Author: captainmorgan

Durban High School (DHS) withstood a stern challenge from Northwood on Saturday on Van Heerden Field, claiming a hard-fought 18-11 victory to confirm their status as KwaZulu-Natal’s top 1^st XV of 2024, but they were pushed all the way.

When they met on Reece-Edwards Field on 13 April, the teams played to a 7-7 draw. The Horseflies had been favoured in that game, but the Knights, in front of their home supporters, fought fire with fire and surprised DHS.

Commenting after Saturday’s bruising clash, DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldow, told SuperSport Schools Plus: “They had a really good game at home, and they caught us off guard. I don’t think we were mentally switched on. Today, the boys were up for the challenge. They knew what was coming. Northwood is a fantastic side this year. We knew it would be tough, especially up front.”

Northwood’s coach Jacques Deen, despite seeing his side come out on the wrong side of the result, took pride in his team’s performance. They knew what there was to play for, and we couldn’t have asked for a greater effort,” he said. “They had a good mindset. At the same time, small, crucial mistakes cost us.”

Mistakes almost cost DHS, too, as they butchered a couple of good scoring chances in the early going. Twice, they managed to get the ball out wide and create overlaps, including a three-on-one, but Northwood’s committed cover defence stopped School.

Left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane was put in the clear on the left flank just three minutes into the contest. He pinned his ears back and appeared on course to score in the corner, but four Knights were in full pursuit and a superb tackle took him out of play just a metre or two from the try line.

When DHS created the three-on-one, again down the left-hand touchline, a decision by the last Northwood defender to be proactive and not reactive, zeroing in on a tackle like a missile, caused the home side’s attacking trio to fluff their lines.

From there, the game became a lot tighter. “The plan, mostly, was to try and suffocate them, to put as much pressure as possible on them, cause them to make a mistake, and then try to play from there,” Northwood’s Jacques Deen said. It worked.

The rucks and mauls were areas of robust contestation, and Northwood did a fantastic job of challenging DHS at lineout time. While that approach worked for the Knights, it also worked for DHS. As Deen admitted: “We’ve both got a similar game plan.”

DHS, though, were first on the board, and it came from another wide attack, this time down the right flank. It began with a fantastic pass from flyhalf Allston Cedras, which put DHS captain Duncan Basson on the outside of his man. He then fed right wing Adriano Jackson, who spun his way across the try line in a tackle to give his side the edge.

DHS enjoyed an advantage in the set scrums, led by their loosehead prop and Head Boy Unaye Mndau. He’s not the biggest number one, but when former Springbok front-ranker and DHS old boy, BJ Botha, recently helped out with some coaching at the school, he was in no doubt that Mndau was the best scrummager at DHS and the best he had worked with in some time.

The hosts, though, spurned an excellent opportunity to capitalise on their edge up front when they monstered the Knights in a set piece near the halfway line. A penalty was shown for the Horseflies, but some ill-discipline – a bit of pushing and shoving – led to a reversal of the call, and Northwood flyhalf Siya Nkosi kicked to the corner, putting School onto the defensive.

Northwood forced their way over the try line but were held up. Two five-metre scrums were awarded in succession to the visitors and from the second they beautifully executed a training ground move to open up space for Carlos Lovell to go over in the left-hand corner.

With half-time approaching fast, DHS won another scrum penalty. They made good use of it.

A kick to the corner set up a driving maul. Northwood’s tenacious defence stopped the home side, but the referee ruled they had dragged the maul to ground. Another lineout and drive and Daniel Ikotela was over for five. Allston Cedras converted, and the whistle sounded with DHS 12-5 ahead at the break.

In the second half, Northwood gained a stronger foothold in the contest, which forced the outstanding DHS defence to dig deep.

Behind the pack, flyhalf Siya Nkosi masterfully controlled the game. His decision making and tactical kicking was on point, and he seemed to always be in the right place to receive the kick when DHS tried to pressure the Knights with the boot.

“He is a very talented player,” Northwood coach Deen said. “His understanding of the game and his rugby IQ is phenomenal. He is such a good player.”

At half-time, Deen said he had focussed on getting his players to understand what needed to be done and what needed to be fixed. They reacted to that, and it bore dividends.

DHS, though, was able to extend their lead to 10 points after a quarter-of-an-hour of the second stanza, with Cedras slotting a penalty kick from the 22, almost directly in front.

Northwood responded almost immediately when the Horseflies were pinged for obstruction from the kick-off. The penalty, wide on the left, just outside the DHS 22, was struck sweetly by Ramatuku Sikhakane and the gap was, once more, just seven points.

A powerful driving maul, covering 20 metres, which took the Knights midway into the DHS 22, resulted in another penalty to the visitors when it was brought to ground. A kick at goal, unfortunately for Northwood, was wide of the mark.

Then, a good bounce of the ball for DHS and a strong line chase put the visitors under pressure inside their own half and they conceded a penalty. Cedras sent the 33-metre kick between the uprights.

Northwood made it a one-score game six minutes from time, with Savio Stevens knocking over an easy penalty from deep inside the DHS 22.

At the final whistle, the DHS players celebrated, with a hint of relief, while a number of Northwood players stood with hands on hips, spent, having given it their all. It had been some contest.

It ended with the sides showing mutual respect and with both sets of supporters having good reason to be proud of the efforts of their teams.

All credit to the teams’ strength and conditioning specialists. Both sets of players went at it hammer and tongs for the full duration of the match, which underlined one of the primary reasons they are the best in KZN in 2024.

If school pride was being graded, both schools scored an A-plus.

POINTS SCORERS

DHS 18 (12) – Tries: Adriano Jackson, Daniel Ikotela. Conversion: Allston Cedras. Penalties; Allston Cedras (2); Northwood 11 (5) – Try: Carlos Lovell. Penalties: Ramatuku Sikhakane, Savio Stevens.

RESULTS

u19 – DHS I 18 Northwood I 11; DHS II 36 Northwood II 19; DHS III 25 Northwood III 0; DHS IV 11 Northwood IV 19

u16 – DHS A 48 Northwood A 0; DHS B 26 Northwood B 19; DHS C 17 Northwood C 12

u15 – DHS A 3 Northwood A 10; DHS B 6 Northwood B 5; DHS C 0 Northwood C 29; DHS D 7 Northwood C 25

u14 – DHS A 47 Northwood A 7; DHS B 50 Northwood B 0; DHS C 31 Northwood C 10

At the start of the 2024 rugby season, not many would have picked it, but Saturday’s showdown on Van Heerden’s Field, between Durban High School (DHS) and Northwood at 13:20, will be a clash of the teams rated one and two in KwaZulu-Natal.

Catch the action live on SuperSport Schools

Interestingly, when they met earlier in the season on Reece-Edwards Field, at Northwood, they shared a 7-7 draw. Both will, therefore, feel they have unfinished business.

The visitors, coached by Jacques Deen, have been underestimated by some, but time and again, throughout the season, they’ve taken on big challenges and come away with victories. Their victims include Hilton College, away; Maritzburg College, at home; and Westville Boys’ High, on Bowden’s Field.

Only once have they come up short in a provincial match and that was a tight 22-24 setback at Michaelhouse.

The Knights‘ pack plays with an abrasive blue-collar attitude, while they possess a sharp cutting edge in their backline.

To their credit, for much of the season they’ve been without their captain Vuyo Gwiji, but that hasn’t held them back. Having the SA Schools’ 8^th-man return to action for Saturday’s high stakes game will be a big boost for Northwood.

