St Mary’s DSG will enjoy home ground advantage when they face Our Lady of Fatima on Tuesday.
St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) will face off against Our Lady of Fatima, while Eunice will cross swords with Oranje in what promises to be edge-of-your-seat midweek action on Tuesday evening.
Carla AnnMackay’s St Mary’s team had their feet up over the past weekend, taking a break after several back-to-back matches. The break was also necessitated by the u21 IPT that was held in KZN, with a number of St Mary’s players in the provincial side. On Monday afternoon, her charges were back on the astro, preparing for their tie against Our Lady of Fatima.
Georgia Pollock, the daughter of South African cricketing legend Shaun Pollock, joined her teammates on the turf after a long period on the sidelines. The St Mary’s captain has not taken part in any fixture this season after picking up an injury on the team’s preseason tour to the Netherlands.
Pollock, who was selected for the South African Schools team in 2023, was an integral part of St Mary’s campaign last year, and her return will be a boon to the side, which will benefit further from the experience that Elizabeth Anderson, Cassandra Forbes, and Sibabalwe Mfaweza gained playing for the KZN u21 IPT team.
“We have been focusing on being a bit more clinical and deliberate in the outcomes we want in our attacking 23 and circle. The other thing we have worked on is regaining the team cohesion we had against Voortrekker and St Anne’s,” Mackay shared.
Our Lady of Fatima, who also enjoyed a break, heads into the contest keen to not only prevent St Mary’s from doing the double against them, but also with their sights set on scoring an upset win.
The last time they met was at StMary’s Waverley last month, and in that encounter, the Katrina De Carvalho-captained side lost 0-1. The school from the north of Durban has done relatively well since that contest and are fresh off a 3-1 win over Maris Stella. In that match, Gabi Howarth, Georgi Brown, and Angelina Hall found the back of the net.
“We’ve done a lot of defensive work, because they are a strong attacking team but, at the same time, we’ve focused on finishing in the circle, to make sure we take our opportunities,” Matthew Smith, the Our Lady of Fatima School Sports Co-ordinator, said.
The St Mary’s versus Our Lady of Fatima tie kicks off at 17.00.
In Bloemfontein, Eunice and Oranje will be involved in a duel of the heavyweights. Both sides are fresh off decent campaigns at the All Girls Festival over the weekend.
Gyster vanSchalkwyk‘s Oranje breezed through the group stages, winning three and drawing one match, on their way to a third-place finish. “We play well on and off the ball, and that makes us dangerous approaching and entering the circle,” he said.
Eunice, on the other hand, had a bumpier ride. They won three and lost one match in the group stages, and then finished sixth, after they lost to Bloemhof. ““We did not have the best All Girls. It happens, but we take it on the chin and will come back stronger,” their coach Nika Coertzen told Supersport Schools Plus.
Michaelhouse 1st XV captain Carlyle Hawkins, after a 24-23 win on Saturday, has won in successive years on Gilfillan Field.
Michaelhouse had expected to be without their captain Carlyle Hawkins for their visit to Hilton College on Saturday for the first of their two derbies against their old foe. Hawkins, though, recovered in time for the big clash and led his side to a hard-fought 24-23 victory.
In front of a jam-packed crowd surrounding Gilfillan Field, it took a while for the combatants to find their feet, with most of the play taking place between the 22m lines. When Hilton finally put the Michaelhouse try line under pressure, fullback Xola Makongolo got them onto the scoreboard when he coolly slotted a drop goal in the 20th minute.
Michaelhouse struck back in the 24th minute. From a set scrum on the 15-metre line, on the left of the field, about 30 metres out, flyhalf Luke Davidson froze the Hilton defence with a nice show and go before slicing between two defenders. Met by Makongolo, at the back, he floated out a pass with precise touch for Rourke O’Sullivan, who was over just to the right of the posts.
Davidson made the easy conversion, and the visitors enjoyed a 7-3 lead.
