Grey-kollege 2de XI | FOTO: Rikus van Wyk (Weekend Photography)
Grey-kollege se tweede krieketspan het Dinsdag die bordjies verhang teen Hoërskool Diamantveld om die Motheo o. 19 T20 Superliga-trofee ‘n staanplek in die Rosestad te gee.
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Na die Diamonds hul vorige ontmoeting ‘n maand gelede met 43 lopies gewen het, het die Bloemfonteiners saamgespan om hul ritme te vind toe dit werklik saakgemaak het in die eindstryd.
Die span van Kimberley het eerste gekolf, maar net toe Benjamin Potgieter en Danie van der Merwe aan die gang begin kom het, het Grey die eerste deurbraak bewerkstellig danksy puik veldwerk deur Muso Mokomela om vir Potgieter uit te hardloop.
Simon Liversage het weer uitgeblink vir Diamantveld en Grey kopsere besorg deur vyf grenshoue te moker. Hy het net 28 balle nodig gehad om 38 lopies by sy span se totaal te voeg, maar Otto Krause en Marx van Wyk het gekombineer om die Diamonds se gevaarman te tem voordat hy verdere skade kon aanrig.
Dit het inderdaad ‘n spanpoging deur die tuisspan geverg om Diamantveld tot 135/7 te beperk. Vyf verskillende boulers kon elkeen ‘n paaltjie neem, terwyl twee van die besoekers se kolwers uitgehardloop is.
‘n Stewige aanvangvennootskap deur Dale Williams (23) en Alwyn Smith (47) van 71 lopies het vir Grey-kollege die fondasie gelê.
Luhan de la Rey het die verdedigingspoging vir sy span gelei deur van albei die Grey-kolwers ontslae te raak, maar Makomela (24*) en Lamla Mgedezi (26*) kon ‘n onoorwonne vennootskap van 39 daarstel om die Bloemfonteiners in die 19de beurt tot oorwinning en die titel te dryf.
Beknopte telkaart:
Hoërskool Diamantveld: 135/7 (Simon Liversage 38, Danie van der Merwe 25, Hanru Rademeyer 21; Otto Krause 1/18). Grey-kollege II: 136/4 (Alwyn Smith 47, Lamla Mgedezi 26*, Muso Mokomela 24*, Dale Williams 23; Luhan de la Rey 2/9). Grey-kollege II wen met ses paaltjies.
The Clifton College first team water polo side will, under the leadership of Oliver Ditz, be hunting their second consecutive title of the season when the King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament kicks off in Johannesburg this weekend.
Clifton has, as usual, been one of the most impressive KwaZulu-Natal teams this season, playing an exciting brand of water polo that has attracted viewers to the screens.
Under Coach Paul Martin, the side began their tournament season at the SAC Shield in Makhanda in January, where they finished seventh.
However, they bounced back well to claim top honours recently at the Vides Water Polo Tournament, hosted by Selborne College.
Their skipper, Oliver Ditz, led from the front in East London, and helped his side go on an unbeaten run, which was topped off by a win over Paul Roos Gymnasium in the final, and the title of Player of the Tournament for Ditz.
“It was amazing winning Vides. It’s been a dream of mine to win a national tournament at first team level ever since I started playing water polo,” he told SuperSport Schools in an exclusive interview.
“I think we owe it to Mr Martin and [team manager] Mev Terblanche. Their time and the effort they put into our team deserves that recognition and reward.
“It was a big honour to receive the MVP award, but I was happier to secure the goal medal.”
Ditz’s love for the sport began unexpectedly while he was still in primary school.
He recalls his first encounter with the sport came at the prestigious annual Clifton Water Polo Tournament, where his older brother played.
“I fell in love with water polo, when I was grade 2, in 2014,” he revealed. “My older brother, Noah, played water polo for Clifton and was working at the Clifton tournament. I was at the pool all day, waiting for him to get fetched, and I started running the manual scoreboard.
“I started watching all the Clifton games. The Clifton 2014 first team was one of the best years Clifton ever had, with stars like Nick Downes, Dayne Jagga, Wyatt Edwards, and Gareth May.
“Watching their chemistry, skills, and banter, led me to start playing water polo when I was eight years old, in grade 3.”
Happy days with the Clifton 1st team of 2023 after they clinched the KZN Top 10 title. Oliver Ditz is front and centre, easily identifiable by his wide smile.
The jovial, always-smiling youngster quickly climbed the ranks in the pool when he arrived at Clifton College, in grade eight.
He was selected for the u14A side, and soon donned the green and gold of South Africa at the CANA Championships in Botswana before it was brought to an abrupt stop due to Covid-19 restrictions.
That setback didn’t stop Ditz, as a year later, in grade nine, he made the u15 side, with his performances that year sealing a spot for him in the Stayers’ team, where he eventually received his first senior cap for the school.
Now 18, he has represented KwaZulu-Natal at every age group level at the Inter-Provincial Tournament, while also eclipsing 100 caps for the Clifton first team in his grade 11 year.
“Representing SA at the CANA championships was a big boost in confidence for me,” he said.
