Author: cschiwanza

Rhenish Girls’ High kicked off their title defence with panache, winning a trio of games as they marched to the top of Group A on Thursday, the first day of the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament at Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein.

DSG Makhanda, meanwhile, bagged two wins and a draw on their way to the summit of Group B.

“The girls moved the ball really well and stayed calm under pressure. It was really cool to see. And we were fantastic in defence, too,” Chris Gerber, the Rhenish coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

The three victories propelled the Stellenbosch school to the top of their group and provided them with a clear path to the semi-finals.

In their opening fixture, the defending champions issued a statement of intent when they took on St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, the team they faced in the 2024 final. Captain Leah du Plessis and Lily Newton scored as Rhenish beat their KZN counterparts 2-0.

The Rhenish skipper, who is enjoying an incredible purple patch that included her being named the Player of the Tournament and leading a Boland team laden with Rhenish players to the u18 SASHOC National Week title, was on the scoresheet again in her side’s second match. She netted once and Puck Bakker added another as they overcame Waterkloof 2-0.

In their final game of the day, Rhenish edged out their Stellenbosch neighbours, HMS Bloemhof, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Chelsey Woolf, who moved to Rhenish at the start of the third term. Formerly from Durban Girls’ College, she captained KZN Coastal to the u16 SASHOC National Week title and was named the Player of the Tournament. Her integration into the Rhenish side appeared seamless as she gelled well with the rest of the team.

Abigail Holderness was one of two players to bag a hat-trick on the opening day, firing three goals past Our Lady of Fatima goalkeeper Kayla Driver in a 5-2 win for DSG Makhanda over the Durban school.

Holderness added another goal against St Anne’s, while Ava van der Walt and Emily Walker also scored as DSG bagged a 3-0 victory over the Hilton school.

The Eastern Province side was aiming to make it three wins in three outings when they went up against Die Hoërskool Menlopark in their last match of the day. Try as they might, the Geowynne Gamiet-coached unit couldn’t get one over the Pretoria team and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Those two wins and a draw, though, left DSG on top of Group B and well positioned to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Friday’s other hat-trick came off the stick of Paarl Gimnasium‘s Alanda Rademeyer, who banged in three of her side’s four goals in a 4-0 drubbing of Our Lady of Fatima. Like Holderness, Rademeyer ended the day with four goals to her name, adding a further strike in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Collegiate Girls’ High.

With six goals from their two matches, Paarl Gim, in second, leads Collegiate, in third, on goal difference in Group A after both recorded a win and their shared draw. Collegiate netted three times and conceded twice in their two matches.

RESULTS

Group A

Rhenish: 2 (Leah du Plessis, Lily Newton). St Mary’s DSG Kloof: 0.
Eunice: 0. Waterkloof: 0.
Bloemhof: 1 (Elré Oosthuizen). Oranje: 0.
Rhenish: 2 (Puck Bakker, Leah du Plessis). Waterkloof: 0.
Bloemhof: 2 (Mari Steyn 2). St Mary’s DSG Kloof: 1 (Nicola Forbes)
Eunice: 2 (Georgia Kambanis, Claire Volschenk). Oranje: 1 (Marlene du Plessis)
Rhenish: 1 (Chelsey Woolf). Bloemhof: 0.
Eunice: 0. Waterkloof: 0.
St Mary’s DSG, Kloof: 2 (Jenna-Leigh Freese, Mia Borrageiro). Eunice: 0

Group B

DSG Makhanda: 3 (Ava van der Walt, Emily Walker, Abigail Holderness). St Anne’s: 0.
Paarl Gim: 4 (Alanda Rademeyer 3, Minke Botha). Our Lady of Fatima: 0.
Collegiate: 1 (Kate Brennan). Menlopark: 0.
DSG Makhanda: 5 (Abigail Holderness 3, Lauren Menage, Anna Olivier). Our Lady of Fatima: 2 (Mia Lopes, Gabby Hall).
St Anne’s: 1 (Iminathi Ngxola). Menlopark: 0.
Paarl Gim: 2 (Isabella Nel, Alanda Rademeyer). Collegiate: 2 (Kerrin Gillies, Eden Oliver).
DSG Makhanda: 1 (Alex Ovendale). Menlopark: 1 (Zoe Badenhorst).