There is a very settled look to their lineup, and they’ll put their best out on the field against the Horseflies.

Flyhalf Siya Nkosi has been a standout performer for Northwood all season long and one of the keys to the game will be how much DHS will be able to pressure him.

DHS plays an attractive running game, but their calling card all season long has been their smothering defence. It is one of the best in the country and the 18 points they gave up on 20 April on Goldstone’s in a 21-18 win over Maritzburg College is the most any side has scored against them this season. They’re relentless and have pitched four shutouts.

Northwood’s defence was better earlier in the season than in their more recent outings – they gave up only 25 points in their first four matches – but scoring points has, for the most part, not been an issue for them.

DHS is blessed with quality, with nine of their players cracking the nod for The Sharks’ Craven Week team. After a strong showing from the provincial outfit in Krugersdorp, DHS fullback Aka Boqwana and hooker Mahle Sithole were included in the SA Schools side, while their powerful centre Zingce Simka was named in the SA Schools A team.

Saturday’s game will be one they’ve been eyeing ever since their draw at Northwood. Immediately after that game, DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldow, said his side had been caught somewhat unawares by the amount of tactical kicking in the contest, and Northwood had done a better job of it.

Clearly, he felt it was his team’s worst performance of the season, and many of the players felt the same way. They’re seeking redemption. However, they’ll do well to focus on the process to achieve the result, rather than the result itself. A number of teams have, arguably, looked past Northwood this season and lived to regret it.

DHS produced some outstanding rugby in 2023 and recorded some extraordinary victories. However, it was Michaelhouse and Hilton who led the way in KZN. School will be motivated by the opportunity to confirm their status as the province’s best in 2024.

Northwood, though, will relish having a shot at upsetting the apple cart and ensuring 2024 is a season for the ages for the Knights.

Saturday’s showdown will also be a fantastic welcome-to-KZN derby experience for Northwood’s new Headmaster, Garth Shaw, formerly of Dale College, who took over the leadership reins on 1 July.

TEAMS

DHS

15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Adriano Jackson, 13 Zingce Simka, 12 Duncan Basson (c), 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10, Allston Cedras, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Khanyisa Stamper, 7 Sibusiso Mahlangu, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Thando Luthuli, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Bongani Dlamini, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Unaye Mndau

Northwood

15 Aphiwe Buthelezi, 14 Kwenzo Dlamini, 13 Ramatuku Sikhakhane, 12 Bongane Khumalo, 11 Carlos Lovell, 10 Siyanda Nkosi, 9 Jed Mun-Gavin, 8 Vuyo Gwiji (c), 7 Ethan Macey, 6 Avavuya Makula, 5 Titas Cesonis, 4 Lian Terblanche, 3 Sphe Ntshangase, 2 Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, 1 Reuben Vos

The Clifton Sevens, to be played on Friday, 19 July, and Saturday, 20 July, mark the start of the sevens rugby season in KwaZulu-Natal. While a number of schools have not yet completed their 15-man rugby schedules, the event brings together some outstanding exponents of the seven-a-side game.

Friday’s action features u15 sides, while the u18 teams take to the field on Saturday.

St Charles College, fresh off of an impressive season for their 1st XV, will be out to defend the title they won last year, when a late try in the corner gave them a 17-14 victory over Westville Boys’ High.

The Griffin, who also played some outstanding rugby during the 15-man season and delighted with their running game, will seek to transfer those skills to sevens and continue on with their enterprising play.

Hilton College, who beat St Charles during the pool stage at last year’s Clifton Sevens, but were then ousted by Westville, will be in action, too, as will their great rivals, Michaelhouse.

‘House, in March 2023, achieved a very big Sevens result in the UK, where they won the Rugby School International Sevens, which featured teams from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Wales, New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Chile, and Australia. In a very tight final, they saw off Ireland’s Blackrock College 21-19.

One of the stars of that Michaelhouse side was Sharks’ Craven Week centre Campbell Ridl. Now in the UK, Ridl is on the books of the Exeter Chiefs and has featured for the England u19 team.

Clifton College will face a stiff challenge in their own tournament. Sevens, though, with fewer players required, tends to see teams close the gap on sides that might have their number in the 15-man game. The hosts will be keen to put on a good show on their home ground.

The last of the sides competing in the u18A division is Amanzimtoti. They’re a bit of an unknown and would do well to challenge the other A teams.

Pool B features St Charles B, Michaelhouse B and Michaelhouse C, Clifton B, Westville B and Hilton B.

The u15 age group features just five teams in Pool A – St Charles A, Clifton A, Hilton A, Michaelhouse A and Westville A – while Pool B includes those schools’ B sides and Toti.

The u15 format is that of a round robin, with no points’ allocations or playoffs.

A win in the u18 games is worth two points and a draw worth one. After the completion of the round robin matches, teams will be ranked from one to six.

If any sides have an equal number of log points, points’ difference will be used to separate them. If that doesn’t work, then the team that scored the greater number of tries will finish higher.

FIXTURES

u18, Saturday, 20 July

Field A, Pool A

08:00 – Westville A vs Michaelhouse A
08:15 – St Charles A vs Clifton A
08:30 – Hilton A vs Toti
08:45 – Michaelhouse A vs Clifton A
09:00 – St Charles A vs Hilton A
09:15 – Westville A vs Toti
09:30 – St Charles A vs Michaelhouse A
10:15 – Clifton A vs Toti
10:30 – Westville A vs Hilton A
10:45 – St Charles A vs Toti
11:00 – Westville A vs Clifton A
11:15 – Michaelhouse A vs Hilton A
11:30 – Westville A vs St Charles A
11:45 – Michaelhouse A vs Toti
12:00 – Clifton A vs Hilton A

12:45 – 3rd vs 4th (Plate)
13:10 – 1st vs 2nd (Cup)

u18, Field B, Pool B

08:00 – St Charles B vs Michaelhouse B
08:15 – Clifton B vs Westville B
08:30 – Hilton B vs Michaelhouse C
08:45 – Michaelhouse B vs Westville N
09:00 – Clifton B vs Hilton B
09:15 – St Charles V vs Michaelhouse C
09:30 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse B
10:15 – Westville B vs Michaelhouse C
10:30 – St Charles B vs Hilton B
10:45 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse C
11:00 – St Charles B vs Westville B
11:15 – Michaelhouse B vs Hilton B
11:30 – St Charles B vs Clifton B
11:45 – Michaelhouse B vs Michaelhouse C
12:00 – Westville B vs Hilton B

12:45 – 3rd vs 4th (Bowl)
13:10 – 1st vs 2nd (Shield)

u15, Friday, 19 July

Field A, Pool A

14:00 – St Charles A vs Clifton A
14:12 – Hilton A vs Michaelhouse A
14:24
14:46 – Clifton A vs Michaelhouse A
14:58 – Hilton A vs Westville A
15:10
15:22 – Hilton A vs Clifton A
15:34
15:46 – St Charles A vs Westville A
15:58
16:10 – St Charles A vs Michaelhouse A
16:22 – Clifton A vs Westville A
16:34 – St Charles vs Hilton A
16:46
16:58 – Michaelhouse A vs Westville A

Field B, Pool B

14:00 – Westville B vs St Charles B
14:12 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse B
14:24 – Hilton B vs Toti
14:46 – St Charles B vs Michaelhouse B
14:58 – Clifton B vs Hilton B
15:10 – Westville B vs Toti
15:22 – Clifton B vs St Charles B
15:34 – Michaelhouse B vs Toti
15:46 – Westville B vs Hilton B
15:58 – Clifton B vs Toti
16:10 – Westville B vs Michaelhouse B
16:22 – St Charles B vs Hilton B
16:34 – Westville B vs Clifton B
16:46 – St Charles B vs Toti
16:58 – Michaelhouse B vs Hilton B

Pinetown Boys’ High captured the Boys’ High Schools’ title in style, St Mary’s DSG was crowned the Girls’ champion in a penalty shootout, and Merchiston Prep edged out Highbury Prep for the Primary Schools’ honours at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Sunday.

