Author: wilouw

Die onderskeie rugbyligas in die sentrale streke begin amptelik hierdie naweek na die vakansie.

Welkom Gimnasium verwelkom vir Hoërskool Witteberg Saterdag in wat beloof om ‘n hoogtepunt van die naweek te wees, indien albei spanne hul beste voet voorsit.

Toe hulle verlede jaar mekaar in Bethlehem raakgeloop het was dit die “Swarttruie” wat die oorhand geniet het om vir Witteberg met 41-19 ore aan te sit.

Albei spanne het gemengde welslae tot dusver vanjaar behaal. Die Gimmies het ‘n paar strawwe kragmetings met spanne soos Grey-kollege en Hoërskool Monument agter die rug. By verlede maand se NMI Noord/Suid-toernooi het hulle eers met 36-26 vasgeval teen Hoërskool EG Jansen, voordat hulle vir Hoërskool Nelspruit met 24-20 kon klop. Hulle het die seisoen ook op ‘n hoë begin met ‘n sege van 31-13 oor Hoërskool Jim Fouché.

In 2023 het die manne van Welkom weekliks opwindende spel opgedis, en met ‘n hele paar van daardie groep wat vanjaar weer die swarttrui dra kan ondersteuners nóg sprankelrugby van die span te wagte wees, sodra hulle weer lekker gees en samehorigheid kan bewerkstellig.

Witteberg se seisoen het ook teen JF begin in Bloemfontein, waar die twee spanne gelykop gespeel het met 24-24, en hulle het daardie vertoning opgevolg met ‘n wegholsege van 51-8 oor Hoërskool Sentraal. By die onlangse Mauritz Hansen-rugbyweek kon hulle egter slegs een oorwinning, teen Northcliff High School, tot hul rekord voeg, na harde kragmetings met Ligbron Akademie en Hoërskool Bellville.

Die tuisspan se goue seun, Renaldo Kiewiet, het by Noord/Suid op heelagter begin uitdraf, nadat hy verlede jaar en aan die begin van hierdie seisoen uitgestaan het in die no. 10-trui. Leano Williams neem sy plek op losskakel in en sal, saam met skrumskakel, Rewaldo Farmer, ‘n belangrike rol speel om die giftige Welkom Gim-agterlyn aan die gang te kry.

Die besoekers het egter ook ‘n paar blitsige spelers in hul midde, met senter, Kenyon Morat, en losskakel, Sydwell Sethi, wat kan ore plattrek.

Voorlangs gaan die stryd tussen die losvoorspelers ‘n bepalende faktor wees. Die twee agstemanne, Ethan Jones (Welkom Gim) en Daniel Meintjies (Witteberg), is albei ook seniors in hul onderskeie spanne en wie van hulle  ookal sy stempel op die wedstryd kan afdruk, mag dalk die verskil maak hierdie naweek.

Die ander Griffonliga-bepaling vir die naweek speel af in Virginia, waar Hentie Cilliers Hoërskool vir Goudveld-Hoërskool ontvang.

Hoërskool Sentraal skop hul Vrystaatliga-bepalings af teen Landboudal.

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Die Tralies beleef weer ‘n moeilike seisoen tot dusver, maar het vroeër vanjaar teen Hoërskool Noord-Kaap gewys dat hulle gevaarlik kan wees wanneer hulle hul spelpatrone behoorlik kan uitvoer. Die manne van Kimberley moes sweet vir ‘n sege van 28-22 .

‘n Sege oor die Lanties is net wat die manne van Bloemfontein nodig het, maar die Jacobsdal-boere is nie ‘n span wat sommer gaan lê nie.

Senterpaar, Pat Cloete en CJ Hertzog, is twee van Sentraal se uitblinkers, maar hul direkte opponente is ook twee van Landboudal se kernspelers, die veteraan, Jan-Louis Nel, en kaptein, Divan Vorster.

Die spanne

Welkom Gimnasium t. Witteberg om 12:30:

Welkom Gimnasium: 15 Renaldo Kiewiet, 14 Hloni Mokotjo, 13 Dyllan Kemp, 12 Jayden Weideman, 11 Bokang Lesenyeho, 10 Leano Williams, 9 Rewaldo Farmer, 8 Ethan Jones, 7 Rylen Kirsten, 6 Rovaun van Niekerk, 5 Jayden Auld, 4 Diederik Beuken, 3 Alexander Olivier, 2 Kganya Molapo, 1 Buchle Ngxaabayi.

Hoërskool Witteberg: 15 Janco Swart, 14 Thabo Motheke, 13 JC van Rhyn, 12 Kenyon Morat, 11 Tshepo Motloung, 10 Sydwell Sethi, 9 Kirsten Fourie, 8 Daniel Meintjies, 7 Lesego Mosikidi, 6 Sakkie Brits, 5 Llewellyn Beukes, 4 Marco Grobler, 3 Rajesh Laubscher, 2 Jacques van der Merwe, 1 Rian Roos.

Hentie Cilliers t. Goudveld om 12:30:

Hoërskool Hentie Cilliers: 15 Joze Draaghoender, 14 Mosa Sesedi, 13 Kelebogile Mothibi, 12 Ashwon Mellen, 11 Xander Wiltshire, 10 Rorisang Mothibi, 9 Katleho Tau, 8 Owen Posholi, 7 Lebohang Lesito, 6 Rearabetswe Olifant, 5 Oyama Frans, 4 Dandre de Lange, 3 Lungile Samson, 2 Josay Sebia, 1 Oratile Pule..

