Boland Landbou made hay against Milnerton, revelling in the space they had to play in. Photo: Boland Landbou on Facebook.
Boland Landbou delivered a grand performance to hammer Milnerton High 83-0 on Saturday.
Millies were completely overwhelmed by the creativity and speed of the Farmers’ attack.
Tighthead prop Tiaan Malan, eighthman Daniel Hanse, flyhalf Gehano van Bo, and fullback Divan Meyer scored two tries apiece in a combined display of skill, speed, and power.
It was, unfortunately, a one-sided affair. Milnerton’s forwards had no solutions for the problems posed by the Paarl locals at the set-pieces and breakdowns.
Previewing the clash, it was noted that both sides have played difficult schedules this season, resulting in more losses than they’d usually experience. Against a team whose confidence has been dented by a long line of defeats, the Farmerslet loose.
Millies will need to go back to the drawing board. They’ll need to improve their share of possession when they take on DF Akademie next weekend. Meanwhile, Boland Landbou will head into their local derby against Paarl Boys’ High with their confidence boosted.
DF Akademie was at Porterville on Saturday, where the combatants played to a 22-22 draw.
DF captain and hooker Meyer Brits twice crossed the try line to keep his side in the fight. The visitors’ tighthead prop Cor Hoving and right-wing Tarquin Newman also went over for five each.
Even when the visitors enjoyed dominance, the Porterville locals did not give way, fighting back to land blows of their own.
While DF might have been left frustrated by the result, they’ll aim to put that right when Milnerton High visits them next Saturday.
Scorers
Boland Landbou 83 – Tries: Divan Meyer (2), Gehano van Bo (2), Tiaan Malan (2), Daniel Hanse (2), Erchel Hanga, RE van Deventer, Kobus Jordaan, Steyn Lamprecht, AN Other. Conversions: Meyer (8), Charl du Plessis. Milnerton High 0.
Paarl Gimnasium scrumhalf Alexander Kotze displays a weary smile after delivering a stellar performance in his side’s big win over Wynberg Boys’ High. Photo: Paarl Gim Premium.
Paarl Gimnasium defeated a southern suburbs’ side 66-14 on Saturday. Last week, they beat Bishops by that score. This time around, Wynberg Boys’ High was the victim.
The visitors took their winning streak to 10 games in succession by delivering a complete performance on Hawthornden Field.
Gimmies‘ fullback Thomas Saunders was in his element, using his excellent speed and smart running lines to score four tries. He appears to have a sixth sense for knowing where space in the opposition’s defence will open up, and he put those instincts to devastating use.
Openside flank Corné Niemand got himself onto the scoresheet for the third week in a row. He’s long been consistent in defence, but now appears to be evolving into a consistent try-scorer as well.
Left-wing De Waal Vivier, who’s also an excellent cricketer, made his presence known with a brace, while scrumhalf Alexander Kotze backed his feet to also race over for two tries.
Flyhalf Louis Koen collected 16 points off the kicking tee, once again providing consistency with the boot.
With less than 20 minutes played, the hosts were 0-26 behind, but they cut into the Gim lead at last. From a lineout just outside the Paarl Gim 22, flyhalf Achmat Behardien, with superb touch, stabbed a delicate grubber behind the opposition’s defence, and outside centre Ithandile Nkhola collected the ball before going over for a try.
That was, however, the only scoring sequence from Wynberg in the first half, and Paarl Gimnasium led 40-7 at halftime.
The visitors continued their impressive all-round play in the second half, again depriving Wynberg of possession and territory.
After such an intense encounter, Wynberg will welcome a less demanding showdown with Hoërskool Bellville next weekend. Meanwhile, Oakdale Landbou will aim to end Paarl Gim’s winning streak in Riversdal.
In another match played in Cape Town, SACS broke Hoërskool Parel Vallei’s 11-game winning streak, which included nine wins on the trot this season. In a hard-fought contest, the home side triumphed 19-5 on the Memorial-A Field.
Fullback ShudleyRhoda bagged the Bulldogs’ five points, which was no surprise. He’s been their most prolific attacking threat all season long.
SACS flank Kwakhanya Gobe twice forced his way over the line for tries as the home team won most of the forward battles at the breakdown and set-pieces, which left the visitors short of quality ball.
While one of the standout qualities of the PV side has been their clinical finishing, a team needs the ball to be able to finish.