The organisers were thrilled with an outstanding turnout of supporters and spectators, who gathered around the fields on a warm winter’s day, in a light breeze, which made for ideal playing conditions.

In a hotly contested final, Pinetown Boys’ High was pushed hard by Siyajabula High, but Pinetown controlled possession and territory for most of the contest to grab a 1-0 victory and with it the title.

Pinetown was good value for their win. They were, from their first game of the tournament to their last, the class of the field. In fact, they didn’t concede a single goal, although Siyajabula missed a gilt-edged opportunity to end that record in the final. It might have been somewhat unfair on Pinetown if that chance had been converted.

Their control of the ball, their movement off of it, and the manner in which they moved the play from side to side caught the eye. They delivered attractive and winning performances.

Their coach, Siya Mnganga, was smiling from ear to ear after the final. “I’m very proud. I thought we were very confident. We worked hard as a team. Winning was the fruit of the work we have been putting into our training.

“It was really good to see the boys stick together, play as a team, and work hard for each other,” he said.

Talking about his team’s composure when in possession and on how they moved the ball, Mnganga said: “Everything starts from having possession. We build up from the back and we try to move the opposition into certain areas, then we take the ball in a different direction.”

Another part of the secret to Pinetown’s success, the coach added, was that even when in possession his side organises itself defensively.

Pinetown finished top of Group B, beating Northwood 2-0, Maqhutshana 1 3-0, and Tuks 1-0. Then, in the playoffs, they ran roughshod over Lebone II College, cruising to a 6-0 win.

In the semi-finals, up against the hosts, Kearsney College, who hadn’t lost until then, winning all of their games, except for a 1-1 draw with Paul Roos in the tournament’s opening match, they rolled to a 3-0 victory.

It was clinical dominance and it brought Pinetown six wins, with 16 goals scored and none conceded.

Siyajabula emerged as the winners of a tight Group D after three schools tied with six points each. Also from the Pinetown area, Siyajabula, beat Ashton International 4-0 in their first game and then took down Lebone II College 2-0. In their last pool outing, though, they were shocked by Clifton College, who won 2-1.

It wasn’t quite enough for the Durban school to reach the last eight. Siyajabula had a plus-five goal difference, Lebone II College was plus-two, and Clifton plus-one.

Kearsney College enjoyed a good run and finished in third place, edging out Paul Roos, in a second meeting of the sides, from the penalty spot. They took it 3-2 after the teams had again finished regulation time level at 1-1.

There was a similar score in the Plate Final, with Gqeberha’s Urban Academy winning 3-2 from the spot after a 1-1 draw with Maqhutshana 2.

St Mary’s DSG and Kloof High, who both produced unbeaten records in their pool matches, met in the girls’ final.

Both had to overcome stiff challenges in the semi-finals, with St Mary’s reprising a playoffs’ shootout score which became familiar, winning 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Ashton International, while Kloof claimed a 1-0 win over Danville Park.

In the early going of the title-decider, St Mary’s appeared to be cruising to victory, scoring a goal and then benefitting from an own goal, but Kloof, with impressive character, fought their way back into the contest. They levelled at 2-2 to send it to the spot. From there, St Mary’s took the win by a 2-1 margin.

Saints’ coaches, Daniel Becker and Sanele Zondi, were relieved after their charges’ victory. “We struggled during this tournament. Every time we conceded, it was like we were losing,” Becker admitted. “We have been trying to break that mentality.

“We make it difficult,” he added, with a laugh.

Both coaches agreed, though, that beating Ashton International on penalties in the semi-finals helped them when the final went to the penalty spot.

“I’m very happy,” Zondi said. “It was a rocky road, but eventually we won.”

Commenting on the tournament, Becker said: “It’s a huge upliftment for the girls’ sport. It’s a great initiative. The facilities are amazing. It’s a great venue.”

Meanwhile, the boys’ Primary School title came down to a showdown between Highbury Prep and Merchiston Prep.

The u13 event was played on Silcock Field, a smaller ground, which was an excellent decision; it made for more exciting and entertaining football, and the picturesque venue was surrounded by supporters.

From the two pools of five teams, the sides qualified to face their direct opposites in the playoffs, which meant that the runners-up from the group stage, Thomas More and Hillcrest Primary met for third and fourth places.

Hillcrest, the top scorers in the pool matches, with 19 goals, won 3-1.

In a high-quality final, Highbury took the lead with a stunning shot curled across the goal and around the goalkeeper, but Merchiston kept banging away at their rivals’ defences. Their reward was a 2-1 victory and the title of Kearsney Soccer Tournament champions.

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS

Champs Quarterfinals

Durban High School 1-2 Kearsney College
Paul Roos 2-1 Sutherland
Siyajabula 2-1 Northwood
Pinetown 6-0 Lebone II College

Champs Semi-finals
Siyajabula (3) 2-2 (2) Paul Roos
Pinetown 3-0 Kearsney College

Champs Final
Pinetown 1-0 Siyajabula

3rd/4th
Kearnsey College (3) 1-1 (2) Paul Roos Gimnasium

Champs Playoffs
Northwood 6-0 Lebone II College
Durban High School 1-0 Sutherland

Plate Quarterfinals
Maqhutshana 2 (3) 1-1 (2) Curro Hazeldean
Urban Academy 9-0 Thomas More
Maqhutshana 1 4-2 Ashton International
Clifton College 4-0 Tuks

Plate Semi-finals
Maqhutshana 2 2-1 Clifton College
Urban Academy 2-0 Maqhutshana 1

Plate Final
Urban Academy (3) 1-1 (1) Maqhutshana 2

Plate Playoffs
Tuks 4-0 Thomas More College
Curro Hazeldean 4-1 Ashton International
Clifton College 1-3 Maqhutshana 1

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS

Champs Semi-finals
St Mary’s DSG (3) 1-1 (2) Ashton International
Kloof High 1-0 Danville Park

3rd/4th
Ashton International 0-1 Danville Park

Champs Final
St Mary’s DSG (3) 1-1 (2) Kloof High

Plate Semi-finals
Durban Girls’ High 8-0 Lebone II College
Thomas More College 1- Curro Hazeldean

Plate Playoffs
Lebone II College 3-1 Thomas More College (7th/8th)

Plate Final
Durban Girl’ High (3) 2-2 (4) Curro Hazeldean

BOYS’ PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYOFFS

Winston Park 5-2 Highbury Prep B (9th/10th)
Kloof Senior Primary 3-1 Reddam House Ballito (7th/8th)
Ashton International 2-4 Atholl Heights (5th/6th)
Thomas More 1-3 Hillcrest Primary (3rd/4th)
Merchiston Prep 2-1 Highbury Prep A (Final)

Maritzburg College and Affies delivered a thriller on Goldstone’s on Saturday, with Ruben Pienaar landing a penalty 30 seconds from the final whistle to snatch a hard-fought 39-37 victory for the visitors.

