Die Dokkies se boulaanval het inderdaad ligte werk van die Middelburgers se kolforde gemaak.
Met Heinrich Janse van Rensburg (3/7) aan die spits, en puik ondersteuning van Qihan Swanepoel (3/18) en Tristan Ashwin (2/7), moes die Middelburgers met slegs 74 lopies in hul kolfbeurt tevrede wees. Janse van Rensburg se boulskof van vier beurte het nie minder nie as 20 leë balle ingesluit, terwyl Swanepoel met 24 in sy vyf beurte gespog het.
Die tuisspan se voorslagkolwer, Luka Pretorius, het die jaagtog in ‘n japtrap, met ‘n onoorwonne 25 lopies, afgesluit. Die aanvangskolwers van die span van Meyerton het waarskynlik ‘n sege met 10 paaltjies in die visier gehad, maar entoesiastiese veldwerk het gelei daartoe dat Kegan Meyer uitgehardloop word. Sy vennoot Jacques Nel se welverdiende 19 lopies het egter gehelp om die teiken vinnig te haal.
Hoërskool Middelburg het in 2024 reeds aangedui dat hy nie sonder handskoene op sy tuisveld aangedurf moet word nie en dit het Hoërskool Ben Vorster van Tzaneen Saterdag terdeë agtergekom.
Die besoekende Vossies, het nietemin belowend begin om die Middies vir 169 uit te haal, danksy ‘n uitmuntende vertoning met die bal deur Santag Ramatsuma, wat die Middies se groot name geensins toegelaat het om stoom op te bou nie. Ramatsuma het vyf paaltjies in sy agt beurte laat spat en net 28 lopies afgestaan.
Aanvangskolwer, Lohan Botha (37), en die ervare Hendré Nel (35) het ‘n vlugtige blik van hul kolfvernuf gegee en deurslaggewende rolle in hul span se totaal gespeel.
Die hotklou, Wilhelm Brümmer (2/22), en Kulani Mnisi (2/35) het Ramatsuma netjies ondersteun met die bal en ook die pas vir die Vossies aangegee met die kolf. Mnisi was die besoekers se voorste lopiemaker met 42, terwyl Brummer ‘n waardevolle 26 bygedra het.
Gavin Genis (3/20) was egter weer op sy stukke en het drie paaltjies laat kantel. JP Nel (2/7) en Hendré Nel (2/17) het handjie bygesit om die besoekers vir slegs 108 uit te boender en hul veldtog oortuigend met ‘n 61-lopie sege af te skop.
Beknopte telkaarte:
HTS Middelburg 74 (Ruben Jooste 16; Heinrich Jane van Rensburg 3/7, Qihan Swanepoel 3/18, Tristan Ashwin 2/7); Dr. Malan 75/2 (Luka Pretorius 25*; Anthoni Smuts 1/13). Dr. Malan wen met agt paaltjies.
Hoërskool Middelburg 169 (Lohan Botha 37, Hendre Nel 35, Zubair Desai 24, JP de Jager 20, Ekstras 20; Santag Ramatsuma 5/28, Wilhelm Brummer 2/22, Kulani Mnisi 2/35); Ben Vorster 108 (Kulani Mnisi 42, Wilhelm Brummer 26; Gavin Genis 3/20, JP Nel 2/7, Hendré Nel 2/17). Hoërskool Middelburg wen met 61 lopies.
Hoërskool Zwartkop se kaptein, Zandre van Staden, het Hoërskool Lichtenburg se boulers gewys waar Dawid die wortels gegrawe het in dié spanne se eerste kragmeting in vanjaar se Finsbury-reeks Saterdag in Lichtenburg.
Van Staden, wat met die telling op 54/2, in die 15de beurt kom kolf het, het die Lichtenburgers in hul eie agterplaas gekasty met die kolf om die span van Centurion tot ‘n skittersege met 126 lopies te lei. Die Zwarries se voorslagkolwer het teen ‘n treftempo van 125,4 gekolf en net 118 aflewerings benodig om 16 viere en ses sesse te moker in sy onoorwonne beurt van 148 lopies.
WJ Esterhuizen (36) en Ewan Erasmus (25) het self waardevolle lopies aangeteken om, saam met Van Staden se spogtotaal, die besoekers tot 279/8 in die toegelate 50 beurte te neem. Die 40 pasella lopies wat die Liggies met ekstras afgestaan het sou na dese ook in diepte bespreek geword het.
