Blog

The Rondebosch Boys’ High first water polo side is savouring an impressive season, which has delivered many successes this year already.

As things stand, ‘Bosch is the team to beat in the Western Cape and, possibly, around the country, although Kearsney College, on a 25-match unbeaten run, might have something to say about that.

Both will be in action at the forthcoming KES Water Polo Tournament, so keep an eye on SuperSport Schools for coverage of that event.

Rondebosch is unbeaten in the SACS Nite Series and tops the table after three wins on the trot, against Reddam House Constantia, Bishops Diocesan College, and Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Last month, the southern suburbs school claimed the prestigious St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield in Makhanda after beating St John’s College 12-7 in the final.

Credit for their early season success goes to a young and talented group of players and their experienced coaches, Jared Wingate-Pearse and Etienne Le Roux.

While many of their victories have stemmed from great teamwork, one player has consistently shone, and that is Noah Reiback. He has been an integral cog for ‘Bosch, helping them to some famous wins while scoring some cracking goals along the way.

He is the epitome of big-match temperament (BMT) and has a unique skill set that elevates him from the rest of the pack.

He took up the sport at an early age and water polo runs through his veins. “My brothers [Ben and Jay] both played water polo, and I started the sport just after them,” Reiback told SuperSport Schools Plus. “When I was in grade three, I was nine, and I went to the pool with them and started shooting, and that’s how I got into it.

“In prep school, I was mentored by coach Kwakhona Ngwanya from Grades 3-7, and he helped me along my water polo journey.”

There was a sense of expectation riding on Reiback when he entered high school in 2023. In his grade eight year, he enjoyed a fantastic welcome to high school water polo as a member of an incredibly talented u14A team.

Reiback and his teammates were outstanding and dominant. They defeated every team in the Western Cape and won the vast majority of tournaments they contested. He was in prolific form and later that year was rewarded.

“When I played for the u14As, in grade 8, I didn’t have the intention of making the first team at the end of the year; it wasn’t a usual thing at our school,” Reiback admitted.

“We had a great season that year with the team. We practically won everything and played great polo as a unit.

“I, then, got a message from our head of polo at the time, and he said I was invited to trial for the St Stithians College Stayers Tournament. I was pumped about that, and I had a good trial, and coach Jared picked me.”

Soon after that, Reiback made his first team debut, following in the footsteps of his brothers.

“I was very happy and proud and emotional at the time. It was a privilege for me, especially after watching my brothers play for the team.

“I was overwhelmed, but Coach Jared sat with me and calmed me down. He told me what he needed from me, and the rest is history.”

Reiback’s role in the team is straightforward, and that’s to create and score goals. The countless opportunities to fire the ball into the back of the net wouldn’t be available, though, without the help of his teammates. He credits their efforts for his success.

“I always try and stay humble because Coach Jared tells us to reset after each match or tournament.

“I might score a lot of goals, but I’m definitely not the be-all-and-end-all of the team. We have some exceptional players that also deserve as much credit.

“If you look at a guy like Jack Robinson, he acts as a role model for me because we’ve played together for a long time. I always have one-on-ones with him to look at how we can get better and help the team as a whole.

“I also have two lefties on the right with me, Kieran Bennewith and Luke Burger. We have great chemistry, and I don’t think I’d be as good of a water player if they didn’t push me.”

The mental, physical, and financial support of Reiback’s parents has also steered his evolving career on an upward trajectory.

His mother, Jo, and dad, Rowan, have had to dig deep financially to get him to provincial and international tournaments.

Just last year, Reiback represented Western Province u15A at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial tournament. Earlier in the year, he was part of the SA u16 side that played in the World Aquatics Men’s Championships in Malta.

“I really can’t thank my parents enough. They’ve done wonderful things for me,” Reiback said.

“They have supported me a lot, even with the SA tour where we knew it would be tough [financially], but they still sent me to give me the best opportunity.

“I know there’s still more to come, but I’m grateful for their 100 percent backing.”

Reiback, still only in grade 10, is caught between two sporting worlds. That’s because, in the winter season, he pulls on his rugby boots and plays flyhalf.

He is gunning to make the u16A rugby team at Rondebosch this year before returning to the pool to finish the 2025 water polo season.

It’s unclear which sporting route the youngster will take after matric but, for now, it’s all about enjoying his time at the school and making memories with his teammates.

A squad of 30 players will depart on Sunday for Georgia, where the Junior Springboks will kick off their 2025 season with a short tour. Featuring three matches, the tour forms an integral part of the national u20 group’s preparations for the forthcoming season.

The Junior Boks will play three matches during their two-week stay – a club fixture against Lelo Saracens, which will be followed by two internationals against Georgia u20.

Their first match, against the club side, takes place on Wednesday, 19 February, with the two internationals against Georgia u20 earmarked for Sunday, 23 February, and Friday, 28 February. The South Africa u20 side will fly home on 1 March.

Following the Georgia tour, the Junior Boks are set to play in the 2025 editions of the Sanzaar-organised U20 Rugby Championship (April and May) and the World Rugby u20 Championship (June and July).

The touring squad was selected from the ranks of the SA Rugby u20 Academy training group, which is currently working hard in Stellenbosch.

After announcing the squad on Monday, Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote said: “We are very happy with where the squad is at the moment and grateful for the hit-out against Maties (last week), and the training exercise against Ikeys earlier today. Following these two training games, it’s, then, a case of fine-tuning our planning for Georgia.”

Foote said his players are on track with their overall preparations for the international season: “This block is all about getting our set piece, kicking game, and skills execution where they need to be. All the coaches have done a really good job in this respect, and I am grateful for all their hard work.”

Reflecting on the selection of the Junior Bok tour squad, Foote said: “We looked at the squad and we are getting the balance right and are grateful that we could put such a talented group together.