“I also represented the country in the u16 World Championships. held in Greece in 2022. It’s also been great playing for KZN every year since grade 6, except for the Covid year.
“However, my biggest achievement and honour is captaining Clifton’s first team and reaching 100 first team caps in grade 11.”
Ditz is not the only player in the Clifton side with over 100 caps. He shares that honour with regular goal scorer, Luc O’Brien, and shot-stopper, Ross Strauss.
The trio now owns more than 120 caps each, and they, together with Head Boy, Ethan Lyne, provide leadership as the Clifton class of 2024 continues the outstanding legacy of water polo at the Durban school.
All of that experience and leadership will be required if coach Martin’s side is to go all the way at KES where they face the very best of South Africa’s water polo-playing schools.
Clifton is drawn in Pool One where they will face the hosts, high-flying Rondebosch Boys High, and Grey High, from Gqeberha.
Clifton’s water polo players take the champions’ swim at the 2024 Vides Water Polo Tournament.
Ditz says the team understands what’s at stake, and despite more opportunities to win silverware later this year, their focus is on KES.
“The whole team is extremely excited for KES, and our goal is gold,” he reckoned.
“The Clifton and SACS tournaments are also going to be huge this year. With such a young side, I feel, with experience and maturity, our team will only improve.
“However, we will definitely give KES a full go,” he concluded.
Clifton Fixtures at the KES Water Polo Tournament
Friday 1 March
16:10- Clifton College vs Rondebosch Boys High
19:30- Clifton College vs Grey High
Bishops’ goalkeeper Jordan De Sousa keeps SACS at bay in the final of the 2024 SACS Night Series. Photo: MBL Photography (Milan Boolsen-Lotz)
The crowd was buzzing, the war cries were in full voice, and the SACS Aquatic Centre was at full capacity as Bishops Diocesan College defeated South African College School (SACS) 14-11 to claim the 2024SACS Nite Series title in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.
Both sides, who had already faced one another four times this season, entered the match high in confidence after winning their semi-final clashes earlier in the day.
Bishops were, however, made to sweat for their spot in the final. Their clash against Rondebosch Boys High went down to penalties after ending 10-10 at the end of regulation time.
Coach Jabulani Sibiya‘s men managed to sneak a 2-1 win from the spot, while SACS dominated their encounter against Paul Roos to secure an 11-6 victory.
The final was, however, a different kettle of fish, with both teams going hard at each other for the better part of three chukkas.
Bishops hit the front early, when Thomas Truter and Milo Letschert gave them a two-goal advantage.
The home side turned to their talisman, Nicholas Fall, who pulled one back from a five-metre penalty before, a minute later, sneaking one past SA Schools’ goalkeeper Jordan De Sousa to level matters up at 2-2.
Bishops’ skipper, Ross Stewart, and SACS’s Jandro Rojo-Ross both found the back of the net to make it 3-3 at the completion of the first chukka.
The second chukka was much like the first in that there was little to separate the sides. But Rojo-Ross and Mac Lecuona struck to see SACS into the lead for the first time in the contest. However, Bishops stayed in the game, with Matt Fenn scoring twice to make it 5-5, before Nick Fall put SACS into a 6-5 lead at the halftime interval.
In the third chukka, Bishops looked sharper, both on attack and defence. It remained tight, however, but Sibiya’s team edged ahead, 9-8, with the final chukka to go.
In the final quarter, SACS let it slip by allowing their opponents too much time on the ball, particularly in the danger zone. That allowed the young Matt Fenn, who turned out for Western Province u15A last year, to continue his prolific scoring streak, as he punished SACS to the tune of seven goals.
Michael Voogt added to his team’s tally to stretch the lead to three (13-10) with just under three minutes remaining.
Bishops held on from there and, despite an acrobatic goal by Fall, prevailed 14-11 to lift the title after going unbeaten throughout their Nite Series campaign.
Man of the match went to Matt Fenn for his heroic seven goals.
Both sides will now turn their attention to the King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament in Johannesburg, which takes place from Friday through to Sunday.
In the fifth/sixth playoff match, Wynberg Boys High outmuscled Reddam House Constantia 9-7 to close off their series on a high.
Scorers
Bishops: Thomas Truter, Milo Letschert, Ross Stewart (x3), Matt Fenn (7), Michael Voogt (x2). SACS: Nicholas Fall (x5), Jandro Rojo-Roos (x2), Mac Lecuona (x3), Conor Melling-Williams.
Results
Bishops 10 (2)-(1) 10 Rondebosch
SACS 11-6 Paul Roos
Wynberg Boys High 9-7 Reddam House Constantia
Bishops 14-11 SACS
The 41st edition of the Standard BankKing Edward VII Water Polo Tournament will provide St John’s College with an opportunity to win a record 10th KES title. The action at the Mark Stevens Aquatics Centre starts early on Friday morning.
The three-day tournament will see the best water polo playing schools in the country assemble in one arena as the season draws to its conclusion, and all the action is live on SuperSport Schools.
It’s one of the biggest tournaments in the country, especially when the calibre of teams in attendance is taken into account.