Die Hoërskool Menlopark’s players are excited and raring to go at the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament. The Pretoria side won’t be there to make up the numbers. They have their sights set on the title.

The event runs from 7-9 August at Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje (Oranje), in Bloemfontein.

“The Super 12 is the cherry on top. It’s the creme de la creme,” Brad Brook, the Menlopark coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“It’s the toughest one in the country, in my opinion. We’re very excited to go toe-to-toe with the best hockey schools in the country. We look forward to the challenge,”

Menlopark, who lifted the prestigious trophy in 2018, will launch their campaign for a second title with a fixture against Collegiate Girls’ High. Drawn in Pool B, they’ll also face Our Lady of Fatima, Paarl Gimnasium, DSG Makhanda, and St Anne’s Diocesan College.

The Pretoria side has proved itself to be a powerhouse in the Northern Gauteng region, and this season they’ve won 42 out of 49 matches, drawn one, and lost only six. Brook’s charges have maintained their consistency across the board – in league matches, and festivals and tournaments.

At the Super 12, Menlopark will be aiming to tap into the form they showed during the second term, which included a 2-0 win over their rivals and fellow Super 12 qualifiers, Hoërskool Waterkloof.

Any team that underestimates or is under the misapprehension that the ladies from Pretoria will be rusty and lacking match practice would be making a big mistake. The St Anne’s Cup champions have been hard at work, ensuring that they remain sharp with matches against a handful of club sides and the Menlopark boys’ teams as part of their preparations.

“It’s a tough competition, but we are determined to be competitive. We won’t look too far ahead and will take things one game at a time,” Brook said.

His side will lean on the experience, skill, and knowledge of the trio of Zoe Badenhorst, Annika Kloppers, and Monique Gerber, who were picked for higher honours after the SASHOC National Weeks. Badenhorst, one of the side’s co-captains, was called up to the SA u18B side, while Kloppers was selected for the u17 team, and Gerber was included in the SA u16B lineup.

While their national representatives add immense value to the team, Menlopark’s biggest asset is their ability to play as a single unit. Brook’s side has numerous players who will reach milestone at the Super 12, most notably, Badenhorst, Ininke Human, Zane Loots, Mika Loots, and Ameli Dirkse van Schalkwyk, who will all earn their 100th caps at the event.

“We are quite excited as a team to share those milestones at this upcoming tournament. I don’t think we’ve had players reaching 100 caps in a while, so we’re quite excited about that,” Brook enthused.

The time spent in each other’s company, competing for the same goal, has helped Menlopark to bond.

“They’ve come together nicely, and they’re raring to go out there and have a good showing,” Brook said. “As I mentioned earlier, it’s a really tough tournament, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. The girls just want to show what they’re made of.”

Maritzburg College came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Pretoria Boys’ High School (PBHS) on Pape’s Astro at Maritzburg College on Saturday.

When the teams met in Pretoria in April, it was the Red, Black, and White who triumphed, winning another close encounter 2-1.

Boys High was keen to avenge that defeat, but vengeance was always going to be a tall order for the visitors. The Red Army is tough to overcome on Pape’s.

Saturday’s showdown was preceded by a guard of honour to congratulate Kadin Jenkins, Ethan Fabre, Rory Schirge, and Matthew Smith for reaching 50 caps for the Maritzburg College 1st XI. Those milestones and the fact that it was the final home match for College’s matrics helped inject energy into the hosts.

Unfortunately, though, at the beginning of the contest, it was a bit of a snooze-fest. After a long season, the weariness in the players’ legs was visible, and neither side did much with the ball in the opening exchanges.

However, as the match progressed, the contest began to gather momentum. Coach Mark Sanders’ outfit was intent on giving the home crowd something to celebrate. Pretoria Boys High, though, was resolute in defence.

The visitors, then, shocked College when they drew first blood against the run of play, striking from a penalty corner just before the close of the third quarter. The visitors were re-awarded the set piece three times, and the third time proved to be the charm for the men from Pretoria.