Hoewel die Zwarries ook 31 ekstras geboul het, het Dawid Hanekom van voor gelei met die bal. In die 6.2 beurte wat hy afgestuur het, het hy 34 leë balle geboul en vier paaltjies vir slegs agt lopies laat spat. Die aanhoudende druk was eenvoudig té veel vir die Liggie-kolwers.
Raiyaan Khan (41) het ‘n verbete terugvegpoging as aanvangskolwer geloods, maar was die enigste wat ‘n noemenswaardige bydrae kon lewer en die tuisspan is uiteindelik vir 153 uitgeboender.
Op ‘n gunstige dag vir die boulers, het Hoërskool Dinamika se Mohammed Valli die span van Alberton tot ‘n naelskraapse oorwinning met drie paaltjies oor Midstream College gekolf.
Nadat Andrew Marais drie Midstream paaltjies vir 31 lopies te laat kantel het, het Valli tot sy span se redding gekom met die kolf. Midstream het hardnekkig baklei om hul totaal van 137 te verdedig, met Dian de Villiers wat uitgeblink het met syfers van 2/28 in sy toegelate 10 beurte.
Valli het egter soos ‘n gesoute bokser in die geveg gebly. Om die waarheid te sê, dit het amper gelyk of hy op ‘n ander blad kolf, met die bal wat selde die middel van sy kolf gemis het. De Villiers het uiteindelik, met sy telling op 53 van net 47 balle, van Valli ontslae geraak, maar was dit té laat om Dinamika te stuit.
Kyle du Plooy se 24 lopies het die uitklophou toegedien en verseker dat die besoekers die wenstreep in die 33ste beurt oorsteek.
Beknopte telkaarte:
Zwartkop 279/8 (Zandre van Staden 148*, WJ Esterhuizen 36, Ewan Erasmus 25; Raiyaan Khan 2/24, Johan Duvenhage 2/46); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 153 (Raiyaan Khan 41, Juan van Rhyn 25, Ekstras 31; Dawid Hanekom 4/8, Vincent Matraiotti 2/12). Zwartkop wen met 126 lopies.
Midstream College 136 (Rikus Cilliers 37, Jonothan Wiseman 23, Dian de Villier 22; Andrew Marais 3/31, Branko Steenberg 2/11, Jesse Simpson 2/17); Dinamika 137/7 (Mohammed Valli 53, Kyle du Plooy 24; Dian de Villiers 2/28). Dinamika wen met drie paaltjies.
Andy van der Watt, one of the first Craven Week players to become a Springbok, passed away on Sunday aged 78.
Van der Watt, a member of Maritzburg College’s unbeaten First XV of 1963, represented Natal at the inaugural Craven Week in 1964. The tournament, staged in East London, produced four Springboks.
Apart from Van der Watt, André de Wet, Mike Jennings, and Joggie Jansen also attained the green and gold in the late sixties.
Van der Watt is still regarded as one of the quickest Bok wingers of all time, yet the legacy he left behind at school level, both as a star of College and later as a master at Hilton College, is equally profound.
Andrew Edward van der Watt was born on October 10, 1946, in Krugersdorp, but spent his teenage years in the erstwhile South West Africa (Namibia).
“Dad was a civil servant and a huge fan of Maritzburg College, which is why I ended up in the boarding school there,” Van der Watt told me during an interview at Hilton’s hallowed Gilfillan Field a few years ago.
Coached by the legendary Skonk Nicholson, he had already cracked the nod for the First XV at 15 years of age and represented the team with distinction from 1962 to 1965. Van der Watt boasted exceptional acceleration that enabled him to bolt through the tiniest of gaps and he set a record of 22 tries in 17 games for College during their unbeaten 1963 season.
“Skonk was an absolute legend,” he said, “and, later, we became good friends when I also started coaching.
“He was hugely effective in terms of forward play and, thus, the backline was always ensured of quality possession. Skonk was also a champion of positive thinking and had a phenomenal ability to inspire.”
After matriculating, Van der Watt completed his compulsory military service at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla before studying at Stellenbosch University to become a teacher. He represented the Maties First XV for five years in a row and was coached by another iconic mentor, Dr. Danie Craven.
“Doc was one of a kind, and not merely because of his matchless knowledge of the game,” Van der Watt said.