The winners of the past two editions, St John’s, have been seeded in Pool D, which also includes Northwood, St Andrew’s College, and Paul Roos Gymnasium.
To claim top honours in 2023, the Johannesburg side had to take an extended route to the final after a rough start to their pool matches.
They picked themselves up and edged out Hilton College 13-12 in the semi-finals before defeating their rivals, St Stithians College, in the final.
This year’s tournament will, however, be even more challenging, with most of the teams on the roster high in confidence and playing an attractive brand of water polo.
From the Western Cape, South African College High School (SACS), and Bishops Diocesan College are two of the teams to watch out for. They met in the final of the SAC Shield at the end of January, with SACS sneaking one past their opponents, who had previously beaten them in the SACS Night Series and earlier in the SAC Shield.
SACS are drawn in Pool B, where they will take on Jeppe High, Hilton College, and Selborne College, who recently ended their Vides Tournament in third place.
SACS are also the most successful Cape Town side in the history of the tournament, having won it four times, while Rondebosch and Reddam House Constantia have won it once each.
Another side that will be looking to make its presence felt during the weekend is Clifton College.
The KwaZulu-Natal representatives enter the tournament high in confidence after dominating matters in an excellent showing at the Vides Tournament in East London a fortnight ago.
Coach Paul Martin’s side was unbeaten in the round-robin matches and then eliminated the hosts in the semi-finals before edging out Paul Roos in a penalty shootout to claim the trophy.
They’ll be attempting to win a second KES title, following in the footsteps of their 2016 side. They take on the hosts, Rondebosch Boys’ High, and Gqeberha’s Grey High School in Pool A.
St Stithians College and Pretoria Boys High will renew their rivalry in Pool C, where they’ll battle Westville Boys’ High and Bishops.
The action commences on Friday when KES takes on Rondebosch at 07:00.
SACS versus Selborne College is at 10:20, while Clifton College closes day one against Grey High at 19:30.
The Pools
Pool A: King Edward VII, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Grey High, Clifton College. Pool B: Jeppe High, Hilton College, Selborne College, SACS. Pool C: St Stithians College, Westville Boys’ High, Pretoria Boys High, Bishops. Pool D: St John’s College, Northwood, St Andrew’s College, Paul Roos Gymnasium.
Fixtures
Day 1, Friday, 1 March
07:00 – King Edward VII vs Rondebosch (1); 07:50 – Jeppe vs Hilton College (2); 08:40 – St Stithians vs Westville Boys (3); 09:30 – St John’s vs Northwood (4); 10:20 – SACS vs Selborne (5); 11:10 – Pretoria Boys High vs Bishops (6); 12:00 – Paul Roos vs St Andrew’s College (7); 12:50 – King Edward VII vs Grey High (8); 13:40 – Jeppe vs Selborne College (9); 14:30 – Bishops vs Westville (10); 15:20 – St Andrew’s College vs Northwood (11); 16:10 – Rondebosch vs Clifton College (12); 17:00 – SACS vs Hilton (13); 17:50- Pretoria Boys High vs St Stithians (14); 18:40 – St John’s vs Paul Roos (15); 19:30 – Clifton College vs Grey High (16).
Day 2, Saturday, 2 March
07:00 – King Edward VII vs Clifton College (17); 07:50 – SACS vs Jeppe (18); 08:40 – Pretoria Boys High vs Westville (19); 09:30 – St John’s vs St Andrews College (20); 10:20 – Rondebosch vs Grey High (21); 11:10 – Selborne vs Hilton (22); 12:00 – St Stithians vs Bishops (23); 12:50 – Paul Roos vs Northwood (24); 13:40 – 3rd Pool 1 vs 2nd Pool 4 (25); 14:10 – 2nd Pool 2 vs 4th Pool 1(26); 14:40 – 3rd Pool 3 vs 4th Pool 4 (27); 15:10 – 3rd Pool 4 vs 4th Pool 3 (28); 15:40 – 1st Pool 1 vs 2nd Pool 2 (29); 16:30 – 1st Pool 2 vs 2nd Pool 1 (30); 17:20 – 1st Pool 3 vs 2nd Pool 4 (31); 18:10 – 1st Pool 4 vs 2nd Pool 3 (32); 19:00 – Loser 25 vs Loser 27 (33); 19:30 – Loser 26 vs Loser 28 (34); 20:00 – Loser 29 vs Loser 31 (35); 20:30 – Loser 30 vs Loser 32 (36).
Day 3, Sunday, 3 March
07:00 – Winner Plate qualifier 1 vs Winner Plate qualifier 2 (37); 07:30 – Winner Plate qualifier 2 vs Winner Plate qualifier 4 (38); 08:00 – Cup Quarterfinal 1 winner vs Cup quarterfinal 3 winner (39); 08:50 – Cup quarterfinal 2 winner vs Cup quarterfinal 4 winner (40); 09:40 – Loser 33 vs Loser 34 (41); 10:10 – Winner 33 vs Winner 34 (42); 10:40 – Loser Plate semi-final vs Loser Plate semi-final 2 (43); 11:10 – Winner Plate semi-final 1 vs Winner Plate semi-final 2 (44); 11:40 – Loser 35 vs Loser 36 (45); 12:10 – Winner 35 vs Winner 36 (46); 12:40 – Loser Cup semi-final 1 vs Loser Cup semi-final 2 (47); 13:30 – FINAL (48).