Goudveld-Hoërskool: 15 Ru-Bran Kock, 14 Adriaan Muller, 13 Hendro Boardman, 12 Caleb Lottering, 11 KB Sonopo, 10 Ruben Crous, 9 JM Rensburg, 8 Malan Marx, 7 Thabiso Phafudi, 6 Hannes Fouche, 5 Wehan Mostert, 4 Heinru Carstens, 3 Marko van der Westhuizen, 2 Jan Coetzee, 1 Toka Khooe.

Hoërskool Sentraal t. Landboudal om 13:00:

Sentraal: 15 Jayden Betty, 14 Aiden Gotsch, 13 Pat Cloete, 12 CJ Hertzog, 11 Lee-Yagin Arendse, 10 Hendrik Jonker, 9 Schalk Linde, 8 Chris Kachelhoffer, 7 Janre Jardim, 6 Percy Reynolds, 5 DJ Bredenkamp, 4 Steven Smith, 3 EJ van der Berg, 2 Marnus Earle, 1 Van Zyl Hetzel.

Landboudal: 15 Marius Etzebeth, 14 Simeon de Klerk, 13 Divan Vorster, 12 Jan-Louis Nel, 11 Jannie de Waal, 10 Henko Truter, 9 Craven Crause, 8 Juhan van der Westhuizen, 7 Jaco Venter, 6 Brink Bruwer, 5 Gustav Nel, 4 Franke Fourie, 3 Ruan van Bosch, 2 Regard Scheepers, 1 Wianco Ludike.

Ander bepalings: 13:00 – Brandfort t. Heilbron; 14:55 – Kalahari t. Duineveld.

Last year, Hoërskool Strand fought back from a 0-17 deficit to draw 17-17 with Charlie Hofmeyr in Ceres. This weekend, the two proud schools take to the field again in a bid to find a winner.

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The Charlies have been on fire again this season, tasting early success at the Oakdale Klein Karoo Saadproduksie Rugbyweek in Riversdal where they annihilated the rest of the competition to book a spot in the finale against Hoërskool Brackenfell.

In the main event, they showed great character to claw their way back from an 11-point half-time deficit to win 15-14.

Strand was also at the event in Riversdal but was denied a clean streak by Hoërskool Lichtenburg. They came up just short, losing 18-19 to the team from the North-West.

Impressive victories over Hamiltons u19 at the Brackenfell Sports Day, as well as against Hoërskool Middelburg and Kemptonpark at Oakdale, have shown that the boys from Strand have what it takes, and they’ll be hoping that the home-field advantage is enough to give them an edge over the visitors.

Watch out for the Ceres outfit’s flyhalf, Luan Giliomee in combination with his inside centre, Philip du Plessis, this weekend. It was the duo’s synergy against Brackenfell that enabled Charlie Hofmeyr to steal the victory with two spectacular tries in the dying moments.

The experienced partnership of Tyron Nicholas, Heinrich April and Grezano Plaatjies in the home team’s backline can be equally as destructive, however. The trio formed part of the Strand squad that came close to a spectacular comeback against Charlies last year, and they’ll be aiming to take it one step further this weekend.

Meanwhile, there is more action in Wellington, where Hugenote takes on HTS Drostdy, and in Somerset West, where Parel Vallei hosts DF Malan.

Hoërskool Strand vs. Charlie Hofmeyr at 12:10

Hoërskool Strand: 15 Darren Dramat, 14 Lyle Julies, 13 Sherwin April, 12 Grezano Plaatjies, 11 Heinrich April, 10 Tyron Nicholas, 9 Jayden Steenkamp, 8 Ashraf Fanie, 7 Chrismar Prinsloo, 6 Eben Delport, 5 Dewald Barnard, 4 Wessel Cloete, 3 Cayden Theunissen, 2 Roeben Robinson, 1 Wiehan Adams.

Charlie Hofmeyr: 15 Jay-Jay Janse, 14 Zephinith Sass, 13 Keegan Kelly, 12 Phillip du Plessis, 11 Deolyn Isaac, 10 Luan Giliomee, 9 Izha-Vin van Wyk, 8 Gerhard Goosen, 7 Daniel Bakkes, 6 Tyrone Davids, 5 Le Roux Groenewald, 4 Jacob Kriel, 3 Duran Shiba, 2 Kyle Cardosa, 1 Aaron Richter.

Hugenote vs HTS Drostdy at 12:00

Hugenote: 15 Xavier Fredericks, 14 Heinrich Landsberg, 13 Ethan-John Isaacs, 12 Xavier Oktober, 11 Joshua Lewis, 10 Lian Wiid, 9 Hugo Steenkamp, 8 Alrich Humphreys, 7 Cullen Ruiters, 6 Brody Fortuin, 5 Brett Arendse, 4 Andre van der Westhuizen, 3 Eswin Apollis, 2 Kieran Smith, 1 Xavier Gertse.

HTS Drostdy: 15 Herald Mbuqa, 14 Adrian Vergotine, 13 Aljay Skippers, 12 Josh Fourie, 11 Pirlo Barron, 10 Stefan van der Merwe, 9 Caleb Cornet, 8 MJ van der Westhuizen, 7 Rianzo van der Westhuizen, 6 Jeandre Spangenberg, 5 Marcus Lee, 4 Pietie Erasmus, 3 Tertius Wantenaar, 2 Daniel Mellet, 1 Sandro Smit.

Other fixtures: 12:50 – Parel Vallei vs DF Malan

After an action-packed Easter break, the Cape Town schools are all back and ready to get the local season going in earnest this weekend.

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Wynberg Boys’ High seeks to continue their strong start to the season when they host Hoërskool Durbanville. – Link to Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Durbanville

Since they kicked off their season with an 84-3 mauling of Windhoek High at the Wynberg Rugby Festival, the Wynberg first team has shown no signs of slowing down. They followed up that performance with wins over St Andrew’s College and Kingswood College at the Bishops 175 Rugby Festival, and they’ll be intent on taking that rich vein of form into their clash with the Durbies on Saturday.

Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed has set the pace and spearheads his side’s attack with great success.

With flyers like Brandon Ashburner and Levi Brown in the backline, Wynberg will aim to overrun their visitors, while their big pack of forwards controls the game up front.

Durbanville has experienced a contrasting start to their season. It started with a tough day at the office against Paarl Boys’ High at the pre-season Porterville “Bulfees”, where they lost 7-73. Since then, they’ve also come up short against SACS, Waterkloof and Monument, so they’ll be anxious to get one in the winning column as soon as possible.

There are more than enough avenues to score in the Durbie lineup, with exciting young talents like Valrhino Olckers and Tobie Roelofse in their midst. However, playing against some of the toughest teams in SA early in the season, they haven’t been able to find their rhythm, but Wynberg will know that their challengers from the northern suburbs will be ready for a fight.

Meanwhile, SACS hosts Stellenberg and Milnerton plays away at Rondebosch Boys’ High. – Link to Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Milnerton

Rondebosch suffered an early 13-17 defeat to Oakdale Landbou but they’ve been unstoppable since then, recording wins over Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Kearsney College and Hoërskool Rustenburg.

Rondebosch hooker, Justin Amos, represented his school with distinction at last year’s Craven Week, as part of the Western Province squad, and his flyhalf, David Simon, played centre for the WP XV at that event.

Milnerton’s big ballcarrier, Frank Hitimana, made the Western Province Academy Week team in 2023, but even without a star-studded lineup, they’ve shown they mean business already this season with strong performances against Boland Landbou and St Charles College.

They’ve just returned from a tour to Namibia and will be excited about having an opportunity to upset ‘Bosch on their home field.

Stellenberg are still chasing a first win of the season after a tough start against powerhouses, Paarl Gimnasium, Noordheuwel and Affies, but the Jade Brigade will not be disheartened as they endeavour to prove they can compete with the big dogs in the Western Cape this year.

They will be targeting this weekend to make a statement against a crippled SACS side, who will be without their injured captain Seth Bradford and vice-captain Ben van Coller, as well as Thando Sithole and Quewinn Lackay. Their absence means starts for Matt Forbes, Siphe Mbungendlu, Daniel Grant and Endi Sidinile, while Nic Reynolds takes on the captain’s responsibilities.

Despite mixed results so far this season, SACS has shown potential and played some enterprising rugby. They will rely on their depth in talent to see them through against the visitors.

TEAMS

Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Milnerton at 12:15

Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Caleb Louw, 13 Randall John Davids, 12 Harry Soboil, 11 Shakeel Abrahams, 10 David Simon, 9 Caleb Belelie, 8 Alutha Wesi, 7 Matthys du Plooy, 6 Sebastian Boswell, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, 3 Abongile Nxazonke, 2 Justin Amos, 1 Matthew van der Merwe.

Milnerton: 15 Chadlin Sellidon, 14 Rami Moatshe, 13 Morgan Lodewyk, 12 Frank Hitimana, 11 Keagan Wood, 10 Chadwin Sellidon, 9 Devon Damons, 8 Keagan van Blerk, 7 Ethan Wilson, 6 Briint Davids, 5 Mathew Gabriel, 4 Keenan Togni, 3 Chadley Davids, 2 Keagan Harding, 1 Liam Ross.

Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Durbanville at 12:20

Wynberg Boys’ High: 15 Morne Noble, 14 Kunene Gadu, 13 Albert Lourens, 12 Brandon Ashburner, 11 Levi Brown, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Tyrone Gombe, 8 Torren February, 7 Aden da Costa, 6 Jamie Stride, 5 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Benjamin Matthews, 2 Xabiso Mkiva, 1 Luqobo Makwedini.

Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Valrhino Olckers, 14 Dale Martin, 13 Markus van der Walt, 12 Tobie Roelofse, 11 Zayde Cleophas, 10 Claydon Carlse, 9 Kyle Albertus, 8 Adrian Freemantel, 7 Tiaan Kearns, 6 Jayden Short, 5 Liebrecht Winterbach, 4 Murdoch van Dyk, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Juan Smit, 1 Hubert Winterbach.

Stellenberg vs SACS at 13:10

Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Luka Tonitz, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Pretorius, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Eben Rademan, 9 Christiaan van der Bijl, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Stefan Visser, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Daniël du Plessis, 3 Ryk Groenewald, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Dean Janse van Rensburg.

SACS: 15 Jack Benade, 14 Endi Sidinile, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Matt Carrick, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Connor King, 7 Daniel Grant, 6 Siphe Mbungendlu, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Callum Hirst, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Ethan Combrink.

 

Verlede seisoen se o. 19 A-rugbykampioen in die Wesgrow Sentrale Sportreeks, Hoërskool Fichardtpark, pak Saterdag hul buurskool en aartsvyand, Hoërskool Jim Fouché, in die Rosestad.

Die Fichies het ‘n staanplek in Bloemfontein vir die trofee verdien met ‘n uitstekende onoorwonne Wesgrow-veldtog in 2023, en in hul vorige kragmeting met JF was die Leeus met 39-33 baas. Na die reeks het JF nietemin die Fichies se droomseisoen effens bederf deur hulle in die eindstryd van die Vrystaat-liga met 31-25 te verslaan.

Hierdie naweek is ‘n liganaweek vir die spanne wat aan die Wesgrow-reeks deelneem, maar aangesien Fichardtpark en JF, asook Hoërskool Trio en Voortrekker Hoërskool, mekaar in hul onderskeie ligas raakloop, dien dit Saterdag terselftertyd ook as hul Wesgrow-bepalings.

