Paarl Boys’ High 37 (20) – Tries: Bates Winshaw, Chris Nel, AD Faul, Dirk Farmer. Conversions: Daniel Meisenheimer (4). Penalties: Meisenheimer (3). Jeppe High School for Boys 10 (7) – Try: Joel Akilo. Conversion: Ndzalama Mbhalati. Penalty: Mbhalati.
Stellenberg 20 (20) – Tries: Ethan van Biljon, Daniel Steffen. Conversions: Van Biljon (2). Penalties: Van Biljon (2). Garsfontein 21 (7) – Tries: Justin Blom, Stefan van der Vyver, Neil de Kock. Conversions: Ruan Fluks (3).
Outeniqua 30 (16) – Tries: Ray Jordan, Jade Lottering, Wiaan Baard, Heiliano Beukes. Conversions: Tilor Marais (2). Penalties: Marais (2). King Edward VII School 17 (5) – Tries: Tswaledi Phasha, Asa Mgwatyu, Naledi Phiri. Coversion: Daniel Soekoe.
HTS Drostdy 43 (29) – Tries: Anwill Jacobs (2), Darren Makeza (2), Werno Ramsauer, Tristan Syster, Conversions: Jano van Deventer (5). Penalty: Van Deventer. EG Jansen 24 (5) – Tries: Werner Breytenbach (2), Jaco Engelbrecht, Aljay Olivier. Conversions: Renaldo October, Juan van Aswegen.
Waterkloof 45 (28) – Tries: Jacques Janse van Rensburg (2), Alexander Griesel, Gustav Mienie, Mieder Erasmus, Stiaan Theron, Penalty Try. Conversions: Liam Schutte (4). Diamantveld 7 (7) – Try: Clinton Brits. Conversion: JG van Heerden.
Hoërskool Nelspruit 29 (24) – Tries: Hanré Smit, Kamo Monkwe, Rhandzu Mkhabela, Aldo van Jaarsveld, Vihan Louw. Conversions: Ewan van der Merwe (2). Framesby 14 (0) – Tries: Zandré Schnetler, Reon Saaiman. Conversion: Miles Feltham (2).
Zwartkop 50 (26) – Tries: David van Jaarsveld (2), Tilon Baron, Dian du Plooy, Matthew Smith, Xander Huyser, Jethro Le Roux, Ruvan Burger. Conversions: Ruvan Burger (5); Voortrekker 14 (7) – Tries: Zak Steyn, Wessel Hattingh. Conversions: JC Pretorius (2).
SuperSport Schools Plus has selected Santiago Matroos as one of the players to watch at the Nomads Hockey Festival. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography
The 2026 schoolboy hockey season gets into full swing this weekend with various annual festivals taking place around the country.
A plethora of talented players will grace the PBHS AstroTurf throughout the weekend, and SuperSport Schools Plushas identified five on whom to keep an eye.
Santiago “Santi” Matroos – Hilton College
Hilton College has a habit of producing what Gen Zs call “ballers”, and Santiago Matroos is exactly that, a baller.
He was previously earmarked as one for the future and is now stepping up onto the big stage. He played in Hilton’s u16A side last year and represented KZN Inland A at the SASHOC National Week, where he earned a place in the SA u16 side.
Matroos is known for his hands-on style of play, excellent ball skills, and sharp on-field decision-making. He’s a natural goal-scoring talent and has displayed similar finishing instincts to, and the attacking mindset of, his father, Julian Hykes.
His work ethic is second to none, and he will play a vital role in a Hilton side seeking to make its mark in Pretoria.
Kgotso Lehloenya of Jeppe High School for Boys. Photo: Christo van Deventer
Kgotso Lehloenya – Jeppe High School for Boys
One of the main goals for Jeppe High School for Boys at Nomads will be to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, and Lehloenya will be key to helping them achieve that.
The versatile midfielder has taken to first-team hockey like a duck to water, having previously made a few cameo appearances for the side in 2025 at the age of 16.
He is no stranger to a fast-paced game and starred for Southern Gauteng u16A, which won SASHOC National Week, before representing South Africa later in the year.
Lehloenya has an incredible hockey IQ, links up well with his teammates, and is adept at creating goal-scoring opportunities.
He carries the ball well and possesses outstanding 3D skills, which enable him to dribble past players with ease. He isn’t shy about going for the goal either. There is no doubt that he will be an integral cog in a star-studded Jeppe outfit.
If you want a 95 percent conversion rate from short corners, then Reid Drake is your go-to man.
The lanky and strong Selborne College centre back enjoyed a wonderful season in 2025 and introduced himself to first-team hockey in style at just 16 years of age.
He was the talisman for Selborne during a difficult season, scored cracking goals and helped the side seal some impressive wins as they finished their campaign on an encouraging upward trajectory.
His performances earned him selection for the Border u16A side, and he captained them to a bronze medal in the SASHOC National Week B-section, scoring nine goals.
Defensively, Drake is solid as a rock and has improved his distribution skills from the back.
Selborne has a handful of skilled players this season, but there’s no doubt that coach KJ Friendwill bank on Drake when it matters most.