Many would have picked the Wit Bulle to record a comfortable win – their record this season is excellent – but taking on Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s is a serious challenge, and not many teams manage wins on the Red, Black and White‘s famous home ground. Affies, beaten 50-31 by College in Pretoria last season, turned the tables, just.

Relive the action on SuperSport Schools

“We knew coming here, it was going to be tough, but what a win!” a smiling Affies’ Head of Rugby, Ruan Jacobs, told SuperSport Schools Plus after the game. ” We stuck it out until the end. I think the guys deserved it for the way we played. It’s nice for them to win a tight one in the white jersey.”

Maritzburg College had edged ahead with only three minutes left to play, scoring a try in the left-hand corner to pull within a point of the visitors. Then, from in front of Basher RidgPotgietere, College flyhalf James Slevin, cool as a cucumber, had converted from the touchline to put his side 37-36 ahead.

Affies’ flyhalf Pienaar had a chance to win it shortly after that, from about the College 10m line, around 15 metres to the left of the posts, but his kick was directly into the wind, and it came up short. Still, the Wit Bulle kept battling and when they won another penalty, this time deep inside the Maritzburg 22, Pienaar made no mistake.

It was a gut punch to the College solar plexus, but the Pietermaritzburg school had done themselves and their supporters proud.

“The biggest thing for me was that the effort was unreal,” Maritzburg College Director of Rugby, Hendré Marnitz, said afterwards. “I know the result didn’t go our way, but that’s 9.9 out of 10 for effort and execution. The 0.1, unfortunately, is the penalty in the last minute. But you can’t fault the effort. It was unbelievable.

“The skill set was good today. The attacking mindset was good. The physicality was good. That’s sport, isn’t it?”

At the very first scrum, College, with their South African Schools props, Phiwayinkhosi Kubheka and Aiden Botha, took it hard to Affies, forcing the Pretoria boys backwards, but there was very little give from them thereafter. They were missing three of their first-choice tight five, but they were up for the challenge.

“We were very comfortable with the guys coming in. They’re young guys, but brilliant players in their own right,” Ruan Jacobs said. “It was fun to give them a chance in the white jersey, as well, so I am glad they took their chance and won. It is better to learn when you’re winning, rather than losing.”

Given their results against the same opposition this season – Affies pushed Grey College and Paul Roos all the way, while Maritzburg College was well beaten by both – the visitors from Pretoria should have cruised to victory, but games are not played on paper, and the contest received exactly what it needed when the home team opened the scoring with a try in the third minute from Aiden Botha, which was converted by the no. 10, Slevin.

That set the tone for a back-and-forth battle and Affies soon responded when outside centre Hendré Schoeman made a dive for five to the left of the uprights after slicing between two players, following a driving maul which had sucked in the Maritzburg College defenders. Flyhalf Pienaar added the extras.

A Slevin penalty put College 10-7 in front, but Affies, after forcing their way right up to the College try line on the right, quickly shifted the ball wide to the left with swift long passes to open up acres of space and put fullback Ruben Groenewald over.

A successful conversion attempt from Pienaar gave Affies a four-point advantage.

Throughout the contest, Affies impressed with their ability to move the ball wide to both flanks speedily, with accurate long passes.

“That’s something we looked at. I think that is a strength of our team,” Jacobs said. “Obviously, we are blessed with a guy like Janco Purchase. He has the ability to go hard at the line, but he also has the ability to distribute. He creates a lot of opportunities for the guys on the outside.”

On Saturday, the South African Schools’ centre caught the eye with his terrific vision and passing, and he was also effective running hard and straight at the Maritzburg defence.

Affies looked like they might have a shot at another try, when they created space wide on the left once more, but a spilled pass sat up nicely for College’s fullback Luyanda Kunene, who grabbed the ball close to his side’s 10-metre line. Pienaar desperately tried to execute an ankle tap, but Kunene was flying, and he outstripped the defence to dive over to the right of the posts.

Another accurate Slevin conversion gave the home team a three-point advantage at 17-14.

In the 26^th minute, though, Affies hit back and regained the lead. A quickly taken penalty wide on the left was driven up into the 22. Then, when it was released from a ruck, Purchase threw a stupendous pass of about 25 metres wide to his right to pick out right-wing Nicolaas Grobler, who had a clear run to the try line in front of him. This time, Pienaar missed the conversion.

Another breakout from College, after Purchase had ripped through the defence and into the hosts’ 22, saw Nkuleleko Sithole kick ahead before gathering the ball just inside the Affies’ half. He was brought down on the visitors’ 22. The tacker didn’t roll away quickly enough, though, and Slevin was afforded a penalty kick at goal. Another successful strike led to a change of the lead again.

More good passing from Affies launched a scything counterattack down the left-hand flank, which took them into the 22. Then, they moved it inside before heading towards the left-hand touchline once more. But the path to the try line was straight, with 8^th-man Ruan Lippold picking up and charging directly over a ruck for a try.

Pienaar added the extras to give Affies a 26-20 lead at the break.

In the early going, the support for both sides had been surprisingly sporadic, but as the teams had grown into the game, so, too, had the excitement on the sidelines mounted. In the second half, the supporters gave it their all and the teams gave them something to shout about.

Rambo Kubheka and company started the second stanza strongly, working the ball through a number of phases as they probed at the visitors’ defensive lines. It was thrilling stuff, but eventually it was undone by a forward pass. Affies, though, had strayed offsides under pressure and the reliable boot of Slevin brought Maritzburg College to within three points at 23-26.

Affies turned to their driving maul to respond, and they powered their way to another try in the 42^nd minute, with hooker Christiaan Potgieter crashing over, to move their advantage to eight points, just beyond a converted try.

Maritzburg swiftly reversed the momentum, taking their attack deep into the Affies’ 22. When they won a penalty near the try line, they opted for a quick tap. Excellent quick hands from tighthead prop Botha and inside centre Sithole then put his midfield partner Swelithle Mbatha over for a try.

The unerring Slevin tacked on two to make the score Maritzburg College 30, Affies 31. Just over 10 minutes remained in the game.

A fantastic show and go, with a break to the inside from Ruben Pienaar, ripped apart the home team’s defences to extend the Affies’ lead by five more points, but the flyhalf was unable to slot the conversion.

Once more, the team that had conceded points immediately surged onto the offensive, and this time it was Maritzburg College who hit it up with short passes and direct running, deep inside the visitors’ 22. They kept working it within the channel from the 15-metre line to the left-hand touchline and this eventually paid dividends when Wasi Vyambwera dived over in the corner.

Slevin lined up the conversion attempt. Behind him, on Basher Ridge, the College boys stood with right hands over their hearts. The flyhalf’s strike was straight and true and the bashers were launched high into the air. An upset was on the cards, it seemed.

Both teams are renowned for their grit and fighting spirit, however, and Affies were not done. In the end, they found a way to win, with Pienaar, who didn’t have his best day with the boot, making the kick that counted.

“Sometimes that happens,” Jacobs said about Pienaar’s misses off the tee, but he was happy with the flyhalf’s all-round contribution. ‘I think his attacking play was good. His kicking was a little bit off, but that’s what you get sometimes, and then guys stepped up and we played good attacking rugby. It was a good team effort.”

On the opposite side, Maritzburg College’s Director of Rugby, Hendré Marnitz, was full of praise for his no. 10, James Slevin.