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Fichardtpark kon nog nie vanjaar dieselfde ritme bereik wat hulle in 2023 tentoongestel het nie, maar, met gevaarmanne soos Martin Kalp en Duan Viviers in hul midde, ly dit geen twyfel dat hulle oor die vermoëns beskik om weer onder die voorste spanne in die reeks getel te word nie.

JF het in hul eerste wedstryd van vanjaar se reeks met 24-24 gelykop gespeel teen Hoërskool Witteberg, en moes in hul volgende wedstryd met 13-20 die knie buig teen Goudveld-Hoërskool. Hulle sal uiteraard gretig wees om hul eerste Wesgrow-sege van die seisoen agter hul naam te plaas.

Senter, Adrian de Necker, en flank, Franco Oberholzer, is tot dusver twee van JF se groot uitblinkers en sal Saterdag ‘n deurslaggewende rol hê om te vervul indien hulle harder as die Leeus wil brul.

Die stryd tussen die twee skrumskakels behoort ook interessant te wees. Devanté Claasen het verlede jaar reeds vir Fichardtpark by die Cravenweek verteenwoordig, terwyl sy direkte opponent, Brenden de Wee, wat, saam met sy broer, Breyten de Wee, verlede jaar nog vir Fichardtpark by die o. 16 Grant Khomo-week verteenwoordig het, vanjaar vir die JF-eerstes uitdraf.

Voortrekker het gedurende die skoolvakansie hul eerste NMI Noord/Suid-stryd teen Helpmekaar Kollege naelskraaps met 20-19 gewen, maar tydens die Paastoernooi by St John’s College het hulle gestruikel teen Hoërskole Nelspruit en Noordheuwel, so hulle sal gretig wees om terug te keer na die wenpad toe in Kroonstad die naweek.

Trio het gedurende die voorseisoen ook teen Noordheuwel verloor met 12-20, maar hulle het die Gautengers beslis meer laat sweet.

Die Trekkers se skrumskakel, Christiaan van der Sandt, sal weer ‘n vername rol hê om te vertolk, nie alleen wat sy stelskopwerk betref nie, maar ook aan die spits van bykans al hul aanvallende bewegings.

Voorlangs moet brekers soos Cecil Parsons en Arnold Ras die platform lê, terwyl losskakel, Adriaan Bonthuys, en heelagter, Kaneng Komane, agterlangs die toon moet aangee.

Die tuisspan se voorry, bestaande uit Juandré Vorster, Killian Kriek en Dandré Bloem, sal alles in die stryd moet werp om te verseker dat Trio die tempo beheer, anders kan dit ‘n lang dag raak.

Die manne van Bethlehem het reeds vroeër in die seisoen verlede jaar se kampioen, Fichardtpark, met 33-10 afgestof en het verlede jaar as die algehele wenners van die Wesgrow-reeks geëindig.

Die spanne:

Fichardtpark t. Jim Fouché om 13:30:

Hoërskool Fichardtpark: 15 Martin Kalp, 14 Ayanda Quinisa, 13 Duan Viviers, 12 Junior Titoti, 11 Divan Martens, 10 Pule Motsilili, 9 Devanté Claasen, 8 Wouter Jonker, 7 Janel du Plessis, 6 Marno Smith, 5 Pieter Tembo, 4 Buko Mlali, 3 Nathen Swanepoel, 2 MJ Hattingh, 1 Zaine van Zyl.

Hoërskool Jim Fouché: 15 Christian Strydom, 14 Heinrich Hattingh, 13 Adrian de Necker, 12 Hanro Marais, 11 Bendré Vermaak, 10 Allderick Johnson, 9 Brenden de Wee, 8 Qian Moller, 7 Franco Oberholzer, 6 Nathan van Breda, 5 JW Stone, 4 Brenden Weyers, 3 Darren Matthews, 2 Ian Nel, 1 JC van Niekerk.

Trio t. Voortrekker om 13:20:

Hoërskool Trio: 15 Byron Maggerman, 14 Thuto Kekane, 13 Franco de Wet, 12 Tyron Adams, 11 Aaron Kriek, 10 Byron Biennas, 9 Ethan Smith, 8 Keanu Swanepoel, 7 Pieter van Schalkwyk, 6 Tapiwa Mundeta, 5 Danie Fourie, 4 Dian Serfontein, 3 Juandré Vorster, 2 Killian Kriek, 1 Dandré Bloem.

Voortrekker Hoërskool: 15 Kaneng Komane, 14 Karabelo Chaka, 13 Frederik Fourie, 12 Craig Mann, 11 Kamohelo Moses, 10 Adriaan Bonthuys, 9 Christiaan van der Sandt, 8 Dawie Fourie, 7 Wian Fourie, 6 Jayden de Jesus, 5 Tristan Meyer, 4 Luttig Roux, 3 Cecil Parsons, 2 Arnold Ras, 1 Francois Maree.

 

Hoërskool Punt het einde Maart hulself deeglik laat geld by die jaarlikse Arthur Johnson-sportweek in Mosselbaai.

Dit was die 43ste keer dat die spogbyeenkoms in die Suid-Kaap aangebied is.

Skole van regoor die land het rugby-, hokkie- en netbalspanne gestuur om aan die byeenkoms deel te neem, maar daar was vanjaar niemand wat by die tuisskool kon kers vashou nie. Punt het skoonskip gemaak in die senior afdelings om in al vier sportsoorte as kampioene gekroon te word.

Die o. 19 A-rugbyspan het nie ‘n enkele teenstander oor hul doellyn gelaat gedurende hul drie wedstryde nie, terwyl hulle self die tuisondersteuners vergas het op 13 pragdrieë.

In hul eerste uitstappie het Punt vir Hoërskool Vredendal op ‘n drafstap met 24-3 verslaan. Daarna was daar eenvoudig geen keer aan die span van Mosselbaai nie en het hulle ook wegholseges oor Hoërskole Aliwal-Noord en Paul Erasmus behaal.