Neilyandro van Schalkwyk has been a standout for Grey College for the past three seasons.
Affectionately known as “Neli” by Grey’s parents, Van Schalkwyk is a key player, and his maturity and experience will come in handy this season.
He might not be one of the top goalscorers, but he makes his presence felt in the midfield with strong carries, penetrative runs, and big tackles.
The lanky midfielder does the dirty work on the AstroTurf and occasionally leads the press for his side. He has also played at the highest level, representing Free State at the SASHOC National Week for three consecutive years.
Last year, he was selected for the SA u17 squad, which played at the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia. There’s no doubt that the tricky Van Schalkwyk will cause trouble for teams at Nomads.
Liam Brooker of Pretoria Boys High. Photo: Supplied
Liam Brooker – Pretoria Boys High
Brooker has entered his final season with the tournament hosts, PBHS, and he’ll be aiming to captain his side to glory in 2026 as the school celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The Northern Gauteng u18A player provides many qualities on the AstroTurf. He’s versatile and able to play multiple positions. As a leader, he is mature; he sets a good example and exhibits a cool and composed demeanour.
Apart from representing his provincial side in 2025, he was also named in the SA u17 team, which travelled to Malaysia at the end of the year.
He impressed in green and gold to further underline why he deserves to be in the conversation about “top players” in the country.
He possesses excellent attributes, including ball skills, pace, and the ability to put his team on the front foot. Primarily, though, PBHS will rely on his leadership and experience to drive their challenge this season. It starts at Nomads.
Click HERE to view the Nomads Hockey Festival fixtures.
George Short made an electrifying start to her St Mary’s Waverley Festival campaign, scoring five goals in her side’s two victories on the opening day. Photo: Supplied.
St Mary’s DSG Kloof and Oranje hit the ground running on Thursday, the rain-affected first day of the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival in Johannesburg.
Their convincing performances saw them shoot to the top of Pool A and B respectively, while the hosts, St Mary’s Waverley, finished the day leading Pool C.
The tournament, which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee, delivered high-quality hockey despite losing a large chunk of fixtures due to the threat of lightning in the afternoon.
All of those lost matches were recorded as 0-0 draws, and the affected teams shared the points.
Georgia Short was on fire, finding the back of the net five times in two matches to help St Mary’s DSG Kloof get their title defence off to a winning start. She scored a brace as the KZN girls came back from 1-2 down to beat Parel Vallei 4-2. Next, she registered a hat-trick in their 6-0 triumph over The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC).
The three-time champions finished the day with seven points from two wins and a draw. They were joined on that total by Hoërskool Waterkloof, who defeated Roedean and Afrikaanse Hoërmeisieskool, Pretoria (Affies). St Mary’s, though, owns a superior goal difference, having scored 10 goals and conceded only two.
Perennial favourites, Oranje, enhanced their chances of a first-place finish in Pool B with a clean defensive record, defeating St Stithians 3-0, Clarendon 6-0 and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 1-0. They had to settle for a recorded 0-0 draw when their match against Garsfontein was rained out.
Paarl Gimnasium is hot on Oranje’s heels with eight points from two wins and two draws. Reddam House Constantia and Bloemhof are third and fourth with seven points apiece.
The hosts, St Mary’s Waverley, catapulted to the top of Pool C, thanks to two wins and two draws in four matches. They edged out Somerset College 2-1 in their opening fixture, then shared the points with Collegiate and St Cyprian’s because of the bad weather, before finishing with a 3-0 win over Windhoek High in their final match of the day.
Those results left the home side with eight points. Competition in the pool is tight, however. Eunice, Menlopark, and Collegiate, who have all played one fewer match, are tied for second with five points after a win and two draws each.
There is all to play for in Pool D on day two. Like Pool C, the group was affected by the inclement weather, with only five of the scheduled 12 matches being played.
Three teams – Rhenish, St Andrew’s School for Girls, and St Anne’s – are tied on five points, but Rhenish leads the pack with the best goal difference.
In the early afternoon, the ladies from the Western Cape defeated the St Mary’s Waverley Festival XI 4-0. The inclement weather prevented play in their other two matches.
Meanwhile, St Andrew’s School and St Anne’s recorded 1-0 wins over the St Mary’s Waverley Festival XI and Pearson, respectively.