“There are still several players who haven’t been considered because they are either in the mix for their Vodacom URC franchises or the Blitzboks, or are out injured, but I think for now we are comfortable with the squad.”

Among the players not available for selection are Jaco Williams, Gino Cupido. and JC Mars.

Regarding the leadership of the group, Foote said: “Riley Norton did a good job for us in this respect against Maties, with Haashim Pead assisting him.

“Today’s session against UCT was another good opportunity for the group to test themselves and once we are on our way, we will turn our focus towards Georgia.

“It is great to see the hard work of the staff is really paying dividends in terms of our performances.”

Junior Springbok Tour Squad to Georgia

Props: Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Tebogo Nkosi (Toyota Cheetahs), Oliver Reid (DHL WP).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebele (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions), Juandré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls).

Locks: Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Riley Norton (DHL WP), Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Morné Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Loose forwards: Divan Fuller (DHL WP), Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Toyota Cheetahs), Yabo Ndzamela (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Xola Nyali (DHL WP), Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Scrumhalves: Zeke January (Vodacom Bulls), Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Flyhalves: Matthew Coetzee (Fidelity ADT Lions), JT Kapank (Vodacom Bulls).

Centres: Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Dominic Malgas (DHL WP), Pieter van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls).

Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL WP), Chijindu Okonta (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Match schedule

Wed, 19 Feb, 15:00 – Junior Boks vs Lelo Saracens
Sun, 23 Feb, 16:00 = Junior Boks vs Georgia u20
Fri, 28 Feb, 15:00 – Junior Boks vs Georgia u20

The countdown is on to the second edition of the Clifton T20 Tournament.

The action gets underway on the morning of Friday, 14 February, Valentine’s Day, and concludes on Sunday with the final, which starts at 14:30.

Matches from the main oval at Crusaders Club, the primary venue for the 2025 event, will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216 over the three days of competition.

Coverage from the other venues will be available on the SuperSport Schools app.

“It’s crazy how we’ve blinked and now it’s here,” Clifton’s Director of Cricket, Brandon Scullard, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

The event features 12 teams, with each being gifted a unique playing kit for the tournament. “The playing kit is already in production,” Scullard said. “That’s well underway”.

Reflecting on the tournament format, he explained: “It’s a tournament structure I am very used to playing in Zimbabwe [at the St John’s Rams T20], where it is three groups of four, and then the top two [from each group] go through [to the quarterfinals].”

As the organiser of the event, Clifton looks after providing official scorers, umpires, playing kit, and balls.

Scullard said he has also been encouraged by the willingness of sponsors to contribute to the tournament. The tier one sponsor is Bluff Meat Supply, which plays a prominent role in school sports in and around Durban. Others on board include Edgars, RCS Finance, Custom Apparel, Ecko Unltd, and City Logistics.

The event’s official hydration partner, Aquelle, has also returned and will supply all the teams with sports and energy drinks throughout the event.

While the sides will be playing for the honour of lifting the beautiful Centenary Cup, which was won by Durban High School (DHS) last year, individual awards will also be made to the batsman, bowler, fielder, and coach of the tournament. Their prizes will include smartphones.

“We have some nice partners that have come forward and want to be involved, providing vouchers, so that has been good,” Scullard commented.

The Crusaders Club, in the north of Durban, will host matches on two grounds, with DHS, Northwood, and the Kingsmead Oval, just behind the famous home of the Dolphins, also being used.

KZN’s leading 10 boys’ schools – Clifton, DHS, Glenwood, Hilton, Kearsney, Maritzburg College, Michaelhouse, Northwood, St Charles, and Westville – will do battle among themselves and with St John’s College (Harare) and Hoërskool Waterkloof.

Klofies have shown with their success against elite opposition in the Westvaal North/South T20 in recent years, that they are among the top exponents of the T20 game in South Africa. They quickly accepted an invitation to be part of the Clifton T20.

Brandon Scullard said, in a conversation with Waterkloof’s Director of Cricket, Cobus Pienaar, he urged Pienaar to bring his team to Durban to “play in different conditions in a format that very much suits you”.

“They come with a strong reputation for being a T20 powerhouse,” Scullard said. “They align with the quality of the type of school that I want at this tournament.

“I don’t think there are many better schools that you can ask, in terms of T20, to come and play, and they were quite happy to be involved, and they got back to me quite quickly to say that they would be keen.”

When talking about a title favourite, Scullard said: “Based on their reputation, I think everyone is looking at Waterkloof. However, conditions are totally different in Durban. I think they will fancy themselves playing on a wicket like DHS, which suits them. Crusaders is also a very good wicket. However, it is nowhere close to the wickets they play on week in and week out, on the highveld.”

While the Clifton T20 employs a format used very successfully by St John’s College at the St John’s Rams T20 in Harare over many years, that’s going to change, Scullard explained.

“We’re at a stage now to have the 12 schools that are involved coming back. My vision, though, is to go to 16 schools and stay there.

‘The thinking around being live on TV for three days is about creating the hype around the tournament and the product that we are giving the boys and the various schools. We want to create a demand for schools to come to the event.

“We’re trying to match the hype that the winter sports have, and the reach and recognition that they have, their time in the spotlight.”

Furthermore, he added, it’s about boosting cricket and raising the profile of the sport, which has seen its numbers diminishing.

His goal, Scullard said, was to elevate the Clifton T20 Tournament so that it is held in the same regard as the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week, or, in the pool, the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, which also draws top teams from around South Africa.

Care has been taken to spread opportunities around for the competing schools, he added: “Last year, we had two groups of five. We’ve tried to ensure that teams don’t play all the same teams they played last year.

“They must also share opportunities to play on the main field [where matches will be covered by DStv Channel 216]. All the teams that are not playing on the main field this year, played on the main field or were fixtured to play on the main field, last year.

