Author: captainmorgan

Hilton College will be a hive of football activity on the weekend as it plays host to the Jody Momple Cup, formerly the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands FA Cup, bringing together 24 teams with designs on the prestigious title.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Maritzburg College will be defending the title they won 3-2 last year in a memorable final against Carter High School, which could have gone either way. It was, arguably, the game of the year in the KZN region.

This time around, both of last year’s finalists will again be among the frontrunners for the honours. Carter is aiming for a hattrick of titles in 2024, having already won the KZN Inland League’s 2nd term competition and the inaugural Carter High Super Cup.

They beat Maritzburg College 1-0 in the group stage of the Inland Championship and repeated that scoreline in the final. In their most recent meeting, though, on 20 July, College beat Carter 2-1. The point is, there is next to nothing to separate the teams.

Of course, there are other challengers who should not be discounted, and the exciting thing about the FA Cup is that it is wide open.

Michaelhouse, with a semi-final spot at the Primo Big 10, which came courtesy of a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Hilton, showed they’re a team to be reckoned with, and the hosts, too, will bear watching.

Meanwhile, sides like Ixopo and Edendale Technical could spring a surprise. Ixopo enjoyed an excellent first season in the Inland league, while Edendale, although they debuted in the B League, showed they’re a solid unit, and the outstanding achievements of their girls’ team, the best in South Africa, suggests the coaching at Edendale is top notch.

GROUPS

Group A: Hilton College, Howick High School, Riverwood College
Group B: Alexandra High School, Grace College, St Nicholas Diocesan School
Group C: Michaelhouse, Weston Agricultural College, ML Sultan Secondary School
Group D: St Charles College, Maritzburg Christian School, Heritage Academy
Group E: Carter High School, Greytown High School, Newton School
Group F: Ixopo High School, Etham High School, Haythorne Secondary School
Group G: Edendale Technical High, Wartburg Kirchdorf, Linpark High School
Group H: Maritzburg College, Treverton College, Umvuzo Secondary School

FIXTURES

Group Stage Matches, Saturday, 24 August

Group A – Zungu

08:00 – Hilton vs Howick
09:30 – Howick vs Riverwood
11:00 – Hilton vs Riverwood

Group B – Etheridge

08:00 – Alexandra vs Grace
09:30 – Grace vs St Nicholas
11:00 – St Nicholas vs Alex

Group C – New Field

08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Weston
09:30 – Weston vs ML Sultan
11:00 – ML Sultan vs Michaelhouse

Group D – Lombard

08:00 – St Charles vs Maritzburg Christian School
09:30 – Maritzburg Christian School vs Heritage
11:00 – Heritage vs St Charles

Group E – Lombard

13:00 – Carter vs Greytown
14:30 – Greytown vs Newton
16:00 – Newton vs Carter

Group F – New Field

13:00 – Ixopo vs Etham
14:30 – Etham vs Haythorne
16:00 – Haythorne vs Ixopo

Group G – Etheridge

13:00 – Edendale vs Wartburg
14:30 – Wartburg vs Linpark
16:00 – Linpark vs Edendale

Group H – Zungu

13:00 – Maritzburg College vs Treverton
14:30 – Treverton vs Umvuzo
16:00 – Umvuzo vs Maritzburg College

Knockout Stage, Sunday, 25 August

Bowl Quarterfinals

BQF 1 – 08:00 – A3 vs B3, Zungu
BQF 2 – 08:00 – C3 vs D3, Etheridge
BQF 3 – 08:00 – E3 vs F3, New Field
BQF 4 – 08:00 – G3 vs H3, Lombard

Plate Quarterfinals

PQF 1 – 09:30 – A2 vs B2, Zungu
PQF 2 – 09:30 – C2 vs D2, Etheridge
PQF 3 – 09:30 – E2 vs F2, New Field
PQF 4 – 09:30 – G2 vs H2, Lombard

Cup Quarterfinals

CQF 1 – 11:00 – A1 vs B1, Zungu
CQF 2 – 11:00 – C1 vs D1, Etheridge
CQF 3 – 11:00 – E1 vs F1, New Field
CQF 4 – 11:00 – G1 vs H1, Lombard

Bowl Semi-finals

BSF 1 – 12:30 – Winner A3/B3 vs Winner C3/D3, New Field
BSF 2 – 12:30 – Winner E3/F3 vs Winner G3/h3, Lombard

Plate Semi-finals

PSF 1 – 12:30 – Winner A2/B2 vs Winner C2/D2, Zungu
PSF 2 – 12:30 – Winner E2/F2 vs Winner G2/H2, Etheridge

Cup Semi-finals

CSF 1 – 14:00 – Winner A1/B1 vs Winner C1/D1, Zungu
CSF 2 – 14:00 – Winner E1/F1 vs Winner G1/H1, Etheridge

Bowl Final

BF – 15:00 – Winner BSF 1 vs Winner BSF 2, New Field

Plate Final

PF – 15:00 – Winner PSF 1 vs Winner PSF 2, Etheridge

Cup Final

CF – 16:00 – Winner CSF 1 vs Winner CSF 2, Zungu

The hosts, Grey High School, made full use of their home ground advantage when they hosted The High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, in Gqeberha on the weekend, with both their u17 and u15 teams finishing as champions.

The u17 team played some tight games on their way to the title. They got by Brandwag 14-5 in their Pool A opener and were extended by Framesby in the Cup semi-finals, winning 17-12.

However, in the final, they brought their best and notched a 33-5 win over Graeme College.

Framesby topped Pool B, Graeme cruised through Pool C, and Nico Malan ruled in Pool D. In the Cup semis, Framesby accounted for Nico Malan, taking that match 24-12.

Kirkwood claimed the Shield with a 21-17 defeat of Port Rex, while the Bowl went to Grey High 2, who took down Muir College 40-24 in a high-scoring encounter.

Brandwag comfortably won the Plate final, beating Pearson 29-7, while Framesby edged out Nico Malan 19-17 in the third-place playoff.

U15 Competition

Grey High was rampant in the u15 competition. They won all five of their matches, scoring 194 points while conceding only 21. In Pool A, they tallied 110 points in two outings and didn’t allow a point to be scored against them.

Marlow emerged as the winners of Pool B, with Muir edging out Brandwag 2 for second place after the teams shared a draw.

Nico Malan battled their way to a narrow 12-5 victory over Grey 2 in the key contest of Pool C to finish top there, while a successful conversion saw Graeme sneak by Brandwag 7-5 to pick up first place in Pool D.

Muir managed to score twice against Grey High in the Cup quarterfinals, but Grey still won by 22 points. Marlow comfortably brushed aside Westering 33-0, while Brandwag won 19-7 against Grey 2, and Graeme College held on for a 17-12 win over Nico Malan.

In the semi-finals, Grey saw off Marlow 29-7, while there was only one point in it in the other semi, with Graeme nudging out Brandwag by a 21-20 margin.

With the title on the line, Grey High kept Graeme at bay to record a 17-0 victory.