RESULTS
Pool A
St Mary’s DSG Kloof 4-2 Parel Vallei
St John’s DSG 1-0 Affies
Waterkloof 5-0 Roedean
Durban Girls’ College (DGC) 0-0 The Wykeham College (TWC)
Waterkloof 2-1 Affies
Parel Vallei 1-1 St John’s DSG
St Mary’s DSG Kloof 6-0 TWC
DGC 2-0 Roedean
St Mary’s DSG Kloof 0-0 Roedean
DGC 0-0 Affies
St John’s DSG 0-0 Waterkloof
TWC 0-0 Parel Vallei
Pool B
Clarendon 0-0 Garsfontein
Oranje 3-0 St Stithians
Paarl Gim 1-0 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High (PGHS)
Bloemhof 1-0 Reddam House
Oranje 6-0 Clarendon
Paarl Gim 1-1 St Stithians
Reddam House 2-1 Garsfontein
Bloemhof 1-0 PGHS
Paarl Gim 0-0 Clarendon
Bloemhof 0-0 St Stithians
Oranje 0-0 Garsfontein
Reddam House 0-0 PGHS
Clarendon 1-0 Bloemhof
Paarl Gim 3-0 Garsfontein
Reddam House 4-0 Stithians
Oranje 1-0 PGHS
Pool C
Collegiate 1-0 St Cyprian’s
St Mary’s Waverley 2-1 Somerset College
Menlopark 5-2 Windhoek
Eunice 4-0 Penryn
St Mary’s Waverley 0-0 Collegiate
Menlopark 0-0 Somerset College
Eunice 0-0 Windhoek Girls’ High
St Mary’s Waverley 0-0 St Cyprian’s
Collegiate 0-0 Menlopark
Penryn 0-0 Menlopark
Eunice 0-0 Somerset
St Mary’s Waverley 3-0 Windhoek Girls’ High
Pool D
Rhenish 4-0 St Mary’s Waverley Festival XI
Our Lady of Fatima 1-1 St Andrew’s School
St Anne’s 1-1 Herschel
Pearson 0-0 Paarl Girls’ High
St Anne’s 0-0 St Mary’s Waverley Festival XI
Rhenish 0-0 St Andrew’s School
Our Lady of Fatima 0-0 Paarl Girls’ High
Pearson 0-0 Herschel
Paarl Girls’ High 0-0 Rhenish
Our Lady of Fatima 0-0 Herschel
St Anne’s 1-0 Pearson
St Andrew’s School 1-0 St Mary’s Waverley Festival XI
The newly formed Suzuki Netball Power Series is set to elevate schools’ netball to its rightful place among school sports in South Africa.
The launch was held at the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The first of 30 matches in the Suzuki Netball Power Series will take place on 11 April, featuring Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria (AHMP) against Paarl Gimnasium in the Jacaranda City.
“To be part of this series is very special. It is long overdue, and it is time that we put netball out there and expose the game to various platforms,” said Yolandi Ferreira, Director of Netball at AHMP.
A total of 33 of South Africa’s top netball schools will compete in the Suzuki Netball Power Series, which runs from April to August. Both weekday and weekend matches will be broadcast on SuperSport Schools.
Waterkloof, Garsfontein, Menlopark, Helpmekaar Kollege, La Rochelle, Paarl Girls’ High, Oranje, Noordheuwel, Stellenberg, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, Framesby, and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High are just some of the netball powerhouses that will take part in this exciting new series.
“The Suzuki Netball Power Series represents far more than competition, it’s a powerful platform for young women to showcase their talent, confidence, and determination on a national stage. For many of these girls, this is the first real opportunity to be seen, supported, and celebrated for their skill. We are incredibly proud to stand behind a series that invests directly in the future of school sport and empowers the next generation of champions. Being part of this journey is not just important to Suzuki, it’s an honour, and a responsibility we carry with immense pride,” said Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki SA.
The Suzuki Netball Power Series is driven by Provantage Sport, which also manages successful school sport properties like the King Price Derby Series and the Virseker Noordvaal Cup.
“For years, school sport has shown us what is possible when young athletes are given a platform that truly honours their potential. The success of the King Price Derby Series proved how transformative a professionally structured product can be for boys’ rugby, and it became clear that our girls deserved nothing less. The Suzuki Netball Power Series was created to close that gap. It gives young women a stage equal in stature, equal in opportunity, and equal in recognition. This is the moment where we say, as a sector and as a country, that girls’ sport matters just as much, and we will invest in it at the same level,” said JD Henderson, Managing Director of Provantage Sports.
In addition to Suzuki as the title sponsor, Food Lover’s Market and Energade have partnered to bring this exciting new netball series to life.
“A vision this ambitious can only become reality when the right partners stand behind it. Having Suzuki as the title sponsor is not just a commercial alignment, it is a shared commitment to the empowerment of women and girls in sport. Their belief in this series has unlocked opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. Together, we are building a platform that celebrates young athletes, amplifies their stories, and shows every girl that her talent is worth investing in. With Suzuki on board, we are not just hosting a series, we are reshaping the future of women’s sport in South Africa,” said Henderson.
In 2026, the Frans Malherbe u15 Festival takes place from Friday, 27 March, to Monday, 1 April. Since its introduction in 2005, it has been hosted at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street.
The event is now named after Boishaai old boy and Springbok prop Frans Malherbe, who boasts two Rugby World Cup winners’ medals and 76 caps for the national team.
There are plenty of exciting clashes lined up, with 26 schools competing in 39 games. The local sides, Paarl Boys’ High and their rivals Paarl Gimnasium, went unbeaten last year and will be focused on repeating those successes.
This year, Boishaai plays Grey High on Friday night, followed by a showdown with Hoërskool Waterkloof on Monday night. They wrap up their assignments on Wednesday morning against Hoërskool Trio.