“One of the numerous PhDs that he attained was in psychology and Doc knew exactly when to encourage and when to rebuke a player.”
The sensational Maritzburg College First XV of 1963. They won 16 out of 17 games and drew the other. Andy van der Watt is seated on the left, with Skonk Nicholson seated third from left.
Van der Watt excelled for Western Province, too, running in a brace of tries against the visiting Wallabies in 1969 and following that up with a sensational hat-trick for the Gazelles (SA u23) against the Aussies.
Those performances earned him selection for the Springbok touring squad to Britain and Ireland at the end of 1969. He played in 17 of the 24 matches on the so-called “demo tour”, including the tests against Scotland, England, and Ireland.
“For me, personally, that tour was an incredible experience despite all the riots,” he said.
Van der Watt again toured with the Boks to Australia in 1971, racking up seven tries in five games, including four against Queensland Country, but injuries forced him to call it a day a couple of years later.
Chris Greyvenstein writes in Springbok Saga that Van der Watt’s “official achievements on the athletic track support the argument that he was the fastest wing ever to wear the Springbok jersey…”
Van der Watt was WP champion in both the 100 m and 200 m (1967-69), with a fastest time of 10.4 seconds in the 100 m – set in Swakopmund, Namibia.
“I have to add, though, the track was somewhat downhill, and my dad was the timekeeper,” Van der Watt quipped.
In 1973, he became a PE master at Hilton, where he would teach the boys for almost 40 years. He coached a variety of sports, including cricket, swimming, squash, athletics, and basketball, and also became the head of the Afrikaans department.
Van der Watt took charge of the First XV from 1980 to 1989, during which time he brought through future Bok captains, Gary Teichmann and Bob Skinstad.
Andy van der Watt’s dedication certainly ensured that the teachings and wisdom of the likes of Skonk Nicholson and Doc Craven were carried across to future generations.
Kuhle Buthelezi stretches high to pull off a save for the Central Gauteng u16 team at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament in East London in December 2024. Photo: Will Morrell.
Fresh from winning the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial title with the Central Gauteng u16 team, meet the promising Pretoria-born goalkeeper and Roedean School grade 11 learner, Kuhlesibonge Buthelezi.
The talented goalie, who has captured attention with her super saves, is the second of four children in her family.
After her mother, Samukelisiwe, encouraged her to give the game a go, she played it for only three months in 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic led to a lockdown.
“When I moved to a new school in a new province, Gauteng, from Mpumalanga, I wanted to try some new sports and my mom was the one who suggested that I play water polo. If it wasn’t for my mom, I don’t think I would have tried it, but it was an interesting sport that l had never seen or heard of before,” Kuhle revealed.
It turned out that her mother’s guidance was the best as she took to the game with relish. “I honestly can’t remember how I fell in love with the sport, but it quickly just became such a huge part of my life,” she fondly told SuperSport Schools Plus.
While the lockdown stopped teams from playing matches, it didn’t stop them from putting in work that would benefit them later. There were online gym sessions and goalkeeper sessions with coaches where they spoke about things like positioning and techniques.
“It was quite interesting doing a sport online, but our coaches always found a way to make it fun,” she said. “After lockdown, we had training at the Nokuthula pool.
Talking about her experiences in the sport, she said: “I think the thing that I loved most about water polo was the community that we had. The long car rides with friends on the way to training, singing songs in the car, and the end-of-year braais and lunches.”
In her first water polo tournament, her team finished third. At her next tournament, the Durban Girls’ College u13 Tournament, Roedean finished second. At the end of the year, she attended her first Inter-Provincial Tournament. Central Gauteng made the final, and it was a nerve-wracking experience.
“It was my first time going to penalties in such an important game and, as a goalkeeper, there was a lot of pressure on me. But I am proud to say that I made the game-winning save, and my team came away with the gold.
“The years after that were filled with countless hours of training and dedication to the sport,” said added.
In East London, at last year’s IPT, Buthelezi shone, helping her side to move through the group phase unbeaten. Then, in the final, she pulled off some big saves to help Central Gauteng beat Western Province 8-6 in the gold medal game.
Again, it was the memories she made that she treasures, Kuhle said. “My fondest memories that I have with my Gauteng team are, without a doubt, the car rides to games, and especially the ride back from the final, blasting our victory song, celebrating our winning streak.”
Being the last line of defence for Roedean has brought Kuhle Buthelezi many treasured memories. Photo: Will Morrell.
