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A classy display of left-arm off-spin highlighted the annual meeting between Hoërskool Waterkloof and King Edward VII School (KES) on Saturday.

After winning on home soil in 2025, the Klofies again asserted their dominance by claiming a six-wicket victory in Johannesburg, inspired chiefly by the brilliance of Rivan Booysen. He topped the bowling charts, outfoxing five KES batsmen in just 8.1 overs.

His five-wicket haul came at the modest cost of just 17 runs, at an impressive economy rate of 2.8 runs per over, the best across both sides.

Still only in Grade 11, Booysen established himself as a regular for the Klofies while in Grade 10 last year.

He was ably supported by Jean Cloete (2/19), the son of renowned international umpire Johan Cloete, who currently heads the cricket programme at Midstream College.

Among Booysen’s victims was Tiago Dias, the home side’s top scorer, who weighed in with one of the match’s two half-centuries, scoring a well-compiled 54 from 62 deliveries. He received limited support, however, with only Troy Gordon (31) and Abdullah Mohammed (20) offering other meaningful contributions, as the hosts were restricted to 144 all out.

It quickly became clear that 144 was insufficient when the visitors set about the chase with purpose. An opening stand of 42 in just 6.4 overs between Wian du Plessis and AJ de Villiers (22) laid a solid foundation. Du Plessis, then, went on to anchor the innings, remaining unbeaten with a fluent 43*.

With Du Plessis holding down his end, wicketkeeper-batsman Rico van der Walt, batting in his preferred number-four position, took control. He struck the second half-century of the match, compiling 55 from 53 balls, before being run out by Luke Clark shortly before the target was reached.

Connor Kuijers was the home team’s most successful bowler, claiming the wickets of De Villiers and Jean Swart (16) on his way to figures of 2/25 from seven overs. Despite his efforts, the Pretoria school completed a comfortable run chase in only 29 overs.

Summarised scorecard

King Edward VII School 144/10 (Tiago Dias 54, Troy Gordon 31, Abdullah Mohammed 20; Rivan Booysen 5/17, Jean Cloete 2/19); Waterkloof 145/4 (Rico van der Walt 55, Wian du Plessis 43*, AJ de Villiers 22; Connor Kuijers 2/25). Waterkloof won by six wickets. 

For decades, school and university sport in South Africa has been driven by passion, pride and tradition. Packed touchlines. Fierce rivalries. Alumni who still care deeply years after leaving campus.

Click to Purchase a ticket PAYMENT LINK

What has changed is this: the world around school and youth sport has finally caught up with its value.

Streaming, social media, data and brand investment have transformed what was once a purely participatory environment into a credible, measurable commercial ecosystem. Yet many schools and universities are still underestimating the opportunity sitting right in front of them.

That is exactly why Nielsen Sports South Africa, in partnership with SuperSport Schools, is launching the School & Youth Sport Commercialisation Conference, taking place on 12–13 February 2026 at St Albans College.

This is not another coaching conference. It is not about tactics, drills, or rankings.

It is about future-proofing your sports programme.

The Reality Schools and Universities Must Face

School and university sport is already a business whether you manage it as one or not.

Every fixture drives:

• Travel and accommodation spend
• Food and hospitality activity
• Apparel and merchandise demand
• Digital consumption through streaming and social media
• Emotional engagement from families, alumni and communities

The question is no longer “should we commercialise?”
It is “who benefits from the value we are already creating?”

Right now, too many institutions are:

• Undervaluing their sponsorship rights
• Leaving money on the table through poorly structured partnerships
• Struggling to explain their value to brands in commercial language
• Missing the chance to reinvest sustainably into facilities, coaching, and access

Why This Conference Matters

The School & Youth Sport Commercialisation Conference has been designed specifically to help schools and universities move from ad hoc sponsorship to strategic commercial partnerships.

Over two days, delegates will gain practical, real-world insight into:

• How sponsors actually value school and university sport
• What brands are looking for and what turns them away
• How to price, package and protect your sponsorship rights
• The role of streaming and SuperSport Schools in growing audiences
• How social media platforms like TikTok are reshaping value
• Why data and measurement are no longer optional
• How leading schools are already reporting sponsor ROI
• The link between sport, tourism, food and local economic impact
• Why talent development and individual athlete stories drive long-term interest in sport

This is about control, credibility and confidence.