“James, today, was special,” he said. “His ability to control the game and his effort in training the last couple of months has been excellent. I give him a lot of credit for the effort that he puts in, and it rolls over into his game. He really works tirelessly at his kicking and the finer details. I’m really proud of James, and he is a really good kid, as well.”

In the end, Affies claimed a heart-stopping 37-36 victory and while it was a win for the visitors, it was also a victory for derbies between the big traditional boys’ schools. The respect for the opposition and the hard and fair manner in which the matches were contested reflected the best of South African schoolboys’ rugby.

Scorers

Maritzburg College 37 (20) – Tries: Aiden Botha, Luyanda Kunene, Swelithle Mbatha, Wasi Vyambwera. Conversions: James Slevin (4). Penalties: James Slevin (3); Affies 39 (26) – Tries: Hendré Schoeman, Ruben Groenewald, Nicolas Grobler, Ruan Lippold, Christiaan Potgieter, Ruben Pienaar. Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (3). Penalties: Ruben Pienaar

Results

u19 – Maritzburg College I 37 Affies I 39; Maritzburg College II 10 Affies II 33; Maritzburg College III 21 Affies III 26; Maritzburg College IV 19 Affies IV 19; Maritzburg College V 7 Affies V 24; Maritzburg College VI 8 Affies VI 38; Maritzburg College VII 7 Affies VII 42; Maritzburg College VIII 5 Affies VIII 27; Maritzburg College IX 12 Affies IX 42

u16 – Maritzburg College A 27 Affies A 43; Maritzburg College B 6 Affies B 22; Maritzburg College C 12 Affies C 62; Maritzburg College D 0 Affies D 50; Maritzburg College E 0 Affies E 50

u15 – Maritzburg College A 13 Affies A 49; Maritzburg College B 3 Affies B 50; Maritzburg College C 7 Affies C 57; Maritzburg College D 5 Affies D 55; Maritzburg College E 3 Affies E 50; Maritzburg College F 0 Affies F 50

u14 – Maritzburg College A 10 Affies A 12; Maritzburg College B 3 Affies B 52; Maritzburg College C 7 Affies C 36; Maritzburg College D 0 Affies D 36; Maritzburg College E 0 Affies E 40

The last of the pool matches at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Saturday included some surprises, with the defending champions, Durban High School (DHS), unbeaten after the opening day, going down 3-4 to Sutherland, and Clifton College shocking previously undefeated Siyajabula 2-1.

Paul Roos edged out Maqhutshana 2 3-2 to slip ahead of Kearsney College in the final Pool A standings.

Both teams won two games and they drew against one another, but the Boland team’s goal difference was just one better than that of the hosts.

Pinetown Boys’ High, after three victories on the opening day, had already secured top spot in Pool B, but Northwood, who drew 2-2 with Maqhutshana 1 in their last pool game, claimed second spot.

DHS, despite their setback against Sutherland, had done enough on Friday to top Pool C, but it was a very tight group. Sutherland sneaked into second place ahead of Urban Academy. Both teams finished with four points and a goal difference of nought, but Sutherland had scored six goals and Urban Academy only four.

Clifton pulled off a shock with their 2-1 defeat of Siyajabula, while Ashton International Ballito found their goal scoring form to overrun Lebone II College 4-0.

Siyajabula, though, claimed top spot in Pool D, but only on goal difference from Lebone II College and Clifton, with all three finishing on six points. Siyajabula had a plus-five goal difference, Lebone II finished with a plus-two, and Clifton at plus-one.

Then, in the Roberts Field playoffs, DHS had their title defence ended by Kearsney College, who claimed a 2-1 win. Paul Roos won by the same margin against Sutherland.

The contest between Maqhutshana 2 and Curro Hazeldean went to the penalty spot after the teams had finished level at 1-1, and Maqhutshana advanced 3-1 in the shootout.

Urban Academy blasted their way past Thomas More, slotting nine times without reply.

In the Matterson Field playoffs, Clifton, again, pulled off a stunner, outplaying Tuks 4-0. That wasn’t the biggest winning margin, though. That honour belonged to Pinetown, who cruised to a 6-0 defeat of Lebone II College.

Siyajabula kept Northwood off the score sheet, winning 2-0, and Maqhutshana 1 claimed a 4-2 win over Ashton International Ballito.

Girls’ High Schools

The girls’ pool matches also wrapped up on Saturday morning. Ashton Ballito pulled off a big win, surging to a 5-1 victory over Lebone II College, while Kloof High finished with three wins from their three outings in Pool B after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Thomas More College.

St Mary’s DSG matched Kloof’s perfect record, picking up their third Pool A win in a 2-0 defeat of Danville Park. Durban Girls’ High, meanwhile, posted a closely contested 1-0 win over Curro Hazeldean.

In the playoffs, however, Durban Girls’ High ran rampant against Lebone II College, scoring a big 8-0 victory.

Curro Hazeldean won 3-1 against Thomas More, but unbeaten St Mary’s DSG was forced into a penalty shootout by Ashton Ballito. Their game finished 1-1, and St Mary’s then advanced 3-2 from the spot.

Boys’ Primary School

In the Boys’ Primary School competition, Merchiston Prep edged out Atholl Heights 3-2 and then cruised to a 7-0 win over Reddam House Ballito to finish top of Group B with a perfect record of four wins from four matches.

Highbury Prep A topped Group A. They won their first game on Saturday, beating Ashton 4-2 but then had their clean record ended by Thomas More, who beat Highbury by exactly the same score.

With that win, Thomas More claimed second place in Group A, while Hillcrest Primary, the top goal scorers in the pool stage, with 19 goals, ended second to Merchiston in Group B.

Boys’ High School Results

Roberts Field

DHS 3-4 Sutherland
Paul Roos 3-2 Maqhutshana 2
Urban Academy 1-1 Curro Hazeldean

Matterson Field

Clifton College 2-1 Siyajabula
Northwood 2-2 Maqhutshana 1
Ashton International Ballito 4-1 Lebone II College

Roberts Field playoffs

DHS 1-2 Kearsney College
Paul Roos 2-1 Sutherland
Maqhutshana 2 (3)1-1(1) Curro Hazeldean
Urban Academy 9-0 Thomas More College

Matterson Field playoffs

Siyajabula 2-0 Northwood
Pinetown 6-0 Lebone II College
Maqhutshana 1 4-2 Ashton International Ballito
Clifton College 4-0 Tuks

Girls’ High School Results

Curro Hazeldean 0-1 Durban Girls’ High
Lebone II College 1-5 Ashton International Ballito
St Mary’s DSG 2-0 Danville Park
Thomas More College 0-3 Kloof High

Playoffs

Durban Girls’ High 8-0 Lebone II College
Thomas More College 1-3 Curro Hazeldean
St Mary’s DSG (3)1-1(2) Ashton International Ballito

Boys’ Primary Results

Merchiston Prep 3-2 Atholl Heights
Ashton International Ballito 2-4 Highbury Prep A
Hillcrest Primary 8-0 Highbury Prep B
Winston Park 1-3 Kloof Senior Primary
Merchiston Prep 7-0 Reddam House Ballito
Kloof Senior Primary 2-2 Thomas More
Reddam House Ballito 1-5 Hillcrest Primary
Thomas More 4-2 Highbury Prep A
Highbury Prep B 0-8 Atholl Heights
Winston Park 2-5 Ashton International Ballito

The action in the second edition of the Kearsney Soccer Tournament started bright and early in Botha’s Hill on Friday morning, with the hosts playing to a 1-1 draw with Paul Roos Gimnasium, while Pinetown posted a 2-0 victory over Northwood.

