Author: wilouw

Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka burst onto the junior cricket scene last year when he stepped into the limelight at the u19 Cricket World Cup. His coaches and teammates will, however, tell you that his talent has long been evident, and his success comes as no surprise to those who have seen him grow as a player over the years.

After being called up to the u19 squad in grade 10, he has since become a key cog in the leadership group of the team. He has also enjoyed success in the professional environment as part of the SA A squad, the SA Emerging team, and now, the Paarl Royals, who have signed the exciting young talent from St Stithians for next season’s SA 20 competition.

“Next year is going to be challenging, but it’s going to be extremely fun”, Kwena said about the forthcoming season. “It’s a privilege and an honour to be a part of groups like the SA Emerging and Paarl Royal squads.

“Once you step into a professional environment you can feel the difference. The mindset is different, the coaches are different, and the playing level is higher. It definitely teaches you how to deal with things like pressure.”

But pressure does not seem to bother Kwena much. Having proved himself on some big stages already, he said he relishes the challenge.

“Personally, I felt that when I got into that high-pressure environment, I actually learned to enjoy the pressure quite a bit.”

One such example came at the u19 World Cup, where he not only witnessed Dewald Brevis’s masterful batting, but also had the opportunity to prove his mettle against Sri Lanka. He recalled: “It just felt like an opportunity to show the world what I’ve got, and being able to make the most of it was a really special feeling.”

In that match, despite South Africa going down, the young talent from St Stithians made a lasting impression. He’s one of the few left-arm quicks in the country able to sustain a constant, challenging probing attack.

Kwena’s cricketing talent was recognised even before he reached primary school. He recalled: “We had a mini-cricket tournament, and I remember the coaches telling my parents that they would need to buy me some cricket equipment because I would be playing for the A team the next year, alongside the third graders.”

His early development was shaped by his brother, Tetelo, who played a significant role in igniting his passion for cricket. “I started playing cricket as soon as I could walk,” Kwena said, remembering the countless hours he spent playing garden cricket, with a mini-bat and a tennis ball, with his older brother.

Older by six years, and a talented sportsman in his own right, Tetelo plies his trade at the Imperial Lions as an all-rounder. He’s also a left-arm bowler, but he doesn’t possess the pace of his younger sibling.

Kwena gives credit to his family for being a dependable support system along each step of his cricket journey. “I have a very strong support system in my parents and my brother, and a few coaches who I remain close to, who I have trusted with my cricket career completely along the way.”

Born and bred in Johannesburg, he also calls Limpopo home, as both his parents hail from the region. He joined St Stithians in grade eight and found himself in the first team by the end of grade nine.

Kwena acknowledges the profound impact the school and its cricket department have had on him. “I think they have shaped me in a number of ways to become a better person. There’s a lot that you learn on the cricket field, and a lot that you learn in a classroom that’s not necessarily even school-related.”

With another full season at St Stithians awaiting him next year, in addition to national and club commitments, Kwena remains focused on the present. “Our focus for the season is definitely on winning the Johnny Waite [T20 Knockout Tournament], and my personal goal for the team would be to go unbeaten for the rest of the season.”

As for the future, he is keeping his options open. “I’m not currently committed to anywhere after matric, but there are a few conversations going on. I think I would probably like to stay in Joburg, but my main focus right now is school and passing matric.”

Kwena isn’t just a cricket enthusiast; he’s a versatile athlete. He’s added provincial colours in tennis and hockey, to go along with his cricketing achievements.

He enjoys tennis, hockey and golf as a means to unwind when he’s not dealing with the demands of cricket. He’s also passionate about music and reading. “A coffee in one hand, a book in the other, it’s amazing,” he said.

His cricketing hero, he revealed, is the great South African fast bowler, Dale Steyn. He said he admires Steyn’s bowling style, and he has sought to incorporate some of Steyn’s characteristics into his own game. He fondly recalls watching Steyn charging in to bowl.

“Seeing the things he could do with the ball, seeing his aggression, watching the fiery way he played the game, was really exciting as a youngster. There are definitely a few characteristics of his that I have tried to develop in my own game,” Kwena concluded.

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In a remarkable display of leadership and skill, Queen’s College‘s first team captain, Ryan Denston, steered his side to a resounding victory over Cambridge High School on the weekend.

Denston’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, as he scalped eight batsmen, executed a crucial catch, and conceded a mere 15 runs, to help secure a memorable win for his team.

Denston’s bowling form bodes well for the exciting young talent as he prepares to take part in the final SA u19 selection camp this weekend. If he can maintain this level of performance, it will be hard for the SA selectors to ignore him.

On Saturday, Cambridge won the toss and elected to take to the middle first, hoping for a solid innings to put pressure on their Border rivals.

While their openers did their job well, surviving the initial Queen’s College bowling attack for the first 14 overs, Denston helped with the first dismissal, catching Alizwa Cekiso off a delivery by his teammate, Kholosa Klaas.

Following Klaas’s over, Denston took up the charge himself, striking down his first victim with the second delivery of his very first over.

Aqhama Mdlulwa showed some intent for Cambridge, hitting the only two sixes of the match, and Caleb Shaup defended well, but Denston’s accuracy meant his side ended the Cambridge innings nearly 20 overs shy of their allotment, leaving Queen’s needing only 97 runs for victory.