Real Speakers. Real Case Studies. Real Lessons.

The programme brings together senior decision-makers who operate at the intersection of sport, media, data, and commerce — including:

• Nielsen Sports leaders unpacking how sponsorship value is measured and defended
• Schools such as Grey College, Paul Roos Gymnasium and Jeppe High School for Boys sharing how they run structured commercial programmes
• Major brands explaining what they expect in return for investment
• Digital and social media platforms showing how schools can unlock new audiences
• Travel and tourism experts demonstrating how school sport drives economic activity far beyond the field

Nothing theoretical. Nothing abstract.
This is about what works.

Powered by SuperSport Schools

With SuperSport Schools as Media Sponsor, the conference is directly connected to the platform that has done more than any other to professionalise, broadcast and scale school sport in South Africa.

Streaming has changed the rules:

• It has expanded reach beyond the fence line
• It has created measurable audiences
• It has unlocked new storytelling formats
• It has given schools tangible media assets

This conference shows schools and universities how to use that exposure intelligently, not just to gain visibility, but to build sustainable value.

Who Should Attend?

This conference is built for:

• Heads of Sport and Sports Directors
• School and university leadership teams
• Marketing and development offices
• Alumni and advancement professionals
• Festival and event organisers
• Anyone responsible for funding, sustainability and growth of sport programmes

If you are responsible for:

• Finding sponsors
• Managing sponsors
• Reporting to sponsors
• Or justifying sport budgets

You need to be in the room.

The Bigger Picture

South African sport does not start in stadiums.
It starts on school fields and university campuses.

The institutions that learn how to tell their story properly, price their value confidently and partner professionally will shape the next decade of youth sport.

Those that don’t will remain dependent, reactive and underfunded.

Your Next Move

The School & Youth Sport Commercialisation Conference is your opportunity to:

• Learn directly from brands, broadcasters and data experts
• Benchmark your programme against leading schools and universities
• Build a commercial strategy that protects your values while unlocking growth

📍 St Alban’s College, Pretoria
📅 12 – 13 February 2026

Places will be limited to ensure meaningful engagement.

This is where the future business of school and university sport begins.

Click to Purchase a ticket PAYMENT LINK

For more info contact: events@nielsensports.co.za

Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg and Hoërskool Dr Malan could not have asked for a better start to their campaign in the D Section of the annual Finsbury League. They produced a dominant display to overwhelm Hoër Tegniese Skool (HTS) Middelburg by a staggering 235 runs on Saturday.

Jansen van Rensburg was the cornerstone of the Meyerton school’s away victory, which was set up by their daunting total of 333/9 from their 50 overs when batting first.

Jansen van Rensburg, Dokkies‘ talisman, led the way. He and opening batsman Ruben Muller rebuilt their team’s innings after an early wobble left them on 23/2.

For the next 30 overs, the home side had little joy as a commanding 181-run partnership unfolded. Muller played superbly for his 80, yet his fine innings was eclipsed by the carnage wrought by Jansen van Rensburg at the other end. He blasted a breathtaking 141 from just 80 balls, striking 18 fours and five sixes, which brought him a remarkable 102 runs from boundaries.

Their stand was eventually broken by the perseverance of Henco Brits, who was comfortably the pick of the Middelburg bowlers. He removed both Muller and Jansen van Rensburg on his way to figures of 3/41 from his 10 overs.

As so often is the case in cricket, when it is your day, everything seems to fall into place, and Jansen van Rensburg continued to shine when he took the ball. He spearheaded Dr Malan’s defence of their massive total, capturing 3/23, while Jayden Le Roux was hugely impressive, too, returning 3/16 from his five overs.

Ruben Jooste was the only Middelburg batsman to offer meaningful resistance, top-scoring with 29, but the hosts were dismissed for just 98, succumbing to Dokkies’ relentless onslaught.

In Klerksdorp, Hoërskool Ben Vorster turned what was meant to be a home fixture into an away triumph, overcoming Hoërskool Wesvalia by 27 runs.