That was the start of a very good day for Pinetown, who didn’t concede a single goal in the Matterson Field Group and also claimed three wins.

They followed up their victory over the Knights with a 3-0 defeat of Maqhutshana 1 and a 1-0 win over Tuks, last year’s beaten finalists.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

It wasn’t a good day for Tuks, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Maqhutshana 1 and were also beaten 2-0 by Northwood.

Siyajabula enjoyed a strong start in the group, powering their way to a 4-0 victory over Ashton International Ballito, which they followed up with a 2-0 win over Lebone II College.

Lebone, from Rustenburg, sneaked a 4-3 victory over Clifton College in a thrilling opener for both teams. The Durban school was involved in a second goal-fest later in the day, but they held on for a 3-2 win over Ashton.

Durban High School (DHS), who lost 0-5 to Tuks in their opener in 2023, before upsetting the same team 1-0 in the final, enjoyed a much better start to their 2024 challenge. Faced with a tricky opener, they recorded a 2-1 win over Gqeberha’s Urban Academy.

Later in the day, they dominated against Curro Hazeldean, but had to settle for just a 1-0 victory.

The hosts, Kearsney, who are also in the Roberts Field Group, had a good day. After their draw with Paul Roos, they beat Maqhutshana 2 3-1 and completed their assignments with a convincing 4-0 defeat of Thomas More College.

Paul Roos, who claimed the Plate at the Kloof High School Football Tournament, just down the road, in mid-June, after scoring twice in the last five minutes against Pinetown, overran Thomas More 6-0.

In the girls’ competition, St Mary’s DSG grabbed a 2-1 win over Curro Hazeldean in their 08:00 opener, but later cruised to a 4-0 win over Durban Girls’ High.

Kloof High won twice, too, beating Lebone II College 2-0 and Ashton 2-1.

Danville Park remains undefeated, but not perfect, after a 1-1 draw with Curro Hazeldean and a 1-0 defeat of Durban Girls’ High.

It was a busy day for the boys’ primary school teams, with 10 matches being played.

Highbury Prep, a leading feeder school for Kearsney, was one of the top performers, with their A team scoring eight goals while conceding only one, in two victories.

Their rivals from Pietermaritzburg, Merchiston Prep, also went two for two, beating the Highbury Prep B team comfortably, before being pushed hard by Hillcrest Primary.

RESULTS

Boys’ High School

Roberts Field

Kearsney 1-1 Paul Roos
DHS 2-1 Urban Academy
Thomas More 2-5 Maqhutshana 2
Sutherland 1-1 Curro Hazeldean
Kearsney 3-1 Maqhutshana 2
DHS 1-0 Curro Hazeldean
Thomas More 0-6 Paul Roos
Urban Academy 2-1 Sutherland
Kearsney 4-0 Thomas More

Matterson Field

Pinetown 2-0 Northwood
Lebone II College 4-3 Clifton College
Tuks 1-1 Maqhutshana 1
Siyajabula 4-0 Ashton
Pinetown 3-0 Maqhutshana 1
Lebone II College 0-2 Siyajabula
Northwood 2-0 Tuks
Clifton College 3-2 Ashton
Pinetown 1-0 Tuks

Girls’ High School

St Mary’s DSG 2-1 Curro Hazeldean
Ashton 2-0 Thomas More
Kloof High 2-0 Lebone II College
Curro Hazeldean 1-1 Danville Park
Thomas More 2-1 Lebone II College
Durban Girls’ High 0-4 St Mary’s DSG
Ashton 1-2 Kloof High
Danville Park 1-0 Durban Girls’ High

Boys’ Primary School

Ashton Ballito 1-0 Thomas More
Atholl Heights 1-2 Reddam Ballito
Highbury Prep A 3-0 Kloof Senior Primary
Hillcrest Primary 2-3 Merchiston Prep
Kloof Senior Primary 2-2 Ashton Ballito
Atholl Heights 1-4 Hillcrest Primary
Thomas More 3-1 Winston Park
Reddam Ballito 1-2 Highbury Prep B
Highbury Prep A 5-1 Winston Park
Highbury Prep B 0-3 Merchiston Prep

More than any other match of 2023, it was Maritzburg College‘s 50-31 victory over Affies in Pretoria which thrilled the supporters of the Red, Black and White, and which made schoolboy rugby supporters around South Africa sit up and take notice.

It was a masterful and complete performance from the Pietermaritzburg school, and it was their first victory over Affies since 2014. The previous year, Affies won on Goldstone’s, scoring two tries in the last five minutes to ensure a hard-fought 29-12 victory over College, which was their sixth in succession in the rivalry.

Both teams, therefore, have good reasons and strong motivation for victory when they meet at 13:30 on Saturday. College will be desperate to defend their home turf, while Affies will want to avenge last year’s 19-point defeat.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The Pretoria school has put together a very strong season, but Goldstone’s is a tough venue for visiting teams. Last season, College went unbeaten on their home ground.

This season, they have lost just once on Goldstone’s, with DHS, one of the top teams in the country in 2024, launching a sterling fightback to claim a narrow 21-18 victory on 20 April.

That one stung the home side. Maritzburg College led 18-6 at the break and were full value for that advantage. They let things slip in the second half, though, and the Horseflies snatched victory.

Affies is another team that ranks among the handful of top teams in South Africa this season. They have been beaten three times, but only just, and by the teams ranked one, two and three in the country. Paul Roos beat the Pretoria school 30-25, Grey College won 31-27, and Paarl Gim sneaked a 20-19 victory.

An early season 57-31 win by Affies over Waterkloof looks better week by week, however, with Klofies enjoying an outstanding season and losing only to Paul Roos and sharing a draw with a very good Dr EG Jansen side, whom they had beaten earlier in the year.

A 52-26 victory over a strong King Edward VII team, a 39-26 defeat of Jeppe High School for Boys, and a 43-21 rout of Paarl Boys’ High, speaks volumes about the capabilities of the Wit Bulle in 2024.

It has been an up-and-down season for Maritzburg College, who were, unfortunately for the KZN side, at their worst at the Wildeklawer Festival, where they were soundly beaten by Grey College and Paul Roos.

They have, at times, been outstanding, though, with their 41-10 victory over an impressive Westville Boys’ High team being one of their highlights, along with a come-from-behind 26-24 defeat of SACS and a hard-fought 24-17 victory against Michaelhouse on Old Boys’ Weekend.

Their support on Saturday in Pietermaritzburg is likely to be almost as large as it was on that Old Boys’ Weekend.

Both sides are stocked with standout players, too, although some are missing after their exploits at the Craven Week.

Affies had centre Janco Purchase, their captain, selected for the South African Schools team for a second year in succession, while Maritzburg College’s skipper and loosehead prop Phiwayinkosi Kubheka matched him by being picked again.

He was joined in the SA Schools’ lineup by his tighthead prop Aiden Botha, which was a great boost for College and a comforting thought, knowing that Affies regularly produces one of the beefiest and strongest packs in South African schoolboy rugby, and their 2024 side has garnered regular praise for their outstanding form in the set pieces.

There was further recognition for Affies’ players, with lock JD Hattingh captaining the SA Schools A side against South African Schools, and Hendré Schoeman running out at scrumhalf.

Sadly, Hattingh won’t be in action on Saturday. He suffered a concussion in that match. His absence is a big loss for the visitors.

