For a second year in succession, Bloemfontein’s St Andrew’s School will represent the Central Region at the National Final of the Switch Schools SA20. Photo; St Andrew’s School on Instagram.
Another Switch Schools SA20 final, another FG Botha half-century!
Relive all the Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.superpsortschools.com)
St Andrew’s School, from Bloemfontein, was crowned the back-to-back Central Region champion of Phase Two of the Switch Schools SA20 competition on Sunday morning after they successfully defended their 2025 title with a comfortable 37-run victory over Hoërskool Rustenburg in the final at the JB Marks Oval.
As he did in last year’s win in the final over Grey College, Botha raised his bat on the grand stage. He anchored the Saints‘ innings with an attacking and unbeaten 57 from just 30 deliveries, striking six fours and two sixes.
A vital 56-run partnership with Grové du Preez (24) towards the end of their innings proved decisive and boosted the Bloemfontein outfit to a handy 144/4 from their 20 overs. Jonathan Hickley, meanwhile, weighed in with a valuable 26 at the top of the order.
The Rusties‘ reply followed a similar pattern to their opening encounter against Saints on Friday, as they, once more, struggled to break free against the champions’ tight and disciplined bowling. Callie Fryer, however, underlined his status as one of the country’s most promising young all-rounders, producing his second half-century of the weekend with a resolute unbeaten 53, which accounted for nearly half of his side’s total.
However, the rest of the batting line-up struggled against the leg-spin of Nikhil Sukraj and the new-ball threat of Erhard Barends.
Sukraj weaved a web around the Rustenburg batsmen, tying them up while snaring 2/14 from his four overs, which left him with 10 wickets at the end of the Phase Two tournament. Barends claimed two wickets of his own and conceded just 20 runs.
In the end, Hoërskool Rustenburg was restricted to 107/5 from their 20 overs, which left them as the runners-up after a second loss to the only side that beat them over the three days in Potchefstroom.
Summarised scorecard
St Andrew’s School 144/4 (FG Botha 57*, Jonathan Hickley 26, Grové du Preez 24; Thian Labuschagne 1/14); Hoërskool Rustenburg 107/5 (Callie Fryer 54*, Tristan van der Linde 22; Nikhil Sukraj 2/14, Erhard Barends 2/20). St Andrew’s School won by 37 runs.
It was a tough return to the top flight of the annual Finsbury League for Hoërskool Kempton Park on Saturday, with the visitors suffering a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat to Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria.
Parkies, perennial powerhouses in the competition, asserted their authority by brushing aside Kempies in a contest that lasted only 70.2 overs to claim their first victory of the new campaign.
Asked to bowl first on home soil, the Pretoria outfit made early inroads through Monré Koekemoer (1/16), before Jordan van Eck and Johan Bosch inflicted the bulk of the damage.
Van Eck, who shared the new ball with Koekemoer, was the home side’s leading bowler, claiming three wickets for 28 runs across two spells. He was ably supported by Bosch, who picked up 3/26 from his six overs.
With Kempton Park in deep trouble on 88/8, Kamogelo Matlala led a spirited resistance with a patient 39 runs. Useful contributions from Anthony Stockigt (25) and Hanroux Siemens (24) provided further support, which helped Kempies to a total of 146 all out.
In reply, Koekemoer once again played a decisive role, this time with the bat. He struck an unbeaten 45 from 65 deliveries, while Jacques de Villiers added a composed 25 not out as the pair’s unbroken 45-run partnership steered the home team to a comfortable victory.
The platform for the successful run chase had been laid by opening batsman, André Kruyshaar, who top-scored with a measured 49. His innings blunted the early threat posed by Matlala, who again impressed with the new ball, claiming two of the three wickets with successive balls in the sixth over, including the prized scalp of Jan-Willem Pienaar for a first-ball duck.
It was not enough to halt the momentum, however, as Hoërskool Menlopark opened their 2026 Finsbury League campaign with a commanding home victory.