SACS prop Deen Fortuin was a good example of the tenacity shown by the hosts up front, which also brought him a try.
After their first loss of the season, Parel Vallei will have an opportunity to put the lessons they took from their defeat to good use when they tackle Hoërskool Brackenfell at home.
Scorers
Paarl Gimnasium 66 (40) – Tries: Thomas Saunders (4), De Waal Vivier (2), Alexander Kotze (2), Dirk Hugo, Corné Niemand. Conversions: Louis Koen (8). Wynberg Boys’ High 14 (7) – Tries: Ithandile Nkhola, Ridah Johnson. Conversions: Achmat Behardien, Luke Gertze.
U19 – Wynberg II 7 Paarl Gim II 54, Wynberg III 5 Paarl Gim III 33, Wynberg IV 15 Paarl Gim IV 14, Wynberg V 0 Paarl Gim V 40, Wynberg VI 12 Paarl Gim VI 64.
U16 – Wynberg A 31 Paarl Gim A 29, Wynberg B 10 Paarl Gim B 21, Wynberg C 7 Paarl Gim C 54, Wynberg D 0 Paarl Gim D 61.
U15 – Wynberg A 8 Paarl Gim A 42, Wynberg B 0 Paarl Gim B 33, Wynberg C 0 Paarl Gim C 104, Wynberg D 0 Paarl Gim D 54.
U14 – Wynberg A 19 Paarl Gim A 32, Wynberg B 10 Paarl Gim B 47, Wynberg C 14 Paarl Gim C 41, Wynberg D 0 Paarl Gim D 63; SACS A 26 Parel Vallei 3.
Healthy again, with almost all of the first-choice players in their run-on XV, Westville Boys’ High turned on the style to power their way to an emphatic 50-3 victory at Glenwood High on Saturday. It was Westville’s first win on Dixon’s Field since 2015.
It took Westville a while to wear down the young Green Machine, but once they found their rhythm, they ran away with the game.
When players are out injured, their replacements might offer similar skills. However, combinations and understanding take a hit. Having their senior players return, and with that their experience of playing together, was the medicine that Westville needed to show how dangerous they could be.
At scrumhalf, Sandiswa Mbokazi‘s high tempo and sound decision-making enabled the Griffinsto build momentum. Right-wing Bukho Sotaka, who crossed the whitewash twice, also made a big impact.
To score tries, a foundation has to be laid, and Westville coach Zander Erasmus credited his pack for putting in a massive shift. Their rewards included a first try for the 1st XV from flank, Omphiwe Dladla, who was put in the clear by loosehead prop, Sibusiso Hlongwa.
“It was relentless pressure, high-tempo attack, and double hits on defence, suffocating them, and making them work hard on D with snap plays,” Erasmus said.
“[Fullback] Lux Sonkononkono and [flyhalf] Jade-Will Koopman pulled the strings and Jadrian Afrikaner came alive in the second half with some great touches, runs and a good try.”
“At one stage, it looked like we were playing Sevens with the way we kept the ball alive and played our offload game,” he added. Given that Westville Boys’ High is the reigning national champion in the format, that speaks volumes about their creativity and running.
One of the stars of their Sevens team, flank Ezra Karolisin, was a standout. Erasmus explained: “He was immense with his linking play and touches to create for the backs on the outside.”
Apart from Bukho Sotaka’s two tries, his opposite wing, Avumile Lisa, also dotted down. Karosilin, Dladla, 8th-man Lwandle Makhanya, and the midfielders, Curtis Fenton and Jadrian Afrikaner, also went over for five-pointers.
Five conversions from Jade-Will Koopman boosted Westville’s tally to a half-century.
Cole Nienhuser broke away to score Clifton’s first try against St David’s Marist Inanda. Photo: Laurie Smith.
Clifton College fell to a 17-23 loss to St David’s Marist Inanda at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday on Clifton’s Old Boys’ Weekend. While the Durban boys tasted defeat, they delivered a fiery performance that earned the approval of their alumni.
“I so wanted this for the boys today,” coach Jose Dos Santos admitted. Still, he said, there was a silver lining to the cloud: “They made the Old Boys proud, and that’s what we wanted.”
There was next to nothing in the game, and Clifton had an opportunity to win it when, inside the last two minutes, they won a penalty inside the St David’s 22 and kicked to touch. Unfortunately for the home side, though, they were without Trent Bam, their lineout thrower, who exited the game with an injury, and St David’s stole the ball to deny Clifton.