That goal jolted the Red Army to life. Spurred on by their supporters, they went on a desperate hunt for an equaliser.

PBHS, unwilling to let go of their lead, put up a fight for the ages, and when College made it through to goal, they were met by an inspired performance from goalkeeper beat Owen McMenamin.

The SA u18A shot stopper pulled off some outstanding saves to deny the hosts. Eventually, though, College’s’ pressure told, and they were awarded a penalty stroke, which Uyanda Dlamini slotted to level the scores.

Three frantic minutes followed, with College receiving three penalty corners in quick succession, but Pretoria Boys High stood firm and the game ended 1-1.

In total, the schools contested 17 matches, with Maritzburg College winning 11, Pretoria Boys High victorious in four, and two ending in draws.

RESULTS

Maritzburg College vs Pretoria Boys High

u19 – Maritzburg College 1st 1-1 Pretoria Boys High School 1st: Maritzburg College 2nd 0-2 PBHS 2nd; Maritzburg College 3rd 1-3 PBHS 3rd; Maritzburg College 4th 2-1 PBHS 4th; Maritzburg College 5th 1-0 PBHS 5th.

u16 – Maritzburg College A 3-1 PBHS A; Maritzburg College B 6-3 PBHS B; Maritzburg College C 3-1 PBHS C; Maritzburg College D 1-0 PBHS D; Maritzburg College E 0-2 PBHS E; Maritzburg College F 1-1 PBHS F; Maritzburg College G 2-0 PBHS G.

u14 – Maritzburg College A 3-0 PBHS A; Maritzburg College B 2-0 PBHS B; Maritzburg College C 2-0 PBHS C; Maritzburg College D 0-2 PBHS D; Maritzburg College E 3-2 PBHS E.

Northwood vs Durban High School

u19 – Northwood 1st 2-1 DHS 1st; Northwood 2nd 0-0 DHS 2nd.

u16 – Northwood A 2-1 DHS A; Northwood B 1-0 DHS B.

u14 – Northwood A 2-1 DHS A; Northwood B 0-0 DHS B.

Glenwood vs Parktown

u19 – Glenwood 1st 1-3 Parktown 1st; Glenwood 2nd 0-1 Parktown 2nd; Glenwood 3rd 3-1 Parktown 3rd; Glenwood 4th 2-0 Parktown 4th.

u16 – Glenwood A 2-0 Parktown A; Glenwood B 2-0 Parktown B; Glenwood C 3-0 Parktown C; Glenwood D 0-2 Parktown D.

u14 – Glenwood A 2-0 Parktown A; Glenwood B 1-0 Parktown B; Glenwood C 0-1 Parktown C.

When the CSA Pathway Awards were hosted at Emperors Palace last Thursday evening, Jason Rowles received the Cricket South Africa (CSA) u19 Men’s Player of the Year Award.

The event, which celebrates the stars of tomorrow, ran under the theme “Celebrating Greatness.”

The ceremony recognised outstanding performers across grassroots and senior amateur levels, with CSA handing out 25 trophies to honour the achievements of players, coaches, administrators, and volunteers who made remarkable contributions during the past season.

The St David’s Marist Inanda star was recognised for his superb performances for the SA Emerging u19 and the SA u19 teams.

The award was the 17-year-old Rowles’s second accolade in two months. He also took home the Telkom u18 Men’s Player of the Season Award at the Central Gauteng Lions Cricket Awards in May.

“This (CSA u19) award means so much to me. I want to thank all who have supported and believed in me over the years,” Rowles told SuperSport Schools Plus.

He edged out Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Muhammad Bulbulia (KZN Inland), and JJ Basson (Central Gauteng Lions) for the honour.

Rowles wasn’t able to accept the award in person because he was in Zimbabwe representing South Africa in an u19 Tri-Series, featuring Bangladesh u19, South Africa u19, and the hosts, Zimbabwe u19. The all-rounder celebrated his recognition with a strong all-round contribution, spinning a web on his way to a return of 3/45, and then weighing in with 41 with the bat to help South Africa to a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

“Jason shows you the power of dreaming big,” Jono Leaf-Wright, the Central Gauteng Lions CEO, who accepted Rowles’ award on his behalf, said.