Summarised scorecard
Hoërskool Kempton Park 146 (Kamogelo Matlala 39, Anthony Stockigt 25, Hanroux Siemens 24; Johan Bosch 3/26, Jordan van Eck 3/28); Menlopark 149/3 (André Kruyshaar 49, Monré Koekemoer 45*, Jacques de Villiers 25*; Kamogelo Matlala 2/26). Menlopark won by seven wickets.
Hoërskool Rustenburg after their 31-run victory over Potchefstroom Gimnasium, which booked them a place in the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region final on Sunday against St Andrew’s School. Photo: Provided.
Hoërskool Rustenburg underlined just how unpredictable the T20 format can be in the semi-final round of the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region playoffs on Saturday.
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Rusties pulled off a major upset on the Ibbies Oval, at North-West University, defeating the only unbeaten side in the competition, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, by 31 runs.
In Phase One of the competition, Rustenburg lost to Gimmies in the North West final, so Saturday’s win represented redemption of the highest order for last year’s North West champions.
Rustenburg’s bowling attack proved decisive. Thian Labuschagne, the leading wicket-taker countrywide in Phase Two of the tournament, added two more scalps to his tally, including that of the dangerous Christivan Coetzer with the second ball of the innings.
His remarkable tournament figures now read 11 wickets for 87 runs from four matches, with an exceptional strike rate of 8.4 balls per wicket and an economy rate of just 5.6 runs per over in the four matches he has played since Friday morning.
While Callie Fryer shares second place on the wicket-taking chart with eight dismissals, it was his contribution with the bat that made a greater impact in the semi-final showdown. He top-scored with a crucial 53 from only 42 balls, striking four fours and two sixes in the highest individual score for Hoërskool Rustenburg in their 151/3.
Augie Behrens and Hendri Kemp, meanwhile, supported Thian Labuschagne well and exerted further pressure by claiming a combined four wickets for 48 runs. Behrens was the most economical of the trio, nabbing 2/19.
Lukas Kotze (27) and Henré Cronjé (21) briefly revived Gimmies‘ hopes of a successful chase, but a couple of run outs halted their momentum, and Potchefstroom Gimnasium was restricted to 120 all out in 16.3 overs, well short of the victory target of 152.
In the other semi-final, on the NWU Main Oval, the Central Region’s defending champions, St Andrew’s School, booked their place in Sunday’s final with minimal fuss. Saints swept aside Hoërskool Trio, cantering to a convincing eight-wicket victory after dismissing the Kroonstad side for just 57.
Nikhil Sukraj, who, like Callie Fryer, boasts eight wickets from four matches, led the attack with figures of 3/19 and was ably supported by Schalk van Rensburg (2/11) and Erhard Barends (2/22).
What made the Bloemfontein side’s bowling performance particularly impressive was their discipline: across the 12 overs they bowled, not a single extra was conceded – a reflection of a championship-quality attack and a well-drilled unit.
On Sunday, Rusties will take a second shot at Saints after they lost by a big margin of 95 runs to the Bloemfontein boys on the first day. This time, though, a place in the national final of the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two competition will be on the line.
Trio 57 (Dylan Young 24; Nikhil Sukraj 3/19, Schalk van Rensburg 2/11, Erhard Barends 2/22); St Andrew’s School 58/2 (Dean Katzin 30*; Zothile Zwane 2/15). St Andrew’s School won by eight wickets.
An impressive victory on Saturday morning for the North West Switch Schools SA20Volume Two champions, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, has set up a mouth-watering rematch with their provincial runners-up, Hoërskool Rustenburg, in one of Saturday afternoon’s semi-finals in Potchefstroom.
Relive all the Switch Schools SA20action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Their six-wicket triumph over the Central Region’s defending champions, St Andrew’s School, saw Gimmiesadvance to the knock-out stage as the only unbeaten side in the tournament.
Opening batsman, Christivan Coetzer, chose the perfect moment to rediscover his best form. His match-defining 67 at the top of the order, which featured a telling late acceleration, came from just 45 deliveries and included five towering sixes and two fours.