They were able to keep St David’s under pressure, however, and win back the ball, but one last attack from the hosts ended with a knock-on, and St David’s claimed a hard-fought victory after they trailed 12-14 at the break.
Arguably, the decisive moment in the contest occurred in the first three minutes. Clifton had begun well, controlling possession and territory while stringing phases together. They were struck with a sucker punch, though, when wing Tadiwanashe Javangwe intercepted a pass and ran through to score beneath the uprights from 55 metres out.
Giorgio Ferreira kicked the simple conversion to make it 7-0.
An intercept try by Tadiwanashe Javangwe and the subsequent easy conversion were the difference between victory and defeat for St David’s Marist Inanda. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Clifton picked up from where they had left off before the interception, surging onto the attack again, with flyhalf Izah Roux putting the visitors under pressure with a series of well-judged kicks onto the St David’s wings. These allowed his players an opportunity to challenge for the ball, and they did a good job of contesting and winning back possession.
St David’s remained stuck in their territory, and that, at last, paid off for Clifton when second-rower Cole Nienhuser broke free and sprinted through to score in the right corner. Roux tacked on the extras from a tough angle to level the scores.
Territory belonged mostly to Clifton, but when the visitors at last broke the shackles, they made it count, working their way into Clifton’s 22 from where they closed in on the try line, eventually punching their way over from close range through lock Chris Theorides after stealing a Clifton lineout throw.
After 20 minutes, the visitors led 12-7, but their lead didn’t last long. Four minutes later, Clifton’s big tighthead, Trent Bam, crashed over for a try, which was converted by Roux, to put the hosts 14-12 clear at the break.
Early in the second half, St David’s edged ahead again with a penalty from Ferreira. Clifton, then, spent almost 10 minutes camped inside the visitors’ 22. St David’s defended manfully, and when Clifton eventually settled for a penalty and a 17-15 lead, it was a victory of sorts for the Johannesburg school. In retrospect, Clifton might have regretted not continuing to press for a try.
From the kick off, St David’s emulated Clifton, forcing play into the hosts’ half. They, however, turned that pressure into a try, scored by no. 8 Matthew Scott, who surprised Clifton when he peeled clear of a rolling maul and saw clear space in front of him.
On their Old Boys’ Weekend, the Clifton 1st XV enjoyed strong support. Photo: Brad Morgan.
A late penalty by Dylan Gander extended St David’s lead to six points, meaning Clifton needed a converted try to win. They gave it their all hard and put themselves in position to snatch a late victory, but the visitors kept them at bay.
Credit to the St David’s boys. Clifton disrupted them, and they, at times, committed unforced errors, but they gritted it out to come away with a hard-fought win.
Despite the defeat, Clifton finished the match with their heads held high. “There were a lot of positives. It’s disappointing to lose, though,” coach Dos Santos said.
“The commitment levels were through the roof. This game, and our game against St John’s College (Harare), had the best levels of performance and commitment.”
He finished by identifying what Clifton needs to work on: “Our execution cost us. We’ve got to get better at closing out games like this.”
Scorers
Clifton College 17 (14) – Tries: Cole Nienhuser, Trent Bam. Conversions: Izah Roux (2). Penalty: Izah Roux. St David’s Marist Inanda 23 (12) – Tries: Tadiwanashe Javagwe, Chris Theorides, Matthew Scott. Conversions: Giorgio Ferreira. Penalty: Dylan Gander.
Other results
u19
II: St David 50 Clifton 7
III: St David’s 31 Clifton 7
u16
A: St David’s 34 Clifton 12
u15
A: St David’s 17 Clifton 10 B: Clifton 28 St David’s 10
u14
A: St David’s 50 Clifton 0
B: St David’s 51 Clifton 0
Stellenberg High flyhalf Ethan van Biljon evades a tackle attempt from Rondebosch Boys’ High’s Jayden Wyngaard. Photo: Stellenberg Rugby.
After a tough 7-29 defeat to Paarl Boys’ High last weekend, Stellenberg High grabbed a hard-fought 33-26 home victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High on Saturday.
The Jade Brigade unleashed a blitzkrieg of attacks in the first 28 minutes to race into a 28-0 lead from four converted tries, including from their big tighthead prop Janu van Deventer and hooker Liam Joubert, who ploughed over the line.