Shaup then fought spiritedly for Cambridge, capturing a wicket in the first over of the Queen’s reply, before also dismissing Lukan Hyke, Queen’s College’s top scorer, for 31.

Beaneo Maytham and Akho Ngesi did well to see out the game, though, taking their team to the 97 required in only 17 overs.

The Queenstown boys will seek to continue their momentum this coming weekend when they face Selborne in their final fixture of the year.

Summarised scorecard:

Cambridge High School 96 (Extras 26, Sange Sakuda 25; Ryan Denston 8/15); Queen’s College 97/2 (Lukan Hyke 31, Beaneo Maytham 24*, Akho Ngesi 21*; Caleb Shaup 2/23). Queen’s College won by eight wickets.

Hard work paid off for Durban High School on Saturday, as they saw off the visiting Maritzburg College by four wickets, thanks to Josh van Biljon‘s stellar unbeaten innings of 64.

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Having won the toss, Maritzburg took to the crease first and established a sturdy foundation for their innings.

Openers Caleb Thomas and Liam Armstrong were the linchpins, with Thomas reaching the half-century mark and Armstrong, who showed unwavering determination to quell the early assault from Durban High’s bowling attack, adding 20 from 59 deliveries.

Having finally toppled the opening pair, though, the DHS bowlers were clinical in working their way through the rest of the College lineup to dismiss the visitors for 156 in 44 overs.

Bhavesh Naicker and Krien Jughoo were outstanding for the home side, combining to take six wickets for the loss of only 41 runs.

Knowing they had a low total to chase, the DHS opening duo of Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper patiently established a solid platform for their team.

It was, however, Van Biljon, who proved to be the difference. Despite Chad Mason excelling for Maritzburg with the fine bowling figures of 4/32, Van Biljon stubbornly resisted the College attack to lead the Horseflies to a statement victory over their big rivals.

On Dixon’s, Kyle Bryan led the Glenwood bowling charge as they knocked over Hilton College for just 81, which was exactly halfway to their victory target total. His contribution was key to the Green Machine’s success, as he sent the last three Hilton batsmen packing at a cost of only 12 runs.

In a game where runs were hard to come by, Glenwood’s joint-top scorers, Cameron Laing and Sbonelo Phewa, with 26 each, made all the difference for their side.

Despite an inspired innings by Camdeon Riley, who compiled a fantastic, unbeaten 94 against their formidable opponents, Clifton did not have enough in the tank to overtake the 227/9 posted by St Charles College in their match at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday.

Riley resolutely resisted, but off-spinner Brendon Sunguro caused havoc among the rest of the batting lineup, snapping up five Clifton wickets for 44.

Half-centuries by the Zimbabwean international Sunguro and Cian Fortmann had propelled the team from Pietermaritzburg to a defendable total on a big outfield, but Riley’s 94 not out from 95 deliveries was undoubtedly the batting performance of the day.

Summarised scorecards:

Maritzburg College 156 (Caleb Thomas 53, Bryn Brokensha 21, Liam Armstrong 20, Extras 20; Bhavesh Naicker 3/15, Krien Jughoo 3/26, Ethan Cooper 2/29); Durban High School 157/6 (Josh van Biljon 64*, Extras 32, Bhavesh Naicker 20; Chad Mason 4/32). Durban High School won by four wickets.

Glenwood 161 (Cameron Laing 26, Sbonelo Phewa 26, Extras 24, Kyle Bryan 22; Matipa Denenga 2/18, Matthew Stewart 2/21, Ethan van Heerden 2/26, Brett Cutting 2/36); Hilton College 81 (Ross Boast 20; Kyle Bryan 3/12, Sbonelo Phewa 2/16, D Naraidu 2/20). Glenwood won by 80 runs.

St Charles’ College 227/9 (Brendon Sunguro 62, Cian Fortmann 50, Ntandoyenkosi Zuma 35, Daksesh Rajah 25*; Huzaifah Badat 2/23, Tim Saulez 2/33, Shiraz Perumal 2/45); Clifton College 161 (Camdeon Riley 94*, Extras 34; Brendon Sunguro 5/44, Jehan Adonis 2/32). St Charles College won by 66 runs.

 

Grey College exhibited its enduring class on the weekend of the school’s 168th anniversary by clinching both the u15 and u17 trophies at this year’s High Schools Sevens Series Champions Tournament, which reaffirmed their dominance on the schools’ sevens’ rugby scene.

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Their journey to the silverware was by no means easy. After an early loss to Marais Viljoen on Saturday morning, the Grey boys had to regroup and dig deep to edge Noordheuwel 26-21 in a thrilling semi-final.

In the final, Boland Landbou appeared to have the hosts on the ropes but, as they so often do, the Grey boys rose to the occasion to claim the prestigious title by a 28-12 margin.

The Grey u15 team, like their senior counterparts, suffered an early setback, but persevered and came back strongly to claim the crown.

After Graeme College defeated them 19-17 in the group stages, the Grey College youngsters showed their tenacity on the way to a solid 29-12 victory over the same opponents in the final.

This dual triumph reflects the depth of talent and character within the Grey College rugby programme.

Noordheuwel were in fine form throughout the tournament and looked like the team to beat after the action on the first day.

The Krugersdorp lads dished up an exciting brand of sevens, with Lindsay Jansen, Jaundre Uithaler, Jenemo Luiters and Jade Muller all catching the eye.