They’ll also be without tighthead prop Ruan Smit, who broke a foot in the Wit Bulle’s convincing 26-point win over KES. Affies has a more than capable replacement, though, with Deon Botes, who represented the Blue Bulls at the Academy Week, taking his place.

Hooker Ethan van Dyk, who ran out for the Blue Bulls at Craven Week, is also out, with Christiaan Potgieter, who wore the number two jersey against KES, taking over from him.

With three of their first-choice tight five missing, there might be a bit of an opportunity for Maritzburg College to blunt Affies’ power up front, but Affies are never short on depth, quality and size.

College, also, will be without their Craven Week no. 5, Jake Jansen. Despite the absence of those leading players, a top-quality clash is on the cards.

The forwards will determine the quality of the ball the backs will receive, and Affies, with their field general Ruben Pienaar pulling the strings, might enjoy the edge there. Last season, the Maritzburg College halfbacks, Rhett Quinn and Luc du Toit, were outstanding in their win over the Pretoria side, but College no longer enjoys that experience at nine and 10.

Affies’ no. 10, Pienaar, with his trusty boot, is also adept at making teams pay when they give away penalties, but College’s flyhalf James Slevin has made strides in his all-round play this season and goal kicking is a strength of his game. His conversions from tough positions in College’s 26-20 win over Hilton College, in their last match, played on 1 June, were vital contributions to his team’s win.

Outside of their fine halfback pairing, Affies, of course, has SA Schools’ midfielder Janco Purchase. His outstanding ball skills are also reflected in his excellence on the cricket field. He is a playmaker with a physical edge.

Speaking of playmakers, Hendré Schoeman’s remarkable versatility will be on show when he partners Purchase in the midfield. Remember, he played at scrumhalf for the SA Schools A side. Zirk Meyer, though, will wear number nine on Goldstone’s this weekend.

Considering players with the ability to turn matches on their head, one should not forget the potential impact of Maritzburg College fullback, Luyanda Kunene. He was no longer eligible for Craven Week selection this season, but in 2023 he was selected for South African Schools after lighting up rugby fields around the country with his scintillating counterattacking.

After Affies took a 14-6 lead in last year’s showdown in Pretoria, it was Kunene who crossed for College’s first try to jumpstart their stirring fightback.  His ability to create and to finish is outstanding, but the visitors from Gauteng will know their defensive lines will need to be tight and disciplined to keep him in check.

TEAMS

Maritzburg College

15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Langelihle Makhatini,, 13 Swelithle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemke, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Bohlale Maphisa, 4 Naz Isaacs, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka

Affies

15 Ruben Groenewald, 14 Nicolaas Grobler, 13 Hendré Schoeman, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Eagan Roux, 10 Ruben Pienaar, 9 Zirk Meyer, 8 Ruan Lippold, 7 Albert Smit, 6 Lohan Potgieter, 5 Christiaan de Wet, 4 Munting Hamman, 3 Deon Botes, 2 Christiaan Potgieter, 1 Werner Vrey

After the success of the inaugural Kearsney Soccer Tournament last year, the second edition kicks off on Friday, 12 July, with boys and girls from 33 high and primary schools taking part.

With the increase in the number of participating schools, enthusiastic footballers will be heading to Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill, from across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Province, and the Eastern and Western Cape.

The three-day event provides an important boost for the development of football at grassroots level.

Follow the Kearsney Soccer Tournament live on SuperSport Schools

Google Play Store 📲: SuperSport Schools – Apps on Google Play
IOS App Store 📲: SuperSport Schools on the App Store (apple.com)
Web 💻: https://live.supersportschools.com

Teams from 16 boys’ high schools, eight girls’ high schools and nine primary schools will showcase their skills and enjoy competitive fun during their mid-year holidays.

The senior boys’ teams which will participate are the defending champions’ Durban High School (DHS), Northwood and Clifton College (Durban); Maqhutshane Secondary and Siyajabula High (both KwaNyuswa); Curro Grantleigh (Richards Bay); Ashton Ballito; Paul Roos (Stellenbosch); Urban Academy (Gqeberha); Tuks Sport High School, Sutherland High and Curro Hazeldean (Gauteng); Lebone ll College (Rustenburg), with hosts Kearsney College, Thomas More and Pinetown Boys’ High from the Highway area.

Participating girls’ high schools are Durban Girls’ High, Danville Park and Maris Stella (all Durban); St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More (Kloof); Ashton Ballito; Curro Hazeldean (Pretoria) and Lebone ll College (Rustenburg).

They will be joined by nine local primary school teams – Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Winston Park, Thomas More, Atholl Heights Primary, Ashton Ballito, Reddam Ballito and Merchiston Prep, from Pietermaritzburg.

Kearsney Headmaster Patrick Lees said, following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural tournament, the College was proud to continue to be a catalyst in the development and growth of football among girls and boys at school level in South Africa.

He said he had no doubt that matches would again be fiercely contested but played in a spirit of true sportsmanship.

“Playing in these matches allows young sportspeople the opportunity to meet and interact with many new friends. Memories and friendships will be forged that will stand the test of time in the years ahead – be it during the players’ school years, tertiary or adult lives.”

FIXTURES

SENIOR BOYS

Friday, 12 July 

7:30 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos, Roberts
8:30 – DHS vs Urban Academy, Roberts
9:30 – Thomas More vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
10:30 – Sutherland vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts
11:30 – Kearsney vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
12:30 – DHS vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts
13:30 – Thomas More vs Paul Roos, Roberts
14:30 – Urban Academy vs Sutherland, Roberts
15:30 – Kearsney vs Thomas More, Roberts

7:30 – Pinetown vs Northwood, Osler
8:30 – Lebone II College vs Clifton, Osler
9:30 – Tuks vs Maqhutshana , Osler
10:30 – Siyajabula vs Ashton, Osler
11:30 – Pinetown vs Maqhutshana, Osler
12:30 – Lebone II College vs Siyajabula, Osler
13:30 – Northwood vs Tuks, Osler
14:30 – Clifton vs Ashton, Osler
15:30 – Pinetown vs Tuks, Osler

Saturday, 13 July

7:30 – DHS vs Sutherland, Roberts
8:30 – Paul Roos vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
9:30 – Urban Academy vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts

7:30 – Clifton vs Siyajabula, Osler
8:30 – Northwood vs Maqhutshana, Osler
9:30 – Ashton vs Lebone II College, Osler

11:00 – 1st A vs 2nd C (Champs Quarterfinal) – 1, Roberts
12:00 – 1st C vs 2nd A (Champs Quarterfinal) – 3, Roberts
13:00 – 3rd A vs 4th C (Plate Quarterfinal) – A, Roberts
14:00 – 3rd C vs 4th A (Plate Quarterfinal) – C, Roberts

11:00 – 1st B vs 2nd D (Champs Quarterfinal) – 2, Osler
12:00 – 1st D vs 2nd B (Champs Quarterfinal) – 4, Osler
13:00 – 3rd B vs 4th D (Plate Quarterfinal) – B, Osler
14:00 – 3rd D vs 4th B (Plate Quarterfinal) – D, Osler

15:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 3 (Champs Semi-final) – 1, Roberts
15:00 – Winner 2 vs Winner 4 (Champs Semi-final) -2, Osler
16:00 – Winner A vs Winner C (Plate Semi-final) – A, Roberts
16:00 – Winner B vs Winner D (Plate Semi-final) – B, Osler