Gimmies tackle Hoërskool Rustenburg on Friday night, face Hoërskool Wesvalia on Monday afternoon, and end with a clash against Hoërskool Middelburg at midday on Monday.
Stellenberg‘s 1st XV captured the spotlight two Saturdays ago with a 20-19 defeat of Paarl Gimnasium. Their u15 side will attempt to match their seniors’ winning way when they take on Wesvalia, Grey High, and Robertson.
FIXTURES
Day 1 – Friday, 27 March
Brugstraat A
18:00 – Kobus Wiese u13 vs Kobus Wiese u13
19:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
20:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Grey High
Day 2 – Saturday, 28 March
Brugstraat B
11:00 – Hoërskool Robertson vs SACS
12:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs Hoërskool Swartland
13:00 – Hoërskool Durbanville vs Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr
Brugstraat A
11:00 – Hoërskool Punt vs Worcester Gimnasium
12:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs HTS Daniel Pienaar
13:00 – Hoërskool Trio vs Die Hoërskool Menlopark
14:00 – Nico Malan High vs Hoërskool Strand
15:00 – Stellenberg High vs Hoërskool Wesvalia
16:00 – Hoërskool Waterkloof vs HTS Drostdy
17:00 – Boland Landbou vs Hoërskool Diamantveld
18:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Middelburg
Day 3 – Monday, 30 March
Brugstraat B
12:00 – Hoërskool Diamantveld vs Hoërskool Durbanville
13:00 – Nico Malan High vs Hoërskool Trio
14:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Middelburg
15:00 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Hoërskool Swartland
Brugstraat A
11:00 – Stellenberg High vs Grey High
12:00 – Hoërskool Robertson vs Hoërskool Strand
13:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs SACS
14:00 – HTS Daniel Pienaar vs Worcester Gimnasium
15:00 – Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr vs Hoërskool Punt
16:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Boland Landbou
17:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Wesvalia
18:00 – Die Hoërskool Menlopark vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
19:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Waterkloof
Day 4 – Wednesday, 1 April
Brugstraat C
09:00 – Nico Malan High vs HTS Drostdy
10:00 – Hoërskool Wesvalia vs Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr
11:00 – Hoërskool Swartland vs Hoërskool Strand
12:00 – Worcester Gimnasium vs SACS
Brugstraat B
08:00 – HTS Daniel Pienaar vs Hoërskool Punt
09:00 – Boland Landbou vs Grey High
10:00 – Hoërskool Diamantveld vs Hoërskool Waterkloof
11:00 – Hoërskool Robertson vs Stellenberg High
Brugstraat A
08:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
09:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Trio
10:00 – Die Hoërskool Menlopark vs Oakdale Landbou
11:00 – Hoërskool Durbanville vs Wynberg Boys’ High
12:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Middelburg
Introduced in 2023, the Belgotex Coastal Cup has wasted little time in carving out a place among South Africa’s premier boys’ hockey festivals. In a crowded calendar, it stands tall alongside the Nomads and Founders festivals, which also take place this weekend.
From Friday, 27 March to Monday, 1 April, the spotlight falls on Durban, with matches to be played at the Riverside Sports Club and Durban High School (DHS).
What sets the Coastal Cup apart is its layered structure. While the 1st XI competition delivers the headline acts, the inclusion of u14 and u16 age groups gives the festival a broader purpose. It is as much about development as it is about results.
See fixtures below
Younger players are afforded rare opportunities to test themselves against unfamiliar opposition, while also drawing inspiration from watching their schools’ flagship sides competing in a high-performance environment.
The tournament was conceived through the combined vision of three influential figures in KwaZulu-Natal hockey: Cam Mackay of Westville Boys’ High School, Michael Baker, formerly of DHS, and Keegan Pearce of Clifton College. While Mackay remains in his role, Baker has since taken the reins at Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), and Pearce now leads the programme at Kearsney College. Their fingerprints, however, remain all over the event.
Baker, in particular, returns to Durban with Paul Roos for what promises to be a compelling subplot. That narrative comes sharply into focus on the opening day with the “Baker Bowl” clash between DHS and Paul Roos.
Few individuals have left as profound an impact on a school’s hockey programme as Baker did at DHS, where he transformed a struggling outfit into the leading force in KwaZulu-Natal. Now, he pits his current charges – one of the country’s benchmark teams -against his former side. It is a fixture rich in intrigue and, almost certainly, quality.
Westville’s players, meanwhile, face an early examination of their resolve against St Andrew’s School. The Bloemfontein outfit arrives in Durban with momentum, having won four of their five matches at the Tony Godding Festival, their only defeat coming against Grey High School. A productive outing at the NWU Hockey Festival, where they won three and drew 3-3 with the Pukke u21 side, further underlined their credentials. For Westville, it is a chance to reset after a testing start to the season.
Clifton College, by contrast, have been one of the early pace-setters in KwaZulu-Natal. Their campaign has been bolstered significantly by the return of captain Ryde Brisset, whose recovery from shoulder surgery has restored both composure and class to their ranks. A former South African u17 representative—selected while still an u16—Brisset’s pedigree has been evident in his performances.