Nearly 500 mm of rain in Tzaneen over the past fortnight forced the Black Caps to relocate their clash with Wessies in pursuit of valuable early log points. Administrative matters aside, Dirk Nortman ensured the journey was worthwhile.

Remarkably, Nortman, who is in Grade 10, delivered a mature all-round performance of the kind that one hopes to see from a seasoned first XI cricketer.

He top-scored with 53 and was well supported by Talent Ndlovu (38), as the Black Caps posted 196, giving them a solid total to defend. Nortman then led the bowling attack, knocking over 3/20. He was ably backed up by Ndlovu (2/38) and Mphotseng Mashalane (2/23), both of whom are also among the younger members of the side.

Despite the defeat, it was a bittersweet outing for the Wessies’ opening bowler, Michael Kinnear. No bowler across the top four sections of the league enjoyed a more productive weekend.

He delivered a superb spell on home soil, sending down 8.2 overs, three of them maidens, and conceded just 26 runs while claiming an outstanding six-wicket haul. Unfortunately for the hosts, even that exceptional effort was not enough to halt the visitors’ march to victory.

Summarised scorecards

Dr Malan 333/9 (Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg 141, Ruben Muller 80, Divan van der Berg 24*; Henco Britz 3/41, Ruben Jooste 2/26); HTS Middelburg 98/10 (Ruben Jooste 29; Jayden Le Roux 3/16, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg 3/23). Dr Malan won by 235 runs.

Ben Vorster 196/10 (Dirk Nortman 53, Talent Ndlovu 38, Kulani Mnisi 28, Christiaan Duvenhage 21; Michael Kinnear 6/26, Jandré Greyling 2/26); Wesvalia 169/10 (Dundré Hales 36*, Jandré Greyling 30, Jordan Lategan 24; Dirk Nortman 3/20, Mphotseng Mashalane 2/23, Talent Ndlovu 2/38). Ben Vorster won by 27 runs.

Herman Basson produced an outstanding all-round performance to help power St John’s College to an emphatic 129-run win over Helpmekaar in their 50-over match on the Mitchell Oval at St John’s, on Saturday.

Nkosana Sibiya, the St John’s captain, won the toss and elected to bat first in the Blues‘ first home match of the year. His batsmen, led by Basson, tallied a healthy 295/9 in 49.5 overs. The Blues’ bowling attack then dismissed the visitors for 166 in 46.4 overs.

Basson struck eight fours and three sixes in a breezy 50-ball 75. He was set up well for success, arriving at the crease in the 14th over after a 76-run opening partnership between Sibiya (22) and Darshik Lutchman (46). However, he had barely settled into his innings before Lutchman was dismissed.

Basson consolidated and fired the Blues into a strong position with a 98-run third-wicket partnership with Joshua Hall, who weighed in with 44. That was the hosts’ highest stand and one of their three match-defining partnerships of over 50 runs. The other one was Hall and Connor van der Walt‘s 60-run fourth-wicket stand, with Van der Walt contributing 35.

Basson was also among the wickets as St John’s rolled through Helpmekaar’s batting lineup, claiming an impressive 2/12 in four overs.

Bryn Gilmour was the most successful of the home side’s bowlers, returning 3/42 from 10 overs, while Ethan Robinson did a tidy job, picking up 2/18 in 5.5 overs.

Xander Jackson put up a fight for Helpmekaar with an even-paced, unbeaten 59 from 92 balls. Unfortunately for him, he had little support from the rest of the batting order. Heinrich Minnaar, who contributed 25 runs from 44 deliveries, held up the St John’s bowlers for a while, but Stefan Trumpelmann, with 20, was the only other batsman to make it beyond the teens.

Northcliff vs Steyn City

Steyn City visited Northcliff High on Saturday and handed the hosts an eight-wicket thrashing on the Eksteen Oval.

The visitors, who won the toss and chose to field first, bowled out Northcliff for 236 runs in 41.2 overs. They, then, made light of the run chase, romping to 237/2 in 45.4 overs.