“I have tried, also, to spread the inland schools across the groups, and the local schools that play each other often, are also spread across the groups.

Group A features Clifton, Kearsney, Maritzburg College, and Michaelhouse. Group B brings together DHS, Glenwood, Waterkloof, and St Charles. Hilton College, Northwood, St John’s (Harare), and Westville Boys’ High make up Group C.

Among the KwaZulu-Natal contingent, Westville has been the most consistent team so far this year. Close behind them is Maritzburg College, while Northwood won the regional Schools SA20 title, so the Knights will be a team to watch, and it will be valuable preparation for them for the national final of the Schools SA20 in March.

The beauty of T20 cricket, though, is that it is unpredictable. There are 12 teams in the field and 12 potential winners.

FIXTURES

Friday, 14 February

08:30 – St John’s vs Westville, Crusaders Main Oval

09:00 – DHS vs Glenwood, DHS
09:00 – Northwood vs Hilton, Northwood

11:30 – Clifton vs Maritzburg College, Crusaders Main Oval

14:00 – Westville vs Hilton, DHS
14:00 – Northwood vs St John’s, Northwood
14:00 – St Charles vs Glenwood, Kingsmead Oval
14:00 – Kearsney vs Michaelhouse, Crusaders 2

14:30 – DHS vs Waterkloof, Crusaders Main Oval

Saturday, 15 February

08:30 – Clifton vs Michaelhouse, Crusaders Main Oval

09:00 – Waterkloof vs St Charles, DHS
09:00 – St John’s vs Hilton, Northwood
09:00 – Maritzburg College vs Kearsney, Kingsmead Oval

11:30 – Northwood vs Westville, Crusaders Main Oval

14:00 – DHS vs St Charles, DHS
14:00 – Maritzburg College vs Michaelhouse, Northwood
14:00 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood, Crusaders 2

14:30 – Clifton vs Kearsney, Crusaders Main Oval

Sunday, 16 February

08:30 – Eliminator 1, Crusaders Main Oval

09:00 – 7th Place, DHS
09:00 – 9th Place, Northwood
09:00 – 11th Place, Kingsmead Oval

11:30 – Semi-final 1, Crusaders Main Oval
11:30 – Semi-final 2, Crusaders 2

14:30 – Final, Crusaders Main Oval

SuperSport Schools Plus interviews King Edward VII’s (KES) Jarrel Mbuyi Mulumba, a talented athlete, who excels in both basketball and rugby.

“If I were to introduce myself, I would say my name is Jarrel Mbuyo Mulumba. I’m Congolese,” he said.

“I began playing basketball in November of 2023 and I began playing rugby in 2022 at Bryanston High School.

“Jesus and my mother are my role models. My occupation is a son of God, and French is my first language.”

Since he began playing basketball, one of the most profound lessons that Jarrel has gained from the sport is that the essence of being a champion is not defined by winning. Rather, one wins because one possesses a champion’s mindset.

Jarrel exemplifies leadership. He asserted that true leadership is defined by actions rather than titles. He emphasised that his identity is rooted in God rather than in sports. While being an exceptional athlete is commendable, it is even more admirable to be a remarkable individual outside of the sporting arena, he believes.

He, also, advocates for prioritising the needs of others above one’s own, maintaining a positive attitude, being humble, and maintaining a strong work ethic. Basketball has taught him that character and diligence surpass talent.

Rugby, too, has imparted significant lessons to him, Jarrel said. “Rugby has been an outlet through which God has blessed me and my family. It encouraged me to express myself and connect with other people. I love the idea that anyone can participate, no matter the shape or size. I’ve made many friends and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Jarrel describes himself as a competitive person and strives to give his best in all aspects of his life. “I have been blessed with the ability to learn and to play the way I do. I’ve inspired many of my juniors and, thankfully, my own teammates to strive for more. To know my full potential in everything I do is my desire and to make others smile through my blessings,” he said.

Challenges have brought him joy and helped him grow as a person, Jarrel reckoned. He has noted a significant enhancement in his confidence and social skills. Now, he pursues excellence with greater confidence.

Growth on basketball courts and rugby fields has also carried through to his academic performance, an area in which he had previously struggled. “I went from barely passing in the primary [school] to thriving, and my goal is to also attain academic colours,” he shared.

Basketball and rugby are both team sports, and Jarrel expressed gratitude towards his teammates for contributing to his development as a player and an individual. He acknowledged that his teammates have encouraged him to confront his weaknesses and embrace being vulnerable.

The result of facing up to those challenges has been that he has gained a deeper appreciation for the journeys of those around him who are integral to his life. “I am a better student now, son, Christian, brother, and a much-improved teammate, all because of my teammates,” he stated.

One of the goals that he hopes to accomplish this year is to win the St John’s College Basketball Tournament. He also wants to see his teammates win awards, and he would like to attain full colours for rugby.

He is hoping for an injury-free season in the KES 1st XV and will strive to make it to Craven Week, where he is keen to pursue a place in one of the national teams. He hopes to pursue rugby as a career.

Academically, his goal is to earn academic colours and to score at least four distinctions.

Lastly, he said, he wants to improve his relationship with God.

On the basketball court, his favourite players are a couple of NBA shooting guards and a power forward. He looks up to Anthony Edwards, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Donovan Mitchell, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the shooting guards, and to power forward, 40-year-old Lebron James, the NBA‘s all-time leading scorer, who began his career in the league in 2003 and is still going strong.

In rugby, his role models are French star, Antoine Dupont, the Springboks, Cheslin Kobe, Canan Moodie, Aphelele Fassie, and Bok legend, Bryan Habana, who also attended KES.

Jarrel said he wouldn’t describe any of those players as his idols. Rather, they are sportsmen from whom he has learnt much, especially when it comes to their demeanour, their grit, and their resilience.