They overran Boland Landbou by 40-7 to top their pool and had Grey College on the ropes at 21-12 with less than a minute to play in the semi-finals.

A spectacular fightback by the home team, rounded off by a brilliant try by the ubiquitous Liam Santos, denied the Nories a place in the final, with Grey snatching a come-from-behind 26-21 win.

Rennie Swarts drew first blood in the championship match for Boland Landbou, and although Grey managed to stay within striking range on the scoreboard, the visitors from Paarl had them pinned down inside their own half.

Swarts was on a rich scoring streak, having gone over for a hattrick in his team’s 37-5 triumph over Marais Viljoen in the semi-finals to secure a place in the title-decider for the men in black.

Jayden Brits continued piling on the pressure after the break, scoring early through a brilliant chip and chase to give Boland the lead again.

They kept Grey at bay for as long as they could, but Donnelle Hendricks, who first caught the eye as a primary school player in Lichtenburg, levelled the scores for the hosts with an exceptional return down the field.

With Grey’s tails up, Boland Landbou’s defensive abilities were tested to the maximum, with Phillip McLaren, AJ Meyer and Liam van Wyk leading the home team’s charge.

Taking control, they put a safe buffer between them and their challengers to capture the title in style in front of their elated home supporters.

Swarts, Brits and Ruan Viviers were excellent for Boland, along with their fearless flyhalf, Retagen van Rooi, but they couldn’t match the firepower of the Bloemfontein powerhouse. Nonetheless, although they came up short against the hosts, they will be proud of delivering their best performance of the weekend in the final.

Graeme College deserves a special mention for their performances in the u15 tournament, as do Noordheuwel and Boland Landbou in the senior competition.

The weekend’s event was the culmination of 11 tournaments played over six weekends, which brought together thousands of players across the country to battle for a place in the Champions of Champions event.

The stars aligned for Grey College to claim a double victory on their anniversary weekend in front of their adoring hometown supporters. It was a fitting manner to celebrate yet another memorable year of rugby dominance by the proud Bloemfontein institution.

Grey College u17: Liam Santos, Liam van Wyk, AJ Meyer, Xander Smit, Marcel Coetzee, Ruben Cilliers, Benji van den Berg, Phillip McLaren, Heko Montjane, Alzeadon Felix, Donnelle Hendricks, AJ Booysen.

All the results:

u17

Group stage

Pool A: Grey College 27, Brandwag 5; Marais Viljoen 22, Sarel Cilliers 10; Grey College 50, Sarel Cilliers 10; Marais Viljoen 17, Brandwag 0; Marais Viljoen 15, Grey College 10; Sarel Cilliers 24, Brandwag 17.

Pool B: Boland Landbou 38, Kempton Park 12; Noordheuwel 49, Bloemfontein Invitational 17; Boland Landbou 19, Bloemfontein Invitational 12; Noordheuwel 68, Kempton Park 7; Kempton Park 24, Bloemfontein Invitational 19; Noordheuwel 40, Boland Landbou 7.

Semi-finals

Bowl: Sarel Cilliers 24, Bloemfontein Invitational 19; Kempton Park 25, Brandwag 10.

Cup: Grey College 26, Noordheuwel 21; Boland Landbou 37, Marais Viljoen 5.

Finals

Shield: Bloemfontein Invitational 31, Brandwag 17.

Bowl: Kempton Park 27, Sarel Cilliers 21.

Plate: Noordheuwel 31, Marais Viljoen 24.

Cup: Grey College 28, Boland Landbou 12.

u15

Group stage

Pool A: Boland Landbou 38, Heidelberg Volkskool 10; Zwartkop 52, Pionier 5; Boland Landbou 45, Pionier 0; Heidelberg Volkskool 17, Zwartkop 5; Boland Landbou 12, Zwartkop 12; Heidelberg Volkskool 38, Pionier 7.

Pool B: Graeme College 19, Grey College 17; Helpmekaar College 19, Kempton Park 10; Grey College 32, Kempton Park 21; Graeme College 24, Kempton Park 12; Grey College 36, Helpmekaar College 7.

Semi-finals

Bowl: Zwartkop 21, Kempton Park 5; Helpmekaar College 43, Pionier 12.

Cup: Graeme College 20, Boland Landbou 17; Grey College 24, Heidelberg Volkskool 7.

Finals

Shield: Kempton Park 36, Pionier 14.

Bowl: Helpmekaar College 21, Zwartkop 19.

Plate: Boland Landbou 24, Heidelberg Volkskool 10.

Cup: Grey College 29, Graeme College 12.

 

There was nothing to separate Fichardtpark and Goudveld at the conclusion of a roller-coaster 50-overs-a-side match in Welkom on Saturday.

The visitors, from Bloemfontein, won the toss and elected to field first, allowing Goudveld to set the target.

Despite early success for Michael Cruywagen, who took two wickets in the second over, opener Keagan Frankenfeld laid a solid platform for Goudveld with an innings of 44.

His 60-run partnership with Ruben Crous proved crucial as runs were hard to come by. Eldonn Bodenstein‘s contribution was also hugely important. He played the longest innings of any of the Gouties’ batsmen, sticking around for 58 deliveries and scoring 33 runs.

Towards the end, Cruywagen added a third wicket to his tally to finish with the fine figures of 3/28, which helped Fichies dismiss the home side for 160 in 33.3 overs.