Mzontsundu handed Port Rex a 17-0 loss to win the Bowl final, while Nico Malan won by 21 points against Muir in the Plate final.

u17 Results

Pool A

Grey High 14-5 Brandwag
Muir College 36-0 Mzontsundu
Grey High 45-12 Mzontsundu
Muir College 12-17 Brandwag
Grey High 36-7 Muir College
Brandwag 33-0 Mzontsundu

Pool B

Framesby 34-12 Daniel Pienaar
Port Rex 7-33 Andrew Rabie
Framesby 25-5 Andrew Rabie
Port Rex 5-22 Daniel Pienaar
Daniel Pienaar 10-26 Andrew Rabie
Framesby 19-14 Port Rex

Pool C

Graeme College 24-7 Marlow
Ooskus Gim 0-26 Westering
Graeme College 34-7 Westering
Ooskus Gim 0-14 Marlow
Marlow 10-5 Westering
Graeme College 41-0 Ooskus Gim

Pool D

Nico Malan 21-5 Pearson
Grey High 2 17-21 Kirkwood
Nico Malan 45-7 Kirkwood
Grey High 2 22-12 Pearson
Pearson 29-19 Kirkwood
Nico Malan 38-12 Grey High 2

Shield semi-finals

Mzontsundu 0-10 Port Rex
Ooskus Gim 10-38 Kirkwood

Bowl semi-finals

Muir College 33-12 Daniel Pienaar
Westering 17-50 Grey High 2

Plate semi-finals

Brandwag 19-17 Andrew Rabie
Marlow 19-24 Pearson

Cup semi-finals

Grey High 17-12 Framesby
Graeme College 24-12 Nico Malan

Shield final

Port Rex 17-21 Kirkwood

Bowl final

Grey High 2 40-24 Muir College

Plate final

Brandwag 29-7 Pearson

3rd/4th

Framesby 19-17 Nico Malan

Cup final

Grey High 33-5 Graeme College

u15 Results

Pool A

Port Rex 10-19 Westering (Pool A)
Grey High 49-0 Westering (Pool A)
Grey High 61-0 Port Rex (Pool A)

Pool B

Muir College 7-7 Brandwag 2 (Pool B)
Marlow 38-7 Brandwag 2 (Pool B)
Marlow 19-0 Muir College (Pool B)

Pool C

Grey High 2 31-0 Mzontsundu (Pool C)
Nico Malan 54-0 Mzontsundu (Pool C)
Nico Malan 5-12 Grey High 2 (Pool C)

Pool D

Brandwag 25-0 Siyaphamaka All Stars (Pool D)
Graeme College 66-0 Siyaphamaka All Stars (Pool D)
Graeme College 7-5 Brandwag (Pool D)

Cup quarterfinals

Grey High 38-14 Muir College
Marlow 33-0 Westering
Grey High 2 7-19 Brandwag
Graeme College 17-12 Nico Malan

Bowl semi-finals

Port Rex 14-12 Brandwag 2
Mzontsundu 17-5 Siyaphamaka All Stars

Plate semi-finals

Muir College 12-10 Westering
Grey High 2 7-12 Nico Malan

Cup semi-finals

Grey High 29-7 Marlow
Brandwag 20-21 Graeme College

Bowl final

Port Rex 0-17 Mzontsundu

Plate final

Nico Malan 33-12 Muir College

Cup final

Grey High 17-0 Graeme College

Sarel Cilliers claimed the u17 title and Marais Viljoen captured the u15 honours when The High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, visited Hoërskool Pionier in Vryheid over the weekend.

The event was played over two days and brought together teams from as far away as Zululand and, in the case of Marais Viljoen, from Gauteng.

In the u17 competition, the hosts, Pionier topped Pool A, while Vryheid Landbou put their experience in the Glenwood Sevens to full use, which helped them win Pool B.

Pool C was comfortably won by Sarel Cilliers, while Zayo Rhinos emerged as the winners of Pool D.

In the Cup semi-finals, Vryheid Landbou accounted for Pionier, recording a 26-14 victory, to move on to the title game. Meanwhile, Sarel Cilliers was stretched by Zayo Rhinos but came away with a hard-fought 24-17 win.

The final, unfortunately, was an anti-climax as Vryheid Landbou ran out of legs, with their exertions of the past two weeks catching up with them. It was a comfortable outing for Sarel Cilliers who cruised to the crown, winning 49-5.

The Shield went Estcourt‘s way after a 21-17 win over HS Vryheid 2, while Richards Bay held off their neighbours, Empangeni, to win the Bowl 17-12. Marais Viljoen picked up the Plate with a 31-12 defeat of Ferrum.

U15 Competition

In the u15 competition, Marais Viljoen cruised through their group assignments but found a tough opponent in John Ross College in the Cup quarterfinals. They advanced, nonetheless, with a 17-10 win.

Pionier sneaked by Empangeni by two points, Sarel Cilliers ousted Vryheid Landbou 26-17, and HS Vryheid convincingly dealt with Ferrum, winning 31-12.

They were stopped by Marais Viljoen in the semi-finals, however, with the school from Alberton booking their place in the final after a 15-10 win. Pionier squeezed past Sarel Cilliers in the other semi, edging it 14-12.

It was tight in the final, too, with Marais Viljoen lifting the title after a 24-19 victory.

Amajuba downed Gelofte 19-7 to hoist the Shield, Richards Bay ran out 21-0 winners over Estcourt in the Bowl final, and Vryheid Landbou bagged the Plate with a 33-12 win over John Ross College.

u17 Results

Pool A

Ladysmith 10-0 BYE
Pionier 27-10 Estcourt
Ladysmith 24-22 Estcourt
Pionier 10-0 BYE
Estcourt 10-0 BYE
Pionier 28-19 Ladysmith

Pool B

Marais Viljoen 45-0 Pionier Barbarians
Richards Bay 26-31 Vryheid Landbou
Marais Viljoen 18-29 Vryheid Landbou
Richards Bay 31-10 Pionier Barbarians
Marais Viljoen 48-12 Richards Bay
Vryheid Landbou 33-0 Pionier Barbarians

Pool C

Sarel Cilliers 36-17 HS Vryheid 2
Ferrum 10-0 BYE
Sarel Cilliers 10-0 BYE
Ferrum 36-12 HS Vryheid 2
Sarel Cilliers 42-12 Ferrum
HS Vryheid 2 10-0 Bye

Pool D

HS Vryheid 21-10 Amajuba
Zayo Rhinos 26-14 Empangeni
HS Vryheid 17-14 Empangeni
Zayo Rhinos 33-14 Amajuba
HS Vryheid 17-31 Zayo Rhinos
Empangeni 5-0 Amajuba

Solitaire playoff

Pionier Barbarians 5-31 Amajuba

Cup quarterfinals

Pionier 22-5 HS Vryheid
Vryheid Landbou 33-7 Ferrum
Sarel Cilliers 29-17 Marais Viljoen
Zayo Rhinos 43-14 Ladysmith