He was well supported by Lukas Kotze, who contributed a fifty on day one. Kotze continued his fine run of form with a composed 31 as Gimmies completed a successful run chase off the first ball of the 20th over. For Saints, FG Botha came good, with his 49 from 42 balls playing a pivotal role in lifting the Bloemfontein side to a competitive total.
Rustenburg dominated their game against Hoërskool Kalahari. Tristan van der Linde led the way with the bat, recording his first half-century of the weekend, but it was a devastating spell from Callie Fryer that truly decided the contest. After contributing a valuable 33 with the bat, he ripped through the Kalahari top order, claiming 4/4 in a sensational three-over burst.
From the opposite end, Thian Labuschagne provided excellent support, capturing 3/18, and, between them, the pair shared seven wickets for only 28 runs in the opening eight overs, which effectively ensured a successful defence of their 140-run total. In the end, Rusties cruised to a 53-run victory.
Saints will meet Hoërskool Trio in Saturday afternoon’s second semi-final after the Kroonstad outfit outplayed St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College by seven wickets at the JB Marks Oval on Saturday morning.
Anthonie Pelser was the standout performer. He produced a devastating spell that wrecked the Kimberley side’s innings. After making an early breakthrough, he struck three times in a single over and finished with an exceptional 4/8 from his four overs, as St Patrick’s was skittled for just 62.
Summarised scorecards
St Andrew’s School 140/7 (FG Botha 49, Reuben van Aarde 28; Ruhann Steenkamp 2/21, Damian Kruger 2/24); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 142/4 (Christivan Coetzer 67, Lukas Kotze 31; Ryle Beckmann 2/25). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by six wickets.
Hoërskool Rustenburg 140/4 (Tristan van der Linde 50, Carl Fryer 33, Andries Fryer 22; Shane Corner 1/7); Kalahari 87/10 (Kopano Mosienyane 36; Carl Fryer 4/4, Thian Labuschagne 3/18). Hoërskool Rustenburg won by 53 runs.
St Patrick’s Brothers College 62/10 (Omphile Magwaca 17; Anthonie Pelser 4/8, Jayden Jones 2/0); Trio 66/3 (Dylan Young 26*, Pedri Wilken 24*; Daniel Feder 2/21). Trio won by seven wickets.
Semi Finals
Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Rustenburg – Ibbies Oval
St Andrew’s School vs Hoërskool Trio – NWU Oval
Reuben van Aarde in action during the Switch Schools SA20 2025 in Potchefstroom. Van Aarde is again a pivotal piece of the Saints’ batting order. Photo: Supplied.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium and the defending Central Region champions, St Andrew’s School, made early statements of intent on Friday in Potchefstroom, ending the day as the only unbeaten sides while laying down strong markers as potential finalists in the Switch Schools SA20 Phase 2 event.
Relive all the Switch Schools SA20 action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Gimmiesand Saintshead into the final round-robin matches on Saturday morning with perfect records after back-to-back victories on the opening day.
They meet on the Ibbies Oval at 09:00 in a contest that could prove to be a dress rehearsal before a rematch of the sides in the final.
On the North-West University Oval, Gimmies handed St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College their second defeat of the day. A composed 45 from Ulrich Botha at the top of the order, followed by an unbeaten 56 from Lukas Kotze off just 32 balls, laid the platform for the hosts to post a competitive 165/5 in their 20 overs.
With the ball, Tlhoni Thabatha’s probing line and length proved decisive as he claimed three wickets, which helped to restrict the Kimberley school to 86/8. Kieran Abrahams was the lone bright spark for St Patrick’s, finishing unbeaten on 34 from 39 deliveries in a valiant rearguard effort.
Saints, meanwhile, had to weather a stern examination from Hoërskool Rustenburg’s Thian Labuschagne and their fast bowling spearhead Callie Fryer at the JB Marks Oval.