It didn’t take long for Hilton to create their first try. From a scrum inside the Michaelhouse 22, Ivan Jjuuko accelerated onto a pass from scrumhalf Daniel Sweeney and crashed the ball up. He was stopped just short of the try line, next to the right-hand upright. The cleanout was good, however, and captain Hanu Pieterse picked up and charged wide to the left to crash over.
Liyema Nela knocked over the simple conversion to add the extras and Hilton was back in the lead once more.
Unfortunately for the flyhalf, he knocked on from the kick off, which gave Michaelhouse a put-in, well within the Hilton 22, on the right.
From the resulting scrum, ‘House’s fireplug inside centre Tom Baguley bashed the ball up, drawing the attention of a number of defenders. Once he went down, Baguley made the ball available and scrumhalf Jack Hughes swiftly cleared it to the left once more.
Hilton scrambled to stop Michaelhouse, with a two-man overlap, from surging over the line, but the visitors made it count, with Stefan Moolman providing the finish. Davidson’s kick, from a wide angle, on the left, was sweetly struck and Michaelhouse were 14-10 ahead.
James Fleming‘s charges charged back onto the attack from the kick off and put Hilton under heavy pressure, but the hosts stood firm and the teams turned with the boys in red and white four points in the clear.
Early in the second half, Nela made it a one-point game by converting a penalty.
Michaelhouse, though, quickly took the ball into the Hilton 22 and exerted pressure. The home side escaped, however, when Hawkins, driving, coughed up the ball in a hard tackle and Hilton hacked it away down field. A good pursuit forced ‘House to play from their 22, and when they took too long to clear the ruck, Hilton had an offensive put in.
A chip over the top from Nela had players from both sides diving to force it down behind the try line. When Hilton missed it, the referee, who had been playing advantage, blew his whistle for Michaelhouse having strayed offsides.
Once again, Nela opted for a shot at goal. His kick was true and it edged Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s charges in front again.
The momentum then shifted Michaelhouse’s way, and when Hilton fed a scrum five metres from their own line, a big ‘House shove led to a wayward, high pass to Nela, which he couldn’t hold, leading to the visitors earning the feed at a five-metre scrum.
Emulating what Hilton did to open the scoring in the first half, Michaelhouse drove the ball up to the try line. Then, Davidson, with a nice dollop of time, stroked the ball between the posts to secure another change of the lead.
Michaelhouse had inched ahead, but they soon extended that advantage. It began with a scrum on the Hilton 10m line, on the left of the field.
Hughes sent William Ridl flying down the blindside on the left. He took three or four players out of the defence with a strong run. 8th-man Hawkins was swiftly on the scene, and he picked up and drove inside. The ball came out of the ruck quickly, and Michaelhouse exploited an advantage of numbers in the backline to stretch Hilton out. Loosehead Aphiwe Shelembe received the ball, sold a dummy, and raced into a gap. Fighting off a would-be tackler, he crashed over for five points.
Davidson continued his sure form with the boot, making the conversion, to increase the visitors’ advantage to 24-16. There were still 15 minutes to play.
Michaelhouse was ahead, but the pattern of play, which had seen the momentum shift immediately after a team had scored, occurred again, with Hilton taking the game to Michaelhouse and camping in the ‘House half.
Hawkins and company claimed a heel against the head, but they immediately allowed Hilton back into their 22 by kicking directly into touch.
The home side was, then, awarded a penalty, but Nela’s kick, from about 32 metres out, was to the left of the posts.
With timing slipping away, the Hilton pack battered the Michaelhouse defensive line with a series of charges. Eventually, the ball was released to the backline. Outside centre Khazimla Makali broke inside a defender, kept his legs churning and powered over for a try.
Time was up, however.
Nela kicked the conversion, but Michaelhouse had recorded back-to-back wins on Gilfillan Field, this time by 24 points to 23.
The victory was Michaelhouse’s second on the trot after they had gone winless from 2016 until the second meeting of the rivals last year.