Bowl semi-finals

Richards Bay 19-0 HS Vryheid 2
Estcourt 17-22 Empangeni

Plate semi-finals

HS Vryheid 5-38 Ferrum
Marais Viljoen 19-5 Ladysmith

Cup semi-finals

Pionier 14-26 Vryheid Landbou
Sarel Cilliers 24-17 Zayo Rhinos

Shield final

Estcourt 21-17 HS Vryheid 2

Bowl final

Richards Bay 17-12 Empangeni

Plate final

Marais Viljoen 31-12 Ferrum

Cup final

Sarel Cilliers 49-5 Vryheid Landbou

u15 Results

Pool A

Ferrum 7-7 Gelofte
Marais Viljoen 36-0 Gelofte
Marais Viljoen 33-10 Ferrum

Pool B

Richards Bay 24-24 John Ross College
HS Vryheid 24-14 John Ross College
HS Vryheid 26- Richards Bay

Pool C

Pionier 54-5 Amajuba
Sarel Cilliers 52-10 Amajuba
Sarel Cilliers 19-26 Pionier

Pool D

Empangeni 10-0 Estcourt
Vryheid Landbou 36-7 Estcourt
Vryheid Landbou 24-19

Cup quarterfinals

Marais Viljoen 17-10 John Ross College
HS Vryheid 31-12 Ferrum
Pionier 17-15 Empangeni
Vryheid Landbou 17-26 Sarel Cilliers

Bowl semi-finals

Gelofte 7-26 Richards Bay
Amajuba 12-24 Estcourt

Plate semi-finals

John Ross College 40-7
Empangeni 5-17 Vryheid Landbou

Cup semi-finals

Marais Viljoen 15-10 HS Vryheid
Pionier 14-12 Sarel Cilliers

Shield final

Gelofte 7-19 Amajuba

Bowl final

Richards Bay 21-0 Estcourt

Plate final

Vryheid Landbou 33-12 John Ross College

Cup final

Marais Viljoen 24-19 Pionier

Garsfontein enjoyed an unbeaten run through to the final of the Kearsney Hockey 5s, powered by Belgotex Sport, but they were finally stopped in the final by Hilton College.

Earlier in the event, Garsies had beaten Hilton 3-2, but the Midlands school turned the tables and recorded a 3-0 victory to claim the title.

It was a tough break for Garsfontein, who played some fantastic hockey, with their SA u17 star Luken Brunette impressing with his control and composure at the back.

Hilton, though, were up for the game and they kept taking it to Garsfontein until the dam wall eventually broke. Captain Regan Mudau made the breakthrough and then added a second before Xavier Enslin made sure the trophy would end up in Hilton’s hands.

Hilton’s Director of Hockey Devon van der Merwe revealed his team’s unusual approach to the competition after they had secured the title. “We haven’t given one team talk this weekend,” he admitted. “We believe in what we want to do.

“It’s our time of the year now where it’s about enjoyment. It’s about giving them the basics and they must figure out the rest.

“It’s about playing with freedom, no pressure, no over-coaching from us. They decide who the starting line-up is. We just run the rotation, so that it’s equal for everyone. They must work it out.”

Van der Merwe said Hilton’s approach had also changed since their first outing against Garsfontein, and it had served them well. He explained: “In our first game against Garsfontein, we tried to play too pretty, and we weren’t taking enough shots on goal. After game one against them, we decided there was too much structure, and it’s not the format of this game. It’s about expression, taking shots from anywhere.”

That was one of the standout features of the tournament: players prepared to take shots from anywhere on the court, which is allowed in Hockey 5s. There were some crackers scored from range and the players found themselves rewarded for being willing to have a go.

Clifton College enjoyed a good tournament, playing some exciting hockey, and claimed third place, edging out Michaelhouse on a penalty shootout for a second time in the tournament.

Kearsney, meanwhile, would have enjoyed getting one over their neighbours, Westville, winning it 4-3 from the spot, after the sides had played to a 3-3 draw, to grab fifth place. St Alban’s ran out 5-1 winners over Ashton to secure seventh.

Boys’ High School Results

Michaelhouse 7-0 Ashton
Westville 1-3 St Alban’s
Kearsney 2-3 Hilton
Garsfontein 3-0 Clifton
Michaelhouse 2-1 Hilton
Ashton 2-5 St Alban’s
Kearsney 4-2 Westville
Garsfontein (1) 1-1 (0) Michaelhouse
Clifton 3-0 St Alban’s
Kearsney 14-0 Ashton
Westville 4-1 Hilton
St Alban’s 5-1 Ashton (7th/8th)
Kearsney (4) 3-3 (3) Westville (5th/6th)
Clifton (3) 4-4 (2) Michaelhouse (3rd/4th)
Hilton 3-0 Garsfontein (1st/2nd)

Girls’ High School matches

In the girls’ competition, Danville Park Girls’ High had an opportunity to play for the title for a second year in succession when they won their way through to the final. Their opponents in the title-decider were St Mary’s DSG, who had comfortably beaten Danville 5-1 in pool play earlier in the day.

The girls from the north of Durban rose to the challenge, however, and lifted themselves for one last tilt, with the silverware on the line.

In a tight contest, Danville battled for every ball and when the whistle sounded to end regulation time, the teams were deadlocked at 1-1.

From there, it was off to a penalty shootout and when the all-action Codie Bestbier, who epitomised the fighting spirit of her side, took her opportunity, Danville, like Hilton College, had reversed an earlier loss to their final’s opponent.

Beaten 5-3 in the 2023 final by St Anne’s, Danville didn’t allow a second title-winning chance to pass them by.

Maris Stella beat Ashton 2-1 to claim third place, while Curro Hillcrest produced their best performance of the event in their last game, outplaying Thomas More 4-0 to finish fifth.

Girls’ High School Results

Maris Stella 3-0 Thomas More
Ashton 1-3 Curro Hillcrest
St Mary’s DSG 5-1 Danville
Thomas More (0) 3-3 (1) Ashton
Maris Stella 1-0 Danville
St Mary’s DSG 4-1 Curro Hillcrest
Maris Stella 2-1 Ashton (3rd/4th)
Thomas More 0-4 Curro Hillcrest (5th/6th)
St Mary’s DSG (0) 1-1 (1) (1st/2nd)

Primary School Results

Highbury 1 14-0 Kloof Senior Primary
Highbury 2 3-3 Winston Park
Bonsanani 3-3 Ashton
Cowan House 2-3 Penzance
Treverton 0-7 Atholl Heights
Westville Senior 1-3 Hillcrest Primary
Winston Park 3-1 Cowan House
Highbury 2 5-1 Penzance
Highbury 1 4-1 Atholl Heights
Hillcrest Primary 5-0 Bonisanani
Ashton 6-0 Kloof Senior Primary
Westville Senior Primary 7-2 Treverton
Winston Park 2-1 Penzance
Highbury 2-6 Atholl Heights
Cowan House 4-0 Ashton
Treverton 1-6 Bonisanani
Highbury 1 3-1 Westville Senior Primary
Kloof Senior Primary 0-15 Hillcrest Primary

Day one of the Kearsney Hockey 5s, powered by Belgotex Sport, delivered goals galore in Botha’s Hill on Friday.

In the boys’ high school section, Garsfontein stuck their hands up as potential champions with good hockey and an unbeaten run, while in the girls’ high school matches both Danville and St Mary’s DSG went through the day unbeaten.

Boys’ High School matches

Garsfontein made a strong impression in the boys’ competition, going five for five, including a narrow 3-2 win over Hilton College, who won their remaining three games convincingly.