One of the most decorated schools’ water polo head coaches in South Africa, Etienne Le Roux, will enjoy a last hurrah with his St Stithians College girls’ team at the Reef Cup, which takes place in Johannesburg over the weekend.
The annual tournament, hosted by Saints, will welcome 20 girls’ teams, with Le Roux’s side eager to retain the title St Stithians won in 2023, when they defeated Roedean School in the final.
Le Roux is a familiar face on the water polo scene in South Africa, having represented the national team before making a switch to coaching full-time.
Now, after almost five years at the Johannesburg school, he is set to move to Cape Town’s Rondebosch Boys’ HighSchool.
Speaking to SuperSport Schools ahead of the tournament, he said he wasn’t dealing with too many emotions, with his team looking forward to the spectacle and task at hand.
“Not too sure about emotional. We’ve still too much to do, for now,” Le Roux said.
“The team is feeling good, especially after such an amazing showing at the Old Petrian’s Tournament, where we really came together and played at our best.”
Le Roux joined Saints in 2019, and ever since then the water polo programme at the school has been on an upward curve.
Last year, he led the girls’ side to an incredible record that saw the team set new standards and make history by winning a whopping eight tournaments during the season, which included cleaning up at the Prestige Cup, Saints Invitational, and at the National Aquatics Festival.
Deciding to leave St Stithians was a tough decision, Le Roux admitted.
“I joined Saints in 2019. It has been a wonderful experience, especially getting to work with such committed coaches and parents, who are the backbone of a programme like this.
“I’ve met some incredible people and will have lifelong relationships from my time here.
“It was not an easy decision to leave at all. I will miss the Saints’ water polo community very much,” he added.
Following on from the astonishing achievements of 2023, Saints has found 2024 to be a far more challenging season, with new young players moving into the 1st team. However, they will draw inspiration from reaching the final of the Old Petrian’s Cup this past weekend.
In that game, they went down 6-9 to Cape Town’s Herschel Girls in a thrilling contest. Le Roux said his team will bank on their confidence and the backing of their home crowd in the Reef Cup.
“It has been quite a tough season, but that is the beauty of sport,” he reckoned. “We can learn lessons every day and every season, which just helps us grow as humans and as athletes.
“For the Reef Cup, it is always nice to play at home, as you just feel more comfortable, and the support is always a nice boost.
“We proved to ourselves [at the Old Petrian’s Tournament], most importantly, that we can compete against anyone around. We need to stay focussed and confident in our abilities.”
Le Roux’s departure from Gauteng will not only be felt by Saints but also by the Gauteng Water Polo Association after his many years of service.
Over the past decade, he’s brought back eight gold medals for the Central Gauteng A side from inter-provincial tournaments.
Now, he wants to see the school and the region continue to grow the sport.
“Water polo has given me so much; my only wish is that it will give back to those involved, as well,” he said.
“There will be good times, and there will be bad times but, no matter what, the water polo family needs to stick together.
“To the girls, I would say, don’t let the world change your smile, let your smile change the world.”
St Stithians is drawn in Pool D of the Reef Cup and will take on Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Pretoria), Falcon College, Reddam House Umhlanga, and St Peter’s College.
Their opening clash will be against Zimbabwe’s Falcon College at 11:10on Thursday in the main pool.
After the South African women’s u17 national team (Bantwana) failed to qualify for the 2024 Fifa u17 Women’s World Cup, to be held in the Dominican Republic in November 2024, it became clear that we, as a country, have a long way to go if we want to compete on the global stage.
As someone who would like to see the investment in football development produce the desired results, I could not help but reflect on those national teams. Like most South African football fans, I ask myself whether the underwhelming results are due to a system that undermines the progress and success of these young boys and girls.
Why do we rely on temporary or stand-in coaches for national development teams?
Is there a lack of resources, which prevents us from having a full-time technical team dedicated to the national programme?
These questions apply to the national teams at the u15, u17, and u20 levels.
There is no intention to undermine the coaches currently serving those teams, but if those coaches are going to be regularly replaced, what impact does that have on those young players?
As it happens, the national junior teams do not have sponsorships, unlike the senior men’s and women’s South African national teams, Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.
The governing body of the country’s football, the South African Football Association (Safa) confirmed this when they set the record straight on Bafana Bafana’s bonuses after an historic run during the Caf Africa Cup of Nations, held in Côte d’Ivoire, where they secured the bronze medal for the first time since the 2000 event, which was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. There were outcries in the country regarding those and whether or not the players would receive them.
“We further highlight that the payments and bonuses, as agreed with the players, will be paid when the prize monies are received from the Confederations of African Football (Caf).” Safa said in a statement.