The Gouties’ bowlers had to find their rhythm quickly to protect their low total when Fichardtpark took their turn at bat, and Goudveld got exactly what they needed when Hendro Boardman struck with the first delivery he bowled. He would go on to match Michael Cruywagen’s return of 3/28.

Ulrich Campher and his captain, Eben Botha, batting at three and four, then shared a steady partnership of 45 to give the squad from Bloemfontein a base from which to work. Campher’s 38 was also his side’s highest total on the day.

Bongi Kumalo, though, proved to be a thorn in Fichardtpark’s side, capturing three wickets, including that of the Fichies’ captain, to stunt any momentum that the visitors were building.

At the beginning of the 35th over, though, the visitors needed only three runs to win, but they had only one wicket in hand, on 158/9.

A single and a wide from the first two balls by Boardman drew Fichardtpark level, and it looked like they were going to steal an epic victory.

Boardman tightened his attack, though, and delivered two dot balls. The Fichardtpark tailenders, feeling the pressure, lost patience and tried to scamper for the winning run, only for MJ Hattingh to be run out at the bowler’s end, thus resulting in spectacular tie.

Though Fichardtpark will feel like the victory slipped through their fingers, it was a thrilling match to welcome in the 23/24 season for both teams.

Summarised scorecard:

Goudveld 160 (Keagan Frankenfeld 41, Eldonn Bodenstein 33, Extras 32, Ruben Crous 25; Michael Cruywagen 3/28, Davyd Oosthuysen 2/24, Stian Kruger 2/32); Fichardtpark 160 (Ulrich Campher 38, Extras 38, Michael Cruywagen 24, Eben Botha 21; Hendro Boardman 3/28, Bongi Kumalo 3/33). Match tied.

Duineveld returned to Upington with the Champion of Champions trophy after a riveting day of sevens rugby on the Loftus Versveld B-field in Pretoria.

Their performance on Saturday earned them top honours in the annual Frogfoot Sevens Series, after a thrilling final against Strand.

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The Western Cape side were worthy finalists, but it took only two minutes for Duineveld’s speedy flanker, Alek Andrianatos, to breach their defences, as he went over for a try converted by Jacquin Jasson.

Gregon Jansen, who was selected as the player of the tournament for his tireless contributions over the weekend, then increased the advantage for the Velties, scoring just before the break to put his team 12-0 up at halftime.

A few choice words by their coaches during the break seemed to do the trick for Strand as they raised their intensity in the second half and scored almost immediately after play resumed.

Jasson and Jansen then combined well again for Duineveld’s final try, which gave them just enough breathing room to see out the remainder of the game, as Strand kept asking questions to the bitter end.

Although they came up short in the final, Strand will, no doubt, be proud of their boys’ accomplishments over the weekend, with players like Chrisma Prinsloo, Justin Phillips and Ashraf Fanie catching the attention with man-of-the-match performances during their pool games.

Unblemished in the group stages, Duineveld asserted their dominance with impressive victories to reach the final. They convincingly outscored Swartland (34-12) and Ben Viljoen (33-26) to lay claim to the top spot in their pool.

Then, in their cross-pool encounter, they continued their winning streak by putting up 29 points and blanking Die Wilgers.

In the semi-final, they had to get past Grey High School. The team from Gqeberha came into the tournament as one of the favourites and lived up to those expectations in the early going.

In a contest worthy of a final, Grey High produced a skilful showing, but Duineveld cut their campaign short with a 25-19 victory.

Last year’s champions, Secunda, were unlucky to run into Strand in the group stage which meant they were relegated to contending for the Bowl. There, they squeezed by Swartland in an epic clash to win the final by a single point (28-27), with Zander Scheepers producing a phenomenal performance for the winners.

Pietersburg went on to hand Grey their second loss of the weekend in the Plate final by 26-12 and Ligbron beat Menlopark by 27-17 to lift the Shield.

All the results:

Pool A: Secunda 38, Die Wilgers 0; Strand 31, Die Wilger 0; Strand 26, Secunda 0.

Pool B: Duineveld 34, Swartland 12; Duineveld 33, Ben Viljoen 26; Swartland 22, Ben Viljoen 5.

Pool C: Grey High School 17, HTS Tom Naudé 5; Grey High School 26, Ligbron 12; HTS Tom Naudé 28,  Ligbron 17.

Pool D: HTS Drostdy 24, Menlopark 19; Pietersburg 31, HTS Drostdy 19; Pietersburg 22, Menlopark 12.

Cross-pools: Ben Viljoen 26, Strand 24; Ligbron 34, Pietersburg 28; Secunda 21, Swartland 12; HTS Tom Naudé 17, Menlopark 17; Duineveld 29, Die Wilgers 0; HTS Drostdy 28, Grey High School 10.

Semi-finals

Shield: Menlopark 35, Die Wilgers 0; Ligbron 31, Ben Viljoen 24.

Bowl: Secunda 31, HTS Drostdy 19; Swartland 24, HTS Tom Naudé 22.

Cup: Strand 21, Pietersburg 14; Duineveld 25, Grey High School 19.

Finals

Shield: Ligbron 26, Menlopark 17.

Bowl: Secunda 28, Swartland 27.

Plate: Pietersburg 26, Grey High School 12.

Cup: Duineveld 19, Strand 14.