Garsies’ record included a 2-1 win over the defending champions, Westville Boys’ High, who were also beaten 4-3 by Clifton College. Surprisingly, when Hilton College and Clifton met, Hilton won comfortably, cruising to a 6-1 win.

It was a good day for Clifton, however. They beat Ashton, Kearsney, Westville and Michaelhouse, with the latter going to a penalty shootout after the teams had finished level at 3-3.

Apart from their setback against Garsfontein, Hilton shone. With an attitude of taking shots from anywhere (which is allowed in the Hockey 5s), the boys from Midlands provided plenty of action and plenty of goals.

They overran Ashton 8-1, beat St Alban’s 5-2, and Clifton 6-1.

It was a tough day for the hosts, last year’s beaten finalists. They won only one of their four games.

Boys’ High School Results

Clifton 8-0 Ashton
Hilton 2-3 Garsfontein
Kearsney 8-1 St Alban’s
Clifton (1) 3-3 (0) Michaelhouse
St Alban’s 1-7 Garsfontein
Hilton 8-1 Ashton
Clifton 6-3 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 1-2 Westville
Garsfontein 2-1 Westville
Kearsney 1-5 Michaelhouse
Clifton 4-3 Westville
Kearsney 2-7 Garsfontein
Westville 6-2 Ashton
Hilton 6-1 Clifton
Garsfontein 6-2 Ashton
Michaelhouse 3-2 St Alban’s

Girls’ High School matches

Danville, beaten in the 2023 final, caught the eye on the opening day of the girls’ competition, roaring their way to three big wins.

They opened with an 8-0 shellacking of Thomas More College, blanked Ashton 4-0, and ended their commitments with an 8-2 victory over Curro Hillcrest.

St Mary’s DSG, without their grade 12s, like the rest of the teams, but also missing their grade 10s, who are in the Drakensberg, also went three for three.

They won 6-2 against Maris Stella but were then stunned by a fantastic fightback from Thomas More, which brought the game level at 4-4 before Saints bagged a winner.

In their last game of the day, they found matters more routine in a 5-1 defeat of Ashton.

Girls’ High School Results

Curro Hillcrest 0-2 Thomas More
Maris Stella 1-3 Ashton
Danville 8-0 Thomas More
Curro Hillcrest 2-5 Maris Stella
Danville 4-0 Ashton
St Mary’s 6-2 Maris Stella
St Mary’s 5-4 Thomas More
Curro Hillcrest 2-8 Danville
St Mary’s 5-1 Ashton

Boys’ Primary School Results

Highbury 1 4-5 Hillcrest Primary
Cowan House 0-3 Atholl Heights
Higbury 2 2-3 Bonisanani
Kloof Senior Primary 0-5 Penzance
Westville Senior Primary 3-2 Winston Park
Ashton 4-1 Treverton
Highbury 1 1-6 Cowan House
Highbury 2 1-3 Hillcrest Primary
Atholl Heights 8-2 Bonisanani
Kloof Senior Primary 0-6 Westville Senior Primary
Penzance 5-1 Treverton
Winston Park 1-1 Ashton
Highbury 1 6-0 Highbury 2
Hillcrest Primary 8-1 Cowan House
Bonisanani 8-2 Kloof Senior Primary
Westville Senior 2-5 Atholl Heights
Ashton 0-1 Penzance
Treverton 1-4 Winston Park
Highbury 1 8-1 Bonisanani
Highbury 2 2-2 Cowan House
Hillcrest Primary 9-0 Treverton
Westville Senior Primary 3-1 Penzance
Ashton 0-1 Atholl Heights
Winston Park 3-1 Kloof Senior Primary

The High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, visits Gqeberha on Saturday, with Grey High School hosting the competition.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The hosts will be one of the favourites in both the u17 and u15 events, which feature 16 and 12 teams respectively.

Among the teams likely to challenge Grey for both titles are Brandwag, Framesby, Graeme College, Marlow, Nico Malan and Pearson.

Last weekend, in the opening round of competition, the Glenwood Sevens, in Durban, the u17 title went to Westville Boys’ High, while Northwood captured the u15 crown.

The High School Sevens Series features 12 events – three in KwaZulu-Natal, three in Gauteng, two in the Eastern Cape, two in Western Cape, one in the Free State and one in Mpumalanga – before the Champions Tournament takes place at Grey College on 21 and 21 September.

U17 FIXTURES

Pool A

Grey High
Brandwag
Muir College
Mzontsundu

Pool B

Framesby
Daniel Pienaar
Port Rex
Andrew Rabie

Pool C

Graeme College
Marlow
Ooskus Gim
Westering

Pool D

Nico Malan
Pearson
Grey 2
Kirkwood

Pitch One

08:30 – Grey High vs Brandwag
08:50 – Muir College vs Mzontsundu
09:10 – Graeme College vs Marlow
09:30 – Ooskus Gim vs Westering

10:00 – Framesby vs Andrew Rabie
10:20 – Port Rex vs Daniel Pienaar
10:40 – Nico Malan vs Kirkwood
11:00 – Grey 2 vs Pearson

11:30 – Grey High vs Muir College
11:50 – Marlow vs Westering
12:10 – Brandwag vs Mzontsundu
12:30 – Graeme College vs Ooskus Gim

Pitch Two

08:30 – Framesby vs Daniel Pienaar
08:50 – Port Rex vs Andrew Rabie
09:10 – Nico Malan vs Pearson
09:30 – Grey 2 vs Kirkwood

10:00 – Grey High vs Mzontsundu
10:20 – Muir College vs Brandwag
10:40 – Graeme College vs Westering
11:00 – Ooskus Gim vs Marlow

11:30 – Daniel Pienaar vs Andrew Rabie
11:50 – Pearson vs Kirkwood
12:10 – Framesby vs Port Rex
12:30 – Nico Malan vs Grey 2

Semi-finals

Pitch One

13:30 – A4 vs B4 (Shield)
13:50 – A3 vs B3 (Bowl)
14:10 – A2 vs B2 (Plate)
14:30 – A1 vs B1 (Cup)
14:50 – C1 vs D1 (Cup)

Pitch Two

13:30 – C4 vs D4 (Shield)
13:50 – C3 vs D3 (Bowl)
14:10 – C2 vs D2 (Plate)

Finals

Pitch One

15:10 – Winner A4 vs B4 vs Winner C4 vs D4 (Shield)
15:30 – Winner A3 vs B3 vs Winner C3 vs D3 (Bowl)
15:50 – Winner A2 vs B2 vs Winner C2 vs D2 (Plate)
16:10 – Loser A1 vs B1 vs Loser C1 vs D1 (3rd/4th)
16:50 – Winner A1 vs B1 vs Winner C1 vs D1 (16:50)

