.

UJ coach Delisile Mbatha received the Coach of the Tournament award.

The Fair Play Awards went to the University of Pretoria (Tuks) in the boys’ section and Future Stars Ladies in the girls’ competition.

Panorama and UJ will join the KwaZulu-Natal Engen Knockout Challenge winners, Junior Stars and Durban Ladies, and the Western Cape’s Cape Town City and Cape Town Roses at the Engen Champ of Champs, which will be played in Pretoria from 3-5 October.

New champions will be crowned in both the boys’ and girls’ competition because Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies lifted the Champs of Champs titles in 2024.

The Eastern Cape Engen Knockout Challenge will be played on 26 and 27 July.

AWARDS

Boys

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Mihailo Mijatovic (Joburg City)
Defender of the Tournament: Tiago Kahn (Panorama FC)
Midfielder of the Tournament: Andile Mtsweni (Kaizer Chiefs)
Striker of the Tournament: Neo Maswabi (Panorama FC)
Coach of the Tournament: Luyanda Gcabashe (Panorama FC)
Player of the Tournament: Tiago Kahn (Panorama FC)
Fair Play team of the Tournament: (University of Pretoria)

Top goal scorer: Lucky Mathewi (SuperSport United), Mabutho Nkosi (School of Excellence), Kamohelo Matreletse (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkululeko Soldaat (Wits University), Diego Da Silva (University of Pretoria), Jozela Nceba (Remember Elite Sport Academy), Sibusiso Tolomane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Neo Maswabi (Panorama FC).

Girls

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Casey Gordon (JVW)
Defender of the Tournament: Naylene Morgau (SAFA Academy)
Midfielder of the Tournament: Adrielle Mibe (UJ)
Top goal scorer: Hlalala Mkhari (SAFA Academy)
Striker of the Tournament: Gugu Dhlamini (UJ)
Coach of the Tournament: Delisile Mbatha (UJ)
Player of the Tournament: Adrielle Mibe (UJ)
Fair Play team of the Tournament: Future Stars Ladies

Pinetown Boys’ High and St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, went back-to-back as champions of the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Saturday, while Ashton Ballito claimed the honours in the primary school competition.

It was far from simple for Pinetown, however. They faced Gqeberha’s Urban Academy, with whom they had drawn goalless in the group stage, for the title, and Urban Academy hadn’t yet conceded a goal.

Pinetown had scored more than Urban Academy on their way to the final, but they had, at least, conceded once in a 2-1 win over Glenwood High, a team that Urban Academy comfortably beat 3-0.

Once more, both defences held firm and, in cold and wet conditions, the title game went down to a penalty shootout.

Pinetown, who recently claimed the Kloof High Football Tournament title after a penalty shootout win over the Absa Wildklawer champion, Virginia High School, demonstrated their BMT once more, claiming victory by a 3-1 margin from the spot.

In a tightly contested playoff for third, Durban High School (DHS), the winners of the inaugural tournament in 2023, edged out the host, Kearsney College, winning 3-2.

That was also the score in the fifth-place clash, with Siyajabula, the 2024 runner-up, defeating Queensburgh High.

Maqhutshana A scored a 2-1 win over Clifton College to finish seventh.

Glenwood, who had the misfortune of having both finalists with them in Group C, cantered to victory in the Plate final, outplaying Curro Somerset West 5-1.

The girls’ final also brought together teams that had met previously in the group stage when St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, took on Durban Girls’ High.

It had ended 1-0 in favour of Saints in their pool clash, and it finished 1-0 once more in the title decider.

Third place went to Danville Park Girls’ High who scored a 3-1 win over Curro Hazeldean.

Ashton Ballito lifted the Plate in style, defeating Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge 3-0.

Meanwhile, Ashton Ballito, also, enjoyed a fairy tale run to the primary schools’ title. They won all three of their group matches, beating the defending champion, Merchiston Prep, 3-0, Winston Park Primary 3-0, and Westville Senior Primary 4-3.

In round two of the Championship, they rolled to a 4-0 win over John Wesley. That was followed by a 2-0 victory over Pelham in the semi-finals, and a 2-1 win over Hillcrest Primary in the final. Six matches, six victories.

Merchiston and Pelham, both from Pietermaritzburg, met in the third-place playoff, with Pelham picking up a narrow 1-0 win.

RESULTS

Boys’ High School

1st/2nd: Pinetown Boys’ High 0-0 Urban Academy (Pinetown won 3-1 on penalties)
3rd/4th: Durban High School 3-2 Kearsney College
5th/6th: Siyajabula 3-2 Queensburgh High
7th/8th: Maqhutshana A 2-1 Clifton College
9th/10th: Glenwood High 5-1 Curro Somerset West
11th/12th: Curro Hazeldean 1-0 Sutherland
13th/14th: Maqhutshana B 1-1 Ashton Ballito (Maqhutshana won 6-5 on penalties)
15th/16th: Grace College 3-1 Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge

Girls’ High School

1st/2nd: St Mary’s DSG, Kloof 1-0 Durban Girls’ High
3rd/4th: Danville Park Girls’ High 3-1 Curro Hazeldean
5th/6th: Ashton Ballito 3-0 Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge