Author: captainmorgan

St John’s College and King Edward VII, who first met on the cricket field in 1905, renewed their rivalry on Thursday, with the two 1^st XIs producing a thrilling 40-overs-a-side clash that went down to the wire.

After winning the coin flip, St John’s, having opted to bat first, made a steady but unspectacular start, with Nkosana Sibiya and Thomas Ievers putting on 19 before Ievers was out in the fifth over for 12, a victim of opening bowler Thebe Modisane.

KES then had reason to celebrate in the eighth over when they removed batting kingpin, Joe MacRobert, for seven, caught by Christian Sabela off the bowling of Zeig Roos.

Sibiya stuck around until the total had reached 59, but he fell for 22, one of three wickets claimed by Fayaaz Vawda. Kago Masote, meanwhile, contributed 28, but he was the next wicket to go.

St John’s needed a substantial partnership to give their inning momentum and they got it when Alec Loveland and Cole Francis joined forces. They put on 81 runs for the sixth wicket in just over 14 overs before Loveland was caught by Vawda off the bowling of Eric Southey for 35 from 46.

Francis, though, helped advance the St John’s total to 187 before becoming the ninth wicket to go, caught by Southey off of Christian Sabela’s bowling for a crucial 65 from 60 deliveries, with two fours and two sixes.

Sabela and Vawda were the pick of the KES bowlers, with Sabela capturing 3 for 33 in 7.3, while Vawda took 3 for 44 in eight.

Luthando Masinda, in at 11, made six before he was the last man out with the total on 199. Those half-a-dozen runs, though, proved to be a very important contribution.

Needing to bat at exactly five runs an over to win, KES lost Cameron Smith in the seventh over for nine (he had faced only 11 balls), which brought Troy Gordon out into the middle to join Eric Southey.

Together, they compiled a partnership of 87 for the second wicket. Crucially, though, St John’s never allowed them to get on top of the bowling, although Gordon batted at just better than a run a ball.

With the total on 119, Southey was caught by Jacob Smith off an Oliver Tait delivery for 42 from 97 balls, which included four fours.

KES then managed a partnership of 60 for the third wicket, but they also found themselves under ever-increasing pressure as the overs started to slip away.

Tiaan Goosen was out for 30 from 35, with the total on 179. He was one of three batsmen to lose their wicket to Cole Francis, but Troy Gordon was still out in the middle, poised to take his team over the line, with 21 runs needed for victory, but only 14 balls remaining.

Disastrously for KES, they lost their top scorer, Gordon, two balls later, caught by Jacob Smith off of Francis for 83 from 82, with six fours and a six. KES had six wickets in hand, but new batsmen at both ends of the pitch.

Their run chase was further crippled when Zeig Roos was dismissed with the first ball of the 39^th over. St John’s then did an outstanding job of protecting their runs, with Francis adding another wicket to his haul, to limit King Edward VII to 193 for 6.

Francis, their standout with the bat, was also the pick of their bowlers, snapping up 3 for 35 in his eight overs.

Alec Loveland, with 1 for 27 in eight, bowled an economical spell, which ratcheted up the pressure on KES, and Oliver Tait was also economical, returning figures of 1 for 29 in eight. Malan du Plessis, with 1 for 29 in seven, made a key contribution, too.

In the 2nd XI match, St John’s claimed a 27-run victory, but KES were victorious in the under-14A and under-15A matches, winning those by 57 runs and eight wickets respectively.

Commenting on the rivalry with their near neighbours, St John’s 1^st XI coach Bongani Ntini said: “Cricket has a rich tradition at St John’s College and King Edward VII School, and it’s wonderful to see that this fixture has endured the test of time for over a century.

“Matches, like these, help preserve the spirit of the sport and its long-standing traditions. They not only showcase the talent and competitiveness of the schools but also foster a strong sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship between the two schools.”

With wins over St Stithians, Jeppe and KES in Gauteng, and victories against Northwood, Glenwood and DHS in KZN, it has been a very good end of the year for St John’s. They face a serious challenge on Saturday, however, when they take on an in-form Affies in their final match of the season.

Summarised scores

St John’s College 199/10 (Cole Francis 65, Alec Loveland 35, Kago Masote 28, Christian Sabela 3/33, Fayaaz Vawda 3/43); King Edward VII 193/6 (Troy Gordon 83, Eric Southey 42, Tiaan Goosen 30, Cole Francis 3/35) St John’s College won by 6 runs

The SuperSport United Football Club has wished 10 of its DStv Diski Challenge players the best of luck, as they sit for their matric final exams from Monday, 30 October. The players are spread among various schools in Gauteng.

Among those writing is 18-year-old Chandre Campbell, who has already featured for the Matsatsantsa 1st team, after being thrown in the deep end by coach Gavin Hunt. Campbell has displayed a sweet left foot and looks like he will become a force to be reckoned with in South African football.

He has made five appearances in the DStv Premiership so far and garnered one goal assist.

Campbell played a major role as United were crowned the Diski Challenge winners, taking advantage of some slip-ups by Orlando Pirates in the last few games of the season after the Sea Robbers had topped the table for a long time.

Campbell, who slotted 16 goal goals in 27 appearances, was recently honoured by his school, Curro Sagewood, for his academic achievements. As a prefect, he also received a Leadership Award, and he was named the school’s Sportsman of the Year.

The players that will be starting their matric exam journey are Neo Rapoo, Thabang Mahlangu, Kabelo Selowa, Kagiso Makgokolo, Motebang Matube, Jason Cox, Tshepo Mahlatsi, Keabetswe Khonyane and Bohlale Ngwato.

After a poor batting performance against the previous weekend, when they were bowled out for well less than 100, Hilton College was looking for a far better showing from their talented batting line-up on Saturday at Northwood. They got it and went on to record a convincing 62-run victory.

The Knights’ Reece-Edwards Field is big, and one has to work for one’s runs on a well-considered surface, which usually offers something to both the batsmen and the bowlers. Therefore, Hilton’s 255 for 7 in their 50 overs should be considered in that context. It was a fine effort.

While the visitors lost Charles Swart early, his fellow opener Ben Hockly settled in for the long haul and played the anchor role. His determined effort brought him exactly 100, scored off of 129 balls, with 13 fours and one maximum. When he was the third man out, he had helped steer Hilton to 196.

Ivan Lockem provided valuable support, scoring 67 at close to a run a ball, with three fours and a six.

The Knights used eight bowlers, and it was the last man introduced into the attack, Kyle White, who made the greatest impact. He picked up 3 for 19 in four overs, including the wickets of Hilton’s two highest scorers.

A poor start in pursuit of a tough victory target doomed Northwood. Neither opener made it into double-figures and, while Mo Karodia and Evan Fouche tried to steady the innings, they fell for 14 and 21 respectively, as the home team stumbled to 58 for 4.

White, again, came to the rescue. In at six, he grafted for a well-played 68 from 97 balls, which included five fours and a six. Unfortunately for him, there wasn’t enough from the rest of the batsmen to enable Northwood to challenge Hilton’s 255. Fouche’s 21 was the next best.

Lively Ross Boast did the damage up front, sending two batsmen packing for a return of 2 for 18 from eight. Liyema Nela snared 3/28 from six overs, while leg-spinner Nic Chantler, almost always good for a few wickets, picked up 2/42.

After 43.5 overs, Northwood were all out for 193.

Anyone who has paid close attention to Michaelhouse cricket over the past season would not be at all surprised to learn that Murray Baker was at the forefront of their 92-run victory over Clifton on Saturday.

Baker was far and away his team’s top scorer, making 88, with five fours and two sixes, which was 59 more than the second highest scorer, Nathan Hoatson, managed.

House posted 215 for 7 in 45 overs, with Jayden Roux doing a good job of undermining their batting effort. He captured 2 for 27 in 7.1 overs, removing two of Michaelhouse’s first three batsmen, while Shiraz Perumal claimed 2 for 53 in nine.

Tim Saulez led Clifton’s reply, making 37. Jayden Roux added 24 to his strong effort with the ball, while Camdeon Riley struck a quick 24 from 22, and Shahzaad Perumal contributed 20 at the top of the order. The problem for Clifton was that there was little else to offer, with six batsmen making six runs or less.

Ethan Muir was the destroyer-in-chief, knocking over 4 for 29 in in 7.1 overs, while Nathan Hoatson snapped up 3 for 31 in nine as Clifton were bowled out for 123, just inside of 40 overs.

The topsy-turvy nature of cricket was evident in Glenwood‘s showdown with Westville Boys’ High. The previous weekend, they had comprehensively outplayed Hilton, rolling through the visitors’ batting with ease. This time around, it was Glenwood who were on the wrong end of that kind of treatment.

They managed only 78 all out against the Griffins, with just three players making it into double figures, led by Ciaran Roundtree‘s 24. Sean McGough sent four players packing, while Roxton Payne and Dayalan Boyce chipped in with two sticks each.

Nicandro Kistna then made 36 at the top of the order, providing the kind of foundation Westville needed in their reply. An unbeaten 29 from Kaeden McAllister then saw the Griffins over the line for the loss of only two wickets.

At Saint Charles, the weather had the final say as Saints and Maritzburg College shared a draw. The Red, Black, and White, batted first and posted a fighting 214 for 9, led by Chad Mason, who struck 84, a full 60 runs more than Liam Armstrong, who was College’s second-highest scorer.

Rowen Rajah shone for Saints, capturing 3 for 26 in seven overs, while Marcell Wellmann did a fine job of supporting the paceman, taking 3 for 38 in eight.

Cian Fortmann (feature photo), with 60 from 94, including five fours and six, and Sam Brown, with 31 from 39, with six fours, gave Saint Charles a terrific start to their run chase, combining for 57 for the first wicket.

Connor Riley contributed 21, but a late flurry of wickets, which saw Saints slide from 118 for 3 to 146 for 8, left them facing an uphill climb.

Chad Mason was on song for College with the ball, snaring 3 for 12 with his spin, to put the hosts under pressure. Oliver da Costa was also among the wickets, picking up 2 for 26 as the home side clawed their way to 146 for 8 when bad light and rain forced the players from the field.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised scorecards:

Hilton College 255/7 (Ben Hockly 100, Ivan Lockem 67, Kyle White 3/19); Northwood 193/10 (Kyle White 68, Liyema Nela 3/28, Nic Chantler 2/42)

Hilton College won by 62 runs

Michaelhouse 215/7 (Murray Baker 88, Nathan Hoatson 29, Jayden Roux 2/27, Shiraz Perumal 2/53); Clifton 123/10 (Tim Saulez 37, Camdeon Riley 23, Jayden Roux 24, Ethan Muir 4/29, Nathan Hoatson 3/31)

Michaelhouse won by 92 runs

Maritzburg College 214/9 (Chad Mason 84, Liam Armstrong 24, Sphimandla Dzanibe 23*, Rowen Rajah 3/26, Marcell Wellmann 3/38); St Charles College 146 for 8 (Cian Fortmann 60, Sam Brown 31, Chad Mason 3/12, Oliver da Costa 2/26)

Match abandoned due to bad light and rain

Glenwood 78/10 (Ciaran Roundtree 24, Sean McGough 4/20, Roxton Payne 2/2, Dayalan Boyce 2/20); Westville 79/2 (Nicandro Kistna 36, Kaeden McAllister 29*)

Westville won by 8 wickets

Kearsney College showed they are going to be a team to be reckoned with heading into 2024 after winning the Northwood Stayers Water Polo Tournament on the weekend.

During 2023, they had proved themselves to be one of the leading teams in KZN and, indeed, in South Africa. Now, with only two players matriculating, their cupboard is well stocked for future success.

While the stayers’ teams of Hilton College and Michaelhouse did battle on Saturday in Balgowan, where Hilton claimed a 14-10 victory, Northwood hosted Kearsney, Clifton College, DHS, Glenwood, Maritzburg College, Westville Boys’ High and Reddam House Helderfontein in an event that exposed the talent that will battle for the 1st team honours over the course of the next year.

Clifton had recently confirmed their status as KZN’s number one in 2023 by winning the KZN Top 10 Water Polo Tournament the previous weekend.

They had also been the top performing KZN school in the Clifton and Hussar Grill SACS tournaments. In Cape Town, they handed the hosts, SACS, the champions of both, their only loss. However, following their KZN Top 10 title-winning exploits, they said goodbye to a fair number of very experienced performers.

Still, with coach Paul Martin at the helm, Clifton is always in the running. They showed they meant business on Friday by brushing aside Reddam House 19-0. On Saturday, though, Westville scored a narrow 6-5 win over Clifton. It became clear that the Griffins, Clifton and Kearsney were the teams to beat.

Kearsney recorded a 7-1 win over Reddam House, but that was after only one quarter as lightning caused the game to be called off. Then, they further demonstrated their potential with a comfortable 13-6 win over the hosts, Northwood, who emerged as the fourth best team of the event. There was a suggestion, too, that there is better to come from the Knights after they beat Westville 8-5 on Sunday.

In a key contest on the final day, Kearsney battled Clifton for a place in the final. It was a tremendous tussle, with fortunes swaying one way and then the other. Neither team would buckle. It ended 8-8, so the contest went to a penalty shootout. It went the way of Kearsney, and they were into the title game.

Westville Boys’ High pushed their neighbours all the way in the title-decider, but when the final whistle sounded the scoreboard read Kearsney 8-6 Westville.

It was the first time in their history that Kearsney they had won the tournament.

RESULTS

Friday

Kearsney 19-3 Glenwood
Northwood 7-4 Maritzburg
Westville 14-8 DHS
Clifton 19-0 Reddam Helderfontein
Kearsney 16-1 Maritzburg
Northwood 7-3 Glenwood

Saturday

Kearsney 7-1 Reddam Helderfontein
DHS 8-12 Northwood
Clifton 15-6 Maritzburg
Westville 15-2 Glenwood
Clifton 5-6 Westville
DHS 14-6 Reddam Helderfontein
Northwood 6-13 Kearsney
Maritzburg 12 (1)-(0) 12 Glenwood
Clifton 13-6 DHS
Westville 11-2 Reddam Helderfontein

Sunday

Glenwood 3-8 DHS
Reddam 7 (1)-(2) 7 Maritzburg
Westville 5-8 Northwood
Kearsney 8 (1)-(0) 8 Clifton
DHS 10 (2)-(1) 10 Maritzburg
Northwood 4-6 Clifton
Westville 6-8 Kearsney

Since 2000, Kearsney College has produced, among others, Springboks’ Robert du Preez, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez and Etienne Fynn, England internationals’ Brad Barritt and Matt Stevens, and Scotland international, Dylan Richardson.

Their Director of Sport is former Springbok, Waylon Murray. And, on Tuesday, they announced another former Springbok, Keegan Daniel, as the school’s new Director of Rugby.

Chatting with SuperSport Schools on Tuesday, the former Sharks, Kubota Spears and Bok flanker said he told the school’s Board, at his interview for the position, that if all they wanted to see were victories, he was not their man. “I certainly don’t believe in that. I think that mentality is not going to serve you well in life, regardless of whether you play sports or are you going into business.”

Daniel’s view is becoming an ever-increasing norm. The best coaches and leaders are focussing on the process, not the results. There is plenty of evidence, though, that a commitment to the right process usually leads to good results. And the boys are better served and better prepared for their futures, both on and off of the sports field.

It’s not as if Kearsney College would give its Director of Rugby a directive that includes a must-win clause, not that victories are unimportant, either.

There are other extremely important factors: Kearsney has a rich academic history and was the leading IEB school in KZN last year. It boasts a world-class arts and culture programme, which includes the Kearsney Choir, which has won 15 gold and seven silver medals at the World Choir Games and has been named the world champion on four occasions. There is only so much time one can devote to each aspect when a balanced holistic education is the goal.

“These are school kids and they’ve got a lot on their plates, and it certainly isn’t a professional environment where it’s win-at-all-costs and rugby is the only thing,” Daniel said.

Kearsney is a relatively small school compared to many others and the coaches and directors of the different sports need to be aware of the demands placed on the boys, many of whom participate in multiple sports.

Very few, if any, would go on to become professional sportsmen after their school days, Daniel said, so the goal is more rounded: “Hopefully, they will achieve some success on the field, but they will also be successful off the field, in terms of their academics and their culture and that sort of thing.

“We are going to focus on creating well-conditioned athletes. So, we certainly don’t want to create rugby players. That is not going to be our mandate. Our mandate is to create well-conditioned athletes, bearing in mind that we are coaching people. They are not robots. They are not professional athletes.”

Daniel pulled on the famous black and white jersey of the Sharks from 2006 to 2018. During that time, he played with many outstanding players, and under some exceptional captains and coaches.

Interestingly, the very first coach that comes to his mind as having made a big impact on him is Grant Bashford, who was recently appointed the Director of Sport at Clifton. Bashford, Daniel said, was hugely influential. “He has known me since I was 18 years old, and we coached together at Northwood.

“A lot of my philosophies and outlooks, I’ve learnt from Bash. He’s been a great mentor of mine, and I am hopefully going to try to emulate a bit of what I’ve taken from him and learned. Obviously, you put a bit of your own personal touch on it.

“At the end of the day, I think the decision-making process has to be about what’s for the betterment of Kearsney College, and what’s in the best interest of the people themselves. That’s what I loved about learning from Bash. You’ve got to put away your ego and your own personal agenda and make decisions based on those two factors.”

Daniel was a member of the Sharks during a period when the franchise had many strong leaders, from whom he also learned valuable lessons. “During that period, from 2006 to 2011, there were a lot of seasoned campaigners,” he said. “Certainly, guys within the set-up, like John Smit, Johann Muller and Stephan Terblanche, were all leaders in the team, and a guy like Jacques Botes. He was really underrated, but he was a leader within the team.”

Daniel, who was appointed captain of the Sharks in 2012, said Smit, the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning captain, now a good friend, was a fine role model: “I learned a lot from him in terms of engaging with people and how to handle the pressure of the media and leadership and all that kind of stuff.”

He added: “There’s no real definition of leadership. I think you are moulded by the experiences that you go through in life, and you take the good and you try and implement that, and you also learn from the things that you maybe wouldn’t want to see in your leadership style, or within your organisation.

“So, just harnessing those experiences and trying to implement that consistently, I think, is key.”

Explaining how he plans to lead, Daniel said he won’t micro-manage Kearsney’s rugby coaches. He wants them to be creative. However, what he wants to do is to create more alignment between the coaches, so that they’re speaking a common rugby language.

“I equate it to being in a choir, and we’re all trying to sing our best, and we are trying to play the instruments but, unfortunately, we have different hymn sheets at the moment.”

He wants to create a philosophy that everyone believes in and buys into, so that what Kearsney is trying to achieve is not just for the benefit of one team, but for the benefit of the whole rugby programme.

Daniel has experience of coaching at Kearsney himself. This past season, he took charge of a talented under-14 line-up. Interestingly, the game he speaks about most fondly is one that his team lost, going down 14-21 to a very good DHS side, which scored an intercept try and a try through a charge-down.

The Kearsney players, though, walked off the field smiling. Daniel asked them, why? They said it was because of the performance they had delivered. It wasn’t about the result. And he loved that. It meant he was teaching them the correct way. Their values aligned with his.

And there is another thing that is vitally important, he shared, from someone who wished him well on his appointment. “They said ‘Congrats. Have fun!’

“Often, we take this thing so seriously, or our position so seriously, that we forget to wake up each day and say, ‘let’s go and have some fun’.”

Looking out over the beautiful AH Smith Oval, the home of the Kearsney College 1^st cricket team, he concluded: “It’s an incredible opportunity. It’s a fantastic school, and there are numerous fantastic schools in KZN, but these boys have chosen Kearsney for their education, and they have to make the most of their five years.

“As coaches, we can do so much. We will create accountability in our players, so that they can get the most out of their experience.”

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

The schools’ cricket season might be winding down as the end-of-year exams draw ever nearer, but there was some blistering action on the weekend, especially from batsmen, with superb centuries being scored all around the country.

A fine example was destructively set by the Proteas‘ Heinrich Klaasen.

The former Menlo Park student claimed the man of the man award after spearheading South Africa to 399 for 7 against England in their Cricket World Cup clash in Mumbai.

It took him just 67 balls to tally 109, with 12 fours and four sixes, and South Africa went on to a massive 229-run victory…which was a lot more convincing than the Springboks managed against England in Paris on Saturday evening. Still, they qualified for the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at Stade de France this coming Saturday.

Back to the cricket… A spectacular unbeaten 205 scored by Charl Prinsloo was a sparkling highlight for Hoërskool Centurion in their T20 match against Sutherland High. His aggressive knock, the highest score yet by a Centurion batsman in a T20, included a mind-blowing 16 sixes and 15 fours.

Not surprisingly, Prinsloo and co roared to victory. After posting 285 for 2, they needed only 16.4 overs to dismiss Sutherland for 61.

St John’s College‘s Joe Macrobert came close to a double-century, following up an unbeaten 92 in a T20 against St David’s Marist Inanda on Wednesday with an unbeaten 183 against the same opposition on Saturday in a 50-overs-a-side game. His outstanding knock enabled St John’s to overhaul St David’s total of 346 for 5 with more than 10 overs in hand!

For St David’s, Armaan Manack, with 140, and Matthew West, with 125, delivered with the bat. Usually, that would be more than enough, but Macrobert’s special 101-ball knock brought St John’s a remarkable win.

A thrilling under-15A match between the two schools deserves mention, also. With over 560 runs scored in total, St John’s claimed a one-wicket victory, successfully chasing down the opposition’s 280 for 8. They owed plenty to Darshik Lutchman, who finished unbeaten on 160, having struck 19 fours and six sixes.

In the Western Cape, Kashief Joseph contributed almost 63 percent of Diocesan College’s runs, but his outstanding 145 not out was not quite enough to see the Bishops’ 1^st XI to a victory over SACS. They came up 13 runs short.

Another superb innings didn’t deliver a victory, either, when Waylin Frank scored 101 of De Villiers Graaf‘s 189 all out against Somerset College. That fact had plenty to do with Somerset’s Chad Ayford, who responded with an unbeaten 101 to help his side to a nine-wicket win.

Meanwhile, Kyle van Santen produced way more than Curro Durbanville managed as a team, making an unbeaten 102, to propel Stellenberg to a 161-run victory.

And, in Durban, Hilton College‘s Ben Hockly helped the Midlands’ school return to form after their batting misfired against Glenwood last weekend.

He made exactly 100 at Northwood, on a challenging track which always offers the bowlers something, to set up Hilton for a convincing 62-run win.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

St David’s Marist Inanda and St John’s College delivered one of the most astonishing matches of the season on Saturday, with St John’s recording a convincing victory despite seeing two St David’s batsmen score centuries in their 50-overs-a-side clash.

St John’s captain Joe Macrobert was the match-winner, thanks to a sensational knock.

Batting first at home, St David’s lost an early wicket, but Armaan Manack and captain Matthew West then joined forces and put the visitors’ bowlers to the sword. Spending just shy of 40 overs together, they amassed 255 runs for the second wicket.

Manack’s 121-ball stay included 16 fours and a six and delivered 140 runs. He was out with the total on 271.

West lasted until the score had reached 299. He was, then, dismissed for 125 from 126 deliveries, which included 12 fours and a six.

An aggressive cameo from Morteza Manack, who smashed three sixes and a four in an undefeated 42 from 28 balls, then boosted Saint David’s to a daunting 346 for 5 from their 50 overs.

Viewed in the context of the onslaught, Alec Loveland‘s full complement of 10 overs at a cost of 49 runs was an outstanding contribution for St John’s.

Luthando Masando was the only bowler, meanwhile, to pick up more than one wicket, bagging 2 for 67 from his 10.

St John’s made a steady start to their massive run chase, with the openers, Nkosana Sibiya and Thomas Ievers, putting up 43 for the first wicket before Sibiya was sent on his way in the seventh over for 21 from 22.

Joe Macrobert joined Ievers out in the middle and immediately took charge. Ievers fed Macrobert the strike, yet still contributed 34 from 37 balls, before falling just before the century had been raised on the scoreboard. Macrobert, though, had barely begun his torment of the St David’s attack.

Receiving solid support from the men around him – Alec Loveland made 26, Jacob Smith 25, and Kago Masote a quickfire 35 not out from 21 deliveries – he delivered an immense innings.

Macrobert’s unbeaten knock lasted just 101 balls, but he deposited 10 of those over the boundary, and sent another 14 for four, as he struck an eye-opening 183 to power his side to victory with an astounding 10.3 overs to spare.

Given the carnage all around him, Jarred Baillings‘ return of 2 for 37 from five overs was remarkable, while Jason Rowles did a good job, taking 2 for 59 in seven. The runs, though, kept rolling in, with Macrobert dictating the direction of the match.

He was there at the end when St John’s reached 350 for 4 to record an extraordinary six-wicket win.

Earlier in the week, the same two sides had met on Mitchell Field at St John’s in a T20 clash. It was not nearly as dramatic, but the home side also won that one, thanks, once again, to another match-winning effort from MacRobert. How the St David’s bowlers must fear his broad bat!

St David’s tallied 152 for 7 in their 20 overs, with 39 from Jason Rowles and 38 from Matthew West, but MacRobert decided the outcome of the contest.

From only 60 balls, he made 92 not out, with three sixes and eight fours, which, together with Nkosana Sibiya’s 34, helped guide his side to a seven-wicket victory, with 11 balls to spare.

It was a splendid knock. Yet, it served only as an appetiser for a mind-blowing performance on the weekend.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised Scorecards:

50-over

St David’s Marist Inanda 346/5 (Morteza Manack 140, Matthew West 125, Armaan Manack 43*, Luthando Masinda 2/67); St John’s College 350/4 (Joe Macrobert 183*, Kago Masote 35*, Thomas Ievers 34, Jarred Baillings 2/37, Jason Rowles 2/59)

St John’s College won by 6 wickets

T20

St David’s Marist Inanda 152/7 (Jason Rowles 39, Matthew West 38, Luthando Masinda 2/19, Cole Francis 2/29); St John’s College 158/3 (Joe Macrobert 92*, Nkosana Sibiya 34)

St John’s College won by 7 wickets

Kearsney College ran out comfortable four-wicket winners over a young Durban High School (DHS) 1st XI at home, in Botha’s Hill, on Saturday

In a strange twist, the scorecard mirrored the Horseflies’ win over Maritzburg College the previous weekend, except that DHS was on the wrong end of the result on this occasion.

They were bowled out for 158, which is what College posted against them a week earlier. And Kearsney then reached the required target, tallying 159 for 6, which was the DHS total when they passed College on Van Heerden Field on the previous Saturday.

Batting first, DHS were dismissed just shy of their 50 overs, with Semal Pillay‘s 50, leading the way. He spent 75 balls out in the middle and struck four fours.

Unfortunately for DHS, he was the second of their top order batsmen to be run out. After laying into a cover drive, he thought he had beaten the inner ring. But the AH Smith Oval’s outfield is lush, and the rolling ball quickly lost momentum, resulting in Pillay being caught well shy of his ground.

Earlier, opener Ethan Cooper, whose 20 ended up as the third highest score of the DHS innings, also lost his wicket to a run out.

Eduan van der Heever (feature photo), who recently made the move to DHS from Saint Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein), came in at eight and immediately took the attack to the Kearsney bowlers. It worked.

It wasn’t an easy surface to score on, but Van den Heever sent four deliveries to the boundary and made 28 from the 26 balls he faced.

Kearsney captain Hayden Bishop removed the left-hander and added another two victims to lead the home team’s attack, finishing with a fine return of 3 for 24 from his 10 overs.

Opening bowler Ryan Browning bowled a challenging line and length and was rewarded with 2 for 12 from his seven, while Dylan Wiggett picked up 2 for 34 from 7.2.

Wiggett then played a vital knock at the top of the Kearsney order. His 76-ball stay produced 54 runs, including four fours, and was the key to their successful run chase.

Michael de Beer, with 25, was the only other batsman to make it into the twenties, but four other batsmen made contributions in the teens, and that was enough for Kearsney, chasing a low total, to claim victory in the 35th over.

Jared Haverman made the hosts’ batsmen work hard, capturing 3 for 27 from his 10 overs, but Kearsney got over the line with 93 balls to spare.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised Scorecard:

DHS 158/10 (Semal Pillay 50, Eduan van den Heever 28, Hayden Bishop 3/24, Ryan Browning 2/12, Dylan Wiggett 2/34); Kearsney 159/6 (Dylan Wiggett 54, Michael de Beer 25, Jared Haverman 3/27)

Kearsney won by 4 wickets

Among the most astonishing achievements by any South African schoolboy in 2023 must be the performances of Kearsney College’s Nathan Foster at two World Cup Triathlon events in Mauritius in September.

There, Nathan contested the under-19 category of the African Triathlon Sprint Championships, despite being just 15 years of age. He finished an eye-opening third behind two French athletes. The truth, he revealed, was that he might have done even better, if not for an error.

“On the run, I ran an extra 100 metres because I wasn’t paying attention to the turning point,” he admitted, “so the person in third passed me. That was pretty much the only error I made.”

A week later, in the north of the island, he participated in the elite men’s category of the Mauritius International Triathlon, which is open to professional athletes, and, again, astounded with his performance.

“I was racing top athletes there. There wasn’t a lot of pressure on me to do very well because, obviously, they were much older than me. But I pushed and I managed to come seventh,” he said.

It’s important to put his achievements into context. Consider the physical size difference between a 15-year-old rugby player and one in the under-19 age group or think about an athlete running either a middle distance or sprint event with that four-year age gap in place. The former would be disallowed, the latter would surely be a forgone conclusion.

Except, put the disciplines of swimming, cycling and running together, and Nathan Foster is not only competing against elite athletes many years his senior, he is excelling against them. Logically, it shouldn’t be happening, but his remarkable results jump off the page.

Prodigiously talented and very hard-working, he has, in his own mind, a very long way to go. Yet, he is already ranked the number two under-19 triathlete in Africa!

“I realised I have quite a lot of potential in triathlon and, in order to go far, I am going to have to travel far and do races, to get the accolades, and to go overseas. That’s what I am working on, getting stuff behind me, titles and championships, even local, in order to make it overseas.”

Only three years ago, he was in primary school. Today, though, his triathlon ambitions are unambiguous. He wants to push himself to compete at the very highest levels.

“In the next year, I want to go overseas, to America or Germany. Later, when I am in my twenties, I want to go overseas and race. I want to go to the Olympics. That’s one of my big goals. Also, I would like to race Super League overseas. I want to go far.”

These words are spoken matter-of-factly, with no false bravado. They’re delivered with confidence, not arrogance. They’re spoken by a driven young man who believes, if he works hard enough, he has the talent which will allow him to compete with the world’s elite. It’s hard to argue that he hasn’t started making a case that he will be up to that challenge.

His entry into triathlon started with swimming. Then, when he realised he was “pretty good” at running, he took on some biathlons. After he took up mountain biking, his parents suggested he give the triathlon a go.

For his first triathlon, he took on the family-oriented Tinman on the Durban Beachfront. From there, Nathan’s progress was rapid. “I did very well in that, and then I just went to the KZN Champs, then SA Champs.”

The fact that triathlon is made up of three disciplines means it is a demanding and time-consuming pursuit, especially when competing at the level that Nathan contests.

On the day we spoke, he had cycled with a group in the morning. Then, after school, he was on his way to a swimming session. “I try to squeeze it in. Also staying for school and everything, it’s quite difficult, so my schedule is very busy. Yeah, I train every day, twice a day, sometimes.”