Similar to a try that Springbok blindside flank Pieter-Steph du Toit scored against the All Blacks in the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, loose forward Yanos Molnar went in to cover the ball at a breakdown and sneakily picked it up from beneath his feet to run in under the posts for five.
The pendulum then swung to‘Bosch, who dominated the next 28 minutes of play with four tries of their own. Lock Bjorn Morkel was again among the try scorers. With his large and powerful frame, it’s rare to see fewer than three players needed to bring him down.
Left-wing, Caleb Bell, another regular try-scorer, filled in at scrumhalf on the halfway line, then sniped down the blindside. Faced with a defender, he grubbered the ball through, collected it himself and scored a phenomenal try that covered 50 metres. Bell’s been superb this season and is clearly in the upper echelon of wings.
After 56 minutes, an absorbing contest favoured Stellenberg by only two points, 28-26. It was anyone’s game, but centre JC Swart ensured victory went Stellies’ way with a try in his first game back from injury.
Worcester Gimnasium’s left-wing Joyce Baningela continued his rich try-scoring run – which began with a hat-trick against HoërskoolBrackenfell – in Gim’s 43-36 home victory over Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington) on Saturday.
He and outside centre Bjorn van der Westhuizen both dotted down twice as Worcester Gimnasium won for the third successive match after starting the season with six losses.
Scrumhalf Jerran Adams played a major part in his side’s victory by converting five of their six tries and adding a penalty for a personal haul of 13 points.
Gim’s fighting spirit is admirable. They’ll need to tap into it again if they are to upset HTS Drostdy in the Worcester derby next Saturday.
Hoërskool Brackenfell not only scored their first win in three games, but they also ended Hoërskool Strand’s three-match winning streak after squeezing out a 30-29 victory at home.
Brakkies mainly scored with direct carries through their powerful forwards. However, perennial try-scorer and left-wing MigileCarelse still found his way over the try line. But he was the only Brackenfell back to dot down on the day.
Lock Manya Prayer put in a heavy shift for his side. His diligent efforts in the lineouts and on defence were rewarded with a try.
Mr Consistent, Strand captain and eigthman Rohan Bezuidenhout, again bagged a try. Despite his side’s narrow loss, he delivered a standout all-round performance with his work rate and physicality.
The visitors’ scrumhalf Jason Hartogh also had a solid game, distributing the ball with gusto and earning a try of his own. He’s trusting his running more and, as a result, is getting onto the scoresheet more consistently.
Brackenfell faces a tough challenge next weekend. They take on Hoërskool ParelVallei, who fell to their first loss of the season at SACS on Saturday. Strand hosts Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington).
Scorers
Stellenberg High 33 (28) – Tries: Liam Joubert, Janu van Deventer, Ethan van Biljon, Yanos Molnar, JC Swart. Conversions: Van Biljon (4). Rondebosch Boys’ High 26 (7) – Tries: Bjorn Morkel, Kelebogile Nkwana, Jayden Wyngaard, Caleb Bell. Conversions: Shellvon Mabooi (3).
Hoërskool Brackenfell 30 – Tries: Migile Carelse, Jason Joseph, Hanré van Dijk, Manya Prayer, Joshua Wallace. Conversion: Yusuf Hannibal. Penalty: Hannibal. Hoërskool Strand 29 – Tries: Rohan Bezuidenhout, Schalk Beukes, Joshua Lourens, Brant Nel, Jason Hartogh. Conversions: Leathon Lewis (2).
Other Results
U19 – Stellenberg I 33 Rondebosch I 26, Stellenberg II 34 Rondebosch II 10; Worcester Gim I 43 Hugenote I 36, Worcester Gim II 26 Hugenote II 14, Worcester Gim III 5 Hugenote III 27; Brackenfell I 30 Strand I 29, Brackenfell II 14 Strand II 10, Brackenfell III 25 Strand III 15, Brackenfell IV 17 Strand IV 15.
U16 – Stellenberg A 20 Rondebosch A 20; Worcester Gim A 38 Hugenote A 22, Worcester Gim B 17 Hugenote B 0; Brackenfell A 14 Strand A 29, Brackenfell B 7 Strand B 21.
U15 – Stellenberg A 29 Rondebosch A 14; Worcester Gim A 22 Hugenote A 18, Worcester Gim B 24 Hugenote B 21; Brackenfell A 5 Strand A 24, Brackenfell B 8 Strand B 19.