Jack Woolard was Northcliff’s shining light with a well-paced 63 from 60 balls and was well supported by Rouxwan Coetzer, who added 42 runs from 53 deliveries. The rest of the batsmen struggled to get into the game, however.

Austin van Jaarsveld and Qhama Kova led the Steyn City bowling attack, sharing six wickets between them. Van Jaarsveld finished with 3/46 from nine overs, while Kova took 3/38 in seven.

Steyn City was clinical with the bat in their run chase. The visitors made a strong statement of intent with a 73-run opening partnership between Murray Leith (53) and Brandan Lea (23) before Northcliff fought back by removing both openers within the space of 4.5 overs.

Their departures brought Joshua Michau (73*) and Kian Mcanda (56*) together, and they mounted an unbeaten 140-run third-wicket partnership that saw Steyn City to victory.

Summarised Scorecards

St John’s 295/9 (Herman Basson 75, Darshik Lutchman 46; Stefan Trumpelmann 3/37, Dominic Tait 2/32). Helpmekaar 166/10 (Xander Jackson 59*, Heinrich Minnaar 25; Bryn Gilmour 3/42, Herman Basson 2/12). St John’s won by 129 runs.

Northcliff 236/10 (Jack Woolard 63, Rouxwan Coetzer 42; Austin van Jaarsveld 3/46, Qhama Kova 3/38). Steyn City 237/2 (Joshua Michau 73*, Kian Mcanda 56*, Murray Leith 53; Regan van der Walt 1/32, Gareth Hunkin). Steyn City won by eight wickets.

The KwaZulu-Natal u19 boys’ age group has progressed rapidly over the past three years, and the province has asserted its status as one of the country’s water polo  powerhouses.

In last year’s Inter-Provincial Tournament, the boys in black and white claimed a bronze medal. In 2024, they finished in second place, missing out to Central Gauteng A in the final after beating them in a pool stage match.

KZN isn’t far from winning an IPT title, and there is little gap between them, Gauteng, and Western Province.

To help improve the KZN game even more, though, Kearsney College, Durban High School (DHS), Hilton College, Maritzburg College, Westville Boys’ High, and Northwood, have launched a league of their own.

With a format echoing the SACS Nite Series, the weekly Kearsney Night Series will run from 20 January to 25 February, with the six teams battling it out for the title of inaugural champion.

It’s a water polo crusade that will bring high-level competition and benefit the region, said Kearsney head coach Nicholas Rodda.

“We were considering attending another tournament in the first term, but last year we played only five fixtures before heading to the KES Water Polo Tournament, which really put us at a disadvantage,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Some schools arrived having already played 15 or more games. With limited space in the established tournaments, like Vides and the SAC Shield, we decided to create our own series right here in KZN to give our teams, and others in the region, more regular, high-level competition.”

Coach Rodda added that the ability to play competitive matches weekly is vital for the development of the teams. “It’s crucial,” he reckoned. “Playing competitive games on a consistent, week-to-week basis allows teams to keep improving steadily and build momentum.

“It gives us more time to prepare properly for big events. While tournaments are great for intensity, the rising costs of travel and the amount of school time lost are becoming real challenges, so a local league format like this is a smart, sustainable way forward.”

The SACS Nite Series, which also features six teams, has been running in the Western Cape for many years, and Rodda believes it has hugely benefitted those schools – SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch, Reddam House Constantia, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Wynberg Boys’ High.

“Cape Town schools (through the SACS Nite Series) have long had the advantage of [playing] far more competitive games, which keep them ahead,” he explained.

“KZN has needed something similar for a while to help us catch up, and this is a great first step toward closing that gap and raising the standard across the board.”

After winning the 2024 Saints Invitational Water Polo Tournament, Kearsney produced another strong season in 2025, and they’ll be aiming to build on the foundations already laid. Winning the inaugural event is one of their goals, but coach Rodda and his troops aren’t looking too far ahead.

“We’re hosting [the event] after a really solid season last year and facing strong local KZN teams while missing a couple, like Clifton and Michaelhouse, who couldn’t participate.

“Of course, we’d love to lift the trophy as hosts. But more importantly, this is about getting valuable game time under our belts, sharpening our squad, and building the best possible preparation for the bigger challenge at the KES Tournament in just six weeks.”

FIXTURES

Round 1

16:30 – Hilton College vs Maritzburg College
17:20 – Kearsney College vs Durban High School
18:10 – Northwood School vs Westville Boys’ High

Newcomers to the Finsbury League B Section, Midstream College, and regulars, Hoërskool Montana, made emphatic statements in their opening fixtures, with both recording impressive victories over traditionally strong sides from the Noordvaal region on Saturday.

The Midrand-based Midstream College earned promotion to the B Section after defeating Hoërskool Centurion in the promotion-relegation play-off at the start of the 2025/26 season, and they wasted little time in proving they belong at the higher level.

Opening batsman Keegan Gibson led the way in a commanding 101-run home victory over Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, contributing a superbly composed 108. His knock featured only three fours and two sixes, which underlined his control and ability to rotate the strike without undue risk.

Gibson was well supported by 44 from the experienced Dian de Villiers, while a brisk 33 from Ryan Strauss helped to boost the hosts to 233 all out from 48 overs. Rieshaeel Hashim was the visitors’ standout bowler, claiming 3/30 from seven overs.

In the batting-friendly Highveld conditions, a target of 234 is often considered attainable, but a disciplined and collective bowling effort from Midstream proved to be too much for the visitors.

Tehan Maré led the attack with 3/15, while Barto Oosthuizen (2/14), Dian de Villiers (2/26) and Rikus Cilliers (2/31) each claimed two wickets. Riyaan Marques top-scored with 35, but Marais Viljoen never threatened the Midstream College total and was bowled out for 134 in the 36th over.

In Pretoria, a similar story unfolded as Hoërskool Montana overcame Hoërskool Nelspruit. The Mbombela-based side has made the move down to the B Section after being relegated from the A Section by Hoërskool Kempton Park.

Opening batsman Marko Rudolph anchored the Monties‘ innings with a patient 74 from 106 deliveries, which included seven fours and a six. Captain Juan Theunissen added 46, while late contributions of an unbeaten 24 each from Reinhardt Swart and Du Preez Prinsloo lifted the hosts to 218/7 from their 50 overs.

The match was then shaped by an outstanding spell from Johvanne Conradie, whose 4/18 dismantled the Nellies‘ middle order. His haul included the key wicket of Jean Maritz, who top-scored with a determined 48. Gherdu van Eeden supported Maritz with 35, and the pair shared a 94-run partnership that briefly revived their run chase.

Once that stand was broken, however, the innings unravelled, and Nelspruit was bowled out for 146, leaving Hoërskool Montana with a convincing 72-run victory.

Summarised scorecards

Midstream College 233/10 (Keegan Gibson 108, Dian de Villiers 44, Ryan Strauss 33; RJ de Beer 3/28, Rieshaeel Hashim 3/30); Marais Viljoen 132 (Riyaan Marques 35, Hendré Cilliers 29, Jared Mentz 24; Tehan Maré 3/15, Barto Oosthuizen 2/14, Dian de Villiers 2/26, Rikus Cilliers 2/31). Midstream College won by 101 runs. 

Montana 218/7 (Marko Rudolph 74, Juan Theunissen 46, Reinhardt Swart 24*, Du Preez Prinsloo 24*; Kesha Moore 2/23, Uwaiz Miller 2/25); Hoërskool Nelspruit 146 (Jean Maritz 48, Gherdu van Eeden 35; Johvanne Conradie 4/18, Liam Vorster 2/14). Montana won by 72 runs. 

The opening weekend of the annual Finsbury League C Section produced a run-fest across Saturday’s three fixtures.

It was the only section to complete a full round of matches, as the ongoing Switch Schools SA20 regional playoffs and inclement weather in parts of the Noordvaal region disrupted proceedings elsewhere.

Hoërskool Dinamika delivered the most emphatic batting performance, piling up a mammoth 375 all out in a commanding 77-run victory over Hoërskool Pietersburg, in Alberton.

The home side’s fiery innings, which lasted just 46.4 overs, featured two half-centuries, with Jayden Smith the standout performer. Smith smashed a blistering 95 from only 57 deliveries. Despite batting at number nine, he came up one big shot short of a century.