Paul Roos and Diocesan College locked horns on the Frank Reid Cricket Field in Rondebosch on Saturday, with both teams riding high after unbeaten campaigns at last weekend’s Cape Schools Festival.

The hosts won the toss and sent Paul Roos out to bat first.

After Josh Jordaan and Cormey van der Watt laid a solid foundation, it was William September‘s 101 off 107 deliveries that did the damage for the team from Stellenbosch.

Bishops’ bowlers worked hard for their wickets, with Michael Kotze leading the attack with figures of 2/28, but September’s knock left the hosts with a difficult challenge as PRG put up 268/8.

Kashief Joseph starred with the bat for Bishops, falling just two runs short of his half-century, but the home team’s batting lineup failed to produce any meaningful partnerships to alleviate some of the pressure.

Dian Winkel struck four times for the Stellenbosch boys as they dismissed the hosts with 10 overs to spare for a big 105-run victory.

Boland Landbou sent a loud and clear message to their local rivals by outplaying Somerset College.

Stefan Conradie‘s gritty 67 and Marius du Plessis‘ 51 combined to steer Boland Landbou to a commanding total of 253.

Markus Groenewald then stole the spotlight, dismissing four Somerset College batsmen for only 10 runs, as the visitors were sent packing for a miserable 49.

In light of Somerset College’s impressive preseason performances, the boys from Paarl undoubtedly made a resounding statement of intent.

At the recent Cape Schools Festival, Somerset College racked up four wins in succession to showcase their potential. However, Saturday’s encounter with the Boland Landbou bowling attack was a chastening occasion as Somerset wilted before the home side’s challenge.

Parel Vallei flexed their muscles against the local competition, running roughshod over DF Malan and Strand in their two most recent outings, and winning both by nine wickets.

Sibulele Makaleni excelled with the ball, taking 5 for 26 to spearhead DF Malan’s dismissal for a mere 103 runs. Earlier in the week, the Parel Vallei bowlers also dictated the course of the match when they restricted Strand to 78/9.

In both encounters, Parel Vallei’s dependable opener, Quan van der Merwe, displayed class and finesse, steering his side to seemingly effortless wins. A half-century against DF Malan was just reward for his recent efforts at the crease.

The back-to-back victories suggest more good things to come from Parel Vallei this season.

Gerrad Kamalie was instrumental for Stellenberg as they dismantled Fairmont in their own backyard.

He scored 49 runs without losing his wicket and backed up his impressive batting performance by dismissing 6 Fairmont batsmen to help his team stifle the Fairmont attack before it could really get going.

Summarised scorecards:

Paul Roos 268/8 (William September 101, Extras 35, Cormey van der Watt 33, Beor van Reenen 32,  Josh Jordaan 26, Callum Appollis 24; Michael Kotze 2/28, Peyton Leigh 2/45, Tiaan Louw 2/54, Matthew Brodziak 2/70); Diocesan College 163 (Kashief Joseph 48; Dian Winkel 4/36, Calum Appollis 2/30, Riley Norton 2/36). Paul Roos won by 105 runs.

Boland Landbou 253 (Stefan Conradie 67, Marius du Plessis 51, Extras 50, Francois Prins 31; Callum Hughes 4/51, Chris Varie 3/59); Somerset College 49 (Callum Hughes 14; Markus Groenewald 4/10, Janco Visagie 2/10, Marius du Plessis 2/17). Boland Landbou won by 204 runs.

DF Malan 103 (Benjamin Grobler 37, Eddie Fick 24; Sibulele Makaleni 5/26, Josua Smit 3/19); Parel Vallei 105/5 (Quan van der Merwe 52*, Christopher Hughes 32*; Reuben Braxton 1/46). Parel Vallei won by nine wickets.

Strand 78/9 (Nathan Drotskie 27*; Jameel Ismail 3/9, Damian Faure 3/17, Josua Smit 2/4); Parel Vallei 79/1 (Quan van der Merwe 35*, Extras 25; Daniel Theron 1/18). Parel Vallei won by nine wickets.

Stellenberg 248/9 (Extras 58, Gerrad Kamalie 49*, Yiva Dwaleni 33, Wilhelm Smet 27, JJ Rothman 20, Kyle van Santen 20; J Passman 3/47; D Kok 2/38, S Hoctor 2/44); Fairmont 100 (Colby Meade 55, Extras 25; Gerrad Kamalie 6/29, Kyle van Santen 2/20). Stellenberg won by 148 runs.

Charlie Hofmeyr 87 (Extras 36, Louis Reynolds 22; DJ Luck 2/3, Juann Jansen van Vuuren 2/14, Ernst Coetzee 2/16); HTS Drostdy 88/4 (Juann Jansen van Vuuren 21, Ruan Nortjé 21; Louis Reynolds 2/20). HTS Drostdy won by six wickets.

 

Rondebosch Boys’ High returned to winning ways after their epic encounter with St Stithian’s yesterday to beat Westville Boys’ High by 47 runs on the second day of the Westvaal North-South T20 Tournament.

Wynberg Boys’ High and SACS both left their victories to the final over of their games, as they were made to dig deep for their successes against Selborne College and Grey High respectively.

Meanwhile, Grey College, from Bloemfontein, made light work of Paarl Boys’ High to register their first win at the event.

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In a sensational display of batting prowess, Jordan Neill, the formidable opener and captain of Rondebosch Boys’ High, spearheaded his side’s charge with an undefeated century.