Both coaches, for different reasons, will remind their sides that Hilton won at Michaelhouse in 2023, and Michaelhouse won at Hilton, ahead of their return fixture on 15 June.
Scorers
Hilton College 23 (10) – Tries: Hanu Pieterse, Khazimla Makali. Conversions: Liyema Nela (2). Penalties: Liyema Nela (2). Drop goal: Xola Makongolo. Michaelhouse 24 (14) – Tries: Rourke O’Sullivan, Stefan Moolman, Aphiwe Shelembe. Conversions: Luke Davidson (3). Drop goal: Luke Davidson.
Results
u19 – Hilton College II 11 Michaelhouse II 31; Hilton College III 13 Michaelhouse III 26; Hilton College IV 7 Michaelhouse IV 47; Hilton College V 7 Michaelhouse V 31; Hilton College VI 17 Michaelhouse VI 60; Hilton College VII 7 Michaelhouse VII 40; Hilton College VII 0 Michaelhouse VIII 43
u16 – Hilton College A 29 Michaelhouse A 27; Hilton College B 8 Michaelhouse B 62; Hilton College C 17 Michaelhouse C 33; Hilton College D 7 Michaelhouse D 50
u15 – Hilton College A 19 Michaelhouse A 21; Hilton College B 0 Michaelhouse B 40; Hilton College C 7 Michaelhouse C 22; Hilton College D 0 Michaelhouse D 52
u14 – Hilton College A 55 Michaelhouse A 10; Hilton College B 12 Michaelhouse B 12; Hilton College C 21 Michaelhouse C 12; Hilton College D 0 Michaelhouse D 50.
Sentraal het Saterdag daarin geslaag om hul jaarlikse Standard Bank-fees in Bloemfontein op ‘n hoë noot af te sluit deur vir Hoërskool Kalahari in die hoofwedstryd te verslaan.
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Die Tralies het hulself op die eerste dag teen ‘n dominante Duineveld-span vasgeloop en met 14-61 verloor, maar het uitstekend herstel om op die laaste dag vir Kalahari met 38-28 die loef af te steek.
Die tuisspan het tot ‘n voorsprong van 38-7 gestorm in die eerste helfte, maar na die omdraaislag was dit slegs die besoekers wat kon punte aanteken. Die bloktruie moes teen die einde sweet om vas te klou aan hul vroeë voorsprong, maar die span van Kuruman het hul ritme net té laat gevind om die kastaiings uit die vuur te krap.
Kalahari se se lewendige binnesenter, Thlompo Matilo, het twee keer bresse in die Tralie-verdediging geslaan om die agterstand na slegs 10 punte te laat krimp, maar ‘n halfdosyn drieë, in die eerste helfte, deur Marnus Earle, Lee-Yagin Arendse, CJ Cloete, Hendrik Jonker, Simon Janse van Rensburg en Zander Jansen van Vuuren, was genoeg om aan die Bloemfonteiners ‘n waardevolle sege te besorg voor hul tuisskare.
FOTO: Dirkie Groenewald
Duineveld het ongetwyfeld die meeste aandag getrek in die Rosestad met twee puik vertonings.
Donderdag het die Velties hul spiere gebult teen die tuisspan, met Gregan Jansen, AJ Burger en Jaquin Jasson wat elkeen twee keer agter die Tralies se doellyn gaan kuier het.
Saterdag het hulle weer ‘n meesterklas gelewer om 39 punte sonder antwoord teen Goudveld aan te teken. Kaptein, Arno Luttig, het ‘n driekuns behaal vir die span van Upington om die fees onoorwonne af te sluit.
In die voorlaaste wedstryd het Jim Fouché vir Hentie Cilliers met 27-17 geklop.
Nes die hoofwedstryd, het die kragmeting bestaan uit twee uiteenlopende helftes. JF het teen rustyd ‘n voorsprong van 22-0 geniet, maar moes vasklou om Henties na die omdraaislag in toom te hou. JW Stone en Franco Oberholzer het elk twee drieë bygedra vir die Bloemfonteiners.