Fryer, already named as a non-travelling reserve for the SA u19 World Cup squad, strengthened his credentials with a new-ball spell of 3/27, which left the Bloemfontein side in a challenging position on 53/3 after seven overs. Labuschagne then bettered that return by snaring 4/26.
A resilient lower-order batting effort, however, turned the tide. Heindré Serfontein contributed a vital 37 from only 28 balls, supported by 20 from opener, Jonathan Hickley, while 24 extras also boosted the Saints’ total, which finished on 176/9.
Their bowlers then delivered the most clinical collective display of the day. Bohlokwa Leheta was outstanding, returning 3/6 from four overs at a miserly economy rate of 1.5, while FG Botha added 2/31 as the Rustieswere restricted to 81/9 in response.
Hoërskool Kalahari’sJanco Noeth claimed the spotlight with the highest individual score of the day in a four-wicket victory over Hoërskool Trio, of Kroonstad. His explosive 63 came from just 27 deliveries and included four sixes and six fours.
Noeth and Myburgh de Klerk (33) also combined for a match-winning 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket, a result that could prove crucial with one round remaining before the semi-finals, with everything still to play for in the short format.
Summarised scorecards
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 165/5 (Lukas Kotze 56, Ulrich Botha 45, Christivan Coetzer 24; Otlwile Diphokoja 2/47); St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College 86/8 (Kieran Abrahams 34*; Tlhoni Tabatha 3/12). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 79 runs.
St Andrew’s School 176/9 (Heindré Serfontein 37, Extras 24, Johnathan Hickley 20; Thian Labuschagne 4/26, Carl Fryer 3/27); Hoërskool Rustenburg 81/9 (Andries Fryer 27; Bohlokwa 3/6, FG Botha 2/31). St Andrew’s School won by 95 runs.
Trio 148/7 (Zothile Zwane 32, Robbie van der Vyver 22*, Dylan Young 22, Myburgh Jacobs 20, Extras 20; Carl Thole 2/15, Kabelo Pitsoyakgosi 2/16); Kalahari 149/6 (Janco Noeth 63, Myburgh de Klerk 33; Pedri Wilken 3/25). Kalahari won by four wickets.
Nikhil Sukraj, of St Andrew’s School, in action during Phase 3 of the Switch Schools SA20 in March 2025. Photo: Switch Schools SA20 on Facebook.
The defending Central Region champions in the Switch Schools SA20, St Andrew’s School, and their chief rivals for the weekend’s playoffs, Hoërskool Rustenburg and Potchefstroom Gimnasium, all made winning starts on Friday morning in Potchefstroom.
Relive all the Switch Schools SA20 action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
At the JB Marks Oval, Nikhil Sukraj‘s leg spin proved decisive for St Andrew’s against Hoërskool Kalahari.
After Saintshad posted 142/6, the side from Kuruman was bundled out for just 68 in reply, with Sukraj’s four overs costing a mere 15 runs while yielding four wickets.
A disciplined bowling display from Wilrich Mostert (2/25) helped to restrict the Bloemfontein outfit to a moderate total after Saints had appeared set for something bigger following a 95-run opening stand between Johnathan Hickley and Dean Katzin.
Hickley registered the first half-century of the playoff weekend, striking a vital 58 off only 40 deliveries, and Katzin, the national u17 squash champion, weighed in with 39 from 35 before Sukraj took centre stage with the ball to dismantle the Kalahari line-up.
On the neighbouring fields at North-West University, both Hoërskool Rustenburg and Potchefstroom Gimnasium won comfortably.
The Rustiesaccounted for St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College on the Ibbies Oval, while the Gimmiesbrushed aside Hoërskool Trio on the main NWU Oval, with both sides recording five-wicket victories in low-scoring encounters. Rustenburg was set a target of just 81, while the Potch Gim required only 83. Spin, once again, played a central role in those matches.