U14 – Stellenberg A 6 Rondebosch A 12; Worcester Gim A 12 Hugenote A 7, Worcester Gim B 17 Hugenote B 24.
Captain Ryde Brisset slots Clifton’s last goal in their 8-0 win over St David’s Marist Inanda. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Daniel Holliday scored a hat-trick, and goalkeeper Georg Wolhouter kept a clean sheet, as Clifton College dominated St David’s Marist Inanda at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday, winning 8-0 on their Old Boys’ Weekend.
“I think we delivered a performance that I’m sure [Clifton Headmaster] Mr. [Adam] Rogers, the rest of the team, and the boys, can be proud of. It was outstanding,” Calvin Price, the Clifton coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
“We’ve played a lot of hockey. This is our 25th game, so this week was really about just keeping the legs going, and I think we were good at that,” Price said.
With so many matches in the bag, Clifton didn’t train intensely for the St David’s match. Instead, they polished their connections and focused on maintaining their structure.
At times this season, one of Clifton’s shortcomings has been reacting to the opposition’s approach, rather than imposing their own. Against St David’s, they stuck to their game and processes, and it paid off handsomely.
Clifton moved the ball well and dominated possession in the first chukka. However, they had nothing to show for it until the final moments of the quarter, when they opened their account with a field goal from Dan Holliday after penetrative approach play from his frontline partner, Dan Rea.
The second chukka was more of the same for the hosts. They made forays into St David’s half but couldn’t convert their opportunities. Just as they did in the first quarter, though, they scored again through the predatory Holliday, who slotted a rebound from a penalty corner shot to make it 2-0 to the hosts at the break.
“At halftime, I said to them, ‘Make sure it’s clinical, zero goals against you. You don’t want to have a goal against you on your Old Boys’ Day’,” Price said.
Clifton’s players responded to that challenge by dialling up their offence to keep their defence from being tested. They scored their third goal almost immediately after the restart, with Luke Carolan firing in at the far post.
The visitors were still trying to get their wits about them when Clifton made it 4-0 six minutes into the chukka. Again, it was Dan Holliday, who got himself in front of his marker, moved the ball away from the defender with his first touch, then stretched to knock the ball past the goalkeeper for his hat-trick.
The hosts, who were on a warpath, added their fifth three minutes after their fourth goal, with Dan Rea providing the finish.
The Clifton College 1st XI, ball boys, and their supporters celebrate an impressive victory. Photo: Laurie Smith.
One of the secrets to Clifton’s success was the manner in which they consistently turned over possession. “We’ve worked a lot on the two-versus-one in our favour,” coach Price said, about his side’s defending.
“That’s what we were trying to do. I think that we’ve been bad in one-on-ones. So, we’ve tried to work on getting an extra number into that space. The boys did it well today.”
St David’s threatened at times, but Georg Wolhouter, who has been a rock in goal throughout the season, continued his solid work.
“Georg’s been outstanding between the posts. At St Alban’s, last week, we had eight short corners against us, and he cleared all eight. So, he’s got an unbelievable short corner defence that he’s controlling there,” Price said.
Not content with a 5-0 lead, the hosts remained hungry for more goals in the final chukka.
They secured their sixth goal from the penalty spot, converted by Tye Milne, with just over seven minutes left in the match. They buried their seventh three minutes later, with Milne firing in a penalty corner, and scored their eighth, courtesy of captain Ryde Brisset, from close range with just over a minute to go.
JUANDRÉ “LOOD” EHLERS, binnesenter van Monument, is hier op pad doellyn toe vir een van sy span se drieë in sy sege van 34-26 oor Helpmekaar Kollege in die Virseker Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling. FOTO: Marius Nortjé
Die Hoërskool Monument se Wit Bulle is vanjaar sterk aanspraakmakers om as kampioen van die Virseker Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling gekroon te word.
Die span van Krugersdorp het Saterdag met ‘n oorwinning van 34-26 oor Helpmekaar Kollege in Johannesburg sy negende agtereenvolgende sege vanjaar op die rugbyveld behaal. Monnas is na dié oorwinning saam met Garsfontein die enigste onoorwonne spanne oor in die Beker-afdeling.
Dit was ook die Wit Bulle se eerste oorwinning oor Helpmekaar sedert 1997 wat Tjaart van der Walt nie die breier was nie. Vir Monnas se breiers, Jannie du Plessis en Reinhard Gerber, sou dit dus ‘n spesiale dag gewees het.