His sublime innings of 130 runs marked the first century scored at this year’s tournament and propelled his team to an imposing total of 221/1, setting a daunting target for their opponents.

Partnering with Neill at the top of the order, Noah Heath contributed a brisk 20 runs off just 15 deliveries to set a solid foundation for the innings.

Bongani Mfunelwa then took to the crease and went on a fiery rampage, smashing a blistering 66 from a mere 38 balls. His explosive performance included an impressive tally of six sixes, adding to his captain’s account of four. Together, they provided an electrifying batting exhibition that set the stage for a compelling contest.

Despite a resolute half-century by Westville’s stalwart, Max Robertson, the Rondebosch bowling arsenal produced an impeccable display of precision and accuracy to leave the KZN outfit well shy of their victory target.

Declan Gillespie and Alex Combrinck took three wickets each, effectively thwarting Westville’s attempts to establish any significant momentum.

The boys from Cape Town will look to continue on the same winning track when they face Affies in their second match of the day.

For Westville, it doesn’t get any easier as they face the mighty St Stithian’s next.

While there were no centuries on the first day, Tre Gilbert of Selborne College reached the coveted three-figure milestone shortly after Rondebosch’s Neill had recorded the tournament’s maiden ton.

In a spirited display, Selborne posted a commendable total of 205/4 against Wynberg Boys’ High, with Gilbert being the major contributor.

In the 54 deliveries he faced, he caused substantial damage to the opposition, manufacturing a flurry of boundaries, with 10 fours and an impressive five sixes.

His superb innings left most of Wynberg’s bowlers struggling to find an answer as the overs ran out, with Gilbert’s wicket still intact.

Accurate bowling by Yaseen Moses, who snared two wickets for only 15 in his four overs, helped contain the Selbornians, though, leaving Wynberg with a sniff at victory, even if it appeared to be a slight one.

In pursuit of the challenging target, Paul James played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for Wynberg, anchoring the innings with a resolute 66. His steady presence at the crease set the stage for a dramatic finish.

Jordan Nel‘s contribution, adding 34 runs from 22 balls at the tail end, proved to be the final piece of the puzzle that secured victory for the Cape Town school, with just three wickets in hand and a mere six deliveries to spare.

Wynberg Boys’ High take on Centurion in the afternoon and Selborne College will look to return to winning ways against Potchefstroom Volkskool.

SACS left it even later in their match against Grey High School.

Reza Salie bowled well to take three wickets for 20, especially since one of the wickets was the all-important dismissal of Jean Upman, Grey High’s top scorer, who had settled in and was on 67 from 39 deliveries.

Though the target was not out of reach and the SACS batsmen did well to protect their wickets, their scoring was a little on the slow side of things, and they almost ran out of overs, before getting home with only four balls remaining.

Joshua Wyngaard led the Cape Town team’s batting, with 61 from only 39 balls, while Hamish Anderson and Keiron Bowers kept their cool at the end to see out the game for SACS.

They face Menlopark on Friday afternoon, while the boys from Gqeberha take on St Andrew’s School from Bloemfontein.

The other participating team from the City of Roses, Grey College, posted a victory over their old foes, Paarl Boys’ High.

In a contest decided by the bowlers, Grey’s Johnathan Muller and Juan Viljoen removed six Boishaai batsmen for a combined total of only 23 runs, which left their rivals 55 runs short of a winning total.

Grey’s Adam Niewoudt was dismissed just two runs short of the half-century mark, but it made all the difference as they dismissed the boys from Paarl for only 94.

Nelspruit awaits Grey College at 14:00, while Boishaai will look to turn the tide against a formidable-looking Waterkloof outfit.

Summarised scorecards:

Rondebosch Boys’ High 221/1 (Jordan Neill 130*, Bongani Mfunelwa 66*, Noah Heath 20; Josh Beck 1/42); Westville Boys’ High 174/9 (Max Robertson 53, Aryan Gopalan 36; Declan Gillespie 3/34, Alex Combrinck 3/43, Raeeq Daniels 2/33). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by 47 runs.

Selborne College 205/4 (Tre Gilbert 101*, Hayden McKay 36, Jacques van der Merwe 25; Yaseen Moos 2/15); Wynberg Boys’ High 206/7 (Paul James 66, Jordan Nel 34*, Beni Hansen 29, Extras 22; Adam Rogers 2/36, Tre Gilbert 2/38). Wynberg Boys’ High won by three wickets.

Grey High School 185/7 (Jean Upman 67, Corby van Heerden 33, Kian Cambier 26; Reza Salie 3/20); SACS 186/3 (Joshua Wyngaard 61, Extras 28, Hamish Anderson 27*, Oliver Whitehead 26, Keiron Bowers 25*; Xander Elkington 1/14). SACS won by seven wickets.

Grey College 149/7 (Adam Niewoudt 48, Samu Lephoto 37; Johan Wege 3/27, Marco Cato 2/36); Paarl Boys High 94 (Gideon du Toit 22; Johnathan Muller 3/6, Juan Viljoen 3/17, Henru De Wet 2/13). Grey College won by 55 runs.

The Springbok squad defending the nation’s pride and the title of world champions in France is made up of a diverse group of players hailing from different backgrounds and upbringings.

A list of the schools they attended reveals just three that have produced more than one current Springbok player.