“We encourage all the youngsters in our Lions Cricket set-up to aspire to greatness, and Jason is certainly one of those who took the message to heart. He has a great work ethic and is a very mature cricketer. I look forward to watching his bright future.”

When Rowles embarked on his cricket journey at the age of six, his talent was undeniable from the onset. However, despite his natural abilities, his success is, in part, a result of the countless hours he has poured into his game. On average, he has spent 19 hours a week honing his craft over the past 10 years.

Rowles is the embodiment of the 10 000 hours theory, first published by the Swedish scientist K. Anders Ericsson and popularised by Malcolm Gladwell in his cult classic Outliers.

However, he has not been alone on his journey. Rowles has enjoyed the guidance of outstanding coaches and the presence of a strong support system. He credits the work of Jeff Levin, the St David’s coach, and Dave Nosworthy, the school’s head of cricket, for guiding him through his young career.

The Gauteng Lions star also recognised the tireless work put in by Bongani Ntini, whom he has known and worked with since he was nine. Rowles is also fortunate to benefit from the mentorship of Dinesh Lad, the famed Indian coach, who moulded India’s former captain, Rohit Sharma, into a world beater. The teenager also leans on the advice given to him by Alex Shahim.

“I was just lucky. There are so many great players, but they chose me,” Rowles stated with the humility that has come to define the youngster.

However, as the old saying goes, fortune favours the brave. Rowles’s approach has been to chase the dream he has nursed for the past 11 years: to represent South Africa in cricket. The St David’s learner isn’t there yet. However, he is firmly on track.

“The truth is that luck grows with concentrated effort. Success isn’t just about innate talent, but the relentless pursuit of one’s goals with focus and consistency,” his mother, Tracy, said. “As a proud mother, I find inspiration in my son’s journey – a testament to the power of self-belief and determination.”

Ahmed Nawab, the Central Gauteng Lions’ u19 coach, said Rowles is one of three players – along with Kamogelo Phiri and Arman Manack – to whom an “optional training session” means a compulsory training session. They’re also known for requesting sessions when training is not scheduled.

“Jason is extremely humbled by achieving the CSA u19 Men’s Player of the Year Award – the highest accolade in a sport which he truly loves,” Robin, his father, stated.

Eunice High School won’t get ahead of themselves when they contest the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament that runs from 7 to 9 August at Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje (Oranje), in Bloemfontein.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, staying focused, and aiming to be the best we can possibly be,” Nika Coertzen, the Eunice coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

Coertzen’s charges will be aiming to add a second Super 12 title after the school lifted the trophy in 2023.

When they won it that year, the girls in green were the first team in seven years to chart an unbeaten run through the tournament. After coming close on a number of previous occasions, they joined Oranje and Die Hoërskool Menlopark as tournament champions.

Eunice faces a very challenging campaign in Pool A, the tournament’s “pool of death”, where they are grouped with the reigning champions, Rhenish; Oranje, the most successful side in the event’s history, who last lifted the crown in 2022; and last year’s runner-up and St Mary’s Waverley Festival winners, St Mary’s DSG, Kloof. Perennial campaigners Bloemhof and Waterkloof, are also in the pool.

It won’t be easy, but Eunice heads into the tournament with the wind beneath their wings after a morale-boosting visit to Gqeberha, where they drew with Collegiate Girls’ High, who will also be at the Super 12, and trounced Pearson High School 5-1 in front of their home fans.

Bianca Rees-Gibbs led the way against Pearson with a brace, and Eunice will hope that she continues her brilliant form in the circle at the Super 12.

Rees-Gibbs, who was selected for the SA u18A team for a second year running after the u18 SASHOC National Week, was one of four Eunice players to earn national honours. Cale Potgieter and Georgia Kambanis made the SA u18B team, while Claire Volschenk was included in the SA u17 side.