Equally influential has been goalkeeper Georg Wolhuter, another South African representative at the 2024 Dato Mirnawan Cup. His presence between the posts has provided Clifton with a reliable last line of defence, often turning tight contests in their favour.
SA u17 player, Martin de Bruyn will look to impress for Paarl Boys’ High in 2026. Photo: Poppie TerblancheTheir opening fixture, though, offers no gentle introduction. Paarl Boys’ High arrive with growing confidence after an impressive 2025 season that saw them close the gap on the Western Cape’s elite. Their campaign ended on a high note with a victory over their arch-rivals, Paarl Gimnasium, underlining their upward trajectory. Unbeaten at the Coastal Cup in 2025, Boishaai will be intent on maintaining that standard.
SA u17 player, Martin de Bruyn will look to impress for Paarl Boys’ High in 2026. Photo: Poppie Terblanche
Another side that showed significant growth last year is Michaelhouse. Their 2025 Coastal Cup campaign highlighted both resilience and attacking flair. Wins over Garsfontein and St Alban’s set the tone, but it was their dramatic comeback against Parel Vallei that truly captured attention. Trailing 1-3, ‘House produced a blistering final chukka, scoring three unanswered goals to snatch a memorable 4-3 victory.
Central to their ambitions again is Thandanani Zuma, a South African u17 representative, whose influence stretches across both attack and midfield. Michaelhouse open against St Alban’s College, a side they edged 1-0 in last year’s competition.
Garsfontein, perennial contenders at the high-quality Hibbert Shield, begin their campaign against Parel Vallei. The Western Cape outfit looks formidable once more, having pieced together an impressive pre-season run that has included convincing wins over Reddam House Constantia, Outeniqua, and Worcester Gimnasium, before adding a notable 2-1 victory against Bishops, behind two goals from Luka Meets.
Bishops themselves enter the Coastal Cup for the first time, taking on event regulars, Hoërskool Menlopark, in their opener. Despite a somewhat inconsistent 2025 season, the Cape Town school’s pedigree is unquestionable. Their ambition will be to re-establish themselves among the Western Cape’s leading lights, alongside the likes of SACS and Paul Roos.
Menlopark, however, will have to wait an extra day before launching their campaign, with their opening fixture scheduled for Saturday. The same applies to Glenwood High, who showed encouraging signs of progress last season. For them, the Coastal Cup represents an opportunity to measure that growth against a strong, diverse field.
FIXTURES
1st XI
Friday, 27 March
Riverside 1
16:00 – Westville vs St Andrew’s School
17:30 – DHS vs Paul Roos
19:00 – St Alban’s vs Michaelhouse
Riverside 2
16:00 – Menlopark vs Bishops
17:30 – Clifton vs Paarl Boys’ High
19:00 – Garsfontein vs Parel Vallei
Saturday, 28 March
Riverside 1
07:45 – Garsfontein vs St Andrew’s School
10:15 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood
11:45 – Clifton vs Menlopark
13:15 – Paul Roos vs Michaelhouse
14:45 – St Andrew’s School vs Bishops
16:15 – DHS vs Paarl Boys’ High
17:45 – Westville vs St Alban’s
19:15 – Glenwood vs Parel Vallei
Sunday, 29 March
Riverside 1
08:00 – Menlopark vs Glenwood
09:30 – Clifton vs Bishops
11:00 – Garsfontein vs Paarl Boys’ High
14:30 – St Andrew’s School vs Glenwood
16:00 – DHS vs Menlopark
17:30 – Westville vs Paul Roos
19:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse
Riverside 2
19:00 – Clifton vs Parel Vallei
Monday, 30 March
Riverside 1
08:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
09:30 – St Alban’s vs Paul Roos
11:00 – Westville vs Bishops
12:30 – Garsfontein vs Michaelhouse
Under-16
Friday, 27 March
Riverside 1
14:30 – Westville vs Pearson
Riverside 2
14:30 – Clifton vs Paarl Boys’ High
Saturday, 28 March
Riverside 2
08:00 – Garsfontein vs Parel Vallei
09:00 – St Alban’s vs Michaelhouse
10:00 – DHS vs Paul Roos
11:00 – Menlopark vs Bishops
15:00 – DHS vs Paarl Boys’ High
16:00 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood
17:00 – Garsfontein vs Michaelhouse
18:00 – Clifton vs Menlopark
19:00 – Westville vs Paul Roos
Sunday, 29 March
Durban High School
09:00 – Pearson vs Bishops
10:00 – Glenwood vs Parel Vallei
11:00 – DHS vs Menlopark
12:00 – Garsfontein vs Paarl Boys’ High
13:00 – Westville vs St Alban’s
14:00 – Paul Roos vs Michaelhouse
15:00 – Clifton vs Bishops
16:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
17:00 – Menlopark vs Glenwood
18:00 – Garsfontein vs Pearson
Monday, 30 March
Riverside 2
08:00 – Pearson vs Glenwood
09:00 – Clifton vs Parel Vallei
10:00 – St Alban’s vs Paul Roos
11:00 – Westville vs Bishops
12:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse
Under-14
Saturday, 28 March
Riverside 1
09:15 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse
Riverside 2
12:00 – Westville vs Pearson
13:00 – St Alban’s vs Michaelhouse
14:00 – Glenwood vs Parel Vallei
Durban High School
08:00 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood
09:00 – Garsfontein vs Parel Vallei
10:00 – Clifton vs Menlopark
11:00 – DHS vs Paul Roos
15:00 – Menlopark vs Bishops
16:00 – Clifton vs Paarl Boys’ High
17:00 – Garsfontein vs Pearson
Sunday, 29 March
Riverside 1
12:30 – Paul Roos vs Michaelhouse
13:30 – Clifton vs Parel Vallei
Riverside 2
08:00 – Clifton vs Bishops
09:00 – Pearson vs Glenwood
10:00 – DHS vs Paarl Boys’ High
11:00 – Westville vs St Alban’s
14:00 – Menlopark vs Glenwood
15:00 – Garsfontein vs Paarl Boys’ High
16:00 – Pearson vs Bishops
17:00 – Westville vs Paul Roos
18:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
Monday, 30 March
Durban High School
08:00 – DHS vs Menlopark
09:00 – St Alban’s vs Paul Roos
10:00 – Garsfontein vs Michaelhouse
11:00 – Westville vs Bishops
Litha Kraai will be in action for SACS when they kick off their 2026 season at the Founders Festival. Photo: Ray Chaplin
The small town of Komani in the Eastern Cape is expected to receive an economic boost this weekend when Queen’s College hosts the Founders Hockey Festival.