U15 FIXTURES

Pool A

Grey High
Port Rex
Westering

Pool B

Marlow
Muir College
Brandwag 2

Pool C

Nico Malan
Grey High 2
Mzontsundu

Pool D

Graeme College
Brandwag
Siyaphamaka All Stars

Pitch Three

08:30 – Brandwag (D2) vs Siyaphamaka All Stars (D3)
08:50 – Grey High 2 (C2) vs Mzontsundu (C3)
09:10 – Muir College (B2) vs Brandwag 2 (B3)
09:30 – Port Rex vs (A2) vs Westering (A3)
09:50 – Nico Malan (C1) vs Mzontsundu (C3)
10:10 – Graeme College (D1) vs Siyaphamaka All Stats (D3)
10:30 – Grey High (A1) vs Westering (A3)
10:50 – Marlow (B1) vs Brandwag 2 (B3)
11:10 – Graeme College (D1) vs Brandwag (D2)
11:30 – Nico Malan (C1) vs Grey High 2 (C2)
11:50 – Marlow (B1) vs Muir College (B2)
12:10 – Grey High (A1) vs Port Rex (A2)

13:10 – 1st A vs 2nd B (Cup quarterfinal 1)
13:30 – 1st B vs 2nd A (Cup quarterfinal 2)
13:50 – 1st C vs 2nd D (Cup quarterfinal 3)
14:10 – 1st D vs 2nd C (Cup quarterfinal 4)
14:30 – 3rd A vs 3rd B (Bowl semi-final 1)
14:50 – 3rd C vs 3rd D (Bowl semi-final 2)
15:10 – Loser CQ1 vs Loser CQ2 (Plate semi-final 1)
15:30 – Loser CQ3 vs Loser CQ4 (Plate semi-final 2)

Pitch Two

15:10 – Winner Cup quarter 1 vs Winner Cup quarter 2 (Cup semi-final)
15:30 – Winner Cup quarter 3 vs Winner Cup quarter 4 (Cup semi-final)
15:50 – Loser Bowl semi 1 vs Loser Bowl semi 2 (Shield final)
16:10 – Winner Bowl semi 1 vs Winner Bowl semi 2 (Bowl final)
16:30 – Winner Plate semi 1 vs Winner Plate semi 2 (Plate final)

Pitch One

16:30 – Winner Cup semi 1 vs Winner Cup semi 2 (Cup final)

The Hoërskool Pionier Sevens, proudly sponsored by Toyota, takes place over two days in Vryheid – on Friday, 16 August and Saturday, 17 August – bringing together 14 u17 teams and 12 u15 sides in the second round of the High School Sevens Series.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Last weekend, at the opening round in Durban, Westville Boys’ High won the u17 title at the Glenwood Sevens, while Northwood took the u15 honours.

The hosts, Pionier, will be among the favourites to take the u17 honours in Vryheid, but they’ll likely be challenged by Marais Viljoen, Sarel Cilliers, Ferrum and Hoërskool Vryheid.

A dark horse to keep an eye on is Vryheid Landbou. They were in action at the Glenwood Sevens last week and, after a tough start against DHS, gave some highly regarded teams a tough time. In the end, they lifted the Shield.

FIXTURES

Pool A

Pionier
Ladysmith
Estcourt

Pool B

Marais Viljoen
Richards Bay
Vryheid Landbou
Pionier Barbarians

Pool C

Sarel Cilliers
Ferrum
HS Vryheid 2

Pool D

HS Vryheid
Zayo Rhinos
Empangeni
Amajuba

Friday, 16 August

Pitch One

Game 1 – 15:00 – Vryheid vs Amajuba
Game 2 – 15:20 – Zayo Rhinos vs Empangeni
Game 3 – 15:40 – Sarel Cilliers vs Vryheid 2

Game 4 – 16:00 – Marais Viljoen vs Pionier Barbarians
Game 5 – 16:20 – Richards Bay vs Vryheid Landbou

Game 6 – 16:40 – Pionier vs Estcourt
Game 7 – 17:00 – Vryheid vs Empangeni
Game 8 – 17:20 – Zayo Rhinos vs Amajuba

Game 9 – 17:40 – Ferrum vs Vryheid 2
Game 10 – 18:00 – Marais Viljoen vs Vryheid Landbou
Game 11 – 18:20 – Richards Bay vs Pionier Barbarians
Game 12 – 18:40 – Ladysmith vs Estcourt

Saturday, 17 September

Pitch One

Game 13 – 08:00 – Vryheid vs Zayo Rhinos
Game 14 – 08:20 – Sarel Cilliers vs Ferrum
Game 17 – 08:40 – Vryheid Landbou vs Pionier Barbarians
Game 18 – 09:00 – Pionier vs Ladysmith

Pitch Two

Game 14 – 08:00 – Empangeni vs Amajuba
Game 16 – 08:20 – Marais Viljoen vs Richards Bay

Pitch One

Game 19 – 10:00 – Pool B 4th vs Pool D 4th (Solitaire playoff)
Game 20 – 10:20 – Pool A winner vs Pool D 2nd place (Cup quarter 1)
Game 21 – 10:40 – Pool B winner vs Pool C 2nd place (Cup quarter 2)
Game 22 – 11:00 – Pool C winner vs Pool B 2nd place (Cup quarter 3)
Game 23 – 11:20 – Pool D winner vs Pool A 2nd place (Cup quarter 4)
Game 24 – 11:40 – Pool B 3rd place vs Pool C 3rd place (Bowl semi-final)
Game 25 – 12:00 – Pool A 3rd place vs Pool D 3rd place (Bowl semi-final)
Game 26 – 12:20 – Loser Match 20 vs Loser Match 21 (Plate semi-final)
Game 27 – 12:40 – Loser Match 22 vs Loser Match 23 (Plate semi-final)
Game 28 – 13:00 – Winner Match 20 vs Winner Match 21 (Cup semi-final)
Game 29 – 13:20 – Winner Match 22 vs Winner Match 23 (Cup semi-final)
Game 30 – 13:40 – Loser Match 24 vs Loser Match 25 (Shield final)
Game 31 – 14:00 – Winner Match 24 vs Winner Match 25 (Bowl final)
Game 32 – 14:20 – Winner Match 26 vs Winner Match 27 (Plate final)
u15 – 14:40 – Winner Cup semi 1 vs Winner Cup semi 2
Game 33 – 15:00 – Winner Match 28 vs Match 29 (Cup final)

U15

Pool A

Marais Viljoen
Ferrum
Gelofte

Pool B

HS Vryheid
Richards Bay
John Ross College

Pool C

Sarel Cilliers
Pionier
Amajuba

Pool D

Vryheid Landbou
Empangeni
Estcourt

Pitch Two

15:00 – Empangeni (D2) vs Estcourt (D3)
15:20 – Pionier (C2) vs Amajuba (C3)
15:40 – Richards Bay vs John Ross College (B3)
16:00 – Vryheid Landbou (D1) vs Estcourt (D3)
16:20 – Sarel Cilliers (C1) vs Amajuba (C3)
16:40 – Vryheid Landbou (D1) vs Estcourt (D3)
17:00 – Marais Viljoen (A1) vs Gelofte (A3)
17:20 – Vryheid (B1)vs John Ross College (B3)

08:40 – Vryheid (B1) vs Richards Bay (B2)
09:00 – Marais Viljoen (A1) vs Ferrum (A2)
09:20 – Vryheid Landbou (D1) vs Empangeni (D2)
09:40 – Sarel Cilliers (C1) vs Pionier (C2)