For Rustenburg, Hendri Kemp was outstanding, returning figures of 3/12 from his four overs, while Thian Labuschagne shone with 2/13. For the Gimmies, opening bowler Damian Kruger, ironically a seam bowler, produced the best figures of the opening round, claiming 4/11 in his four overs. He was ably backed up by Ruhann Steenkamp (2/22) and Tlhoni Thabatha (2/26).
While all three fancied sides emerged victorious, the batting units of the North West schools will be keen to regroup after unconvincing run chases, which featured a series of soft dismissals, turning routine pursuits into uncomfortable exercises.
Summarised scorecards
St Andrew’s School 142/6 (Johnathan Hickley 58, Dean Katzin 39; Wilrigh Mostert 2/25); Kalahari 68/10 (Shane Corner 25; Nikhil Sukraj 4/15, Erhard Barends 2/15). St Andrew’s School won by 74 runs.
St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College 80 (Kieran Adams 29, Extras 25; Hendri Kemp 3/12, Thian Labuschagne 2/13); Hoërskool Rustenburg 81/5 (Tristan van der Linde 28; Gildo Masum 2/8, Otlwile Diphokoja 2/24). Hoërskool Rustenburg won by five wickets.
Trio 82/10 (Iwan du Plessis 25; Damian Kruger 4/11, Ruhann Steenkamp 2/22, Tlhoni Thabatha 2/26); Potchefstroom Gimnasium 86/5 (Bennet Keet 20*, Henré Cronje 18*; Zothile Zwane 2/19, Pedri Wilken 2/26). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by five wickets.
Christivan Coetzer on the attack for Potchefstroom Gimnasium against Hoërskool Middelburg in the quarter final of the Fain Noordvaal Series. Photo: Tap Light Edits.
The defending champions, St Andrew’sSchool, of Bloemfontein, will join three familiar contenders to contest the 2026 Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Central Region final, which brings together the leading schools from the Free State, Northern Cape, and North West.
The tournament returns to Potchefstroom, with matches being played at three venues. The JB Marks Oval, the North-West University Main Oval, and the NWU Ibbies Oval, the university’s second field, adjacent to the main ground, will host the three days of fiery T20 action.
St Andrews lifted the Free State title for a second successive year in 2025, ensuring that no other school in the province has claimed a Schools SA20 crown since the competition’s inception in 2024.
Among those expected to lead the charge are explosive batsmen FG Botha and Jonathan Hickley, both of whom starred in last year’s final, while the experienced leg-spin of Nikhil Sukraj adds further balance to a formidable Saints‘ line-up. They’ll be aiming to open up another opportunity to take a crack at the national title when phase three of the competition takes place at the University of Pretoria later in the season.
Saints will begin their title defence against the two-time Northern Cape champions, Hoërskool Kalahari. The Kuruman outfit surprised many by reaching the semi-finals last year in Potch, and they arrive with renewed confidence after a third-place finish at the recent Kovsie Smash in Bloemfontein.
That tournament showcased the strong form of bowlers, Janko Noeth and Liam Lang, while Louhan Noeth demonstrated his batting credentials with a combined 188 runs. With that trio leading the way, Kalahari is a dangerous opponent.
The third returning side, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, will enter as North West champions after dethroning Hoërskool Rustenburg in their provincial final. The Gimmies boast a well-balanced squad capable of challenging the strongest line-ups.
Their aggressive top-order spearhead Christivan Coetzer, who is viewed as their premier T20 batsman, will look to make full use of familiar home conditions, while the composed Ulrich Botha provides stability and class at the other end. Lukas Kotze showed up well against top opposition in the recent Peninsula Cricket Festival, too.
They begin their campaign against Hoërskool Trio, of Kroonstad, who showed flashes of their potential at the Kovsie Smash. The batting form of Myburgh Jacobs and the emerging threat of Iwan du Plessis with the ball make them a dark horse, particularly on the larger Potchefstroom fields.
Completing the quartet of returning teams is Hoërskool Rustenburg. They arrive with redemption in mind after an underwhelming 2025 campaign despite entering the regional final as the North West champions.