His basketball coaches have advocated for him to develop on and off the court, Jarrel said. It has been thanks to them that he has improved his academic performance.

Representing KES is an honour and a privilege, he added, emphasising that the jersey holds a special significance for him above all else. “It’s like giving back to the institution that has helped me this far into my life, and whenever I think about that, I get motivated,” he explained.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Jarrel said he has interests in cooking, reading, and martial arts. He mentioned his fondness for lasagna, a dish prepared by his mother, which he considers his favorite.

Furthermore, he enjoys watching his preferred rugby team, the Blue Bulls, as well as his favorite basketball team, the Timberwolves.

There used to be a summer and a winter when it came to sport at school.

Schools used to insist on participation in a summer sport and a winter sport, as part of a declaration of believing in the value of a “holistic” education, one that sends well-rounded women and men out into the world after their 12 years in the system.

Some schools still believe in that, although it must be harder and harder to enforce. At many of the schools that take rugby seriously, the quaint notion of an A team player packing away his cricket pads, or hanging up his Speedo to dry at the end of February, and getting ready to switch codes, is a distant memory.

I’ve come to accept this as standard practice. It’s unavoidable, given the seriousness and sophistication of the top rugby schools – those who feature in the ranking tables, and who get there because of their weekly results. The thinking is that, because some of the schools operate that way, every school has to. You will not be competitive if you don’t.

The level of skills and conditioning required for players to be selected for provincial squads, which will set them on the pathway towards a possible career in the game, is such that some schools believe they have an obligation towards their most talented players to set aside enough time for their preparation.

That means all-year rugby. There’s simply no time for anything else anymore.

I’ve been an observer of schools’ rugby for a long time and the change has taken place in front of my eyes. In the past, I pushed back against it. I’m still not entirely happy.

Ask Google the right questions, and you’ll find any number of experts who will insist that specialisation in a single activity by young sportspeople is harmful to them, both psychologically and physiologically. You’ll quite easily find a list of world-beaters who played multiple sports at school.

Then, there’s the non-negotiable fact that a school is an educational institution, not a sports academy. Everything that happens in a school has to be educationally accountable. That’s a principle that should apply, even if it means that the possibility of winning rugby matches might be compromised sometimes.

On the other hand, I confess to having double standards. I’m a lover of schoolboy rugby. The quality of rugby played by the top schools has improved beyond recognition since a more professional approach to coaching at this level has become more common. I’ll watch those teams play, any day.

It’s all quite new, I know. It’s going to take some very good leadership to untangle it, but there’s no question that we need some kind of reset.

There are a number of unsavoury practices in place – in some places, not everywhere, to be clear – and rugby at schools’ level, if it is to remain an educational activity, has to cut them out.

I kicked off with the question of early specialisation. There are other evils, like the poaching of players, in the guise of offering better educational opportunities; there is age-group cheating and, of course, the abuse of performance-enhancing substances.

It’s not a story with a singular thread, I know.

South Africa won’t remain in the top tier of international rugby if we don’t keep the pipeline of talented young players flowing. No one is denying that. What I’m saying is that schools cannot abandon their educational principles in service of that. We do, however, have the unique obligation of having to increase the number of black players at the top levels and their schools do have a role to play.

I’m a lover of schoolboy rugby, of the old and the new. I love going to the big festivals to watch some of the “top 10” teams play, and I go to the Craven Week just about every year. I’m always astounded at the quality of the teams and by the talent on show.

But I also love hearing that when Maritzburg College plays Westville Boys’ High, for example, there will be 25 rugby matches on the day. And it warms my heart to see struggling schools hanging in there, fielding just two or three teams in their fixtures, even though they can’t match the “super-schools” anymore – the ones that were once their traditional rivals.

You cannot argue that both types of school rugby are not important and valuable. If only they could both continue to thrive, side, by side. I’m worried that they can’t, and that they don’t anymore.

The elite, professional game is harming the mass-participation game, and the problem starts with believing that winning 1st XV rugby games is the primary measure of a school’s success and that schools’ rugby is where the preparation of players for the professional game should take place.

The top schools get stronger and stronger, and the bottom ones disappear. Where’s the good in that, I wonder?

These views are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of SuperSport Schools.

There were cones at cover, point, and short third man. There was another one at mid-off and one more on the off-side boundary, representing a sweeper.

The scenario was that the match was evenly poised and Cayden Wilson needed to find boundary options to help his team get some momentum going. He was facing left-arm spin.

Coach Arno Jacobs and Wilson did this a lot. They commandeered the Metro Indoor Centre in Gqeberha for a couple of hours and created real-match scenarios for Wilson to problem-solve.

“The technical stuff is easy. Anyone can do batting drills over and over, for hours. The difficult part is applying that technique to match situations,” Jacobs explained.

He preferred the indoor centre because, unlike an outdoor net, there is enough space to have fielders or items represent fielders. Earlier in the session, Wilson was practicing his off-side batting, with fielders in the ring. He had a slip, mid-off, cover, extra cover, and one of either backward point or short third. The scenario was that his team had lost early wickets, and he had to consolidate under pressure. He had done well in that phase.

Now, Wilson reassessed his field. The presence of mid-off meant that he had to loft the ball if he wanted a boundary down the ground. That carried risk. So, when the delivery arrived, instead of going onto the front foot, Wilson went down on one knee and reverse-swept the ball behind him. The stroke was so fine it beat short third as it raced to the boundary.

On 19 January 2025, Wilson employed the reverse sweep twice and was rewarded with boundaries in both instances. Those were two of five fours the 17-year-old manufactured on his way to a brilliant 69 off 46 balls, which helped Pearson High School to a victory over Grey High School in the Eastern Province and Border regional final of the Schools SA20 tournament.