Vredendal het nietemin goed herstel om vir Hoërskool Adamantia, van Kimberley, met 32-0 af te stof, voordat hulle die toernooi afgesluit het met ‘n rillerstryd teen Aliwal-Noord, waar hulle  net-net met 10-5 kon seëvier.

Aliwal-Noord moes met 6-33 die aftog blaas teen Punt, maar die Aliwal-Noord “Buffels” het goed gevaar om die tuisspan in die eerste helfte taamlik opdraande te gee. Teen lemoentyd was die kragmeting nog wawyd oop.

Punt het egter in die tweede helfte totale beheer oorgeneem en drieë deur Wikus Smit (haker), Gabriel Hinkman (vleuel), Henro Kuhn (flank), Dean Vorster (flank) en Keanu Oktober (losskakel) het die tuisspan se uiteindelike oorheersing onderstreep.

Oktober was een van Punt se top-puntemakers en het in al drie hul wedstryde uitgeblink om ‘n vername bydrae te lewer tot die span se sukses.

Hoërskool Hopetown se eerstespan het hard geswoeg om ook die byeenkoms met ‘n wenrekord van 100% te voltooi, en kon uiteindelik welverdiend met Curro Mosselbaai (12-0), Hoërskool Middelburg (17-15) en Hoërskool Wolmaransstad (17-13) afreken.

Na afloop van die byeenkoms is daar ‘n groep van 70 seuns aangewys wat teen die einde van die jaar na die eiland van Malta sal toer.

Puntemakers:

Hoërskool Punt 31 – Drieë: Keanu Oktober, Jeandre Pieterse, Gabriel Hinkman, Dailen Daniels, Henro Kuhn. Doelskoppe: MC Barnard, October. Hoërskool Paul Erasmus 0.

Hoërskool Punt 33 – Drieë: Wikus Smit, Gabriel Hinkman, Henro Kuhn, Dean Vorster, Keanu Oktober. Doelskoppe: Oktober (4). Hoërskool Aliwal-Noord 6.

Hoërskool Punt 24 – Drieë: Wikus Smit, Keanu Oktober, Anton Lombaard. Strafdoele: Oktober (3). Hoërskool Vredendal 3.

Al die uitslae

Dag 1

o. 19 – Punt 24, Vredendal 3; Hopetown 12, Curro Mosselbaai 0; Aliwal-Noord 26, Adamantia 5; Grens 47, Douglas 10; Stella 5, Hillcrest Sekondêr 0; Curro Langebaan 7, Wolmaransstad 7; Paul Erasmus 7, Hartbeespoort 0; Pro-Ed Akademie 25, Kirkwood 5; Hartswater 19, Hoërskool Middelburg 10.

o. 16 – Punt 19, Duineveld 14; Strand 14, Swartland 0.

Dag 2

o. 19 – Punt 33, Aliwal-Noord 6; Pro-Ed Akademie 29, Grens 5; Paul Erasmus 48, Stella 10; Curro Langebaan 21, Punt II 5; Hopetown 17, Hoërskool Middelburg 15; Wolmaransstad 10, Hartswater 5; Hartbeespoort 17, Curro Mosselbaai 6; Vredendal 32, Adamantia 0; Kirkwood 26, Douglas 19.

o. 16 – Strand 24, Punt 12; Swartland 20, Duineveld 7.

Dag 3

o. 19 – Punt 31, Paul Erasmus 0; Douglas 3, Hoërskool Middelburg 0; Hopetown 17, Wolmaransstad 13; Grens 19, Kirkwood 10; Adamantia 31, Stella 5; Vredendal 10, Aliwal-Noord 5; Hartbeespoort 7, Hartswater 5; Curro Langebaan 21, Curro Mosselbaai 6.

o. 16 – Punt 0, Swartland 0; Strand 14, Duineveld 7.

 

King Edward VII turned the tables on the visiting Bishops Diocesan College in the finale of the 20th Standard Bank KES Easter Festival, storming to a convincing 45-8 victory on Monday.

Watch all the action on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the event

The Red Army came into the battle without their general, Vusi Moyo, who picked up a knock during their 7-22 loss to Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday. With strong backing from the home crowd, who came out to support in their masses, KES were fired up from the get-go.

After 12 minutes of a physical back and forth between the two sides, the hosts drew first blood through their lively winger, Haniel Monkoti. He went on to score a brilliant hat-trick of tries, playing a leading role in helping his team finish the weekend’s festivities on a high note.

Fullback, Indi Mboniswa, took over the kicking duties from Moyo and executed his assignment with great accuracy throughout the game.

After Monkoti’s opening score, KES doubled their lead five minutes later, when their big no. 8, Kebotile Maake, barrelled over three Bishops defenders to score.

The visitors responded with an excellent try, rounded off by burly flanker, Imma Magongwa, after quick thinking by their little scrummy, Max Marr. The young halfback was called to take on the role after an injury to their regular no. 9, Kashief Joseph, during the Bishops 175 Festival.

He did well to handle the pressure and give the Capetonians front-foot ball, but the KES defence was relentless, with players like Nathan van der Merwe putting in massive hits.

After the break, the boys in red launched an all-out attack, with their powerful SA Schools hooker, “The Rhino”, Esethu Mnebelele, breaking clean through after the kick-off and storming 60m before feeding Monkoti, who went over for his second five-pointer.

That seemed to knock the wind out of Bishops’ sails and, while lock Michael Bownes and replacement hooker, Dylan Piek, made further inroads on the scoreboard for KES, Bishops mustered only a single penalty by fullback Lucca Mynhardt in reply.