Eunice fans will hope to see the best of that influential quartet in the Super 12 tournament, especially when they take on their great rivals, Oranje, in the ninth fixture of the event. It’s always a big game and Eunice, with victories in their last two clashes with Oranje, would love nothing more than to make it three on the trot.

They open their campaign against Waterkloof at 08:20 on Thursday and next face Oranje in their second match. A good start will be crucial to their hopes of making a splash.

Coach Coertzen has confidence in her players’ form: “Of course, there are still areas where we can improve, but that’s part of the journey,” she said. “We’ll keep building on this momentum, one step at a time.

“I believe our performances over the past few games have been very consistent, showing clear growth, both as a group and in our tactical approach.

“Beyond the hockey itself, this journey has been truly special – shared with an incredible group of girls,” she added.

Our Lady of Fatima is primed and ready to make an impression in their maiden appearance at the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, which takes place in Bloemfontein at Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, from 7 to 9 August.

“Our team has been working hard in the lead-up to the tournament, and we’re excited about the opportunity to compete,” Matthew Smith, the school’s Head of Hockey, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

Our Lady of Fatima has a strong hockey culture and has long been a strong competitor in KwaZulu-Natal, giving their more renowned coastal neighbours, St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, and Durban Girls’ College a good run for their money. They have also consistently been fierce campaigners at the annual St Mary’s Waverley Festival.

Despite their impressive resume, they had previously never qualified for the Super 12. In 2025, though, they became the 25th team to earn an invitation to the prestigious 10-year-old tournament. The Durban North school is one of three KwaZulu-Natal teams in the lineup, joining St Anne’s Diocesan College, and St Mary’s DSG, Kloof.

They open their Pool B challenge with a challenging encounter against last year’s bronze medallists, Paarl Gimnasium. They’ll also be up against the Eastern Cape’s DSG Makhanda and Collegiate Girls’ High, Pretoria’s Die Hoërskool Menlopark, who won the St Anne’s Cup earlier this season, and St Anne’s, who have qualified in back-to-back seasons for the first time in their history.

The idea of being the new kids on the block at one of the premier hockey events on the girls’ schools’ calendar could be daunting. However, Our Lady of Fatima is excited to be competing against the country’s best hockey-playing sides, and Smith and his charges are focusing inwards, not outwards.

“We’ve been focusing on sharpening our basics, building team cohesion, and improving our tactical awareness,” he explained.

“We’ve had a solid run of training and a few challenging fixtures that have helped us identify key areas to improve. Fitness and discipline have also been central to our approach this season.”

Smith’s side is captained by Jenna Shaw. Industrious and skilful, she leads by example. Shaw was a member of the KZN Coastal u18A team, enjoyed a strong showing at the SASHOC u18 National Week, and was rewarded with a place in the SA u18B side at its conclusion.

Success sometimes comes at a cost, and that means Charly-Rose Boyall, the leading goal scorer at the SASHOC u16 National Week and winner of the Most Valuable Striker Award, will miss the Super 12 as she prepares to represent South Africa u16A against Zimbabwe u16A between 12 and 15 August.

Our Lady of Fatima does, however, also feature Emily Hughes and Isabella Slater, who turned out for the KZN Coastal u16B side, and Zoey Quigley, who played for the KZN Coastal u16C team.

While the Durban’s sides stars will likely be the cornerstones of their challenge, Our Lady of Fatima’s greatest strength will be their ability to coalesce and play as a unit. It’s been the key to their success and qualification for the Super 12, and they’ll stick to that tried and tested formula in Bloemfontein.

“We’re aiming to play consistent, competitive hockey throughout the tournament and just show other schools that we belong here.” coach Matthew Smith said.

“While winning is always a motivator, our main focus is on playing to our potential, staying connected as a team, and representing our school with pride and sportsmanship.”

St Anne’s Diocesan College is primed and ready to put their best foot forward at Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje (Oranje) when they contest the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, from 7 to 9 August.

Coach Morné Odendaal‘s side will be keen to pick up from where they left off last year. The ladies from Hilton were somewhat inexperienced in 2024 and that cost them as they finished 11th. However, they kept fighting until their last match, which they won 2-1 over Die Hoërskool Menlopark.