Winning the title in East London wasn’t the first time that she had claimed Inter-Provincial gold with Central Gauteng. “A moment that I’ll never forget is our 2022 final when we were up by four goals, with only a few minutes of the game left. Our coach, Gareth Prout, called a timeout and said: “Congratulations, girls, you did it again!”
Playing goalkeeper is challenging, Kuhle admitted, but she has had excellent guidance from her school coach Anita Trininic.
“Well, my coach, Madam Trininic, was the reason I ended up being a goalkeeper. I had just started water polo and was at my first match after having had only a few training sessions. She said that we needed a goalkeeper for the game since our team goalkeeper was injured. The next thing I knew, Madam Trininic had put me in the goals.”
That suited her perfectly, Kuhle admitted: “As someone who wasn’t very fond of swimming, I was more than happy to be in the goals. I soon discovered, or rather Madam Trininic did, that I have a lot of potential as a goalkeeper, and I started training as a goalkeeper at school practices.”
Despite her many successes, Kuhle has, also, had to overcome some challenges, which she shared: “I’m not the tallest goalkeeper, and my height and the length of my arms is sometimes a disadvantage, but it makes me work harder to get to those top corners. So, I’ve spent a lot of training strengthening my legs and perfecting my technique to make sure that I’m on top of my game.”
Along the way, she has garnered individual awards, too. In 2023, she was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the u15 Crawford tournament. That same year, she was named the top goalkeeper at the Reddam Inspired Cup. Then, in 2024, she received the Goalkeeper of the Tournament accolade at the Saints u19 Invitational Tournament, where she was included in the Team of the Tournament.
The 16-year-old, who is now coached by Siyabonga Guzana and Anita Trininic, said: “By far, my greatest achievement was being a part of the u16 South African team and representing South Africa in the 2024 World Aquatics Women’s u16 Water Polo Championships.
She added: “I just want to say thank you to all the coaches that have been a part of my water polo journey. Special thanks to my u13 coaches, Matthew and Andrew van Rooyen, who still send me pictures of them watching my games, and to Mr Gareth Prout, who was with me for two important years of my polo career.”
Being a goalkeeper is nerve-wracking but rewarding, says Kuhle Buthelezi. Photo: Will Morrell.
Reflecting on other highlights of her water polo journey thus far, Kuhle said: “My highlights have been seeing the work, time, and effort that I’ve put into water polo show in my playing, and being able to let the results speak for themselves.
“Another highlight has been the friendships that I’ve made through playing this sport. I’ve made some lifelong friendships with players from different schools, provinces, and even countries. I can honestly say that some of my closest friendships were formed through playing water polo.”
In 2025, she will be moving up to the senior ranks of schoolgirls’ water polo. Given her hard work and dedication to the game, and the superb coaches guiding her, it is no surprise that she cannot wait to take the step up and take on the challenges.
“I’m quite thrilled to be moving up to the u19 provincial squad. There is going to be a lot more competition, but I think that it’s going to be great for me to train with the u19 goalkeepers,” she enthused. “I’m excited to train with other SA [u19] players and even players that were in the [South African] Women’s water polo team. I think it’s 100 percent going to challenge me, but I’m ready, and I can’t wait.”
Now that the soon-to-be 17-year-old has reached the senior age group for schools, she has some words of advice for those who are yet to make that journey, and who have provincial aspirations.
“The advice that I would give them is never to give up and, if you truly want something, you should be willing to work hard for it. My mom always told me that I needed to put in 10 000 hours if I wanted to do well in something.
“You are always given the choice to put in the work, and when an opportunity is in front of you, you have to take it because if you don’t take that opportunity and do the best that you can, other people will.
You can follow Kuhle Buthelezi’s water polo exploits on Instagram – @kuhle_waterpolo.
A century by Hoërskool Waterkloof‘s captain, Riley Miller, was the difference between victory and defeat when the Klofies hosted King Edward VII School (KES) in Pretoria on Saturday.
With the annual derby being played on the André van der WaltOval, Miller won the toss and elected to have the visitors bat first, knowing that a smaller playing surface with a lightning-fast outfield might be beneficial for a run chase.
At first, the KES openers, Tiago Dias (19) and Khwezi Nyamathe (18) made steady progress, getting their side through the first 10 overs. They grafted hard for a 41-run partnership, which was broken in the 13th over, and that brought Troy Gordon to the crease.