“The remaining funds will be utilised in the further development of football. As previously stated, our junior national teams are not sponsored and rely heavily on the senior national teams for funding to help with access to more preparation camps and competitive fixtures. The funds are not intended for members of the national executive committee of the Association or any Safa staff.”
Investment in Youth Football wins you the FIFA World Cup Trophies
There are many good examples that I could refer to, featuring countries that emphasised the development of football and how that has helped them to win international trophies – countries like Spain, France, and Brazil, but I will refer to the case of Germany in this article.
According to New Times, in the early 2000s after a poor performance of the national team at the European Championship in 2000, where they did not win a single game and scored only one goal, a decision was taken to pour almost $ 1 billion into Germany’s youth programs, with academies run by professional teams and training centres being overseen by professionals.
Germany did not win the World Cup in 2002, losing out to a great Brazilian, which included, among others, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, who scored both goals in the final, to secure Brazil its fifth and most recent World Cup title, but the improvement was significant.
Further investments were made into the infrastructure of German football, with world-class stadiums being built and facilities for academies being built or upgraded. One of the consequences of those investments was Germany reaching the semi-finals in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which they hosted. They exited after extra time in the semi-finals, losing to the eventual champions, Italy.
After coming close several times, including another semi-final defeat in the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, to the champions, Spain, the Germans’ efforts finally produced the desired result when they defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup final in Brazil in 2014.
There was nothing lucky about that win, their fourth World Cup title. It was, rather, the consequence of a sustainable system, an investment for the future, that was put in place and given time to produce results.
According to the Bundesliga Report – “10 Years of Academies – Talent Pools of top-level German Football”, the Bundesliga, the top-flight of German football, made it mandatory for all professional teams to run a youth academy. “By the 2010-11 season, more than half of all Bundesliga players were part of the German academy system“, the report read.
In 2013, two German football clubs, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, contested the Uefa Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in England.
Many of the stars of Germany’s World Cup-winning team of 2014 were the products of the post-2000 system: Mario Götze, who scored the only winning goal in the final, Mats Hummels, Manuel Neuer, Per Mertesacker, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, all came through the Bundesliga academies.
Now, back to South Africa and other questions that come up: should Safa and the DStv Premier League follow suit?
What can be done to back the Gauteng Development League, boys and girls, as the league streams are a feeder to the national junior teams?
Grey College came up against a wounded Rondebosch Boys’ High on the final day of their tour of the Cape on Sunday and ‘Bosch, off the back of a heavy defeat the previous day, delivered a comprehensive 93-run victory.
On Saturday, they had an uncharacteristically off day against their local rivals SACS, being bowled out for only 50 runs and suffering a seven-wicket defeat. But ‘Bosch regrouped well to put the previous game’s freakish result behind them.
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On Sunday, Noah Heath (69) and Declan Gillespie (36) provided Rondebosch with a solid 66-run partnership for the first wicket before Grey’s stalwart Darion Rabie made a breakthrough by finding a gap in Gillespie’s defences.
That brought Daniel Bosman to the crease, and he further bolstered his side’s total with a mature knock of 60 runs.
After Henru de Wet claimed Heath’s wicket, Rabie and co were able to work their way through the remaining Bosch batsmen before any of them could settle in.
Bosman, however, kept picking off the Grey bowlers and helped to drive the Rondebosch total to 226, before River Scott ended his innings in combination with Sicelo Matayi.
Raeeq Daniels then tore through the visitors’ top order, capturing three wickets in his first three overs, to leave Grey rattled on 8/3. Later in the day, he added another victim to finish with 4/42 from 10 overs.
Ruben Maree (26), Dale Williams (25) and Pieter Smit (20) provided some resistance for Grey in the middle order, but Daniels and co kept turning the screw.
Rabie, Grey’s final batsman, showed the same energy he had exhibited in the field, racing to an unbeaten 20 runs and smashing four boundaries, in a last-ditch effort to rescue the Bloemfontein school. However, he could do nothing but watch on helplessly from the non-batting end as Nathan Ball brought the Grey innings to a close on 142.
Grey also lost to Paul Roos Gimnasium on Friday. Riley Norton led the Paul Roos batting charge with 97 runs before combining with Dian Winkel (4/33) and Callum Appolis (2/40) to stymie Grey’s counteroffensive 56 runs shy of their victory target.
Batting ninth for Grey Casper Troskie played a very good innings to miss out on his half-century by only five runs, which boosted his side’s total to 191.
Grey faced Wynberg Boys’ High on Saturday. After an initial delay due to poor weather, the match was shortened to 35 overs a side, and the touring team posted a decent total of 169/9. Unfortunately, the weather had the final say, preventing Wynberg from batting, and the match was called off.
23 February
Paul Roos Gimnasium 247/6 (Riley Norton 97, Matthew Seymore 45, Cornel Swart 28, Kieran Swile 25, Extras 20; Darion Rabie 2/52); Grey College 191 (Casper Troskie 45, Pieter Smit 31, Ruben Maree 23; Dian Winkel 4/33, Riley Norton 2/36, Callum Appolis 2/50) Paul Roos Gimnasium won by 56 runs.