The Rusties remain a dangerous proposition, especially if their bowling spearhead, the rapid Callie Fryer, finds his rhythm early. Fryer’s raw pace, combined with his proven batting ability, which was highlighted by a monumental 149 during the provincial leg last season, gives Rustenburg genuine match-winning firepower. He will be complemented by the spin of Hendri Kemp, whose control could be pivotal in tandem with Fryer’s aggression.
The opening day will be headlined by a heavyweight clash between St Andrew’s and Hoërskool Rustenburg at the JB Marks Oval on Friday afternoon, setting the tone for another fiercely contested edition of the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region final.
St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College, from Kimberley, completes the line-up.
Fixtures
Friday – 16 January – 09:30
St Andrew’s School vs Hoërskool Kalahari – JB Marks Oval
Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Trio – NWU Oval
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)
Friday – 14:00
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs St Andrew’s School – JB Marks Oval
St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium – NWU Oval
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Trio – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)
Saturday – 17 January – 09:30
Trio vs St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College – JB Marks Oval
Hoërskool Kalahari vs Hoërskool Rustenburg – NWU Oval
St Andrew’s School vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)
Saturday will mark a historic moment in the Finsbury League as Hoërskool Kempton Park turns out in the A Section for the first time in 25 years.
The Kempies earned a return to the league’s top tier in February 2025 with a six-wicket victory over Hoërskool Nelspruit in Mbombela. That win sealed their promotion to the elite section, which consists of seven leagues featuring schools from across the Noordvaal region.
In the A Section, each side plays five round-robin matches, with the top two advancing to the final, scheduled for 21 February, at the home ground of the highest-ranked qualifier.
Kempton Park’s first test back among the elite will come on Saturday, 17 January, when they visit Pretoria’s Hoërskool Menlopark. The Parkieswill be well prepared after a productive showing at the recent Grey Festival in Gqeberha, where they recorded a notable victory over Glenwood and also accounted for the St Charles College Colts XI.
Menlopark boasts a balanced squad of proven campaigners and emerging talent. One of the new faces, Johan Bosch, has already made a strong impression. The all-rounder produced a Man of the Match performance against Glenwood, contributing an unbeaten 38 and outstanding bowling figures of 5/37.
Among the experienced core are Jan-Willem Pienaar, Monré Koekemoer, and the tall off-spinner Murray Hofmeyr. Pienaar, in particular, has impressed over the past three seasons with his flowing batsmanship, while Koekemoer’s batting consistency adds a further threat.
For the Kempies, much of the focus will fall on Sheldon Kruger, the linchpin of their batting order. He enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, highlighted by the only double century in the Noordvaal and outstanding performances at the CSAu17 Regional Week in December. Those efforts, and an injury to Xavier Coetzee, opened up his selection for the Northern Champions at the recent Cubs Week in Stellenbosch, where the side went unbeaten and claimed the title.
Kruger will also enjoy the support of the experienced Hanroux Siemens and Stian van Breda, who return for their final year at Kempton Park. They’ll be a crucial part of the middle order as they were when the Kempies dethroned Hans Moore as Easterns’ League champions. An intriguing battle between bat and ball awaits in the season opener.
Elsewhere in the Finbury League, the clash between Potchefstroom Volkskool and Hoërskool Rustenburg, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to 25 January due to the Rusties‘ involvement in the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region Play-offs in Potchefstroom. Meanwhile, Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Hoërskool Waterkloof meet on 21 January.
Hoërskool Garsfontein se nuwe afrigtingspan. Name in die foto van links na regs: Gustav Theunissen, Marinus van der Watt, Sylvester Booysen, Andries Bekker. Foto: Verskaf.
Hoërskool Garsfontein se Bere het op die vooraand van die 2026 skolerugbyseisoen sy afrigtingspan gevul met nuwe, baie ervare bloed.