10:20 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Cup quarterfinal 1)
10:40 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Cup quarterfinal 2)
11:00 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D (Cup quarterfinal 3)
11:20 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C (Cup quarterfinal 4)
11:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B (Bowl semi-final 1)
12:00 – 3rd Pool C vs 3rd Pool D (Bowl semi-final 2)
12:20 – Loser Cup quarter 1 vs Loser Cup quarter 2 (Plate semi-final 1)
12:40 – Loser Cup quarter 3 vs Loser Cup quarter 4 (Plate semi-final 2)
13:00 – Winner Cup quarter 1 vs Winner Cup quarter 2 (Cup semi-final 1)
13:20 – Winner Cup quarter 3 vs Winner Cup quarter 4 (Cup semi-final 2)
13:40 – Loser Bowl Semi 1 vs Loser Bowl Semi 2 (Shield final)
14:00 – Winner Bowl Semi 1 vs Winner Bowl Semi 2 (Bowl final)
14:20 – Winner Plate Semi 1 vs Winner Plate Semi 2 (Plate final)

Pitch One

14:40 – Winner Cup Semi 1 vs Winner Cup Semi 2 (Cup final)

The countdown is on to the annual Kearsney Hockey 5s, powered by Belgotex Sport, with the first push-back happening at 08:00 on Friday morning.

The event features eight boys’ high school teams, six girls’ high schools, and 12 boys’ primary schools’ sides.

Westville Boys’ High are the defending champions. In last year’s final, they scored a comfortable 6-1 win over Kearsney College. Both are likely to be in the mix for the title again.

Clifton College, with an exciting group of young players coming through, including SA u16 representatives Georg Wolhuter and Ryde Brisset, might fancy their chances. They hit a purple patch, scoring some stunners to defeat Hilton College in the third-place playoff last year.

Hilton, as always, should be a contender, while Michaelhouse should be considered a dark horse. They made impressive strides in the 2024 season.

Ashton International (Ballito) is a wild card. While they might not be quite up to the level of their competition in the 11-a-side game, with fewer players on the pitch those gaps tend to narrow.

Adding spice to the mix are Pretoria’s St Alban’s College and Garsfontein. They contested the fifth-place playoff last year, with St Alban’s taking the match 6-3. It wouldn’t be a surprise should either make more noise this time around.

The Griffin will have a shot at defending their boys’ title, but a new girls’ champion will be crowned because St Anne’s, who beat Danville Park Girls’ High 5-3 in the 2023 final, won’t be returning.

Taking their place, however, will be St Mary’s DSG, who produced an outstanding season on the Astro, culminating in a runner-up finish at the Fairtree Super 12. They’ll be viewed as the team to beat, but they’ll have to adjust to the five-a-side game. Getting the tactics right will be crucial.

In KZN, the third term is when hockey is played in the primary schools, so the primary school entry is the largest of the three divisions, with 12 teams in action.

Hockey Fives is the format used in the Youth Olympic Games, and one that is a great equaliser; due to the limited number of players on the field at one time – four outfielders and a goalkeeper – teams can put out a quality line-up at all times.

It’s also highly entertaining, with players able to shoot from anywhere on the park. That includes hitting from long distance and throwing overheads from way out to test any goalkeeper that might not be fully focussed.

TEAMS

Boys’ High School Teams

Clifton, Ashton, Hilton, Garsfontein, Kearsney, St Alban’s, Michaelhouse, Westville

Girls’ High School Teams

Curro Hillcrest, Thomas More, Maris Stella, Danville, St Mary’s, Ashton

Boys’ Primary School Teams

Cowan House, Atholl Heights, Kloof, Penzance, Ashton, Treverton, Highbury 1, Highbury 2, Hillcrest, Bonisanani, Winston Park, Westville Senior Primary

FIXTURES

(BHS – Boys’ High Schools, GHS – Girls’ High Schools, all other Boy’s Primary Schools)

Friday, 16 August

Court 1

08:00 – Clifton vs Ashton (BHS)
08:30 – Hilton vs Garsfontein (BHS)
09:00 – Kearsney vs St Alban’s (BHS)
09:30 – Cowan House vs Atholl Heights
10:00 – Kloof vs Penzance
10:30 – Ashton vs Treverton
11:00 – Curro vs Maris Stella (GHS)
11:30 – Highbury 1 vs Cowan House
12:00 – Highbury 2 vs Hillcrest
12:30 – Atholl Heights vs Bonisanani
13:00 – Penzance vs Treverton
13:30 – Clifton vs Kearsney (BHS)
14:00 – Highbury 1 vs Highbury 2
14:30 – Michaelhouse vs Westville (BHS)
15:00 – Bonisanani vs Kloof
15:30 – Garsfontein vs Westville (BHS)
16:00 – Kearsney vs Ashton (BHS)
16:30 – Ashton vs Penzance
17:00 – Clifton vs Westville (BHS)
17:30 – Highbury 1 vs Bonisanani
18:00 – Highbury 2 vs Cowan House
18:30 – Hillcrest vs Treverton
19:00 – Westville Senior vs Penzance
19:30 – Winston Park vs Kloof
20:00 – Michaelhouse vs St Alban’s (BHS)

Court 2

08:00 – Curro Hillcrest vs Thomas More (GHS)
08:30 – Maris Stella vs Ashton (GHS)
09:00 – Highbury 1 vs Hillcrest
09:30 – Highbury 2 vs Bonsanani
10:00 – Westville Senior vs Winston Park
10:30 – Danville vs Thomas More (GHS)
11:00 – Clifton vs Michaelhouse (BHS)
11:30 – St Alban’s vs Garsfontein (BHS)
12:00 – Hilton vs Ashton (BHS)
12:30 – Kloof vs Westville Senior
13:00 – Winston Park vs Ashton
13:30 – Danville vs Ashton (GHS)
14:00 – Hillcrest vs Cowan House
14:30 – St Mary’s vs Maris Stella (GHS)
15:00 – Westville Senior vs Atholl Heights
15:30 – St Alban’s vs Hilton (BHS)
16:00 – St Mary’s vs Thomas More (GHS)
16:30 – Treverton vs Winston Park
17:00 – Curro Hillcrest vs Danville (GHS)
17:30 – Michaelhouse vs Ashton (BHS)
18:00 – St Mary’s vs Ashton (GHS)
18:30 – Kearsney vs Garsfontein (BHS)
19:00 – Ashton vs Atholl Heights
19:30 – Hilton vs Westville (BHS)
20:00 – Garsfontein vs Ashton (BHS)

Saturday, 17 August

Court 1

07:30 – Highbury 1 vs Kloof
08:00 – Bonisanani vs Ashton
08:30 – Westville vs Kearsney (BHS)
09:00 – St Alban’s vs Ashton (BHS)
09:30 – Maris Stella vs Thomas More (GHS)
10:00 – Ashton vs Curro Hillcrest (GHS)
10:30 – St Mary’s vs Danville (GHS)
11:00 – Winston Park vs Cowan House
11:30 – Highbury 2 vs Penzance
12:00 – Highbury 1 vs Atholl Heights
12:30 – Hillcrest vs Bonsanani
13:00 – Ashton vs Kloof
13:30 – Westville vs Treverton
14:00 – Clifton vs St Alban’s (BHS)
14:30 – Hilton vs Michaelhouse (BHS)
15:00 – Westville vs Garsfontein (BHS)
15:30 – Treverton vs Bonisanani
16:00 – Kloof vs Hillcrest
16:30 – P3 vs P4 (3/4) (GHS)
17:00 – P5 vs P6 (5/6) (BHS)
17:30 – P1 vs P2 (1/2) (GHS)
18:00 – P1 vs P2 (1/2) (BHS)
18:30 – Prize giving