The annual event, which began in 1982, brings together some of the country’s top hockey-playing schools, along with those that have emerging hockey programmes.
The action takes place from 28 to 30 March at the Chris Harker AstroTurf.
In attendance, alongside Queen’s, will be the Eastern Cape duo of Kingswood College and Dale College.
Kingswood has enjoyed a positive start to the season under head coach Jose Smith. After five matches, they’ve racked up three wins, one loss, and a 2-2 draw, which came against Hudson Park at the Tony Godding Festival a fortnight ago.
Dale, meanwhile, will be aiming to hit their stride after a mixed bag of results at the Tony Godding Festival.
An exciting Western Cape contingent – South African College High School (SACS), Paarl Gimnasium, and the underdogs Somerset College – will make its way to Komani.
Many will be keen to see what SACS delivers after enjoying a splendid season in 2025.
They finished the year unbeaten with 33 victories and 2 draws– one of their draws was on a pre-season tour of The Netherlands – and they captured the prestigious Hibbert Shield title.
Litha Kraai, who has lit up schoolboy hockey over the past couple of seasons, is the SACS headliner. As an early-season festival, the event will offer coach Sam Holmes a chance to assess his side in match conditions.
Another Western Cape team eager to make a mark will be Paarl Gim. They’ve experienced some early-season teething problems, suffering shock defeats at the hands of Worcester Gimnasium and Durbanville.
Coach Jacques Grobler, however, will back his youngsters to bounce back when they tackle St Stithians College, Northwood School, and Dale.
Somerset College, led by coach Kyran Fortuin, will have a point to prove after a building season in 2025. They would’ve taken some confidence from their pre-season outings in the Western Cape.
Speaking of confidence, St Stithians College heads to Komani brimming with confidence after some impressive performances over the past week.
Coach Pat Ogwan‘s troops showed character to draw 2-2 with Jeppe High School for Boys before beating Pretoria Boys High 3-2 on the weekend.
The likes of Jason Joiner, Thomas Becker, and Mahlatse Maapola will play crucial roles for Saints during the festival. Their biggest test will come against SACS in the final match on the opening day.
Parktown Boys’ High and Helpmekaar College will also fly the Gauteng flag and will aim to shake off early-season rust as quickly as possible. Northwood, always well-drilled, will represent KwaZulu-Natal’s interests.
The action kicks off on Friday afternoon with a clash between Queen’s and Kingswood at 16:30.
FIXTURES
Friday, 27 March
16:30 – Queen’s College vs Kingswood College
Saturday, 28 March
07:30 – Queen’s College vs Helpmekaar 08:50 – Dale College vs Kingswood College 10:10 – Somerset College vs Northwood 11:30 – SACS vs Parktown Boys’ High 12:50 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Stithians College 14:10 – Dale College vs Helpmekaar 15:30 – Somerset College vs Kingswood College 16:50 – Queen’s College vs Northwood 18:10 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Parktown Boys’ High 19:30 – SACS vs St Stithians College
Sunday, 29 March
07:30 – Helpmekaar vs Kingswood College 08:50 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Northwood 10:10 – Queen’s College vs Somerset College 11:30 – Dale College vs St Stithians College 12:50 – SACS vs Kingswood 14:10 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Helpmekaar 15:30 – Dale College vs Parktown Boys’ High 16:50 – Somerset College vs St Stithians College 18:10 – SACS vs Northwood 19:30 – Queen’s College vs Parktown Boys’ High
Monday, 30 March
07:30 – Dale College vs Paarl Gimnasium 08:50 – SACS vs Helpmekaar 10:10 – Somerset College vs Parktown Boys’ High 11:30 – Northwood vs St Stithians College
South Africa u19 captain Mieke van Voorst with Nigerian captain Lucky Piety at Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos on 25 March 2026 (PHOTO: Nigerian Cricket Federation on Instagram)
LAGOS: Nigeria secured a dramatic one-run victory via a Super Over against South Africa under-19 Women in their Patricia Kambarami Cup encounter at the TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mieke van Voorst starred with a 47-ball 69 (11 fours) as the SA U19s posted 133/7. In response, Nigeria captain Lucky Piety produced an impressive 66* off 35 balls (3 sixes, 9 fours) to help the hosts finish on 133/3, forcing the match into a Super Over.