Sylvester Booysen, die Bere se rugbydirekteur en nuwe hoofafrigter, het die ervaring van die Naka Bulle se agterlynafriger, Marinus van der Watt, en Andries Bekker nader geroep. Bekker, nog tot onlangs betrokke by die Bulle se Verenigde Rugbykampioenskap, sal vir Booysen as die Bere se voorspelerkonsultant bystaan.
Van der Watt, bekende in die Pretorianse rugby kringe, het al vier Carlton Bekers saam met die klub in Oos-Moot ingepalm, waarvan drie oor drie agtereenvolgende jare gestrek het. Van der Watt is sedert 2015 as hoofafrigter by die Naka Bulle betrokke.
Bekker het reeds in 2025 as lynstaankonsultant by die Noordvaal kampioen diens gedoen. Hý het 29 keer vir die Springbokke uitgedraf en ‘n merkwaardige 104 keer vir die Stormers, tussen 2005 en 2013 uigedraf.
Saam met Bekker, sal Springbok flank, Marcell Coetzee weer sy dienste aan die Bere bied. Coetzee het self al 31 keer vir die Springbokke uitgedraf en is tans steeds ‘n prominente lid van die Bulle se span VRK. Sý se ervaring wat afbreekpunte betref het reeds ‘n beduidende verskil in dié span se 2025 siesoen gehad. Agterlangs het Van der Watt die ondervinding van Oud-Springbok en Goue Leeus heelagter Andries “Boeboes” Coetzee.
Coetzee, ook 13 wedstryde as Springbok, se rol fokus meer en deels op verdediging, terwyl hy ook die stelskoppers onder hande neem.
Jacques van Rooyen, ex-Leeus en Bulle stut, sal vir nog ‘n jaar in beheer van die skrums wees. Armand Olivier is weer in beheer van kondisionering. Lezanné Vermaak sal weer ‘n prominente rol as fisioterapeut speel.
Boonop sal Hennign Gericke die Bere se bestuurspan verder, as spansielkundige versterk. Gericke was die kopdokter vir die Springbokke tydens die suksesvolle 2007 Wereldbeker toernooi in Frankryk.
Die Bere se paaie het aan die einde van 2025 met Johan du Plessis geskei. Du Plessis was vir 16 jaar ‘n hoeksteen van die Bere se sukses. Hy sal in 2026 Die Hoërskool Menlopark se agterlyn brei.
Ruan Steyn, of Hoërskool Eldoraigne, in full flow during his innings of 45 runs against Oos-Moot in the quarterfinals of the Kovsie Smash. Photo: Johan Badenhorst.
Hoërskool Eldoraigne was crowned the new Kovsie Smash champion after completing a superb five-day campaign with an unbeaten record in the T20 competition following a commanding victory in Friday morning’s final.
The Eldos faced what appeared to be their sternest test of the tournament when they took on their fellow unbeatens, HoërskoolTransvalia, in the title contest at the Fichardtpark Oval.
The Centurion outfit passed the challenge emphatically, cruising to a nine-wicket win with a huge 9.4 overs to spare.
Captain Rowan McLaren once again led from the front, rocking Valia early by capturing 3/4 from his four overs.
McLaren’s damaging spell opened the door for Heinrich Klue, who claimed 2/7, to take his tally for the tournament to 13 wickets. Leg-spinner Ruan Boshoff also enjoyed success, taking two wickets as Transvalia, under relentless pressure, mustered only 90 all out.
A last-wicket stand of 38 between top scorer Ashton Cachia (31*) and Eduann Raubenheimer (10) was the lone highlight for the Vanderbijlpark school.
Needing 91 to win, and with their batsmen, especially Benyael Morkel and Vince Lotz, in rich form, Eldoraigne chased down the victory target with ease.
Morkel finished unbeaten on 33 to end the tournament with an outstanding 282 runs, while Lotz raised his bat for another half-century, finishing on 50 not out exactly, to take his aggregate to 216 runs across the five days.