Kyle du Plooy laid the platform for the late onslaught with a fluent 67 from 57 balls, while Pietersburg’s generosity in the extras column added 56 runs to Dinamika’s daunting total.

Alex Thomson (4/68) was a bright spot for the visitors, producing a spirited spell, while the experienced AJ Galloway offered valuable support with three wickets of his own.

In reply, Pieties briefly threatened to make a contest of it, with Willem Viljoen in fine touch. He struck a rapid 84 at a strike rate of 118, while Hanru Marais contributed an enterprising 46 from just 26 balls. However, once both were removed, courtesy of Jarred Cliffe (2/46) and Jesse Simpson (2/24), the innings lost momentum, and the visitors were eventually all out for 280.

In Centurion, the visitors, Hoërskool Middelburg, inspired by a devastating innings from Gavin Genis, secured a comprehensive 125-run victory over Hoërskool Centurion

The Middies‘ captain raced to 82 from just 40 balls, clearing the ropes nine times and finding the boundary on four further occasions. Eduan Strydom added a solid 51, while PJ van der Merwe agonisingly missed out on a half-century, falling for 49, as Middelburg was bowled out for 238.

Morné Prinsloo (2/29) and Morné Venter (2/39) were the pick of the Woeries‘ bowlers and later led the resistance with the bat, scoring 39 and 25 respectively.

The remainder of the line-up, however, struggled against the penetrative Middelburg attack, spearheaded by Nijan Swart. The former Hoërskool Secunda bowler was outstanding, ripping through the top order and claiming 3/5, which played a decisive role in Centurion mustering only 113 all out.

In the third fixture, Hoërskool Zwartkop claimed a convincing 93-run win over Hoërskool Lichtenburg in Centurion, with three of their batsmen registering half-centuries.

Wynand Frylink and William Skinner were the chief contributors, each scoring 64, while WJ Easterhuizen added a brisk 62 as the Zwarries posted an imposing 298 all out.

Lichtenburg’s Eduan van den Berg fought valiantly, first with the ball, returning figures of 3/40, and then with the bat, compiling a well-made 57. Despite his efforts, the Liggies were bowled out for 205 in reply, falling well short of their target.

Summarised scorecards

Dinamika 375/10 (Jayden Smith 95, Kyle du Plooy 67, Extras 56, Jesse Simpson 29, Eduaan Nel 27, Bryce Edwards 23, Branko Steenberg 20; Alex Thomson 4/68, AJ Galloway 3/68); Hoërskool Pietersburg 280/10 (Willem Viljoen 84, Hanru Marais 46, Extras 36, AJ Galloway 25, Jan-Hendrik Boneschans 23, Marthinus Boneschans 21; Jesse Simpson 2/24, Sebastian le Roux 2/44, Jared Cliffe 2/46). Dinamika won by 77 runs. 

Hoërskool Middelburg 238/10 (Gavin Genis 82, Eduan Strydom 51, PJ van der Merwe 49; Morné Prinsloo 2/29, Morné Venter 2/39, Aden Schadle 2/49); Hoërskool Centurion 113/10 (Morné Prinsloo 39, Morné Venter 25, Henré Luus 23; Nijan Swart 3/5, Ricardo Ras 3/29, Eduan Strydom 2/29). Hoërskool Middelburg won by 125 runs. 

Zwartkop 298/10 (Wynand Frylink 64, William Skinner 64, WJ Esterhuizen 62, Wihan Pelser 37; Eduan van den Berg 3/40, Dovhan Wiese 3/57, Oratile Mmasa 2/47); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 205/10 (Eduan van den Berg 57, Extras 37, Oratile Mmasa 35, Jurgen Hesse 28; Wihan Pleser 2/11, Conrad Fourie 2/18, Liam van Wyk 2/36). Zwartkop won by 93 runs. 

St. Dominic’s College (Welkom) vs Welkom Gimnasium

The visitors, Welkom Gimnasium, lost the toss when they visited St Dominic’s College for a limited overs match on Saturday. The home side’s decision to bat, though, held unfortunate consequences for them.