It is the fourth time that St Anne’s has qualified for the prestigious event. Previously, they were in action in the 2017, 2019 and 2024 competitions. Thus, for the first time, they have qualified for the Super 12 tournament in consecutive years.

“2024 marked my first time at the Super 12 tournament with St Anne’s, providing a valuable learning experience for our players,” Odendaal told SuperSport Schools Plus. “We aim to build upon that experience and deliver outstanding performances.”

Their experience in tournament hockey, which they have accumulated over the past 18 months, will be tested in Pool B, where they will take on DSG Makhanda, Paarl Gimnasium, Collegiate Girls’ High, Menlopark, and Our Lady of Fatima for the group stage honours.

Instead of having delusions about their standing compared to the sides in their group, Odendaal is realistic. “Embracing our underdog status removes the fear of failure and fuels our hunger to prove doubters wrong,” he explained.

One of the first things he did when he took over the reins at St Anne’s was to establish a year-round programme that sought to enhance the players’ skills and improve their awareness on the field.

That programme has already reaped rewards in its first full year of operation, with four players from St Anne’s earning national colours after the SASHOC National Weeks.

Kgabiso Morafo and Jasmin Kelly were selected for the SA u18A team, Holly Hofmeyr will represent the SA u17 side, and Inati Ngcobo will feature in the SA u16B side. Odendaal attributed those players’ successes to the St Anne’s team wholeheartedly embracing and dedicating themselves to the programme.

“I constantly say this to my team, ‘Remember, while you may fear not being good enough, the rest of the country fears you realising your full potential’,’” said Odendaal.

“I encourage the girls to be brave and believe in their abilities, feeling secure in their roles within the team. We strive not only to be formidable opponents on the field but also exemplary individuals off it,” Odendaal added.

The St Anne’s side will carry their coach’s wise words into their opening fixture against the Eastern Province powerhouse, DSG Makhanda on Thursday, 7 July. Both teams will be focused on making a winning start to jumpstart their campaigns.

St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, produced a polished performance on their way to a 1-0 victory over St Anne’s Diocesan College in the final of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Grand Final, at St Mary’s, on Sunday.

“We love hosting the Grand Finals,” Caryn Springate, the St Mary’s Head of Hockey, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“St Mary’s has such an incredible team, from our ground staff to our operational staff, to the sports department, alongside the sponsors, who all come together to put on a fantastic two days where everyone gets involved.”

Despite a cold and windy Sunday, a sizeable crowd turned out to watch St Mary’s, the champion of the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, making more history in the SPAR KZN Grand Final.

With the win over St Anne’s, St Mary’s bolstered their record as the tournament’s most dominant school, with seven titles to their name. Durban Girls College (DGC), who missed out on this year’s edition, has the second-most wins with five.

The hosts, who also won the trophy last year, made their 12th appearance in the Grand Final and previously lifted the title in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024. They also finished second in 2022 and 2023 and settled for the bronze medal in 2011 and 2013.

The event served as inspiration for the younger generation of St Mary’s DSG girls, with members of their junior sides, going down to u11, in the stands to cheer the 1st XI on.

Winning the title also served as a further building block for a young side, which has done an outstanding job of continuing the school’s legacy of excellence on the Astro.

For the runners-up, St Anne’s, it was the fourth time that they finished in second place, having previously achieved that feat in 2014, 2018, and 2019. They won it all in 2011, and were also the bronze medallists in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

In the title game, Saints took the early initiative and made the first circle entry of the contest, but they spurned two opportunities to take the lead.

However, it didn’t take long for the home side to have their efforts rewarded. They threw bodies forward and, after a goalmouth scramble, that resulted in a goal in the seventh minute when Georgia Short chipped the St Anne’s goalkeeper to bury the ball in the back of the net.

St Anne’s recovered from the setback and fortified their defence. Jasmin Kelly, their captain, astutely led the visitors and inspired the rest of her team to up their game, and they gave as much as they received, putting St Mary’s DSG under pressure.