The trio of Damian Willemse, Willie le Roux and Steven Kitshoff are products of Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch, while the late inclusion of Handré Pollard saw Paarl Gimnasium join the elite club, with Grant Williams having cracked the selection nod earlier.

The two aforementioned schools are recognised as being among the finest rugby-playing institutions in South Africa, reputations they have deservedly earned over a long period of time.

The third school with two Springboks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup is, however, seldom mentioned among South Africa’s elite rugby schools. Yet, Tygerberg High School in Parow was home to the lock duo of Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie.

Etzebeth, only the seventh Springbok to play in 100 Tests – after Percy Montgomery, Jean de Villiers, John Smit, Tendai Mtawarira, Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield – is a well-established figure in the Springbok pack, while Orie is making his first appearance at a World Cup, having earned his place alongside his former school-mate in one of the most respected and feared packs in the game.

The duo have grown into a formidable partnership on the international stage since their time at Tygerberg.

Speaking to SuperSport earlier this year in preparation for the World Cup, Etzebeth and Orie recalled their time at the school in the northern suburbs of Cape Town and credited their first team coach, Gavin Beresford, for his huge influence on them. Both fondly recalled the maxim he would drill into them at training, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”

Conversations with a Springbok | Eben Etzebeth & Marvin Orie 

“When those two ran out on the field against Tonga, I can tell you, I was an extremely proud man”, Beresford said, when we spoke to him after the duo both started in South Africa’s 49-18 victory over Tonga in the group stages.

“I know where these boys come from. I know the truth. No one gave them a chance, no one, and that does not matter.

“Who cares what other people think? If the dream is big enough, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or what others’ opinions about you might be. It makes no difference.

“The only thing that matters is your belief and how hard you are working towards your goal. The rest is nothing but noise. It’s about you and your effort. That’s the beginning and the end of it all” he said, expounding upon his mantra that the behemoth lock duo shared.

“In my mind, there’s no doubt that Eben is the best number four lock in the world at the moment. Perhaps I am a little bit biased, but what’s truly impressive for me is the fact that he is a better human being than he is a rugby player, which says a lot, because he’s an exceptional player”, Beresford said.

He also spoke with admiration about Etzebeth’s drive. The 2009 matriculant had only moderate success on the rugby field before finding his feet at lock towards the end of his school days.

“I’ve mentioned this in previous interviews, but I want the world to know this: Eben never played in the A-team at any age grade. We had no other option than playing him at lock in grade 11 because we had no one else. He just never quite cut it anywhere, but he is an absolute example of how sports should be played.

“It simply doesn’t matter if you play A-team or not at school level. It doesn’t prove anything. He never played A-team, but he never quit. He never gave up, and that’s exactly what I mean when I say the facts don’t matter,” Beresford explained.

After Eben’s growth spurt in grade 11, he was moved out of the backline to lock and into the first team, but he wasn’t contributing to the lineouts much yet. “At more than 120kg in matric, we didn’t have anyone who could lift him in the lineouts. It was only at the Craven Week when he played with the likes of Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe that he became a viable option in the lineout,” laughed Beresford.

“He was always a good athlete, though, excelling in sprinting and the high jump, so he was always athletic. I’d love to see him get the ball in space on the wing sometime. He’d be difficult to catch.”

The same is true of Marvin Orie, who matriculated a year after Etzebeth.

“Marvin was also an excellent sportsman all around. He was great at the lineouts and an equally talented all-rounder on the cricket pitch.

“He brings a different element to the game than Eben, because they have different jobs on the field. As the five lock, I think he has a big part to play in the lineouts and he fulfils that role excellently.”

Orie joined his sister at Tygerberg in grade 10 when his previous school cancelled their rugby programme, and he grew to be a skilled and hardworking lineout technician in the two years he played for their first team.

“They are both genuinely very accessible. I recently attended Eben’s wedding, and he still visits the school whenever it is possible. It’s a bit easier for Marvin, playing at the Stormers. He still often comes to visit and helps with the lineouts and set pieces.”

Beresford, reflecting on the players that have passed through Tygerberg, revealed that it has been far from a two-man show: “We’ve been fortunate to be able to produce a number of talented sportsmen throughout the years, with Marvin and Eben joining the likes of Justin Geduld, Travis Ismael, Andre Warner and Juarno Augustus, who all came through the system at Tygerberg and went on to excel in their professional careers. But the fact that they all turned into respectable young men is what is most important to me.”

Orie did not make the Craven Week squad at school, but he persevered and was selected as part of the SA u20 team the following year, 2012, when the Baby Boks won the u20 World Cup for the only time thus far, beating New Zealand in a thrilling final after losing to Ireland in the group stages.

Orie’s flyhalf in the SA u20 team was a young Handré Pollard. Despite being in matric, he was called up to replace the injured Johan Goosen and scored 14 points in their 22-16 triumph over the Baby Blacks in the final at Newlands in front of 33 000 spectators.

“Grant Williams is another good example I like to use, because I know him from when I coached him at the Craven Week Sevens,” Beresford said. “In grade 11, he was still playing for the D or C team at Paarl Gim. Then he made the decision to pursue his dreams no matter what.

“He started at the Sevens but didn’t quite make the transition into the senior team, but he kept pushing. He went to the Sharks to play club rugby, and just look at him now! As long as you never give up, the facts don’t matter.”

This weekend, Bloemfontein will be the battleground upon which the nation’s most formidable schools’ sevens teams will vie for supremacy in the prestigious High School Sevens Series Champions Tournament.