As the old saying goes, one wicket brings another, and the Waterkloof bowlers, especially Ricardo Crous (3/39) and Darius Maritz (3/52), got down to work. They snaffled three wickets each while stemming the flow of runs from the Johannesburg school. However, Gordon, kept them at bay, facing 87 deliveries on his way to a well-played 54, before he was run out by Miller.
Wade McQuinn (28) and KES skipper Zieg Roos (22) weighed in with useful contributions to help the visitors to 214/8 from their 50 overs.
It quickly became a challenging target after KES made early inroads, reducing Waterkloof to 12/3. When the third wicket fell, though, Miller made his way out to the middle. He, being a natural stroke maker and hard hitter of the ball, decided to fight fire with fire and went on the counter-attack.
With wickets continuing to tumble around him, thanks to good bowling by Christian Sabela (3/39) and Wade McQuinn (3/41), the Waterkloof skipper hit the accelerator and in just 85 balls smashed eight sixes and six fours as he raced to his century.
It was his second of 2025, following a ton against Rondebosch at the Peninsula Cricket Festival in Cape Town. Bowling all-rounder, Jaydon Blom provided much-needed support.
Following up his 42 from a day earlier against Hoërskool Nelspruit in the Finsbury League, Blom went two better, producing a vital and decisive 44 runs in a 132-run partnership that guided the home side to a nerve-wracking two-wicket victory.
Summarised scorecard
King Edward VII School 214/8 (Troy Gordon 54, Wade Mcquinn 28, Zieg Roos 22; Ricardo Crous 3/39, Darius Maritz 3/52); Waterkloof 215/8 (Riley Miller 103; Jaydon Blom 44, Extras 23; Christian Sabela 3/39, Wade Mcquinn 3/41). Waterkloof won by two wickets.
Dié jongeling van Hoërskool Eldoraigne, wat verlede jaar nog in Graad 9 was, het blitsig sy stempel afgedruk in die groter Afdeling-A van die Finsbury-reeks, met sy vertoning met sowel die bal as kolf wat verseker het dat die span van Centurion met sewe paaltjies kon seëvier oor Menlopark.
Nadat hul talentvolle jong kolwer, Jan-Willem Pienaar, van voor met die kolf gelei om ‘n uitstaande 75 lopies aan te teken, kon die Parkies, met die bystand van aanvangskolwer, Owen Louwies (46), en Jacques de Villiers (27), die 200-merk verbysteek.
Morkel se heldedade het juis hier met die bal begin. In sy toegelate 10 beurte het Morkel drie paaltjies laat kantel vir slegs 39 lopies, voordat hy met die wilgerlat vir Menlo gelooi het
Dit was inderwaarheid nie slegs Morkel wat met die kolf beïndruk het nie. Die aanvangsvennootskap tussen Ryno Mulder en Kyle de Bruyn het heelwat belofte getoon en kan vorentoe nog heelwat hoofbrekens vir opponente besorg.
De Bruyn het geen tyd vermors om sy 55 lopies aan te teken nie en is uiteindelik, met die Eldos se totaal op 86, deur Pienaar (1/34), terug pawiljoen toe gestuur. Dit het die nodige grondslag gelê vir Morkel, wat bekend staan as ‘n aggressiewe kolwer .
Morkel se beurt was van korte duur, maar dodelik. In die 29 aflewerings wat hy trotseer het, het hy nie minder nie as 10 sesse en een vier gemoker vir sy 70.
Mulder, in teenstelling met Morkel se blitzkrieg, het 92 balle trotseer en was onoorwonne op 54 lopies toe die Eldos die teiken van 224 in slegs die 33ste beurt bereik het.
In Nelspruit het die verdedigende kampioen, Hoërskool Waterkloof, sy veldtog op oortuigende wyse met ‘n 42-lopie oorwinning oor Hoërskool Nelspruit afgeskop. Die tuisspan het die loot gewen en die besoekers uit Pretoria ingestuur om te kolf in uitdagende toestande met die baie reën wat die Laeveld oor die laaste paar weke ontvang het.
Nellies se Safwaan Miller (4/34) was verál ‘n vlieg in die Klofies se salf. Die draaier het vier keer ‘n paaltjie op nét die regte tyd te laat val.