Sunday, 14 July

8:00 – 7 vs 8 (Play-off Champs), Roberts
9:00 – 5 vs 6 (Play-off Champs), Roberts
10:00 – Winner A vs Winner B (Plate Final), Roberts
11:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 2,) Championship Final), Roberts

8:00 – 15 vs 16 (Play-off Plate), Osler
9:00 – 13 vs 14 (Play-off Plate), Osler
10:00 – Loser A vs Loser B (Play-off Plate), Osler
11:00 – Loser 1 vs Loser 2 (Play-off Champs), Osler

SENIOR GIRLS

Friday, 12 July

8:00- St Mary’s vs Curro Hazeldean, Matterson
9:00 – Ashton College vs Thomas More, Matterson
10:00 – Maris Stella vs Lebone II College, Matterson
11:00 – Curro Hazeldean vs Danville Park, Matterson
12:00 – Thomas More vs Lebone II College, Matterson
13:00 – Durban Girls’ High vs St Mary’s, Matterson
14:00 – Ashton College vs Maris Stella, Matterson
15:00 – Danville Park vs Durban Girls’ High, Matterson

Saturday, 13 July

08:00 – Curro Hazeldean vs Durban Girls’ High, Matterson
9:00 – Lebone II College vs Ashton College, Matterson
10:00 – St Mary’s vs Danville Park, Matterson
11:00 – Thomas More vs Maris Stella, Matterson
12:30 – 3rd A vs 4th B (Plate Section Semi-final) – A, Matterson
13:30 – 3rd B vs 4th A (Plate Section Semi-final) – B, Matterson
14:30 – 1st A vs 2nd B (Championship Semi-final) – 1, Matterson
15:30 – 1st B vs 2nd A (Championship Semi-final) – 2, Matterson

Sunday, 14 July

8:00 – Loser A vs Loser B (Plate 7th/8th Play-off), Matterson
9:00 – Winner A vs Winner B (High Schools Girls’ Plate Final), Matterson
10:00 – Loser 1 vs Loser 2 (Championship 3rd/4th Play-off), Matterson
11:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 2 (High Schools Girls’ Champs Final), Matterson

PRIMARY BOYS

Friday, 12 July

08:00 – Ashton Ballito vs Thomas More, Silcock
8:50 – Athol Heights vs Reddam Ballito, Silcock
9:40 – Highbury Prep A vs Kloof Snr, Silcock
10:30 – Hillcrest vs Merchiston Prep, Silcock
11:20 – Kloof Snr vs Ashton Ballito, Silcock
12:10 – Atholl Heights vs Hillcrest, Silcock
13:00 – Thomas More vs Winston Park, Silcock
13:50 – Reddam Ballito vs Highbury Prep B, Silcock
14:40 – Highbury Prep A vs Winston Park, Silcock
15:30 – Highbury Prep B vs Merchiston Prep, Silcock

Saturday, 13 July

8:00 – Merchiston Prep vs Atholl Heights, Silcock
8:50 – Ashton Ballito vs Highbury Prep A, Silcock
9:40 – Hillcrest vs Highbury Prep B, Silcock
10:30 – Winston Park vs Kloof Snr, Silcock
11:20 – Merchiston Prep vs Reddam Ballito, Silcock
12:10 – Kloof Snr vs Thomas More, Silcock
13:00 – Reddam Ballito vs Hillcrest, Silcock
13:50 – Thomas More vs Highbury Prep A, Silcock
14:40 – Highbury Prep B vs Atholl Heights, Silcock
15:30 – Winston Park vs Ashton Ballito, Silcock

Sunday, 14 July

8:00 – 5th Group A vs 5th Group B (9/10 Play-off), Silcock
8:50 – 4th Group A vs 4th Group B (7/8 Play-off), Silcock
9:40 – 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B (5/6 Play-off), Silcock
10:30 – 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B (3/4 Play-off), Silcock
11:20 – 1st Group A vs 1st Group B (Primary Champ Final), Silcock

Kearsney College travelled from KwaZulu-Natal to St Stithians College in Gauteng for their final fixture of the season on Saturday, 15 June.

The 1st XV showdown began well for Saints, however, when their flyhalf Chris Anderson, with a show and go, followed by a sniping run, put them into the lead with a try. His attempted conversion struck the left upright, but the hosts were 5-0 to the good.

Kearsney handled the early setback well and responded strongly, running in three tries of their own.

The first was set up by Doan Nel after he made a clean break through the midfield before putting Cameron Veenstra away for the try. Veenstra knocked over the conversion, too, to make it 7-5 to the visitors.

A good turnover at a breakdown from right-wing Valentino Lenge gave him an opportunity to work his magic in space. With individual brilliance, he beat a number of defenders and raced through to score under the posts. Another successful conversion gave Kearsney a 14-5 lead.

Then, working with good possession, Kearsney moved the ball down the backline to left-wing Bhuko Hlwatika, who beat his defender to score in the corner. Once again, the conversion was on target and the boys from Botha’s Hill enjoyed a 21-5 lead.

Anderson, the St Stithians’ no. 10, then doubled his personal haul with another try after gathering an exit kick and charging through a would-be tackler before cutting inside and sprinting away to dot down next to the uprights, which made it 21-12 at the break in favour of the visitors.

Kearsney hit their stride in the second half, producing some exciting running rugby, which brought them four tries without a reply from Saints.

Their path to the first five-pointer of the half was started by Daniel Eager, who, after counterattacking, set up an attacking ruck when he went to ground. The ball was quickly shifted out wide and Callum Steer provided the finish. Veenstra’s kicking boots remained dialled in and the extra two points lifted the visitors into a 28-12 advantage.

Kearsney had momentum on their side, and they kept turning opportunities into points. After a line-break from Valentino Lenge and sustained pressure on the line, Connor McIntyre picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and powered over for Kearsney’s fifth try. The conversion was good and coach Neil van Heerden‘s charges led by 23 points.

Then, Saints made the mistake of putting in a cross kick on the fleet-footed Valentino Lenge. He turned it into a 65m runaway try. The conversion was off target for the only time on the day, but Kearsney had reached 40 points.

The One-Stripe then struck from deep inside their 22. Royden Madatt stabbed through a well-place grubber, which was collected by Cameron Veenstra. Then, with one man to beat, the Sharks’ Craven Week speedster drew the defender and passed to Doan Nel, who raced in to score beneath the uprights. Veenstra added the extras to make it 47-12 lead.

A penalty kick, in the final minute of the contest, saw Kearsney breach the 50-point barrier for the first time in the 2024 season. The 50-12 victory was their fourth in succession, following wins over Glenwood, Clifton and Michaelhouse.

Scores

St Stithians College 12 (12) – Tries: Chris Anderson (2); Conversions: Chris Anderson. Kearsney College 50 (21) – Tries: Valentino Lenge (2), Cameron Veenstra, Bhuko Hlwatika, Callum Steer, Connor McIntyre, Doan Nel; Conversions: Cameron Veenstra (6); Penalty: Cameron Veenstra

Other results

u19 – St Stithians II 13 Kearsney II 5; St Stithians III 0 Kearsney III 31; St Stithians IV 0 Kearsney IV 32

u16 – St Stithians A 13 Kearsney A 12; St Stithians B 5 Kearsney B 36

u15 – St Stithians A 10 Kearsney A 41; St Stithians B 17 Kearsney B 7; St Stithians C 23 Kearsney C 46

u14 – St Stithians A 7 Kearsney A 26; St Stithians B 25 Kearsney B 5; St Stithians C 5 Kearsney C 53