Van der Walt rig deesdae Helpies af.
Die span van Krugersdorp was op sy stukke in die eerste helfte en het ‘n gemaklike voorsprong van 29-7 teen lemoentyd opgebou. Dit was weer die span se Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-skrumskakel, Morné Noble, wat met sy flinke diens asook skerp breekslae die meeste skade vir Helpies se verdediging besorg het.
Noble is boonop vir die vierde wedstryd op ‘n streep as Speler van die Wedstryd aangewys. Natuurlik in die Virseker Noordvaal Cup word dit die Virsekerbreker van die Wedstryd genoem.
Die toekenning kon egter net so maklik aan die slot Hanco van Geelen toegeken gewees het. Dit was duidelik dat Van Geelen ‘n boodskap aan die Leeus se keurders met sy vertoning wou stuur. Diot was sonder twyfel sy beste vertoning nog vir die Wit Bulle.
Van Geelen het op die verdediging gesorg dat ‘n hele paar Helpies vandag met seer lywe sit. Boonop het hy met mening by die afbreekpunte ingeklim om die Helpies op die agtervoet te hou.
Indien hy op die vertoning kan voortbou kan die Leeus se keurders hom dalk net weer nader trek voor hulle hul finale span vir die Cravenweek in Gqeberha bekend maak. Sy slotmaat, Matthew van Deventer, verdien ook ‘n klop op die skouer vir sy vertoning teen Helpies.
Die tweede helfte van die kragmeting het aan Helpies behoort. Die tuisspan het ‘n hele paar geleenthede geskep om die wedstryd te wen, maar meeste van die belowende bewegings is deur ‘n laaste aangee of ‘n aanslaan in die wiele gery.
Die span se slot en hoofseun van die skool, Diandro Botha, was deurgans uitstaande. Goeie nuus vir die Leeus se Cravenweek-span is dat die binnesenter, Ethan Lourens, ook vinnig besig is om sy spelpeil te herwin.
Agterlangs het die heelagter, Xander van Niekerk en linkervleuel Zuan Krige gevaarlik gelyk wanneer hul in besit gestel is. Die skakelpaar, Shaye Lourens en John van Druten, asook die flank Llewellyn Vermaak kan ook tevrede met hul vertonings voel.
Monnas se heelagter, Logan Langeveldt, het saam met die senterpaar, Juandré Ehlers en Blessing Monareng, ook uitmuntend vertoon.
Noordheuwel het sy eerste sege in vanjaar se reeks met ‘n oorwinning van 35-10 oor EG Jansen van Boksburg beklink.
Die Jansies het wel eerste bloed geruik toe sy buitesenter, Duwayne Zeekoei, vroeg vir sy drie deurgedraf het. Die besoekers van Boksburg was vir langer in die kragmeting as wat die telling aandui.
Die Nories het met die omdraaislag met 14-5 voorgeloop. Die tuisspan se linkervleuel, Prince Agu, se drie was die laaste spyker in die doodskis na Nories omgekeerde besit enkele meters van hul doellyn bewerkstellig het. Agu het amper die hele lengte van die veld vir sy drie genael.
Affies showed fight to come from behind and beat KES 3-2. Photo: Affies on Facebook.
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool(Affies) continued their impressive run by claiming yet another big scalp in the Gauteng region.
The boys from Pretoria, led by coach Jaydon Lincoln, stunned King Edward VII(KES) 3-2 in Johannesburg on Saturday.
That victory added another big name to a list of memorable wins for Affies this season, which also includes victories over Grey College, Paarl Gimnasium, and Garsfontein in recent weeks.
Affies headed into the game off the back of a 3-2 win over Grey College, while KES defeated Westville Boys’ High 1-0 and drew 4-4 with Northwood School in KwaZulu-Natal a week ago.
KES, led by coach Siya Sityana, got off to a dream start and scored two early goals through Kamohelo Tsoka and Rofhatutshedzwa Mathabi, much to the delight of their home supporters.
Affies, like they’ve done all season, refused to back down, and pulled one back through Ruahard Nienaber before Jurgen Schoeman made it 2-2 going into the break.
Playing with greater freedom and belief, the visitors upped the ante in the second half and defended extremely well to withstand the KES onslaught.
On attack, they remained dangerous and made it 3-2 with over four minutes remaining in the third chukka through Sam Wessels.