Die Klofies se kaptein, Riley Miller, het egter die pas met die kolf aangegee met 42 lopies van 40 aflewerings, terwyl Jaydon Blom, wat spoedig besig is om sy stempel as ‘n kolwer af te druk, self 42 lopies laer in die orde aangeteken het. In die konteks van die wedstryd was dit van kardinale belang en kon die besoekers 183 haal voordat Miller die laaste paaltjie opgeraap het.
Waterkloof se aanvangsboulers, Jaco van der Walt (3/15) en Darius Marits (2/24), se netjiese lyn en lengte het die Nellies na drie beurte reeds in die pekel gehad, met die telling op 17/3. Ricardo Crous (2/18) het Nellies verder laat wankel.
Slegs Johan Duncan (37) en Vaughn van Zyl (25) kon verby die 20-lopie merk kom en moes toekyk hoe hul span se laaste paaltjie in die 41ste beurt, met die telling op 138, kantel.
Beknopte telkaarte:
Hoërskool Menlopark 223 (Jan-Willem Pienaar 75, Owen Louwies 46, Jacques de Villiers 27, Ekstras 21; Benyael Morkel 3/39, Kyle de Bruyn 2/34, Ruan Boshoff 2/48); Eldoraigne 224/3 (Benyael Morkel 70, Kyle de Bruyn 55, Ryno Mulder 54*; Murray Hofmeyr 1/37). Eldoraigne wen met sewe paaltjies.
Waterkloof 180 (Riley Miller 42, Jaydon Blom 42, Ricardo Crous 25, Darius Maritz 22; Safwaan Miller 4/34, Gherdy van Eededen 3/18); Hoërskool Nelspruit 138 (Johan Duncan 37, Vaughn van Zyl 25, Ekstras 22; Jaco van der Walt 3/15, Ricardo Crous 2/18, Darius Maritz 2/24). Waterkloof wen met 42 lopies.
Zieg Roos and Steele Grooteman shared seven wickets between them as they bowled King Edward VII School (KES) to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Northcliff High School at Northcliff on Sunday.
Roos, the KES captain, won the toss and asked Northcliff to bat first. That was a good decision as KES bundled out Northcliff in 39 overs for only 82.
Coach Vincent Jordaan’s side easily chased down the victory target. They needed only 17.1 overs to score 86/1.
Sunday’s win was KES’s third victory of the year. They already have five matches under their belt in 2025 before the Northcliff game. They won against Queens High School and Trinity House Rand Park Ride and lost to Waterkloof. Their other matches, against Parktown and St John’s College, were washed out by rain.
Northcliff’s batsmen were watchful in the first 10 overs of the weekend’s encounter and compiled 37 runs in 9.4 overs before the opening stand was broken. Connor Kuijers provided KES with the breakthrough with the dismissal of Jack Woolard, who had scored a patient 22 off 38.
Wollard’s dismissal, unfortunately for Northcliff, began a procession of wickets over the next 29 overs, with Northcliff immobile, stuck in quicksand.
Roos tossed the ball to Steel Grooteman in the 15th over and the bowling change had an immediate impact. Grooteman grabbed a wicket with his second delivery to send Nkosana Tshabalala packing. That was the first of three wickets captured by Grooteman, who also accounted for Kyle Davies and Cade Bradley. He finished with a very tidy three wickets for 17 runs in 10 overs.
Roos, meanwhile, was adjudged the Player of the Match after his bowling performance.
He introduced himself into the attack in the 22nd over, strung together a couple of quiet overs, conceding five runs in two overs, and was, then, rewarded with a wicket off his first delivery of the 26th over, his third over. The KES captain tied down the Northcliff batsmen, conceding a miserly 1/1 runs per over, and claimed a superb 4/10 from his nine overs.
The bowlers’ outstanding performances served up a low total for KES’s batsmen to chase and they accomplished that at a canter. Tiago Dias (21*) and Khwezi Nyamathe (27) shared a 32-run partnership before it was broken by Declan Diesel in the fifth over, but Nyamathe’s wicket proved to be the only one that Northcliff was able to take before KES claimed victory.
Dias and Eric Southey (29*) shared an unbroken 54-run second-wicket partnership to see them home.
Summarised scorecard
Northcliff 82/10 (Jack Woolard 22, Kyle Davies 14, Zieg Roos 4/10, Steele Grooteman 3/17). King Edward VII 86/1 (Eric Southey 29*, Khwezi Nyamathe 27, Declan Davies 1/22, Alex West 0/9). KES won by nine wickets.