Catch every moment of the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the tournament

In Pool A, the mighty hosts, Grey College, booked their place in the Champions Tournament after standing tall at their own tournament.

Their Alzeadon Felix has been a sevens’ revelation and will definitely be one to watch in the revered local team.

Big Ethan Adams is another player from Grey with a lot of excitement surrounding him at the moment, he will also be a player to keep an eye on this weekend.

They’re up against Brandwag, who will look to make their mark after qualifying from the 2022 series as the u15 champions of the Brandwag tournament, played in Benoni last year.

Marais Viljoen earned their spot as the champions of the Heidelberg Volkskool tournament, and Sarel Cilliers is the sole representative from KZN after taking the honours at the Pionier tournament in Vryheid.

In Pool B, Noordheuwel‘s exceptional performance at the Monument tournament in mid-September secured their passage to Bloemfontein. They sealed the deal with a 28-19 victory over Helpmekaar in the final, following an impressive semifinal triumph over the hosts (39-14), and victories in the pool stages over Marais Viljoen (35-26), St Stithians (52-7), and Dinamika (33-12).

Nories have been riding high this year, and added a further trophy to their collection at the end of September when they were crowned the Noordvaal Sevens Champions, after outplaying a formidable Garsfontein squad, also at Monument, to clinch the title.

Keep a close watch on standout performers like Jade Muller, Jeandre Uithaler, and Meyer Opperman, who were instrumental in propelling Noordheuwel to the summit of the sevens’ rankings in both the Lions and Noordvaal regions. Their sights will be firmly set on national success this weekend.

Boland Landbou secured their spot in Bloemfontein through the performance of their u15 squad during last year’s series.

Unfortunately, Paarl Gimnasium, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Queen’s College, Monument, and Hudson Park are unable to attend.

Helpmekaar suffered a number of injuries, leading to the late withdrawal of their under-17 side. An Invitational squad from Bloemfontein have stepped in to take their place.

This weekend’s tournament promises to deliver a fitting climax to the 2023 sevens’ season, with some of the best talent in the country set to showcase some spectacular running rugby.

The hosts will, no doubt, go into the event as the favourites. With their formidable rugby pedigree, it’s hard to look past them as potential champions. Their record in 2023 is, however, not unblemished.

They’ve been beaten twice this year, and both losses came at the hands of Paul Roos Gimnasium, with silverware on the line on each occasion.

The first was in a nail-biting showdown in the final of the NWU Prestige Schools Sevens Festival in Potchefstroom. The second was a more emphatic victory for the Stellenbosch school in the final of the Marius Schoeman Sevens Festival in Paarl.

A potential trilogy clash between these titans of South African schoolboy rugby would have, undoubtedly, been a spectacle. Paul Roos has, at least for the other schools in action in Bloemfontein, proved that this Grey side is not invincible.

That being said, the recent success of Free State at the 2023 Interprovincial Sevens Tournament certainly shows how daunting the challenge that awaits the opposition will be.

That Free State squad, primarily composed of talents from Grey College, produced their best rugby in a riveting final in which they narrowly bested the Sharks in a 15-14 thriller.

Liam Santos and Phillip McLaren will bear watching. They were phenomenal for the Free State team and are sure to be highly influential this weekend for the home side.

The battle-hardened hosts are ready to defend their turf, upon which they very seldom lose. But sevens is different to the 15-man game. The challenges and requirements differ. Anything is possible, and the challengers will be eager to upset Grey College and the status quo.

The groups:

u17

Pool A: Grey College, Brandwag, Marais Viljoen, Sarel Cilliers.

Pool B: Boland Landbou, Kempton Park, Noordheuwel, Bloemfontein Invitational.

u15

Pool A: Boland Landbou, Heidelberg Volkskool, Zwartkop, Pionier.

Pool B: Grey College, Graeme College, Helpmekaar, Kempton Park.

The fixtures:

u17

Friday: 14:00 – Grey College vs Brandwag; 14:20 – Marais Viljoen vs Sarel Cilliers; 14:40 – Boland Landbou vs Kempton Park; 15:00 – Noordheuwel vs Bloemfontein Invitational; 15:20 – Grey College vs Sarel Cilliers; 15:40 – Marais Viljoen vs Brandwag; 16:00 – Boland Landbou vs Bloemfontein Invitational; 16:20 – Noordheuwel vs Kempton Park.

Saturday: 08:50 – Grey College vs Marais Viljoen; 09:30 – Kempton Park vs Bloemfontein Invitational; 10:10 – Brandwag vs Sarel Cilliers; 10:50 – Boland Landbou vs Noordheuwel.

u15

Friday: 14:00 – Boland Landbou vs Heidelberg Volkskool; 14:20 – Zwartkop vs Pionier; 14:40 – Grey College vs Graeme College; 15:00 – Helpmekaar vs Kempton Park; 15:20 – Boland Landbou vs Pionier; 15:40 – Zwartkop vs Heidelbelberg Volkskool; 16:00 – Grey College vs Kempton Park; 16:20 – Helpmekaar vs Noordheuwel.

Saturday: 08:30 – Boland Landbou vs Zwartkop; 09:10 – Graeme College vs Kempton Park; 09:50 – Heidelberg Volkskool vs Pionier; 10:30 – Grey College vs Helpmekaar.