24 February
Grey College 169/9 (River Scott 32, Cullen Marais 29, Ruben Maree 26, Extras 23; Paul James 2/18, Michail Tarentaal 2/24, Josh Prince 2/43); Wynberg Boys’ High (Did not bat). Match abandoned.
25 February
Rondebosch Boys’ High 231/9 (Noah Heath 69, Daniel Bosman 60, Declan Gillespie 36; Darion Rabie 3/36, Henru de Wet 2/21); Grey College 142 (Dale Williams 25, Ruben Maree 23, Darion Rabie 20*, Pieter Smit 20; Raeeq Daniels 4/42, James Kirsten 2/13, Tim Short 2/21). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by 93 runs.
It was very hot and humid when Glenwood visited Westville on Saturday for a limited overs clash on Bowden’s. There was something in the wicket for the bowlers, but it was a hard slog in the heat.
Batting first, Karabo Ntsieng, one of the heroes of Glenwood’s recent win over Michaelhouse, fell early, but Nathan Moodley and Krian Jugoo stabilised the Green Machine’s innings.
Jugoo was one of two mainstays for the visitors. He entered the fray when only seven runs were on the scoreboard and helped his side to 102 before he was sent packing after scoring 38 runs, which came off of 97 deliveries and included two fours.
The other batsman to perform well in the taxing conditions was Sibonelo Phewa, who mixed a watchful defence and aggressive offence nicely. Good balls, he treated with respect. Bad balls, he went after.
Phewa made 32, with a couple of sixes and a four. He, then, became a victim of Sean McGough, one of four wickets the seamer picked up. He bowled a challenging line and length throughout and knocked over 4/23 in 10 overs.
Ntando Soni advanced down the pitch to Sean McGough, but the Westville seamer didn’t flinch and castled the Glenwood captain.
Glenwood received a late boost from Prince Shezi, who made 19 not out, which saw the visiting team to 169/7 after their 50 overs. In the tough conditions, on a big outfield, and with a pitch that rewarded good bowling, it was a decent total.
Sean McGough, the pick of Westville’s bowlers, was also the pick of their batsmen when they took to the crease. In 84 balls, he cracked three fours and a six, and totalled 64 runs. But he needed more support.
Westville is loaded with batsmen who have, at one time or another, proved to be match-winners, but a season-long theme of only one of them coming off at a time continued.
Sekou Shangase was the second-highest scorer for the Griffin, but he was dismissed at a crucial juncture, run out for 19, with Westville slipping to 156/8.
The contest could have gone either way: Westville needed 15 runs and Glenwood required two wickets. It broke Glenwood’s way, with the Green Machine dismissing Westville for 162, to snatch a hard-fought seven-run win.
The visitors owed plenty to their off-spinner, Kyle Bryan, who removed the top four batsmen in the Westville batting order. His 10 overs came at a cost of only 21 runs and included four maidens.
Glenwood captain Ntando Soni picked up 2/42, and his side added another scalp to their list of successes in 2024.
Maritzburg College vs St Charles College
After a slow start to the season, the St Charles College 1st XI appears to have rounded into form. On Saturday, facing Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s, Saints recorded an emphatic 54-run victory.
A decision to bat first by Saints’ skipper Marcell Wellmann was turned into an excellent choice as the visitors’ top three all made runs.
Cian Fortmann and Kwanele Nqayi gave their team a solid start, sharing an opening stand of 81 before Fortmann was caught by College captain, Chad Mason, off the bowling of Ryan McKean for 48 from 41 deliveries, which included six fours. Only three runs later, Nqayi followed, but he, too, had done a fine job, weighing in with 30.
Wellmann, batting at three, showed some aggression, striking three sixes and three fours, as he tallied 55 from 76 balls. He also played the anchor role for Saints, sticking around until late in their innings, when he became the eighth wicket to go down, with the score on 176.
In the end, St Charles totalled 195 all out in 46.2 overs.
Mason was the pick of the home team’s attack, with his tidy off-spinners delivering him figures of 3/29 from 10 overs. McKean was effective, too, snagging 2/15 in five, while Oliver Da Costa tied down the Saints’ batsmen, conceding only 20 runs in his nine overs, five of which were maidens, and removing Rico Honiball.
Opener Daniel Nadasan batted well for the home side, but behind him, three top order batsmen – Llewelyn Sutherland, Chad Mason and Michael Gibson – were kept to single figures.
Nadasan and Oliver Da Costa advanced the College total to 97, but Nadasan was then run out by Fortmann and Nqayi after a patient innings, which was worth 39 runs. Da Costa joined Nadasan on the side of the field three runs later as College slipped to 100/5.
They needed another batsman to settle in, but that never happened. St Charles kept taking wickets and soon College found themselves on the brink of defeat, on 122/9.
A defiant last wicket partnership produced 19 runs, but the Red, Black and White were all out for 141.
Saints’ captain Marcell Wellmann led from the front, snaring 3/35 with his left-arm spin, while Tristan Montile did his damage up front, removing Sutherland and Mason, which had left College on 30/2 and minus two of their best batsmen.