Mnebelele was phenomenal for KES, but Piek also played exceptionally well when he came on in his place, which demonstrated the Red Army’s depth this season. In fact, by the end of the match, KES had emptied their bench, which was a response to a taxing run of fixtures over the last couple of weeks, and all of their replacements met the challenge admirably.

Moyo made an appearance late in the game, and it wasn’t long before he showed off his play-making ability, which tore apart the Bishops’ defence and put Monkoti away for his hat-trick.

Fittingly, Moyo then rounded off the match with a try of his own, to put the visitors to bed at 45-8.

Following on a loss to Boishaai in their first match, it was a sweet victory for the home side.

The last time these two sides met was in 2015, at Jeppe’s 125th Festival, when Bishops recorded a 33-15 victory, thanks to tries by Andre Manuel, Tristan Leyds and Seb Prentice, with Cornel Smit adding the extras.

KES’s flyhalf that day was Tony de Zorzi, who captained the SA team at the following year’s u19 Cricket World Cup and went on to earn his first test cap for South Africa in 2023.

Jeppe High School for Boys showed their recent win over Grey College was much more than a flash in the pan with a runaway victory against Brandwag.

The visitors from Uitenhage struck twice through the boot of their captain and flyhalf, Lu-Crain Muggels, but the majority of the match was one-way traffic as Jeppe ran in nine tries to continue their excellent run of form.

Lock, Luke Cannon, went over for a double and his flyhalf Matthew Coetzee added seven conversions as Jeppe delivered a resounding win, with the entire squad combining well.

Parktown Boys’ High took an early lead when their fullback, Thepiso Tladi, dotted down, thanks to a great assist by Promise Kanda, but Dale College clawed their way back to triumph 30-15.

Selborne College bounced back after a loss to Pretoria Boys High on Saturday with a strong outing against Hoërskool Eldoraigne.

Inside centre, Siya Sakhela, was on fire and contributed two tries to the Eastern Cape outfit’s total. His scrumhalf, Page Fennel, wore his kicking boots and weighed in with 11 points off the tee.

Results and scorers

King Edward VII 45 (14) – Tries: Haniel Monkoti (3), Kebotile Maake, Michael Bownes, Dylan Piek, Vusi Moyo. Conversions: Indi Mboniswa (5). Diocesan College 8 (5) – Try: Imma Magongwa. Conversion: Lucca Mynhardt.

Jeppe 59 (38) – Tries: Luke Cannon (2), Sanele Simelane, Matthew Coetzee, André Poulton, Lagan Leisher, Mcmillen Mongwana, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Nathan Claassen. Conversions: Coetzee (7). Brandwag 6 (3) – Penalties: Lu-Crain Muggels (2).

Dale College 30 (13) – Tries: Lakhanya Mbewu, Lilitha Mgijima, AN Other (3). Conversion: Owethu Mpondo. Penalty: Mpondo Parktown Boys’ High 15 (7) – Tries: Thepiso Tladi, Owami Phambuka. Conversion: Kelvin Kotey. Penalty: Kotey.

Selborne College 31 (14) – Tries: Siya Sakhela (2), Josh Cloete, Gcina Puzi. Conversions: Page Fennel (4). Penalty: Fennel. Hoërskool Eldoraigne 3 (3) – Penalty: JP Meyer.

 

Paarl Boys’ High kept their unblemished record for the season intact with a victory over an energetic Pretoria Boys High outfit on the final day of the Standard Bank KES Easter Festival.

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Fullback, Tebogo Nchabeleng, got the crowd on their feet early on as he nonchalantly struck over a drop goal to give the Pretoria boys a leg up within the first five minutes of Monday’s match.

The Paarl powerhouse responded swiftly, though, with their electric winger, Shane Lee Simonse, stretching over the line for the first try of the day.

Simonse doubled his team’s total, about 15 minutes later, as he stepped his way around the Pretoria Boys’ defence to go over for his second, which fullback, Francois van der Merwe converted, for a 12-3 lead at the break.

Despite trailing by nine, the challengers were causing problems for Boishaai, with Tumisho Motswi spearheading the Pretoria Boys’ High efforts.

Some changes in personnel after halftime saw Boishaai gain more dominance up front, but they could not immediately turn that advantage into points. Eventually, hooker Christiaan Grundling drove over after a period of sustained pressure on the Pretoria Boys High try line from a well-worked lineout move.

To their credit, though, the Pretoria boys kept battering at the Paarl defensive lines, and they were finally rewarded for their efforts when flanker Seth Venter, sniping around a ruck, scored their first and only try.

The final quarter of an hour saw both sides let a couple of chances slip through their fingers, and with only 11 points between them, it was anyone’s game.

When Grundling went over for his second five-pointer, he drove the final nail in the Pretoria Boys High coffin to secure a second win at the event for Paarl, who beat KES 22-7 on the opening day.

While Paarl will be happy with another win, they certainly have more to offer. Pretoria Boys High will take some positives out of their performance, especially their committed defence, which kept the Western Cape giants at bay for large periods in the game.

Boishaai’s fixture against Oakdale in Paarl next Saturday is an exciting opportunity to see them square up against an in-form, attacking side.

Their backline has been inventive and energetic so far this season, but the Oakdale boys have already tripped up a number of big sides this year, including Helpmekaar (41-22) and Garsfontein (23-17) at last week’s NMI North/South tournament, and Rondebosch Boys’ High (17-13) at the Wynberg Boys’ High Rugby Festival.

The second day’s action began with Ben Vorster taking on Queen’s College.

The little scrumhalf from Tzaneen, Pontsho Selowa, stood out for his side with a couple of brave tackles on defence, and for trying to inject some energy into their attack.

It was, however, his opposite number from the Eastern Cape, Ryan Denston, who ran the show on the day.