KES had their moments, particularly in the final chukka, but some brave defending from Affies kept them out. MJ Celliers pulled off a vital goalline save from a shot from Kamohelo Tsoka, and that proved to be pivotal.
KES, despite creating several goal-scoring opportunities, couldn’t break down the Affies’ defence late in the game. Photo: King Edward VII School on Facebook.
“I’m very proud of the boys. It could’ve easily gone either way,” Jaydon Lincoln, the Affies’ coach, said after the game.
“There were a couple of decisions that went against us early on, but the guys stuck together.
“We spoke about how good KES were, but we know how good we are when we go behind. I don’t know what it is about the Affies boys with a never-say-die attitude, but that’s exactly what it was in this game.”
After going down by two goals early on, Affies made some adjustments to their shape and outlet, which paid off.
“We changed our shape to suit the press that KES have been successful with all season, and that worked out for us,” Lincoln explained.
“After making it 2-2, I said to the team the game was ours, and all we needed to do was to occupy the spaces, hold the lead, and defend well.
“They showed a lot of fight, and I’m happy with how we’ve shown up over the last couple of weeks.”
Affies won’t rest on their laurels with two big clashes remaining against St Alban’s College and Menlopark this term.
Saints’ talisman, Jason Joiner, scored one of his side’s goals in their 3-2 win over Parktown Boys’ High. Photo: Michelle Bernhardi.
At St Stithians College, the home side survived a late scare to beat Parktown Boys’ High 3-2.
Parktown had an opportunity to level the scores in the dying seconds from a short corner, but an acrobatic save by goalkeeper Jasbir Naidoo sealed the win for the hosts.
“I thought we were very good in the first half, moved the ball very well, and manipulated their defensive efforts,” Saints’ head coach Pat Owgan said after the game.
“We also had very good pressure on the ball defensively, which was a key factor in our Aitken run.
“In the second half, they changed a few things, and we didn’t react well. We also lost our defensive intensity, but we showed good fight when we were under pressure.”
In Pretoria, St John’s College did just enough to edge out Pretoria Boys High 1-0, while St Alban’s College played to a 2-2 draw with St Benedict’s College in Bedfordview.
Jeppe, after winning the Aitken Cup, travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to play Northwood School and sealed a 1-0 win courtesy of a Jarryd Gordon-Watt strike.
RESULTS
Jeppe 1-0 Northwood
St Stithians College 3-2 Parktown Boys’ High
St Benedict’s 2-2 St Alban’s
St John’s College 1-0 Pretoria Boys High
Affies 3-2 KES
Coach Morné Odendaal and Oranje have set their sights on reaching their third final in three major tournaments this year. Photo: Supplied.
Oranje, St Mary’s DSG Kloof, St Anne’s, and Our Lady of Fatima continued their brilliant runs and booked semifinal spots at the St Anne’s Cup in Hilton on Saturday.
St Mary’s DSG Kloof will face Oranje on the Upper Hockey Field, while St Anne’s will cross swords with Our Lady of Fatima on the Lower Hockey Field.
Both matches start at 08:45. The winners in those two semifinal contests will compete in the final at 12:30.
The semifinals were scheduled for Saturday evening. However, lightning caused them to be moved to Sunday. At the time, Durban Girls’ College and Eunice were in the second chukka of their clash. It will be replayed in full on Sunday.
St Mary’s DSG Kloof, the inaugural winners of the trophy in 2024, defeated Eunice High 5-2 to book their top-four spot. Georgia Short led the way for the KZN girls with a hat-trick, while Sarah Patterson and Bella Roberts added a goal each.
Their opponents, Oranje, continued their splendid run with a 5-0 triumph over Durban Girls’ College in their quarterfinal fixture. The ladies from Bloemfontein have now scored 19 goals in three outings and conceded only once. A victory over St Mary’s would send them into their third final in three major competitions this season. They won the previous two.
With a comfortable 4-0 victory over St Stithians College, Our Lady of Fatima boosted their tournament goal tally to 10. The ladies from Durban North caught the eye from their first matches on Friday, when they beat Durban Girls’ College 2-0 and Helpmekaar Kollege 4-1.
They’ll take on the hosts, St Anne’s, in their semifinal fixture. Coach Reggie Keates‘ ladies were subjected to a sterner test than the other three semifinalists.