“I went out of my comfort zone and played shots I don’t often play in really hot and challenging weather conditions,” Wilson shared.

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Cayden Wilson never hesitated if the sport involved balls of some sort. However, the balls he was most drawn to were cricket balls. By the time he turned eight, the youngster had a sizeable cricket ball collection.

“He asked for a cricket ball each time we went to the shops. He loved them so much that he often fell asleep holding one,” Ernest, Wilson’s father recalled.

Ernest did not have much of a cricket career to talk about. He played a bit in school, then indulged in some club cricket, before he dropped the game after securing gainful employment. When he realised that his son loved the sport, he resolved to support him in every way he could.

If it meant buying him all the balls he wanted, Ernest would do so. He also didn’t ask his son to settle down when the boy elected to play with a soft ball, hitting it against a door, while the rest of the family watched TV.

Father and son convened in the backyard every day after they had returned from work and school respectively. Sometimes they took their sessions to the primary school, where there were better facilities than their lawn and there was less risk to windows. However, their primary training ground was the back garden.

Their throwdowns were such an institution that their neighbours could set their clocks by them. When Cayden Wilson was around nine years old, he was gifted a bat by one of their neighbours. The boy was moving up an age group and felt his bat was too small for him.

“The neighbour said ‘I see you guys playing every day and thought Cayden might like to have this bat’,” Ernest recalled.

Father and son accepted the bat with gratitude. It was a used willow, but not too worn. Ernest, who was no wizard in bat repairs, then spent about four hours refurbishing the bat and emblazoning it with his son’s favourite stickers: Kookaburra.

The bat made such a satisfying sound when the younger Wilson middled the ball. It felt so good that he tried to hit every ball into yards five houses away. That necessitated the construction of a backyard net. Ernest undertook the project. He had no construction experience. However, where there is a will there is a way, and he erected a decent net.

Ernest and Yolande Wilson confess to never having such opportunities in their youth. Their circumstances did not allow them to have sporting dreams. They made a conscious decision to do all they could to support their children if they showed interest in any sport, without putting pressure on them to excel.

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One of the highest compliments a coach can pay a young cricketer is to describe them as coachable. It is grand praise, a stirring tribute.

Granted, every teenage boy or girl who makes it into the first team is coachable and shows a level of dedication a few leagues ahead of everyone else. However, when a coach informs you that a player is coachable, they invoke a tone that only a trained ear can pick up – a tone that makes it clear that they are expressing something beyond words.

It was audible when Ryan Dods spoke of Cayden Wilson. It was also crystal clear when Jacobs described the youngster.

“You could always see, from the early days, that he was talented beyond his age. His batting was next level,” Dods shared.

He cast his mind back to an u10 match, when Wilson was nine years old. He watched the youngster race to a half-century at a rate quicker than the other batsmen. And before he knew what was going on, Wilson had cantered to 80, then 100. One of the coaches asked the youngster if he wanted to retire after the milestone. Wilson wanted to bat some more, and he eventually retired after he had passed the 150-run mark.

“He has always had a hunger to bat and score a lot of runs,” Dods shared. That hunger was what caught Jacobs’ eye when he started working with Wilson.

Most youngsters lose concentration if training sessions run for too long. During the lockdown, Dods had sessions with Wilson in the family’s backyard, and he always found the youngster waiting for him with a bat and balls. Sometimes he found him repairing the nets.

The Wilsons had a dog that enjoyed biting into the nets. Each time it damaged them, Wilson took it upon himself to repair them. One could see how serious he was about his cricket by the attention he paid to his repair work.

“He was always a keen cricketer. Sessions could go over an hour and Cayden would remain engaged throughout,” Jacobs reflected on those lockdown sessions.

When he and Wilson were not working on match scenarios, the coach and student discussed the game. Wilson asked questions and bounced ideas off the retired cricketer-turned-umpire. A key component of their talks was failure.

“I emphasise making good decisions on the field. However, I remind him that sometimes you can make a good decision but then get out. That’s cricket,” Jacobs shared.

The important thing is for Wilson to get into good positions and choose the right options, Jacobs said. Whatever happens after that is not in his power, and he has to learn to live with the result, good or bad.

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“My current role model would have to be Aiden Markram,” Wilson revealed. “There is just something about his technique that stands out for me. Also, even though he goes through a dip, he always finds a way to bounce back.

The Pearson High School star has taken a leaf out of the Aiden Markram book of resilience. He, too, has a way of bouncing back after setbacks.

In an u10 match, he was dismissed for a duck. The next day, the u11 team’s coach asked Ernest if the youngster could help make up the numbers for the side.

Wilson has never been one to go there to make up the numbers. He lives by the advice Arno Jacobs gave him. The coach told him: “Give your best all the time.”

Just before the u11 match, the coach asked for volunteers for the two opening batting slots. Wilson was the first one to shoot his hand up. He scored an unbeaten 111.

In September 2024, when Pearson faced off against Paarl Boys’ High in a declaration match. Wilson was undone by a peach of a delivery in the first innings for a single-digit score. When Pearson’s second innings came around, one of their regular openers had fallen ill. Charl van der Merwe, the 1st XI coach, asked if anyone was willing to move up the order to open the innings. Wilson put his hand up. He flayed 12 sixes and 11 fours as he charged his way to an unbeaten 129 off 57 balls in Pearson’s second innings.

“He is a fighter. He never lets anything get him down,” Ernest stated.

Wilson has amassed over 2 100 runs for the Pearson first team since making his debut at the age of 15. He recorded his maiden century in his fourth outing with the team, an outstanding 119.

“It is one of my favourite memories. I became the youngest player to score a century for the school with that ton,” Wilson explained.

The batting-allrounder might just end up as one of the leading run-scorers in the history of Pearson High School. However, he has loftier ambitions than just being a legendary Pearson cricketer.