Those consequences were delivered by Henru Heiberg, who captured 5/28 from 10 overs. His superb return was the main reason that St Dominic’s were all out on Nelson – 111 – after 34.2 overs.

Mohammed Al Haddad was unfortunate not to reach his half-century, being left stranded on 48 not out after a lengthy 95-ball stay at the crease.

Captain Alessio Salvado’s 22 was the second and only other score beyond single figures in the St Dom’s innings.

Heiburg’s star turn was backed up by a telling contribution from Bryan Haywood, who mopped up the tail, knocking over 2/14 in 7.2 overs. He, also, fired in a direct hit on the stumps to pull off a run out.

When they replied, Welkom Gim’s number three batsman, Dian Erasmus, took charge of the chase, striking four fours in his unbeaten 35 off 58 balls.

Aiden Hewitt, the fifth man to the crease, hit an electric two fours and three sixes in an entertaining 31 off 15 balls to thrust the visitors to 112/5 after 24.4 overs and a five-wicket win.

Hoërskool Goudveld vs Hoërskool Witteberg

After Hoërskool Goudveld won the toss and opted to bat first in their 50-over match against Hoërskool Witteberg,  opener Kellan Kleynhans got his side off to a solid start, dispatching four fours in his patient 51 runs off 102 balls. Kleynhans, though, needed greater support.

Heino Bruwer led the Witteberg bowling attack, cleaning out 3/19 in five overs, while WJ Geldenhuis was another thorn in Goudveld’s side, snapping up 2/7 in six overs. Anru Erasmus chipped in, too, picking up 2/31 in six overs.

After 31 overs, Goudveld was all out for 108, leaving the visitors to chase a modest victory target.

Openers, Geldenhuis and Janco Botha, ensured it would be a successful run chase by top-scoring for Witteberg. Geldenhuis cracked four fours and a maximum in his 35 off 27 deliveries, while Botha, the captain and wicket-keeper, played a more conservative innings, weighing in with an unbeaten 30 off 43.

When HJ Eksteen joined Botha at the crease, he was in a rush to see the Bethlehem boys across the finishing line. He clubbed three fours and a six in an unbeaten 24 off 15 as Witteberg won by three wickets after reaching 109/3 off only 17.3 overs.

Vian Boardman collected 2/45 in eight overs for Goudveld.

Summarised Scorecards

St. Dominic’s College (Welkom) 111/10 (Mohammed Al Haddad 48*, Extras 25, Alessio Salvado 22; Henru Heiberg 5/28, Bryan Haywood 2/14); Welkom Gimnasium 112/5 (Dian Erasmus 35, Aiden Hewitt 31). Welkom Gimnasium won by five wickets.

Hoërskool Goudveld 108/10 (Kellan Kleynhans 51; Heino Bruwer 3/19, WJ Geldenhuis 2/7, Anru Erasmus 2/31); Hoërskool Witteberg 109/3 (WJ Geldenhuis 35, Janco Botha 30*, HJ Eksteen 24*; Vian Boardman 2/45). Witteberg won the match by seven wickets.

The first term on the school calendar is jam-packed, filled with festivals, tournaments, and, for the Western Cape boys’ teams, the SACS Nite Series.

The annual weekly event runs from 20 January to 24 February at the SACS Aquatic Centre in Cape Town.

It’s the usual suspects – South African College High School (SACS), Bishops, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Wynberg Boys’ High, Reddam House Constantia, and Paul Roos Gimnasium – in action.

Bishops, under the guidance of coach Jabulani Sibiya, won the last two editions of the competition.

In 2024, they defeated SACS 14-11 in a dramatic final before outplaying ‘Bosch 14-9 a year later to retain the silverware.

Can Bishops claim a third straight title? That’s the question on people’s minds.

They have a strong and talented team filled with some X-factor players, who can quickly change the tide of a game.

In goal, vice-captain Michael Mafunda will return for his final season, as will the skipper James Malan. SA Schools’ players, Timothy Young and Matt Fenn, need no introduction, and they’ll be deadly in front of the goal.