The home team’s goalkeeper Ziyanda Mchunu was called into action and, with superb reading of the game and great speed, closed down the space to deny St Anne’s an equaliser in the first half. Then, in the second half, she rejected Holly Hofmeyr, stopping a penalty stroke attempt, to keep St Mary’s in front. She was exceptional.

Another player who stood out was Jenna-Leigh Freese. “She was brilliant today and throughout the whole weekend,” Caryn Springate said. “She has grown from strength to strength and was phenomenal. Our young players also stepped up today.”

A further feather in the host’s cap was the fact that they won the title without the services of their captain, SA Schools’ midfielder, Nicola Forbes, who was out of action after suffering a concussion the previous weekend.

The St Mary’s DSG victory meant they remain unbeaten since the 2023 final, when DGC took the honours by a 2-1 margin.

The ladies from Kloof had booked their berth in the title game courtesy of a 3-0 win over Ashton in a commanding semi-final performance.

The semi-final between St Anne’s and Epworth finished 0-0. That sent it to a penalty shootout, which St Anne’s won 1-0.

Playoff Results

St Mary’s 1-0 St Anne’s
Ashton 1-0 Epworth
Maris Stella 1-0 Ferrum
St Patrick’s 1-1 Felixton (St Patrick’s won on penalties)
Kingsway 1-0 Wartburg

Final Positions: 1. St Mary’s DSG, 2. St Anne’s, 3. Ashton 4. Epworth, 5. Maris Stella, 6. Ferrum, 7. St Patrick’s, 8. Felixton, 9. Kingsway, 10. Wartburg

Emma Hibbert scored a brilliant drag flick, her eighth goal of the tournament and Reddam House Constantia‘s third, as they romped to a 3-1 win over St Paul’s College to clinch the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament (CTIHT) trophy at the Hartleyvale A Astro on Sunday afternoon.

The victory capped off an outstanding campaign from Reddam, who won six of their seven matches and drew the other against the eventual runners-up, St Paul’s, in the group stage of the tournament.

Coach Chris Hibbert’s side led the scoring, banging in 22 goals while conceding only four.

“Tournament hockey is tough, and for it all to come together this week is very rewarding,” Hibbert told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The girls were outstanding, and turned up every game, and while it wasn’t always easy going, they showed outstanding resilience and teamwork to come through the tough moments in games.”

The final was a repeat of the final Pool A encounter between Reddam and St Paul’s, which had ended in a 1-1 draw. Both sides, thus, headed into the title decider well aware of the threats posed by their opponent. However, it was Reddam who had better plans.

Hibbert’s charges took a few minutes to get into the game. However, once they found their groove, they were unstoppable, exhibiting the relentlessness that had powered them through to the final.

For the opening goal, Emma Hibbert, one of the most consistent and impactful players at the event, sent a superbly weighted pass to Jess Bester, who had positioned herself perfectly. Given some space, Bester carried the ball into the circle, calmly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net.

The local side went two-up thanks to Cassidy Frank, who executed an excellent tackle deep inside St Paul’s territory before threading a pinpoint pass to Sally Gitlin, who produced a composed finish to bury the opportunity.

Reddam ran onto the field from the halftime break eager to drive in the final nails into the coffin, but Coach Nevil Gora‘s ladies had other ideas. The Windhoek side threw everything they had, including the kitchen sink, into the contest, assaulting the Reddam House goal. It was, however, the Capetonians who found the back of the net.

Emma Hibbert transformed from provider to scorer, executing a pulsating drag flick to convert Reddam’s second penalty corner of the match. That left St Paul’s College with a mountain to climb.

Despite trailing by three goals, the efforts of Gora’s charges didn’t waver. They kept at it with dogged determination and their persistence was rewarded with a goal at the end of the third quarter when Tamara Grögli converted a penalty corner.

In the fourth chukka, St Paul’s was a rejuvenated side, and they dominated the early exchanges, but were unable to convert any of their chances.

Reddam House, then, took control of the final eight minutes of play to secure the title.

“The girls understood their roles, trusted their teammates to fulfil theirs, and backed themselves to do their jobs. The coaching staff is proud of the way they conducted themselves throughout the tournament,” Patrick Smith, Reddam’s Head of Hockey, said.