The visitors were also boosted by a strong effort in the field, which resulted in two run outs.
Northwood School vs Durban High School
Northwood, after a midweek W100 win over DHS, welcomed the Horseflies back to the Robin Smith Oval on Saturday for a limited overs showdown.
The toss went the hosts’ way and they opted to bat. DHS captain Semal Pillay struck early to remove Thayin Kuppan, but Northwood’s Alistair Duncan and Kyle White then settled in.
Playing patiently, they put on 76 for the second wicket before Duncan was bowled by Zaid Motala. He’d made his mark by then, scoring 57 from 97 balls, five of which he sent to the boundary.
White and Nqobani Mokoena made sure there was no let-up, adding 54 together, before Mokoena was out for 28 from 21 balls, having struck four fours and a six.
Four runs later, with the total on 144, White was LBW to Bhavesh Naicker, but he had done his job, contributing 43 from 101 deliveries. There were 9.3 overs remaining in the Knights’ innings.
Northwood improved their total by 49 runs to finish on 193/7, a more than useful score on the Robin Smith Oval, where run scoring can be very challenging.
Bayanda Majola led the visitors’ attack, capturing 2/32 in 10, while Semal Pillay, with 1/20 in 10 and Dhilan Naraidu, with 1/21 in nine, bowled well, too.
The DHS reply was stuttering as they lost both openers cheaply, but Semal Pillay and Josh van Biljon put the brakes on the Northwood attack, combining for 72 runs before the skipper was removed for 34.
Ethan Cooper, batting sixth, made a start, but he was then bowled by Connor Leclezio for 16.
Van Biljon held the innings together, playing maturely for 54, before Leclezio got rid of him, too, caught by Mason Storm.
With four wickets going down for only 11 runs, School slipped from a manageable 130/4 to 141/8, and with that the visitors’ chances of winning waned. They finished on 157/8.
Leclezio bagged 2/34 from his 10 overs, while Mason Storm snagged 2/27 from eight as Northwood won their third game in succession.
Summarised scores
Glenwood High School 169/7 (Krian Jugoo 38, Sibonelo Phewa 32; Sean McGough 4/23); Westville Boys’ High 162/10 (Sean McGough 64; Kyle Bryan 4/21, Ntando Soni 2/42) Glenwood won by 7 runs.
St Charles College 195/10 (Marcell Wellman 55, Cian Fortmann 48, Kwanele Nqayi 30; Chad Mason 3/29, Ryan McKean 2/15); Maritzburg College 141/10 (Daniel Nadasan 39, Oliver Da Costa 28; Marcel Wellman 3/35, Tristan Montile 2/17) St Charles College won by 54 runs.
Northwood School 193/7 (Alistair Duncan 57, Kyle White 43, Nqobani Mokoena 28; Bayanda Majola 2/32); Durban High School 157/8 (Josh van Biljon 54, Semal Pillay 34; Mason Storm 2/27, Connor Leclezio 2/34) Northwood School won by 36 runs.
The 2024 SACS Nite Series will culminate with an exhilarating final this week, with four teams still in the running for a place in the title decider after five gruelling rounds of water polo action.
The annual tournament began on 24 January. Now, just over a month later, new champions could be crowned at the SACS Aquatics Centre on Tuesday night.
SACS claimed top spot in last year’s campaign, after edging out Paul Roos 10-6 in the final.
However, they’ve found the going a lot harder this year, with their arch-rivals, Bishops Diocesan College being the team on everybody’s lips.
Coach Jabulani Sibiya’s side has been unstoppable in the series, winning all of their matches, to finish on top of the log with 15 points.
They’re followed in second place by surprise packages, Rondebosch Boys’ High, who have asserted themselves as a title contender.
Jared Wingate-Pearse’s charges were unbeaten in the first three rounds of the tournament before coming up short against Bishops and Paul Roos.
They finished with nine points, 54 goals scored and 40 conceded, which suggests they still have some work to do on their defence, still.
SACS, on the other hand, had a bumpy start to their campaign. In round one, they were thumped 11-5 by Bishops. Then Rondebosch put on an attacking masterclass to claim a 7-5 win in round two.
One could argue that SACS, under coach Devon Card‘s guidance, resurrected their season in the final three rounds of the tournament.
They scored emphatic wins over Paul Roos, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Reddam House Constantia, netting 42 goals while conceding half that number, 21.
That comeback secured the hosts side a third-place finish, and an opportunity to retain their title in front of their home supporters.
For Stellenbosch’s Paul Roos Gymnasium, winning the series would soften some of the blows they have taken in a challenging season.
They’ll enter their semi-final clash against the hosts on the back of a disappointing defeat at the hands of Clifton College in the final of the Vides Water Polo Tournament in East London earlier this month, where the title was decided from the penalty spot.
For Wynberg Boys and Reddam House, the final day of the series will be about finishing on a high note and collecting a win. Reddam are currently winless, but they will draw inspiration from their fourth-place finish at the Vides Tournament.
The action begins at 17:00, with the first of two semi-finals between Bishops and Rondebosch, while SACS and Paul Roos will battle it out for a spot in the final at 18:00.