Nthabiseng Nini of South Africa celebrates taking a wicket during the ICC u19 Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and Samoa at Borneo Cricket Ground on 20 January 2025, in Sarawak, Malaysia. Photo: Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images.
SARAWAK. – South Africa u19 Women delivered a commanding performance against Samoa u19 Women in their second match of the ICC u19 Women’s T20 World Cup at the Borneo Cricket Ground on Monday.
Nthabiseng Nini emerged as the standout performer, earning the title of “chief destroyer” from commentators and fans alike for her exceptional bowling display.
Nini’s spell of 3/4 not only dismantled the opposition but also earned her the Player of the Match accolade.
Reflecting on her performance, Nini said:
“My performance in today’s game feels really special. What worked best for me was keeping it simple and applying what I’ve prepared for in practice.
“The motivation from our management—reminding us to treat ‘EVERY BALL AS AN EVENT’—played a significant role in my performance today.”
After winning the toss, South Africa elected to field, delivering a disciplined bowling effort, to restrict Samoa to a mere 16 runs all out.
Nini led the charge with her three wickets, while Seshnie Naidu bowled a remarkable spell, taking 2/0.
Fay Cowling and Kayla Reyneke were equally effective, each claiming two wickets in their two overs and the collective effort from the bowling unit left Samoa with no room to build momentum.
The chase was a formality for the South African openers, who confidently reached the target in under two overs, sealing a dominant victory and boosting their position in the tournament.
South Africa u19 Women Squad: ICC u19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 (18 January – 02 February)
Kayla Reyneke (Captain, Western Province), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Fay Cowling (Lions), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Mona-Lisa Legodi (Titans), Simoné Lourens (Titans), Karabo Meso (Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Dolphins), Nthabiseng Nini (Dragons), Luyanda Nzuza (Free State), Diara Ramlakan (Lions), Diedré van Rensburg (North West Dragons), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Chanel Venter (Titans).
SA U19 Women Fixtures: ICC u19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 (18 January – 02 February)
Saturday, 18 January @ 08h30 SAST – 1st Match: New Zealand vs South Africa u19 (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by 22 runs.
Monday, 20 January @ 08h30 SAST – 2nd Match: South Africa u19 vs Samoa (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak) – South Africa won by 10 wickets.
Wednesday, 22 January @ 08h30 SAST – 3rd Match: South Africa u19 vs Nigeria (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)
Saturday, 25 January – Wednesday, 29 January – Super Six Stage
Friday, 31 January @ 04h30 SAST – 1st Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Friday, 31 January @ 08h30 SAST – 2nd Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Sunday, 02 February @ 08h30 SAST – Final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Bishops’ playmaker, Timothy Young, will be in action for his school during the SACS Nite Series. Photo: Cobus Saunders
Five long weeks of intense, competitive, and breathtaking water polo action will decide the 2025 SACS Nite Series champions in the Western Cape.
The much-anticipated annual series will see the best water polo-playing schools in the Western Cape assemble at the SACS Aquatics Centre from Tuesday, 21 January, until the final, which is scheduled for 25 February.
In action across the five rounds will be the hosts, along with Bishops Diocesan College, Wynberg Boys’ High, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Reddam House Constantia, and Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG).
Led by Heath Blackwell, Bishops ran riot in home waters and emerged with a clean record after beating Paarl Boys’ High 7-1, Reddam House Constantia 8-3, WynbergBoys’ High 7-2, and SACS 7-4 in the final.
Bishops, who kick off their SACS Nite Series campaign against Wynberg, will be one of the favourites to claim the Nite Series honours. Another side to keep an eye out for is Rondebosch Boys’ High.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s outfit has been on the up for the past two seasons, and it looks like everything is starting to click.
Their monumental triumph at the KES Water Polo Tournament last season laid a sturdy foundation from which to build for ‘Bosch.
They’ve retained some of their top talent while integrating exciting youngsters into the team. Some of the young players to keep an eye out for include Zack Labuschagne, Dante Moore, and Kieran Bennewith, who all helped Rondebosch win the u15 Ian Melliar Cuplate last year.
Noah Reiback is another player who will be aiming to make waves in the pool after a stellar season in 2024.
‘Bosch’s first Nite series assignment will be against coach Nick Tinkler‘s Reddam House Constantia.