“As any young cricketer [would love to do], I would love to represent my country one day. Obviously, though, there’s room for only so many players, so I would like to play cricket wherever I get the best opportunities at the highest level possible,” he shared.

He understands that the path will not be easy. His coaches have shared with him the demands of professional cricket. He has also learned from past international stars.

He has read Kepler Wessels‘ autobiography from cover to cover. It was a hand-me-down from Ernest. He has devoured Faf du Plessis’s and AB de Villiers’ books. He picks up lessons in every form they come to him. He is braced for the tough moments ahead.

The teenager has proved himself to be more than competent at every level. He was named the CSA u16 Player of the Week in 2023 and he represented Eastern Province at the Khaya Majola Week last year.

Reflecting on his provincial journey, he said: “I have a few highlights. One of them was when I was selected for the SA Colts side [in 2024], as well as the [Eastern Warriors] Cubs team, and then scoring an unbeaten 75 against Southern Superstars.”

A solid foundation has been laid, but Cayden Wilson is just getting started.

Hoërskool Klerksdorp se twee aanvangskolwers het ‘n yslike vertoning opgedis vir hul span om Hoërskool Linden met nege paaltjies te looi.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Dit was nadat Linden se nr. 4-kolwer, Thomas Muller, die skare vermaak het. Muller het, met sy span in die knyp, losgetrek om die Klerksdorp-boulers ore aan te sit. In die 98 aflewerings wat hy trotseer het, het Muller agt sesse en ses viere grens toe gejaag, voordat hy deur Tiaan Koen (1/59) terug pawiljoen toe gestuur is.

Dié blitzkrieg het Koen duidelik effens omgekrap. Koen, wat gewoonlik op vyf kolf, en sy aanvangsvennoot, TD Gruyvenstein, het van meet af uitstekend saamgekolf om ‘n vennootskap van 214 om die eerste paaltjie aanmekaar te slaan.

Van dié 214 lopies het Koen 136 gemoker. Sy pragbeurt was ewe aanvallend en het nege sesse en vyf viere bevat, voordat hy uitgehardloop is. Koen se paaltjie was die enigste deurbraak wat die Johannesburgers kon maak, met Gruyvenstein wat voortgekolf het om die beurt met ‘n onoorwonne 87 lopies, en ‘n indrukwekkende oorwinning, af te sluit.

Merensky Landbou Akademie, oftewel, Rinaldo Bornman, het sy stempel verder op die E-afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks afgedruk. Bornman was weer die sleutel tot sy span se sukses, hierdie keer met die kolf. Sy onoorwonne 78 lopies het  die span van Tzaneen tot ‘n sewe-paaltjie sege oor Hoërskool Secunda aangevuur.

Merensy se kaptein, Luka Heinlein, was nie ver agter nie. Hy was nie alleen ‘n doring met sy swaaiboulwerk, wat syfers van 2/24 opgelewer het, nie, maar het vir Bornman, in hul onaanvegbare vennootskap van 110 lopies, puik ondersteun met ‘n aanskoulike 54.

Hoërskool Wesvalia het so hittete op ‘n piesangskil gegly teen Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen. Die Wessies het die hef in die hand gehad, nadat Ethan Walker (4/25), Henco Greyling (3/12) en Juanré Greyling (3/13) die Jansies vir net 84 uitgeboender het.

Jayden van Wyk het die span van Boksburg egter teruggeboul in die kragmeting met vier paaltjies vir slegs 29 lopies. Greyling, nog vol selfvertroue na sy boulskof, het tot die span van Klerksdorp se redding gekom. Alhoewel hy net 22 lopies aangeteken het, was dit presies wat sy span nodig gehad het om uiteindelik met vier paaltjies te wen.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Hoërskool Linden 258/8 (Thomas Muller 137, Ekstras 47, Liam Malan 24*, Xandre Caetano 22; Marnus van der Merwe 2/8, Gerrit Koen 2/40); Hoërskool Klerksdorp 261/1 (Tiaan Koen 136, TD Gruyvenstein 87*; Thomas Muller 0/11). Hoërskool Klerksdorp wen met nege paaltjies.

Hoërskool Secunda 167 (Luan Swart 42, Ceejay Web 29*; Timothy Baker 3/35, Wean Kruger 2/14, Luka Heinlen 2/24); Merensky 171/3 (Rinaldo Bornman 78*, Luka Heinlein 54; Luan Swart 1/32). Merensky wen met sewe paaltjies.

EG Jansen 84 (Jayden Barns 24; Ethan Walker 4/25, Henco Greyling 3/12, Juanre Greyling 3/13); Wesvalia 85/6 (Juanre Greyling 22; Jayden van Wyk 4/29). Wesvalia wen met vier paaltjies.

Hoërskool Kempton Park se Sheldon Kruger het Hoërskool Marais Viljoen gelooi met die wilgerlat om sy span tot ‘n reuse oorwinning met agt paaltjies te lei.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Kruger het koning gekraai vir die Kempie-kolwers met ‘n meesterlike 73 lopies, wat van 86 balle gekom en agt viere en ‘n ses ingesluit het.

Wian Pieters het netjiese ondersteuning gebied met 47 lopies, net drie kort van wat ‘n welverdiende vyftigtal sou wees, in sy en Kruger se vennootskap van 113. Stian de Villiers het ook goed gevaar vir sy bydrae van 26, nie uit nie.

Dit was egter die boulers, en, meer spesifiek, die blitsige Kristian du Plessis, wat die sege verseker het. Du Plessis het in sy kwota van 10 beurte slegs 36 lopies afgestaan en ook vier paaltjies opgeraap. Pieters (2/27) was ook nie te versmaai met die bal nie, om Marais Viljoen tot net 175 te beperk.