He spearheaded the Queen’s attack as they brushed off Ben Vorster, scoring 38 points without a reply.

His fullback, Mveli Mqulo, scored the first try after eight minutes of play and then rounded off the game neatly when he scored his second in the final five minutes.

Hudson Park speedster, Likho Gidi, scored a stunner against Northwood, turning on the jets for a 70m dash to score.

The KZN outfit outgunned Hudson Park, however, running in six tries for another convincing victory, this time by a 40-8 margin, after outscoring Ben Vorster 50-0 on day one.

Flyhalf, Siya Nkosi, led from the front, putting his side on the front foot against their opponents from the Eastern Cape.

Results and scorers, Day Two

Paarl Boys’ High 24 (12) – Tries: Shane Lee Simonse (2), Christiaan Grundling (2). Conversions: Francois van der Merwe (2). Pretoria Boys High 8 (3) – Try: Seth Venter. Drop goal: Tebogo Nchabeleng.

Northwood 40 (19) – Tries: Tusani Zondo, Reuben Vos, Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, Bongane Khumalo, Kwenzo Dlamini, Lian Terblanche. Conversions: Graeham de Swardt (5). Hudson Park 8 (8) – Try: Likho Gidi. Penalty: D’Angelo Snayers.

Queen’s College 38 (26) – Tries: Mveli Mqulo (2), Jameel Fleshman, Ryan Denston, Ahluma Mbinqo, Angalakha Magongoma. Conversions: Denston (4). Ben Vorster 0.

Results and scorers, Day Two

Queen’s College 38 (26) – Tries: Mveli Mqulo (2), Jameel Fleshman, Ryan Denston, Ahluma Mbinqo, Angalakha Magongoma. Conversions: Denston (4). Ben Vorster 0.

Paarl Boys’ High 24 (12) – Tries: Shane Lee Simonse (2), Christiaan Grundling (2). Conversions: Francois van der Merwe (2). Pretoria Boys High 8 (3) – Try: Seth Venter. Drop goal: Tebogo Nchabeleng.

Northwood 40 (19) – Tries: Tusani Zondo, Reuben Vos, Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, Bongane Khumalo, Kwenzo Dlamini, Lian Terblanche. Conversions: Graeham de Swardt (5). Hudson Park 8 (8) – Try: Likho Gidi. Penalty: D’Angelo Snayers.

Selborne College 31 (14) – Tries: Siya Sakhela (2), Josh Cloete, Gcina Puzi. Conversions: Page Fennel (4). Penalty: Fennel. Hoërskool Eldoraigne 3 (3) – Penalty: JP Meyer.

Dale College 30 (13) – Tries: Lakhanya Mbewu, Lilitha Mgijima, AN Other (3). Conversion: Owethu Mpondo. Penalty: Mpondo Parktown Boys’ High 15 (7) – Tries: Thepiso Tladi, Owami Phambuka. Conversion: Kelvin Kotey. Penalty: Kotey.

Jeppe 59 (38) – Tries: Luke Cannon (2), Sanele Simelane, Matthew Coetzee, André Poulton, Lagan Leisher, Mcmillen Mongwana, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Nathan Claassen. Conversions: Coetzee (7). Brandwag 6 (3) – Penalties: Lu-Crain Muggels (2).

King Edward VII 45 (14) – Tries: Haniel Monkoti (3), Kebotile Maake, Michael Bownes, Dylan Piek, Vusi Moyo. Conversions: Indi Mboniswa (5). Diocesan College 8 (5) – Try: Imma Magongwa. Conversion: Lucca Mynhardt.

 

On Saturday, at the 20th annual Standard Bank King Edward VII Easter Festival, Paarl Boys’ High continued an early season run which has seen them assert their authority over a number of teams who either upset or came close to upsetting them last season.

In 2023, KES made them sweat for a 10-8 victory at the Easter Festival, but this time around they put some daylight between themselves and the hosts.

Imposing themselves on the Red Army, Boishaai stormed to a 19-7 lead in the first half. In a mirror image of last year’s game, King Edward VII only got on the board through a try by their big hooker, Esethu Mnebelele, and a conversion from the trusty boot of their flyhalf, Vusi Moyo.

Boishaai, though, found it slightly easier on this occasion to pry open the KES defensive line. The hosts were first on the scoreboard, but it didn’t take long for Paarl Boys’ High to reply through flanker, Steph van der Merwe.

In the opening 35 minutes, the home side looked dangerous and camped in Paarl’s danger areas while enjoying a surfeit of possession. Despite that, they simply couldn’t find a way to turn the pressure into points. The visitors, meanwhile, made use of every opportunity they created.

Further tries by winger Ashwin Swarts and flyhalf Viaan Mentoor saw the Western Cape side take a comfortable 12-point lead into the break.

In the second half, KES did a better job of containing the Paarl outfit, despite Boishaai enjoying more time with the ball, and the only points added came off of Mentoor’s boot. The damage, however, had already been done and Paarl Boys’ High continued their perfect start to the season.

Mnebelele, the sole try scorer for the Red Army, also led the locals’ defence, making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown points. He was, without a doubt, the standout performer for his side, but Mentoor and Co simply had too much firepower, even though the score could have been closer.

KES will rue a couple of missed chances, with 50/50 passes not going to hand. But Boishaai could have been more destructive in the second half.

For Paarl, flanker Ruben Dames stood out, alongside Mentoor.

A positive start put Dale College into a 12-5 lead early on in their match against Bishops Diocesan College. But the Cape Town school fought their way back into the contest and ultimately outclassed Dale to score a comprehensive victory.

Bishops opened the scoring through outside centre, Alex Laspatzis, within the first five minutes, but Dale struck back with two quickfire tries, which rattled their opponents briefly.