Court 2

07:30 – Highbury 2 vs Winston Park
08:00 – Cowan House vs Penzance
08:30 – Clifton vs Hilton (BHS)
09:00 – Garsfontein vs Michaelhouse (BHS)
09:30 – Treverton vs Atholl Heights
10:00 – Westville Senior Primary vs Hillcrest
10:30 – Hilton vs Kearsney (BHS)
11:00 – Clifton vs Ashton (BHS)
11:30 – St Alban’s vs Michaelhouse (BHS)
12:00 – Kearsney vs Ashton (BHS)
12:30 – Thomas More vs Ashton (GHS)
13:00 – Maris Stella vs Danville (GHS)
13:30 – St Mary’s vs Curro Hillcrest (GHS)
14:00 – Winston Park vs Penzance
14:30 – Highbury 2 vs Atholl Heights
15:00 – Cowan House vs Ashton
15:30 – Highbury 1 vs Westville
16:00 – P7 vs P8 (7/8) (BHS)
16:30 – P5 vs P6 (5/6) (GHS)
17:00 – P3 vs P4 (3/4) (BHS)

Sunday, 18 August

Court 1

08:00 – Hillcrest vs Penzance
08:25 – Westville vs Highbury 2
08:50 – Kloof vs Treverton
09:15 – Cowan House vs Treverton
09:40 – Highbury 1 vs Winston Park
10:05 – Atholl Heights vs Penzance
10:30 – Prize giving

Court 2

08:00 – Highbury 1 vs Ashton
08:25 – Bonsanani vs Cowan House
08:50 – Atholl Heights vs Winston Park
09:15 – Ashton vs Hillcrest
09:40 – Highbury 2 vs Kloof
10:05 – Bonsanani vs Westville

Hoërskool Zwartkop captured the boys’ title for a second year in succession, while Clarendon High Schools for Girls lifted the girls’ title for a second time in three years at the annual Top Schools Squash Tournament in Pietermaritzburg over the weekend.

The event brings together the provincial champions from around the country in a bid to determine who is the best of the best. At the conclusion of the event, both Zwartkop and Clarendon had emphatically laid claim to those titles.

Boys’ competition

Zwarries faced Michaelhouse, Selborne and Bishops in Section 1 and had few problems in cruising to top spot, dropping only five games in their three victories. Selborne, one of established powers in South Africa, grabbed second spot, beating Michaelhouse 17-8 in their key fixture.

Meanwhile, in Section 2, which was more tightly contested, it was King Edward VII (KES) who came out on top. Their results were remarkably consistent, beating St Andrew’s School 17-7, Midstream College 16-7, and Maritzburg College 17-6.

Saints, another established power, secured second spot and a place in the top four by comfortably dealing with Maritzburg College and Midstream.

Zwarries showed their superiority when they downed KES 17-4 in a meeting of the section winners in the cross-pool playoffs. That was as close as any team got to the defending champions.

KES, in turn, convincingly dealt with St Andrew’s and Selborne, while Saints beat Selborne 16-10 in a hard-fought tie to lay claim to third place.

Maritzburg College secured fifth place, Midstream College placed sixth, Michaelhouse was seventh, and Bishops eighth.

Girls’ competition

In the girls’ competition, Clarendon blew through their Section 1 opposition, dropping only three games while bagging 20 games in their clashes with St Anne’s, St Mary’s Waverley and Westerford.

They were joined in the top four by St Mary’s, who downed St Anne’s 17-10 in the key tie of the group.

Meanwhile, Section 2 belonged to Midstream College, the defending champions. They defeated Epworth, Eunice and Paarl Gimnasium, but the Northerns’ representatives were challenged, especially by Epworth, whom they beat 15-9.

Clarendon recorded a 16-8 win when the section winners met and they repeated that result against Epworth, while also outplaying St Mary’s. Midstream got the better of Epworth to secure second place, with the Pietermaritzburg girls in third place and St Mary’s taking fourth.

In the cross-pool playoffs for fifth to eight, Paarl Gim dominated. St Anne’s followed them, in sixth place, with Eunice finishing seventh, and Westerford placing eighth.

RESULTS

Boys’ Section 1, Rounds 1-3

Zwartkop 20-1 Michaelhouse
Zwartkop 17-3 Selborne
Zwartkop 20-1 Bishops

Michaelhouse 1-20 Zwartkop
Michaelhouse 8-17 Selborne
Michaelhouse 19-6 Bishops

Selborne 3-17 Zwartkop
Selborne 17-8 Michaelhouse
Selborne 20-3 Bishops

Bishops 1-20 Zwartkop
Bishops 6-19 Michaelhouse
Bishops 3-20 Selborne

Boys’ Section 2, Rounds 1-3

KES 17-7 St Andrew’s
KES 16-7 Midstream
KES 17-6 Maritzburg College

St Andrew’s 7-17 KES
St Andrew’s 18-8 Maritzburg College
St Andrew’s 18-6 Midstream

Maritzburg College 6-17 KES
Maritzburg College 8-18 St Andrew’s
Maritzburg College 18-7 Midstream

Midstream 7-16 KES
Midstream 6-17 St Andrew’s
Midstream 7-18 Maritzburg College

Boys’ Cross-Pool (1-4)

Zwartkop 17-4 KES
Zwartkop 17-3 Zwartkop
Zwartkop 20-2 St Andrew’s

KES 4-17 Zwartkop
KES 15-7 Selborne
KES 17-7 St Andrew’s

Selborne 3-17 Zwartkop
Selborne 7-15 KES
Selborne 10-16 St Andrew’s

St Andrew’s 2-20 Zwartkop
St Andrew’s 7-17 KES
St Andrew’s 16-10 Selborne

Boys’ Cross Pool (5-8)

Maritzburg College 14-6 Michaelhouse
Maritzburg College 18-5 Bishops
Maritzburg College 18-7 Midstream

Midstream 16-8 Michaelhouse
Midstream 7-18 Maritzburg College
Midstream 16-7 Bishops

Michaelhouse 7-14 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 19-6 Bishops
Michaelhouse 9-16 Midstream

Bishops 6-19 Bishops
Bishops 5-18 Maritzburg College
Bishops 7-16 Bishops

Girls’ Section 1, Rounds 1-3

Clarendon 20-2 St Anne’s
Clarendon 20-1 St Mary’s
Clarendon 20-0 Westerford

St Anne’s 2-20 Clarendon
St Anne’s 10-17 St Mary’s
St Anne’s 20-2 Westerford

St Mary’s 1-20 Clarendon
St Mary’s 17-10 St Anne’s
St Mary’s 20-1 Westerford

Westerford 0-20 Clarendon
Westerford 1-20 St Mary’s
Clarendon 2-20 St Anne’s

Girls’ Section 2, Rounds 1-3

Midstream 15-9 Epworth
Midstream 20- 0 Eunice
Midstream 18-4 Paarl Gim

Epworth 9-15 Midstream
Epworth 17-6 Eunice
Epworth 18-6 Paarl Gim

Paarl Gim 4-18 Midstream
Paarl Gim 20-2 Eunice
Paarl Gim 6-18 Epworth

Eunice 0-20 Midstream
Eunice 2-20 Paarl Gim
Eunice 6-17 Epworth

Girls’ Cross-Pool (1-4)