Die Kempies het hul aanslag om promosie te verwerf aansienlik verstewig, maar die voorste perd in dié resies, Hoërskool Hans Moore, het self weer ‘n uitmuntende vertoning aanmekaargeslaan. Die Moories het vir die tweede keer in vanjaar se reeks met 10 paaltjies geseëvier, dié slag oor Hoërskool Centurion.

Kyle Wratten en Kearen Weyers het die Woerie-kolwers vir ‘n skamele 82 uitgeboender. Wratten, die Moories se uitstaande bouler op die dag, het met syfers van 4/18 gespog, terwyl, Weyers, kort op sy hakke, met 4/22 afgesluit het.

Dit het vir Zander Swart (41*) en Stephan Vermaak (37*) ‘n teiken gestel wat hulle weer met gemak, en ‘n paar uithalerhoue, na net 10 beurte kon bereik.

‘n Skitterende spanpoging deur Potchefstroom Gimnasium het ‘n wegholoorwinning met 112 lopies oor Hoërskool Montana tot gevolg gehad. Ulrich Botha, soos telkmale vantevore, het uitgeblink met die kolf. Sy 67 lopies, tesame met Divan van Eldik (34) en Caiden Seleka (32) se bydraes, het die Potchefstromers tot 229/9 in die toegelate 20 beurte gehelp.

Bennet Keet en Kie het daarna die Montie-kolwers laat bontstaan met die bal en Keet, met 3/9 in net 3.5 beurte, asook Henré Cronje (2/33) en Ruhann Steenkamp (2/18), het gesorg dat die laaste Montie-paaltjie op 117 val.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Marais Viljoen 175 (Abdullah Tadwala 31, Stiaan Jansen van Vuuren 30, Ekstras 27, Raynhardt Kruger 24; Kristian du Plessis 4/36, Wian Pieters 2/27); Hoërskool Kempton Park 177/2 (Sheldon Kruger 73*, Wian Pieters 47, Stian de Villiers 26*, Ekstras 23; Tristan Thom 1/22). Hoërskool Kempton Park wen met agt paaltjies.

Hoërskool Centurion 82 (Morné Prinsloo 19; Kyle Wratten 4/18, Kearan Weyers 4/22); Hans Moore 83/0 (Zander Swart 41*, Stephan Vermaak 37). Hans Moore wen met 10 paaltjies.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 229/9 (Ulrich Botha 67, Divan van Eldik 34, Caiden Seleka 32, Christivan Coetzer 25, Nico Jordaan 21; Juan Theunissen 3/37, Du Preez Prinsloo 2/19, Jaco Lundall 2/30); Montana 117 (Juan Theunissen 32; Bennet Keet 3/9, Ruhann Steenkamp 2/18, Henre Cronje 2/33). Potchefstroom Gimnasium wen met 112 lopies.

Die kragmeting tussen die enigste twee onoorwonne spanne in die C-afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks het nie teleurgestel nie.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Hoërskool Zwartkop moes kliphard swoeg, maar het, soos in die res van die seisoen tot dusver, eenvoudig ‘n manier gevind om die wa deur die drif te trek.

Vandeesweek was dit die beurt van Nicholas Conradie om sy hand op te steek en uiteindelik die tuispan na ‘n swaarverdiende sewe-paaltjie sege oor Hoërskool Monument te lei.

Dinge kon heelwat anders vir die besoekers uitgewerk het as die nie was vir ‘n taamlike kolfineenstorting nie. Aanvangskolwer, Antonie van Niekerk (70) en Logan Weetman (36) het met hul vennootskap van 54 lopies ‘n stewige grondslag gelê, maar moes daarna toekyk hoe die paaltjies een na die ander val.

Die Zwarries se Botha Geldenhuys het die meeste skade aangerig met sy drie paaltjies vir net nege lopies. Dit het die pas vir die res van die Zwarrie-boulers aangegee en die Monumentare het daarna agt paaltjies vir net 34 lopies verloor. Dit het die besoekers met slegs 157 lopies gelos om te verdedig.

Die Zwarries het dit egter self nie maklik gehad met die kolf nie en as dit nie was vir die uitstaande beurt van 89, nie uit nie, deur Conradie nie, sou die prentjie heel anders gelyk het. Conradie was egter in ‘n klas van sy eie en het, onder moeilike omstandighede, sewe sesse en drie viere gemoker om sy span oor die wenstreep te sleep.

Hoërskool Pietersburg se Willem Viljoen het die besoekende Hoërskool Dinamika se kolwers ore aangesit met ‘n uitstaande boulvertoning. In die ses beurte wat Viljoen afgevuur het, was altesaam 31 balle leeg en het die volgehoue druk aan hom vyf paaltjies vir net 20 lopies besorg. Stephan Swanepoel (2/13) en Ignus Ferreira (2/28) het verder bygedra daartoe om die besoekers tot slegs 94 te beperk.

Swanepoel was ook voor in die koor met die kolf. Die hotklou het die wedstryd op 31 nie uit nie afgesluit. Dit was egter Cilliers van der Merwe wat die kollig met die kolf gesteel het. Hy was duidelik haastig op pad êrens heen en het 49 onoorwonne lopies van net 23 aflewerings gemoker om die teiken in die 11de beurt te bereik vir ‘n oorwinning met agt paaltjies.

Jonathan Wiseman (4/18) het sy ervaring gebruik om skoonskip te maak teen Hoërskool Lichtenburg en vir Midstream College tot oorwinning te lei in Centurion. Wiseman en sy aanvangsvennoot, Wian de Bruin (2/12), het blitsig van die Liggies se kolwers ontslae geraak om die span van Noordwes tot net 122 te beperk.