Bishops, however, stuck to their game plan and that paid dividends as they soon they took control of the match.

Flyhalf Jordan Petersen dotted down twice to contribute 10 points and his fullback, Lucca Mynhardt, matched him by contributing 10 points with his boot.

In Monday’s finale, Bishops takes on a wounded KES team. It’s a match-up of styles that could very well produce one of the highlights of the weekend.

After a difficult run of games at the NMI Toyota North-South Tournament, Pretoria Boys High bounced back to beat Selborne College 26-21.

Following an end-to-end first half, the Pretoria boys took control of the match, with their flanker, Panayiotis Ellinas crossing the Selbornians’ try line twice.

Paarl Gim outclassed PBHS at the North-South Tournament and another massive challenge awaits the Pretoria side when they face Gim’s arch-rivals, Paarl Boys’ High, on Monday.

Jeppe High School for Boys proved that last week’s win over Grey College was far from a one-off. It was, rather, a sign of what’s to come.

Fullback Sanele Simelane starred for the Johannesburg school, scoring two tries as they brushed aside Queen’s College 47-6.

They face Brandwag next, and Brandwag suffered a 50-point defeat against Northwood earlier in the day. If the Jeppe boys can maintain their current rhythm, their opponents could be in big trouble on Monday.

Results and scorers

Paarl Boys’ High 22 (19) – Tries: Steph van der Merwe, Ashwin Swarts, Viaan Mentoor. Conversions: Mentoor (2). Penalty: Mentoor. KES 7 (7) – Try: Esethu Mnebelele. Conversion: Vusi Moyo.

Jeppe 47 (19) – Tries: Sanele Simelane (2), Risima Khosa, Leruo Dithagiso, Macmillen Mongwana, Nathan Claassen, Luke Cannon. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (6). Queen’s College 6 (3) – Penalties: Ryan Denston (2).

Pretoria Boys’ High 26 (12) – Tries: Panayiotis Ellinas (2), Thapelo Mphela, Stephen Adams. Conversions: Tebogo Nchabaleng (3). Selborne College 21 (7) – Tries: Siya Sakhela, Oliver Schmidt, Luke McGregor. Conversions: Page Fennel (3).

Diocesan College 47 (33) – Jordan Petersen (2), Alex Laspatzis, Alex Smith, Max Marr, Nic Reid, Aza Gabada. Conversions: Lucca Mynhardt (5), Ammar Laatoe. Dale College 24 (12) – Tries: Oyama Kuse, Liyabona Matyana, Lakhanya Mbewu, Phikolomzi Mtyalela. Conversions: Mtyalela (2).

 

Hoërskool Eldoraigne came from behind to score a narrow 17-12 win over Ben Vorster on the first day of the Standard Bank King Edward VII Easter Festival on Saturday.

The last time the two sides met was in 2019, when they did battle in the “Virseker Beker” final. The boys from Tzaneen were victorious by 37-36 on that occasion, but the Eldos turned the tables this time.

Ben Vorster opened the scoring through their lightning-quick winger Damian Bye, before scrumhalf Darren Bruwer replied to open Eldoraigne’s account.

The big flanker from Tzaneen, Chifu Banda, drove over for Ben Vorster’s second try to put them in front at the break, but Eldoraigne didn’t allow them over the try line in the second half.

Scrumhalf Bruwer was involved everywhere on the field for Eldoraigne and, after scoring the first try, he also played a hand in getting into his side into position for Jayden Niehaus and Victor Koopmans to go over and earn Eldoraigne a hard-fought victory.

Northwood produced a dominant and complete performance against Brandwag to open their campaign with a convincing win.

Despite some of the big boys from Brandwag, like Jano Gerber, flattening a few of the Northwood attackers with huge tackles, the KZN boys stuck to their structures to run up 50 unanswered points.

Northwood’s hooker Werner van Niewenhuizen stormed over for a brace of tries, while flyhalf Ramutuku Sikhakhane contributed 20 points with two tries and five conversions.

The battle between Hudson Park and Parktown Boys’ High was poised on a knife’s edge for most of the contest. It took 44 minutes before Kelvin Kotey scored the first points at this year’s festival with a penalty to give Parktown a narrow advantage going into the final quarter.

Hudson Park stuck to their structures, though, and were rewarded when their big prop, Limandla Sonjani, powered his way over for the first try.

Kotey responded with another well-struck penalty to edge his team ahead by one point, but a brilliant individual effort by Hudson’s lively inside centre, Jacqyl Wright, saw him dive over for the winning try with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.

Despite the low score, the opening match was a fascinating arm-wrestle.

Hudson Park’s industrious no. 8, Siyanthanda Klass, made his presence felt on defence, and scrumhalf, Landile Gidi, played a central role in directing their attack.

Northwood and Hudson Park square off on Monday in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Hudson’s first win came off the back of the work they did on defence, but they will need to be even more clinical to contain the boys from Durban, who showed they can pounce on any opportunity.

Scorers

Hoërskool Eldoraigne 17 (5) – Tries: Darren Bruwer, Jayden Niehaus, Victor Koopmans. Conversion: JP Meyer. Ben Vorster 12 (12) – Tries: Damian Bye, Chifu Banda. Conversion: Pontsho Selowa.

Northwood 50 (31) – Tries: Werner van Nieuwenhuizen (2), Ramutuku Sikhakhane (2), Graeham de Swardt, Bongane Khumalo, Kwenzo Dlamini, Siya Nkosi. Conversions: Sikhakhane (5). Brandwag 0.

Hudson Park 12 (0) – Tries: Limandla Sonjani, Jacqyl Wright. Conversion: D’Angelo Snayers. Parktown Boys’ High 6 (0) – Penalties: Kelvin Kotey (2).