Clarendon 16-8 Midstream
Clarendon 20-1 St Mary’s
Clarendon 16-8 Epworth

Midstream 8-16 Clarendon
Midstream 20-2 St Mary’s
Midstream 15-9 Epworth

St Mary’s 1-20 Clarendon
St Mary’s 2-20 Midstream
St Mary’s 5-17 Epworth

Epworth 8-16 Clarendon
Epworth 9-15 Midstream
Epworth 17-5 St Mary’s

Girls’ Cross-Pool (5-8)

St Anne’s 7-18 Paarl Gim
St Anne’s 20-2 Westerford
St Anne’s 17-5 Eunice

Paarl Gim 18-7 St Anne’s
Paarl Gim 20-1 Westerford
Paarl Gim 20-2 Eunice

Eunice 5-17 St Anne’s
Eunice 2-20 Paarl Gim
Eunice 19-7 Westerford

Westerford 2-20 St Anne’s
Westerford 1-20 Paarl Gim
Westerford 7-19 Eunice

The High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, kicked off at Glenwood High School on Saturday, with 16 u17 teams and 12 u15 teams in action on a clear, warm Durban day, with a cooling breeze – ideal conditions for the demands of sevens.

It was the first of 12 events, which will take place around the country, before the Champions Tournament brings together the best of the best at Grey College in Bloemfontein on 21 and 22 September.

Heading into the tournament, Westville Boys’ High had staked their claim to being the best in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024, winning the Clifton Sevens and, last weekend, the Saints Sevens at St Charles College. The challenge that awaited the Griffin on Saturday was a whole lot tougher, however, because a number of schools – Glenwood, Maritzburg College, Northwood and Durban High School (DHS) – hadn’t yet made an appearance this season. All four made their presence felt.

In 2023, Westville won the Saints Sevens but were beaten 21-19 by DHS in the final of the Glenwood Sevens the following weekend.  Again, this year, Westville won the Saints Sevens and, once more, they faced DHS in the final of the Glenwood Sevens.

This time, though, Westville fought their way into a 12-0 lead at halftime. After the break, DHS upped the intensity and were soon rewarded with a try. The Griffin, however, held on for a narrow 12-7 victory to make it a third Sevens tournament win on the trot.

In two weeks’ time, DHS hosts another round of the High School Sevens Series, presented by Toyota, and it will be even bigger, taking place over two days, on 23 and 24 August. There’s time for Saturday’s newcomers to further sharpen their skills ahead of the event.

Speaking of newcomers, Vryheid Landbou made their presence known, demonstrating strong character after being blown out 76-7 in their opening game against DHS. Undeterred, they pushed St Charles hard, going down 12-26 – and Saints lost only 5-12 against DHS – and then gave Michaelhouse 2 a hard time, with the Balgowan Boys eventually claiming a 31-22 victory.

Then, in the Shield semi-finals, Vryheid Landbou beat Pinetown Boys’ High 21-7. That gave them a shot at the Shield title, and they grabbed it with both hands, downing Kearsney 2 19-10.

The hosts, Glenwood, impressed in their first outing of the season, smashing their opposition in Pool A, scoring 154 points in three matches without conceding a single point. Then, they gave Westville all they could handle in the Cup semi-finals, going down 7-12. It showed, despite a tough season in the 15-man game, there is some exciting talent coming through the Green Machine‘s ranks for next season.

Michaelhouse, one of the better teams in the first two tournaments, reached the final four, but they were stopped by DHS. Northwood, in their first appearance of the season, were clearly one of the better outfits, and Maritzburg College, too. established themselves as an upper tier side.

Glenwood’s depth was on show in the u15 competition. They won their pool, edging out Hilton College 15-14 in the key clash, and then won their way through to the final. Northwood, though, were consistently strong and they claimed the Cup with a tough 19-12 victory.

U17 RESULTS

Pool A
Glenwood 43-0 Clifton
Kearsney 43-0 Hilton 2
Glenwood 68-0 Hilton 2
Kearsney 43-5 Clifton
Glenwood 43-0 Kearsney
Clifton 34-0 Hilton College 2

Pool B
Northwood 37-0 Hilton
Westville 55-0 Kearsney 2
Northwood 47-0 Kearsney 2
Westville 50-7 Hilton
Hilton 47-0 Kearsney 2
Northwood 12-21 Westville

Pool C
DHS 76-7 Vryheid Landbou
St Charles 40-14 Michaelhouse 2
DHS 53-0 Michaelhouse 2
St Charles 26-12 Vryheid Landbou
Vryheid Landbou 22-31 Michaelhouse 2
DHS 12-5 St Charles

Pool D
Maritzburg College 47-0 Pinetown Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 28-7 Northwood 2
Maritzburg College 29-5 Northwood 2
Michaelhouse 43-0 Pinetown Boys’ High
Pinetown Boys’ High 5-31 Northwood 2
Maritzburg College 5-7 Michaelhouse

Shield Semi-finals

Hilton College 2 7-32 Kearsney College 2
Vryheid Landbou 21-7 Pinetown Boys’ High

Bowl Semi-finals

Clifton 14-26 Hilton
Michaelhouse 2 24-6 Northwood 2

Plate Semi-finals

Kearsney 17-14 Northwood
St Charles 14-17 Maritzburg College

Cup Semi-finals

Glenwood 7-12 Westville
DHS 17-0 Michaelhouse

Shield Final

Kearsney 2 10-19 Vryheid Landbou

Bowl Final

Hilton 12-15 Michaelhouse 2

Plate Final

Kearsney 12-19 Maritzburg College

Cup Final

Westville 12-7

U15 RESULTS

Pool A
Westville 38-0 Esikhawini
Maritzburg College 24-7 Esikhawini
Maritzburg College 12-12 Westville

Pool B
Hilton 35-0 Clifton
Glenwood 56-0 Clifton
Glenwood 15-14 Hilton

Pool C
Kearsney 24-0 Hilton 2
Northwood 48-7 Hilton 2
Northwood 26-5 Kearsney

Pool D
Michaelhouse 10-19 St Charles
DHS 41-0 St Charles
DHS 24-26 Michaelhouse

Cup Quarterfinals

Westville 5 -7 Hilton
Glenwood 14-7 Maritzburg College
Northwood 29-0 Michaelhouse
DHS 18-14 Kearsney

Bowl Semi-finals

Esikhawini 26-5 Clifton
Hilton 2 20-26 St Charles

Plate Semi-finals

Westville 26-28 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 5-24 Kearsney

Cup Semi-finals

Hilton 10-19 Glenwood
Northwood 17-5 DHS

Shield Final

Clifton 0-44 Hilton 2

Bowl Final

Esikhawini 5-42 St Charles

Plate Final

Maritzburg College 14-24 Kearsney

Cup Final

Glenwood 12-19 Northwood