“This week, it has been great to see everything come together. It is so special for our matrics, who have committed so much to our hockey programme. It is wonderful that they get to have this high at the end of their school hockey career,” Hibbert added.

Results

Reddam House: 3 – Sally Gitlin, Emma Hibbert, Jessica Bester. St Paul’s College: 1 – Tamara Grögli.
Parel Vallei: 2 – Emihle Wulani, Nikita Sulivan. Paarl Girls’ High: 1 – Halle Williams.
Millfield: 2 – Delilah Talbot, Isla Smith. Outeniqua: 0.
Durbanville High: 5 – Hilletje de Villiers (2), Zieke Rossouw (2), Ronel Rautenbach. Kingston Grammar: 1 – Anna Goodsman.
Chisipite: (3) 1 – Rebecca Winsor. Windhoek Afrikaanse Private School: (2) 1 – Marlene Coetzee.
Curro Durbanville: 1 – Marissa Morgan. Somerset College: 0.
Hoërskool Bellville: 1 – Nicole Meyer. HMS La Rochelle: 0.
Windhoek High: (1) 0. Worcester Gim: (0) 0.

The defending champions, St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, kept their title defence campaign on track by sweeping all of their Pool A matches on day one of the SPAR KZN Hockey Tournament Grand Final at St Mary’s on Saturday.

The Grand Final is a culmination of months of tournaments that crowned regional champions from across the province.

Joining St Mary’s, the Highway winners,, in the Grand Final are: Ferrum High (KZN North), Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti and uThukela Regional), St Patrick’s College (Ugo and Sisonke Regional), Felixton College (KZN North Coastal Regional), Ashton College Ballito (Durban North Regional), Maris Stella (Durban Central Regional), Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional), St Anne’s Diocesan College (Pietermaritzburg North Regional), and Kingsway High (Durban South Regional).

The hosts didn’t concede a single goal in their four matches and finished top of Pool A to set up a semi-final date with Ashton College Ballito, the Durban North Regional champions, who ended in second place in Pool B, with two wins and two draws.

Saints powered their way into the top four by beating St Patrick’s 4-0, before edging out Ferrum 1-0. They also walloped Kingsway 7-0 and overcame Epworth 1-0.

Ashton recorded 0-0 draws with St Anne’s Diocesan College and Maris Stella before scoring a 2-0 win over Felixton and thumping Wartburg 7-0.

St Anne’s topped Pool B courtesy of 0-0 draws with Ashton and Maris Stella, an emphatic 7-0 drubbing of Wartburg, and a 5-0 win over Felixton. The Hilton school had the same number of points as Ashton but finished in first place because of a superior goal difference.

In the semi-finals, St Anne’s will face familiar opposition when they take on Epworth, the runner-up from Pool A.

Epworth lost only once in Pool A, going down to a narrow defeat against St Mary’s, but they convincingly took victory in their other three games, winning 3-0 against Ferrum, 5-0 against Kingsway, and 6-0 against St Patrick’s.

Saints will be hoping to replicate their performance from last year on the second and final day of the tournament by winning two more matches to retain the trophy. The other three semi-finalists would like to have a word about that.

Results

Pool A

St Mary’s DSG 4-0 St Patrick’s
Epworth 3-0 Ferrum
St Mary’s DSG 1-0 Ferrum
St Patrick’s 1-0 Kingsway
Ferrum 0-0 St Patrick’s
Epworth 5-0 Kingsway
Ferrum 4-0 Kingsway
St Mary’s DSG 1-0 Epworth
Epworth 6-0 St Patrick’s
St Mary’s DSG 7-0 Kingsway

Pool B

St Anne’s 0-0 Ashton
Maris Stella 1-0 Felixton
St Anne’s 7-0 Wartburg
Maris Stella 0-0 Ashton
Ashton 2-0 Felixton
St Anne’s 5-0 Felixton
Maris Stella 3-0 Wartburg
Ashton 7-0 Wartburg
Maris Stella 0-0 St Anne’s
Felixton 3-0 Wartburg