Facing a determined The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC) side, which knows them well, they gave as much as they received, with Inati Ngcobo‘s goal helping St Anne’s to secure a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
That took the contest into a penalty shootout, where Holly Hofmeyr, Emma Thomas, and Zintle James converted as St Anne’s claimed a 3-2 win.
RESULTS
Quarterfinals
Our Lady of Fatima 4-0 St Stithians College
Oranje 5-0 Durban Girls’ College
St Anne’s (3) 1-1 (2) The Wykeham Collegiate
St Mary’s DSG Kloof 5-2 Eunice
Other matches
Ashton College 2-1 Hoërskool Noordheuwel
Helpmekaar 2-0 Epworth
Noordheuwel 3-3 Helpmekaar
Epworth 1-1 Ashton
St Stithians 2-1 The Wykeham Collegiate
Fixtures
07:30 – Durban Girls’ College vs Eunice; 07:30 – Ashton vs Helpmekaar; 08:45 – Our Lady of Fatima vs St Anne’s; 08:45 – Oranje vs St Mary’s DSG Kloof; 10:00 – The Wykeham Collegiate vs DGC/Eunice; 10:00 – Epworth vs Noordheuwel; 11:15 – 3rd/4th place playoff; 11:15 – St Stithians vs DGC/Eunice; 12:30 – Final.
After a relatively slow start to the season, Paarl Gimnasium has started to gain some momentum, and they added a tick to the win column on Friday night in Cape Town.
Facing Wynberg Boys’ High‘s on the Astro of Dreams, Gim got back to winning ways, scoring a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Last week, Gimmies played out a 1-1 draw with Parel Vallei before going down 1-2 against Bishops on home turf.
Wynberg, meanwhile, defeated Grey High 1-0, and the southern suburbs’ outfit was keen to follow up that major scalp with a win over another top team.
From the first chukka, it was a tightly contested affair. In the end, though, one goal, scored by Ebert Sabbagha, was enough to decide the contest.
Wynberg pushed hard for an equaliser late on, but it was Paarl Gim’s night.
“What worked really well for us was our short passing, and we won several one-versus-one battles across the field, which created an overload,” Jacques Grobler, the Paarl Gim coach, said after the game.
“We also played with composure and, when we lost the ball, the urgency to win it back and get a defensive shape was exactly what we wanted to see from our team.
“The boys have played very good hockey the last two weeks without getting the outcomes. It was encouraging to see it all come together on Friday night.”
Paarl Gim will shift its attention to Somerset College next week, while Wynberg prepares to face Parel Vallei.
SACS captain Litha Kraai scored a goal in his side’s 4-0 win over Parel Vallei. Photo: Andrew Pieterse Photography.
Speaking of Parel Vallei, they made the trip to Newlands to face South African College High School(SACS) on Friday night.
The hosts headed into the clash off the back of a pulsating 3-3 draw with Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG) in midweek and were eager to get back to winning ways.
They did exactly that, playing some entertaining hockey on their way to a 4-0 win, thanks to goals by Jan Dijkstra, Litha Kraai, Josh Azevedo van Dyk, and Daniel de Wet.
In Stellenbosch, Paul Roos squandered an opportunity to beat Paarl Boys’ High.
Coach Michael Baker‘s side led 3-2 with seconds remaining, but Boishaai scored against the run of play to make it 3-3 at full-time.
Luc Botha, Logan Lackay, and Seth Paterson netted for PRG while Mijan Herholdt‘s hat-trick secured a share of the spoils for Boishaai.
Rondebosch Boys’ High won 3-1 against Stellenberg, courtesy of goals from Jason Warneke, Joe Beggs, and Martin Barnard.
Joining them in the winners’ circle was Somerset College, who showed fight to thump Curro Durbanville 6-3. Tongai Mlingo fired in a hat-trick for the winners, while Carl Schaefer netted a brace, and Giovanni Goncalves also scored.
Worcester Gimnasium continued its impressive run with a 4-1 win over Hugenote, while a spirited second-half display secured a 3-2 victory for Bishops against Durbanville.
RESULTS
SACS 4-0 Parel Vallei
Paarl Gimnasium 1-0 Wynberg Boys’ High
Somerset College 6-3 Curro Durbanville
Paul Roos 3-3 Paarl Boys’ High
Rondebosch 3-1 Stellenberg
Worcester Gimnasium 4-1 Hugenote
Bishops 3-2 Durbanville