Ryan Strauss, steeds goed op dreef en vol selfvertroue, het sake verder gevoer met die kolf en ‘n afgeronde 43 lopies aangeteken, wat genoeg was om sy span met ses paaltjies te laat seëvier.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Monument 157 (Antonie van Niekerk 70, Logan Weetman 36; Botha Geldenhuys 3/9, Liam van Wyk 2/14, Zander van Staden 2/32, Rowan McLaren 2/42); Zwartkop 162/7 (Nicholas Conradie 89*, Ekstras 22; Rieghardt Prinsloo 3/18). Zwartkop wen met drie paaltjies.

Dinamika 94 (Branko Steenberg 20; Willem Viljoen 5/20, Stephan Swanepoel 2/13, Ignus Ferreira 2/28); Hoërskool Pietersburg 95/2 (Cilliers van der Merwe 49*, Stephan Swanepoel 31*; Branko Steenberg 2/18). Hoërskool Pietersburg wen met agt paaltjies.

Hoërskool Lichtenburg 122 (Jurgen Hesse 37, Douw Jacobs 27; Jonathan Wiseman 4/18, Wian de Bruin 2/12); Midstream College 125/4 (Ryan Strauss 43, Eckhardt du Toit 20; Raiyaan Pathan 2/36). Midstream College wen met ses paaltjies.

Vaughn van Zyl het die afgelope naweek ‘n vertoning, met sowel die kolf as bal, opgedis, wat Hoërskool Nelspruit en Hoërskool Menlopark, hoewel om verskillende redes, lank sal onthou.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Nellies se kranige en veelsydige sportster, wat ook reeds opslae in rugbykringe gemaak het, het die Parkies bykans eiehandig omgedop in sy span se oorwinning met 32 lopies tuis in Nelspruit. Van Zyl, wat welbekend is vir sy vernietigende boulwerk met die nuwe bal, het ook gewys dat hy die wilgerlat ewe effektief kan inspan.

Die nederlaag het die Pretorianers se hoop om vanjaar se eindstryd te haal ‘n gevoelige knou toegedien. Voor die naweek se aksie was dit steeds ‘n drieperdewedren om te bepaal wie oor twee naweke sake sal uitspook om die titel in die A-afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks.

Die Parkies het die loot gewen en besluit om die tuisspan eerste in te stuur om te kolf, wat, danksy Tiaan Serfontein (2/53) se vinnige twee paaltjies, vroeg reeds vrugte afgewerp het. Matt van der Westhuizen was die besoekers se groot uitblinker met 4/21.

Die tuisspan se aanvangskolwer, Waldemar Graham, het aanvanklik teruggeveg met ‘n blitsige 44, maar die chaos het behoorlik ontvou toe Van Zyl op nommer vyf instap om te kolf. Dit het inderwaarheid gelyk asof hy op ‘n totaal ander blad kolf.

In net 89 aflewerings het Van Zyl sewe viere en agt sesse gemoker om, in ‘n oogwink, 116 lopies by te dra en sy span tot ‘n totaal van 228 te help.

Hy was duidelik honger vir nóg aksie en het vervolgens met die bal ook groot skade aangerig, en dit nogal nié met die nuwe bal nie. In sy boulskof van ses beurte het hy slegs 18 lopies afgestaan, terwyl sy vier paaltjies, insluitende dié van die Parkie-kaptein, Dian van Zyl (97), deurslaggewend was.

Gherdu van Eeden se drie paaltjies vir slegs 33 lopies het verder bygedra om die besoekers se moed te breek en uiteindelik vir 196 uit te boender.

Hoërskool Waterkloof se ster met die kolf, Rico van der Walt, het weer van voor gelei in sy span se oorwinning met vyf paaltjies oor Potchefstroom Volkskool. Met sy onoorwonne 50 lopies, tesame met 31 van Franco Schmidt en 28 deur kaptein, Riley Miller, het hy die teiken van 161 in ‘n japtrap bereik.

Eduan van der Merwe was weer die Potchefstromers se uitblinker. Hy het nog ‘n vyftigtal op sy reeds indrukwekkende kerfstok vanjaar geplaas, maar dit was nie genoeg om die verdedigende kampioen te stuit nie.

Hoërskool Eldoraigne beïndruk steeds, met aanvangsbouler, Matthew Sampson, wat weer in ‘n verwoestende bui was om Hoërskool Rustenburg se toporde te verwoes met merkwaardige syfers van 6/32 in sy toegelate 10 beurte. Dit het die span van Centurion met slegs 150 gelaat om te jaag.

Vyftigtalle deur Vince Lotz (50*) en Marinus Langerman (50) het die Eldos tot nóg ‘n oortuigende sege, met sewe paaltjies, in hul eerste jaar in die A-afdeling gelei.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Hoërskool Nelspruit 228 (Vaughn van Zyl 116, Waldemar Graham 44; Matt van der Westhuizen 4/21, Tiaan Serfontein 2/53); Menlopark 196 (Dian van Zyl 97, Matt van der Westhuizen 24; Vaughn van Zyl 4/18, Gherdu van Eeden 3/53). Hoërskool Nelspruit wen met 32 lopies.

Potchefstroom Volkskool 160 (Eduan van der Merwe 50, Handre de Beer 44, Juan van Niekerk 20; Jaydon Blom 3/19, Darius Maritz 2/18, Jaco van der Walt 2/22, Rivan Booysen 2/25); Waterkloof 161/5 (Rico van der Walt 50, Franco Schmidt 31, Riley Miller 28; Johandre Jacobs 3/47). Waterkloof wen met vyf paaltjies.

Hoërskool Rustenburg 149 (Dehan Jacobs 38, Ekstras 25; Matthew Sampson 6/32, Kyle de Bruin 2/30, Jabu Mangena 2/30); Eldoraigne 150/3 (Vince Lotz 50*, Marinus Langerman 50; Callie Fryer 2/19). Eldoraigne wen met sewe paaltjies.