The team that pushed Bishops hard last year was Rondebosch. The side, led by coach Jared Wingate-Pearse, started the season on a high by winning the Bishops Festival over the past weekend.

They’re not short of talented players either, with the likes of Noah Reiback, Kieran Bennewith, and captain James Pinnock back in the mix.

SACS will aim to bounce back after last year’s disappointing campaign. The hosts made a slow start and were unable to recover in time. They had to settle for a fifth-place finish.

Coach Devon Card will look to experienced campaigners like Benjamin Bigara, Harry Oldham, Luca Orgill, and Aidan Turrell to restore pride in the jersey.

Reddam will also fancy their chances, despite having a youthful team. Adam Brown starred in last year’s tournament, and he’ll be key to the team’s success.

Meanwhile, coach Vaugh Marlow’s Paul Roos side made big strides in 2025 and reached the semi-finals. They and Wynberg will have their sights set on going at least one step further.

FIXTURES

Round 1

17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Reddam House
17:50 – SACS vs Wynberg
18:40 – Paul Roos vs Bishops

For a third day in succession, the Westville Boys’ High 1st XI was in action in Pietermaritzburg, following their Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two campaign with a visit to Maritzburg College for a limited overs showdown on Saturday.

Captain Kyle McGough called it right at the toss and opted to bat first on Goldstone’s, but Westville made a stuttering start.

After losing their first wicket on 28, two more went down, on 29 and 30, leaving the visitors in a spot of bother on 30/3 after 8.2 overs. Aidan Baudach and Tristin Delvin stopped College’s charge, however, with an 84-run stand for the fourth wicket.

It came to an end when Delvin was caught by Greg Hosking off the bowling of Luke Venter for 36. Baudach stayed around for a while longer, advancing the total to 129 before he became the sixth man out. By then, though, he had compiled the innings’ highest score of 59 from 90 balls, striking seven fours along the way.

Two balls later, the Griffins found themselves seven wickets down. At 129/7, with 16.5 overs remaining in their innings, they were in a tricky position. Aarin Rasmussen and Jamie Hasselbach batted them out of it with a 63-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Hasselbach’s share was 31 from 44 balls, with two fours and a six.

Rasmussen, meanwhile, stuck around to the end of Westville’s 50 overs, and finished with 40 not out from 58 deliveries, while Liam de Villiers chipped in with 19 not out at better than a run a ball as the visitors tallied 216/8.

Opening bowler, Reece Willson, who took two of the three early wickets to fall, ended with 3/38 from 10 overs, while Luke Venter, the seventh and last bowler employed by College, returned their best figures, claiming 3/26 from seven.

The Red, Black, and White then made a solid if somewhat cautious start to their run chase, with Akhil Bharath and Kyle de Bruyn putting on 36 for the first wicket before Bharath’s knock was ended for 15 by a combination of wicketkeeper Aidan Baudach’s hands and Jamie Hasselbach’s bowling.

When three wickets went down in the fifties – two of them to Hasselbach – College was in trouble on 59/4 in the 21st over. Then, Aarin Rasmussen struck twice to get rid of Reece Willson for five and Dom du Toit for 15.

Luan van der Merwe kept Westville at bay, though, until, sadly for College, he was run out for 44, having run for every one of those runs. James Pembridge followed three runs later for 12, leaving the home side struggling to hang on, on 134/8.

Just over three overs later, Westville wrapped up a convincing 62-run win, bowling out Maritzburg College for 154.

Jamie Hasselbach, who dismissed three of College’s top four batsmen, knocked over 3/24 in six overs, Aarin Rasmussen kept it tight to pick up 2/27 in 10, and Kyle McGough chipped in with 2/30 from seven.

Summarised scorecard

Westville Boys’ High 216/8 (Aidan Baudach 59; Aarin Rasmussen 40*, Tristin Delvin 36, Jamie Hasselbach 31; Luke Venter 3/26, Reece Willson 3/38); Maritzburg College 154/10 (Luan van der Merwe 44, Kyle de Bruyn 26; Jamie Hasselbach 3/24, Aarin Rasmussen 2/27, Kyle McGough 2/30). Westville Boys’ High won by 62 runs.