In the third-place playoff, Hoërskool Kalahari returned to winning ways with a clinical eight-wicket victory over the hosts, Hoërskool Fichardtpark.
Carl Thole anchored a successful run chase with an unbeaten 45 in pursuit of 131. Earlier, Janko Noeth had knocked over 3/21 to impair Fichies‘ batting effort.
In an all-Pretoria clash for fifth place, Hoërskool Overvaal edged out Oos-Moot by three wickets in a thrilling finish.
Zander Oliver laid the platform for victory, returning a superb 3/13 with the ball. Then, Ethan Kruger‘s 40 and a composed unbeaten 35 from Cameron van der Westhuizen sealed the win off the final ball of the match.
In a Bethlehem derby, Witteberg handed Voortrekker a six-wicket defeat. The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Xander Fourie, claimed 2/32, while Dumisani Johnson played his part by nabbing 2/30.
Fourie‘s strong influence continued with the bat. He struck a match-winning 69 not out and was lent strong support by Pieter Wessels, who contributed an unbeaten 36.
For a second day in succession, Christiaan Schoeman, of Hoërskool Driehoek, was a thorn in the side of HoërskoolDuineveld.
On Thursday, he scored a masterful 80 against the Upington side. On Friday, he bettered that, finishing with an unbeaten 90, the highest individual score of the day. That big innings lifted his aggregate to 364 runs, which made him the tournament’s leading run scorer.
With Schoeman to the fore, Driehoek completed a double over Duineveld, rolling to a convincing 73-run victory to close out their campaign.
Summarised scorecards
Final
Transvalia 90/10 (Ashton Cachia 31*; Rowan McLaren 3/4, Heinrich Klue 2/7, Ruan Boshoff 2/13); Eldoraigne 91/1 (Vince Lotz 50*, Benyael Morkel 33*; Declan Steinmann 1/35). Eldoraigne won by nine wickets.
Oos-Moot 119/7 (Elmar Theron 34*, Ian Labuschagne 20*; Zander Olivier 3/13, Cameron van der Westhuizen 2/24); Overvaal 121/7 (Ethan Kruger 40, Cameron van der Westhuizen 25*; Henco Erasmus 2/14, Marnus Broodryk 2/28). Overvaal won by three wickets.
Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers 188/2 (Nolan Roets 75*, Jacques Oosthuizen 70, Damian Pretorius 25*; Hennie Schoeman 2/40); Hoërskool Pietersburg 166/8 (Stephan Swanepoel 59, Alez Thomson 23; Pierre Joubert 2/31). Potchefstroom Volkskool Stayers won by 22 runs.
Trio 87/10 (Robbie van der Vyver 28; Henco Roets 4/12, Dean Harris 3/17); Hoërskool Sasolburg 90/3 (Liam Singleton 29*, Henco Toets 21*; WJ van Niekerk 2/10). Hoërskool Sasolburg won by seven wickets.
Voortrekker 167/6 (Vlag Janse van Rensburg 50*, Jayden Strydom 44, Thato Nthebere 30; Dumisani Johnson 2/30, Xander Fourie 2/32); Witteberg 168/4 (Xander Fourie 69*, Pieter Wessels 36*, WJ Geldenhuis 21; Janno Olivier 2/32). Witteberg won by six wickets.
Sentraal 119/10 (Damian Smith 38, Daniel Pienaar 25; Johan van Dyk 3/27, Cobus Wilken 2/12); Jim Fouché 120/2 (Jordan Vorster 64, Niel Wilken 29; Ruardt Kleynhans 1/23). Jim Fouché won by eight wickets.
Goudveld 125/5 (Jenadré Ferreira 49, Edrich du Plessis 22; Reinhardt Cronje 1/6); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 123/9 (Dovhan Wiese 31; Delan van Zyl 4/22, Edrich du Plessis 2/18). Goudveld won by two runs.
It was a tough return to the top flight of the annual Finsbury League for Hoërskool Kempton Park on Saturday, with the visitors suffering a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat to Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria.