Hoërskool Waterkloof het sy eerste trofee van 2024 ingepalm, deur Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom in die A-Afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks te verslaan.
Die Klofies het regdeur die reeks dominant vertoon, en daar was ook geen keer aan die span van die Jakarandastad in Saterdag se eindstryd nie.
Die Klofies se aanvangskolwers, Wian Ruthven en Divan Behrens, was oudergewoonte in ‘n aanvallende bui.
Ruthven was verál genadeloos met die kolf en het gereeld gebruik gemaak van sy geliefde trekhou om die Volkie-boulers onder kwaai druk te plaas.
Die vurige aanvangskolwer het inderdaad indrukwekkend gekolf vir sy 83 lopies van net 48 aflewerings. Sy beurt het ses viere en agt sesse ingesluit.
Behrens het hierdie slag goed geroteer vir sy 23 lopies, en hy en Ruthven het die Klofies stewig in die saal geplaas met ‘n 99-lopie vennootskap om die eerste paaltjie. Kaptein, Beukes van den Berg, het sy uitstekende werk met die handskoene agter die paaltjies, opgevolg met ‘n blitsige 23 lopies.
Die Klofie-boulers verdien ook ‘n klop op die skouer. Jaydon Blom het van voor gelei met drie paaltjies vir 33 lopies, terwyl die draai-duo van Marcus Bakker (2/15) en Ruthven (2/24) ook uitstekend vertoon het in hul lang skofte.
Vir die span van Potchefstroom het Louis van Wyk weer uitgeblink. Die Volkie-aanvangskolwer het doelgerig gekolf om sy span se hoogste telling van 59 lopies aan te teken. Diaan van der Merwe het hom bygestaan met 27 lopies, en so kon hulle die Potchefstromers se beurt met ‘n 57-lopie vennootskap afskop.
Daarna het Volkies egter ‘n teleurstellende ineenstorting beleef en moes hulle tevrede wees met ‘n totaal van slegs 151 lopies. Hulle draaier, Olefa Padi, het hard gespook om sy span terug in die wedloop te plaas, met twee paaltjies vir net 23 lopies. Dit was egter tevergeefs en die besoekers moes die knie met ses paaltjies buig.
Hoërskool Eldoraigne het hul plek in die reeks se A-Afdeling vir 2025 bespreek na ‘n uitmuntende oorwinning met 57 lopies oor Hoërskool Centurion.
Marinus Langerman het die platform vir die Eldos gelê. Die voorslagkolwer het teen ‘n beduidende tempo vir sy 73 lopies van 51 aflewering gekolf. Die bestendige Cameron Welsh (31) en Ryno Redelinghuys (30) het hom mooi ondersteun om die Eldos tot ‘n bevredigende telling van 224 aan te help.
Die Eldo-boulers was ook in ‘n verwoestende bui. Ruhan Oliphant (3/33) en Cameron Welsh (2/38) het die aanslag gelei, terwyl MJ Buitenbach ook twee paaltjies vir 19 lopies laat kantel het.
Die Woeries se twee Prinsloo’s, kaptein, Charl, en Morné, was die span se twee uitblinkers. Eersgenoemde het puik gekolf om 55 op sy kerfstok te plaas.
Hy het ook twee paaltjies vir 35 lopies laat val. Morné Prinsloo was die Woeries se beste bouler. Hy het drie paaltjies vir 47 laat kantel, en was ook lekker op dreef met 27 lopies. Anton Stassen het met 34 lopies ook uitgestaan.
Beknopte telkaarte:
Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom: 151 (Louis van Wyk 59, Diaan van der Merwe 27; Jaydon Blom 3/33, Marcus Bakker 2/15, Wian Ruthven 2/24, Franco Schmidt 2/36). Hoërskool Waterkloof: 157/4 (Wian Ruthven 83, Divan Behrens 23, Beukes van den Berg 23; Olefa Padi 2/23). Waterkloof wen met ses paaltjies.
The Clifton College first team water polo side will, under the leadership of Oliver Ditz, be hunting their second consecutive title of the season when the King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament kicks off in Johannesburg this weekend.
The 41st edition of the Standard Bank King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament will provide St John’s College with an opportunity to win a record 10th KES title. The action at the Mark Stevens Aquatics Centre starts early on Friday morning.
One of the most decorated schools’ water polo head coaches in South Africa, Etienne Le Roux, will enjoy a last hurrah with his St Stithians College girls’ team at the Reef Cup, which takes place in Johannesburg over the weekend.
After the South African women’s u17 national team (Bantwana) failed to qualify for the 2024 Fifa u17 Women’s World Cup, to be held in the Dominican Republic in November 2024, it became clear that we, as a country, have a long way to go if we want to compete on the global stage.
Westville Boys’ High vs Glenwood
The 2024 SACS Nite Series will culminate with an exhilarating final this week, with four teams still in the running for a place in the title decider after five gruelling rounds of water polo action.
Hoërskool Waterkloof het sy eerste trofee van 2024 ingepalm, deur Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom in die A-Afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks te verslaan.