Nigeria held their nerve in the decider, posting 10/0 before restricting South Africa to 9/1, sealing a narrow victory.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first. Nigeria made an early impact, claiming three wickets in the powerplay as Peace Usen (2/16) and Amusa Muheebat (2/17) removed Ashley Barnard (0), Daneli Boshoff (9) and Jezé Campher (1) to leave the SA U19s on 18/3 after six overs.
The junior side responded through their captain, van Voorst, who led the recovery effort. She first shared a brief 15-run stand with Rethabile Nthoba (2) before combining effectively with Jae-Leigh Filander (16) in a 50-run partnership that lifted South Africa from 33/4 to 83/4 in the 15th over. Filander was eventually bowled by Anointed Akhigbe (1/14).
Despite losing her partner, Van Voorst continued to anchor the innings, bringing up her second half-century of the tournament before playing another key role in an important partnership alongside Siphokuhle Masilela (20).
The pair added a further 40 runs for the sixth wicket, taking South Africa past the 100-run mark before van Voorst was dismissed, caught off the bowling of Adekunle Shola, with the score on 123/6.
Masilela was the final wicket to fall, dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings by Queen Joseph (1/37), as the SA U19s closed on 133/7 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 134 for victory, Nigeria made a cautious start. Openers Muheebat (9) and Christabel Chukwuonye (26) managed 13 runs in the first three overs before Bruzaan Goosen (1/17) struck to remove Muheebat.
South Africa maintained control through disciplined bowling, restricting Chukwuonye and Eguakun Omosigho (18) and limiting scoring opportunities. Nigeria reached 25/1 at the end of the powerplay and 47/1 at the halfway stage before Campher (1/28) broke the 37-run second-wicket stand, with Filander completing a neat stumping.
The momentum shifted with the arrival of Piety, who injected urgency into the chase. Alongside Chukwuonye, she guided Nigeria to 72/2 after 15 overs, leaving 62 runs required from 30 deliveries.
Seizing control of the contest, Piety launched an aggressive attack against the South African bowlers. The right-hander struck three sixes and a four in the 16th over, taking 24 runs off Campher, before adding another 12 runs in the 17th over. She raced to a half-century off just 26 balls, propelling Nigeria to 118/2 after 18 overs.
With 11 runs needed from the final over, and after Chukwuonye had retired out, Ashleigh van Wyk (0/32) produced a composed over, conceding just 10 runs to level the scores and force a Super Over.
In the one-over eliminator, Piety (5)* and Salome Sunday (4)* combined to post 10/0. South Africa’s reply fell just short as Muheebat (1/9) dismissed Van Voorst (4) and restricted the visitors to 9/1, sealing victory for Nigeria.
The two sides will meet again in the second semi-final on Saturday, 27 March, after finishing second and third in the league standings, respectively.
The annual St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival is upon us. Spectators can expect the 25th edition to deliver thrilling contests. Below, we highlight some of the players worth keeping an eye on through the next four days.
Oranje’s Midfield General: Marichelle Crous is one of the most enterprising midfielders whose talents will be on show at the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival. Photo: Supplied.
Marichelle Crous – Oranje
Crous gives her team a strong point of reference. She provides a strong presence in the middle of the park. She is one of the best midfielders going into the festival.
Crous is a great defensive asset. She is strong in one-on-one contests and easily gains control in physical duels. She brings calm to her side with composure in tight spaces and shows a natural ability to balance both attacking and defensive responsibilities.
Crous has an impressive work rate at the back and in attack. She drives most of Oranje’s transitions and is influential in dictating Oranje’s tempo.
“What has elevated her game is her growing control over tempo and her understanding of when to speed the game up or slow it down. She is becoming more influential in dictating play, staying available, and driving transitions with intent,” Morne Odendaal, the Oranje coach, shared.
Chanette Jansen van Vuuren – Menlopark
The Menlopark captain is one of the most experienced players coming into the competition. This is her fifth appearance at the festival, having made an early debut at the showpiece. Menlopark will be looking to her midfield skills to help them through matches.
“Chanette is a highly intelligent midfielder with exceptional game IQ, consistently reading play and making smart decisions under pressure. Her ability to break lines through individual skill and precise elimination passing makes her a constant attacking threat,” Brad Brook, the Menlopark head coach, said of the midfielder.
Jansen Van Vuuren has an outstanding work rate on both sides of the ball. She is brilliant at controlling the tempo for her side. She also poses a significant threat during penalty corner situations.