He added: “This weekend, I am doing the Amashova. Last weekend, I did the Glencairn Trail Run. I swim in galas, as well.”

Nathan was part of a group of Kearsney College boys who took on the challenge of the Glencairn Trail Run. They did more than participate, however. They shone. On day one, the distance was eight kilometres. It was 10Ks on day two. Luke Treleaven was first, Nathan second, Andrew James third and Keaton Gaines fifth.

Something he has to watch carefully is when rest is required, Nathan explained: “It is hard to find time for a break, but I enjoy what I do. It’s not as if I don’t want to do it and I am forced to do it. I actually want to do it, and I enjoy it.

“Sometimes, I have to force myself to rest. When I get tired and I’m tired at school, I realise I should take a little bit of a break to get my energy back.”

Questioned about his heroes, he said: “From South Africa, I look up to Henri Schoeman.”

Schoeman’s more than a good role model. He won bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. In 2018, he won Commonwealth Games gold. He has also based himself in Durban.

“He’s someone I look up to in triathlon, racing the shorter distances, Super League and the sprint distances,” Nathan said.

“I’ve seen him a few times. I’ve never raced him. But he’s definitely one of the people I look up to.”

When he speaks about never racing against Schoeman, now 32 years of age, there’s the unspoken part that lingers, the “yet”. Nathan’s not intimidated. He’s eager to take on ever-harder challenges.

By not standing back for any test, he’s not allowing age to be a limitation to his achievements.

Nathan Foster is making waves locally and, increasingly, beyond the boundaries of South Africa. And, yes, we mentioned it before, but…he’s just 15 years of age!

Clifton College were crowned the champions of the KZN Top 10 Water Polo Tournament on Sunday afternoon following a hard-fought 8-5 win over Hilton College in the final, played at the Clifton Aquatic Centre.

The two schools had established themselves as the class of the field with their clinical play during the course of the three-day event, with both finishing unbeaten in the group stages.

Kearsney put up a big fight against Hilton in their semi-final, with the boys from the Midlands winning an absorbing contest 10-9, while Clifton withstood a typically tenacious challenge from Northwood with greater assurance, claiming an 8-3 victory.

Then, in the last round of playoff games, Glenwood won 9-2 against the KZN Invitation team, Michaelhouse held off a furious Maritzburg College comeback to take seventh by a narrow 7-6 margin, and Westville Boys’ High had their sights dialled in as they ran out 17-7 winners against DHS to finish fifth.

Kearsney College appeared to be on cruise control for a comfortable win in the third and fourth playoff, having powered into a 5-1 lead over Northwood. But the Knights showed great character and kept pounding away at the Kearsney defence. They brought it back to 4-5, but eventually had to settle for a close 5-6 loss.

In the final, Clifton got away to the kind of start they would have wanted, quickly putting two goals into the back of the net, but Hilton returned the favour by levelling at 2-2. It was, however, as close as they got all game, as Clifton kept edging ahead.

The teams had recently met for third place in both the Clifton Water Polo Tournament and the Hussar Grill SACS Tournament, with Clifton winning 9-5 in the former and 4-2 in the latter. Once again, they held the edge over their opposition, this time by a three-goal margin.

“It shows the hard work the boys have put in. The first two days wasn’t what we wanted, but the boys came together and today we played very good polo and did what we had been working at the entire year. I think, in the pool, it definitely showed,” Clifton captain Mitchell Slade said after the final.

It was a challenging contest, he added, as Clifton and Hilton have played one another five or six times this year, which meant they knew each other very well.

However, playing at a venue the Clifton boys call “The Fortress” was something that he treasured and will always treasure, Slade said: “It is such an experience. I don’t feel this atmosphere anywhere else in South Africa, even though I have been to multiple national tournaments around the country. Playing here is amazing. I love the atmosphere at the pool. I wouldn’t choose to play anywhere else.”

Coach Paul Martin was delighted by his side’s success, and especially happy with their teamwork. “To be honest, there are no game winners in this team. I don’t have any superstars. Clifton has had teams in the past where there have been two or three guys that could win you a game. This has been a completely different group. It has been a team that has pulled together.

“When someone has made a mistake, or someone has done something wrong, others have come covered for them.

“This is one of the best, if not the best holistic team, that Clifton has had in a long time.”

FINAL STANDINGS

9th/10th: Glenwood High 9-2 KZN Invitation
7th/8th: Michaelhouse 7-6 Maritzburg College
5th/6th: Westville Boys’ High 17-7 DHS
3rd/4th: Kearsney College 6-5 Northwood School
1st/2nd: Clifton College 8-5 Hilton College