Rondebosch is gunning for top honours in the 2025 SACS Nite Series. Photo: TeamPhoto SA
SACS, meanwhile, will come into the Nite Series with a big point to prove after missing out last year.
Forbes has been entrusted with leading a youthful squad featuring exciting players, like Benjamin Bigara, Connor Mortlock, and Aidan Turrell.
SACS will also bank on the experience of Finn Lecuona and Jandro Rojo-Roos, who proved to be a handful for their opponents last season.
PRG, Wynberg, and Reddam House are also in with a chance in the series, where the result of every match will be crucial.
Head coach of PRG, Vaugh Marlow, will expect a much better showing from his side after they struggled at the Bishops tournament.
There, Marlow’s troops were far from their best and finished in fifth place behind Reddam, after going down 3-7 against the Constantia school.
The opening round of the series will also provide SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch, and PRG with much-needed preparation for the SAC Shield, which kicks off in Makhanda, at St Andrew’s College, on Thursday, 23 January.
SACS Nite Series fixtures
21 January
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Reddam House Constantia
17:50 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Bishops Diocesan College
18:40 – SACS vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
29 January
17:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
5 February
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
17:50 – Bishops Diocesan College vs SACS
18:40 – Reddam House Constantia vs Wynberg Boys’ High
12 February
17:00 – SACS vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
18:40 – Reddam House Constantia vs Bishops Diocesan College
19 February
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’’High
17:50 – SACS vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Bishops Diocesan College
The first weekend of summer sports fixtures of 2025 included basketball teams taking to the court in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
After 16 days of rain in the Gauteng Province, it was a welcome opportunity for sports to light up the weekend, and Jeppe High School for Boys welcomed St John’s College for a full set of summer fixtures.
The cricket fields were packed, all-out water polo action was lighting up the pool, and basketball games had attracted their always-passionate supporters.
In the first team game, it was the St John’s College basketball team that emerged victorious in their first outing of the year, beating Jeppe 56-45.
The boys from Houghton dominated, winning 17 of the 19 matches, but the majority were closely contested.
In Kwazulu-Natal, Kearsney College welcomed Michaelhouse for the year’s opening fixtures on Saturday.
The hosts made full use of their home-ground advantage as they turned in a 64-59 overtime victory at the SportZone after leading 31-27 at halftime.
Pabatso Sithole led Kearsney’s scoring, with 18 points, while Funi Kanyongolo shone for Michaelhouse, dropping 26 points through the hoop.
Competition between the rivals was extremely close, with Kearsney winning 10 games and ‘House 11.
In Pietermaritzburg, Westville Boys’ High met Maritzburg College in a clash of elite teams. The Griffin, who had staked a strong claim to be the best side in South Africa in the last term of 2024, pulled off an eight-point win in the cauldron of the Alan Paton Memorial Hall and Multi-Purpose Centre to live up to that status.
Meanwhile, in Durban, Northwood, the winners of the St John’s Basketball Tournament in 2024, faced a stiff challenge from Durban High School (DHS). After going behind early, the visitors clawed their way back into the contest and led midway through the game. The Knights, though, battled their way back, created easier baskets for themselves, and came away with the win.
Hilton College won at Glenwood, and St Charles College overcame a half-time deficit to cruise to a big 21-point win over Clifton College.
Weekend Basketball Results
Kearsney College 64-59 Michaelhouse
Maritzburg College 54-62 Westville Boys’ High
Northwood School 62-53 Durban High School
Glenwood 30-41 Hilton College
Kearsney College 64-59 Michaelhouse
St Charles College 70-49 Clifton College
St John’s 56-45 Jeppe
Hoërskool Dr. Malan se boulers het skitterend saamgespan om die Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg stert tussen die bene huis toe te stuur.
Hoërskool Zwartkop se kaptein, Zandre van Staden, het Hoërskool Lichtenburg se boulers gewys waar Dawid die wortels gegrawe het in dié spanne se eerste kragmeting in vanjaar se Finsbury-reeks Saterdag in Lichtenburg.
Andy van der Watt, one of the first Craven Week players to become a Springbok, passed away on Sunday aged 78.
A century by Hoërskool Waterkloof‘s captain, Riley Miller, was the difference between victory and defeat when the Klofies hosted King Edward VII School (KES) in Pretoria on Saturday.
Zieg Roos and Steele Grooteman shared seven wickets between them as they bowled King Edward VII School (KES) to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Northcliff High School at Northcliff on Sunday.