Jamie da Silva – St Mary’s DSG Kloof
Da Silva is one of the most electric forwards in school-girl hockey. The St Mary’s DSG Kloof learner has a skillset that allows her to find the target from anywhere in the circle. In addition to her shooting skills, Da Silva is an adept dribbler and is excellent in one-on-one duels against defenders.
She is quick and light on her feet and is a threat in counterattacks. Da Silva has a high work rate and a never-give-up attitude, which will keep St Mary’s DSG Kloof on track even in seemingly hopeless situations.
Sarah-Ellen Groenewald – Rhenish
Groenewald is one of the top talents at this year’s edition of the festival. The Rhenish learner has vast experience at all levels. She was part of the Boland’s title-winning side and was selected for the SA u18 team.
“Her big strength is that she can break a line with really good hand skills. She can also set players up to be in great positions to score goals,” Chris Gerber.
The versatile midfielder and forward’s ability to get herself in good positions and great eye when in possession will be a big plus for Rhenish.
Alanda Rademeyer – Paarl Gimnasium
Rademeyer had an exceptional 2025 season and looks to have picked up from where she left off last year. She was a big reason behind Paarl Gim’s title-winning campaign at the Fairtree Super 12 tournament. The forward is one of the best strikers in the country; she was a fixture in Boland’s u16 team in 2024 and 2025.
Paarl Gim will try to feed the ball to her as much as possible because anything is possible with her up front.
Kayla du Preez – Oranje
No one has had as good a start to the season as Kayla du Preez. The Oranje midfielder’s star sparkled brightly at the Our Lady of Fatima-hosted Coastal Festival earlier this month. Du Preez walked away from the competition with the Player of the Tournament award.
“Kayla has shown consistent growth through her work ethic and commitment to improving her game. What stands out most about Kayla is her ability to take feedback, apply it, and turn it into performance. She has actively worked on the key areas of her game and is now starting to master them,” Odendaal revealed.
Du Preez is one of the best finishers in the game and can create something from nothing. Her creativity, coupled with her great decision-making and her growing confidence in one-on-one situations, is a boon for Oranje.
“She is becoming more decisive, more direct, and more impactful under pressure, a sign of a player taking real ownership of her game,” Odendaal said.
Ashleigh van Wyk bowling for South Africa u19 vs Zimbabwe u19 at the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos on 24 March 2026 (PHOTO: Nigerian Cricket Federation on Instagram)
LAGOS: South Africa Under-19 Women returned to winning ways in the Patricia Kambarami Cup with a 28-run victory over Zimbabwe Under-19 Women at the TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ashley Barnard led the way with a fluent 29-ball 40 (6 fours) at the top of the order to help South Africa post 145/7 in their 20 overs, before Zimbabwe were restricted to 117/8, with spinner Ashleigh van Wyk producing impressive figures of three for 18.
The SA U19s won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that paid off from the onset as openers Barnard and Chanel (16) helped their side to a running start with a 55-run stand in five overs.
Despite being put under pressure early on, Zimbabwe fought back through Beloved Biza (1/17), Salem Museka (2/26) and Tadiwa Garutsa (2/16), who combined for six wickets in quick succession, along with a run out of the in-form Miele van Voorst (2), to reduce South Africa from 55/0 to 87/6 by the 12th over.
The South African innings was revived by a valuable 39-run partnership for the seventh wicket between all-rounders Miya Lalor (25)* and Daneli Boshoff (25), which lifted the side to 126/6 in the 18th over before Boshoff was dismissed through a run out.
Lalor was then joined by Van Wyk (8)*, and the pair added a further 19 runs to steer the SA U19s to a competitive 145/7.
In reply, Zimbabwe struggled to find momentum early on as Van Wyk struck twice in the powerplay to remove openers Nicolette Nyika (0) and Garutsa (4).
After slipping to 16/2 in the fourth over, Zimbabwe recovered through Lorraine Pemhiwa (18) and Christina Mutasa (35), whose 40-run stand helped their side reach 56/2 at the halfway stage before Pemhiwa was trapped lbw by Boshoff (1/10).
Although Zimbabwe added a further 31 runs for the fourth wicket through Biza (34) and Mutasa, South Africa continued to strike at key moments to halt the chase.
Barnard (1/18), Ziya Mohanlall (1/20), Kananelo Mokoena (2/15) and Van Wyk all made important breakthroughs as the SA U19s sealed the win to remain third on the standings with four points from three matches.
South Africa will complete their round-robin campaign on Wednesday, 25 March when they face Nigeria ahead of the knockout phase.
The newly formed Suzuki Netball Power Series is set to elevate schools’ netball to its rightful place among school sports in South Africa.
In 2026, the Frans Malherbe u15 Festival takes place from Friday, 27 March, to Monday, 1 April. Since its introduction in 2005, it has been hosted at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street.
Introduced in 2023, the Belgotex Coastal Cup has wasted little time in carving out a place among South Africa’s premier boys’ hockey festivals. In a crowded calendar, it stands tall alongside the Nomads and Founders festivals, which also take place this weekend.