Fichardtpark was Donderdag ook in aksie, met ‘n wegholsege van 62-17 oor Kalahari. Die Fichie-Leeus se ster-skrumskakel, Devanté Claasen, was aan die spits van die aanslag met twee drieë, terwyl agsteman, MJ Herbst, 17 punte met ‘n drie en ses doelskoppe bygevoeg het.
Puntemakers:
Saterdag, 4 Mei
Sentraal 38 (38) – Drieë: Marnus Earle, Lee-Yagin Arendse, CJ Cloete, Hendrik Jonker, Simon Janse van Rensburg, Zander Jansen van Vuuren. Doelskoppe: SJ Coetzee (4). Kalahari 28 (7) – Drieë: Thlompo Matilo (2), Letlotlo Assegaai, Zelwyn Julie. Doelskoppe: Zelwyn Jukis (4).
Hoërskool Brackenfell played their hearts out in Somerset West to beat Parel Vallei in their own backyard on Saturday.
The first 35 minutes saw both teams put up a great fight. The visitors scored first to take the lead, but for the rest of the half, the PV boys kept piling on the pressure.
Renato Tosi, the home team’s no. 8 carried the ball well and got his team into good positions on the field, but the Brakkies’ defence stood firm and forced the hosts to take the points on offer, with two penalty conversions by Shudley Rhoda and Luchen Meyer respectively.
Flyhalf Junior Louw impressed for Brackenfell again, and his replacement, Alldrick Johnson, didn’t take his foot off the gas for a moment when he came on.
Tries by Dawson Lombard, Cwenga Ntsapho, Siraaj Cook and Johnson enabled the Brakkies to outscore the Bulldogs 29-16, but the home crowd was entertained to the very end, with Paarl Vallei’s athletic winger Iviwe Majingo scoring a stunning try to get them to within two scores.
This weekend, Brackenfell hosts Strand while the Parel Vallei boys gear up for an imposing challenge away at the marauding Milnerton.
The Hoërskool Tygerberg Tigers had their claws removed this weekend when they visited the Millies, going down by a whopping 14-82.
Milnerton’s speedster on the wing, Keagan Wood, ran in four tries, while captain Frank Hitimana veteran scrumhalf, Devon Damons, grabbed a hattrick each.
Meanwhile, Hugenote continued their impressive run of form, scoring 48 unanswered points against Hermanus.
Keenen Johnson (winger) and Xavier Fredericks (outside centre) each dotted down twice as Hugenote ran in eight tries without conceding any points.
In Oudtshoorn, Luan Giliomee scored 21 points for Charlie Hofmeyr as they kept their perfect record alive, beating Langenhoven Gimnasium 46-31
With a squad full of dangermen, who seem to find their way onto the scoresheet every weekend, Charlies appear well set to continue their winning run throughout the rest of the season.
The clash between Montagu and Hoërskool Punt from Mossel Bay produced one of the highlights of the weekend, climaxing with a last-minute try, which levelled the scores at 29-29. The match was poised on a knife’s edge throughout.
With only 15 minutes left in the game, the visitors from the Garden Route pulled away, scoring two quickfire tries to gain a 29-17 advantage. The home team’s playmaker, Ronaldo Koker, however, pulled off an incredible solo effort in the final moments to score his second try of the day from the halfway line. But, with the conversion going wide, they had to settle for a draw.
The visitors’ fullback Gabriel Hinkman stood out as the last bastion of defence, and for driving the attack forward with his educated boot, while scrummy Udo Windvogel impressed for Montagu, keeping up the tempo with his work rate at the breakdown points.
Charlie Hofmeyr 46 – Tries: Philip du Plessis, Luan Giliomee, Le Roux Groenewald, Izha-Vin van Wyk, Glennwill Tromp, Duran Shiba. Conversions: Giliomee (5). Penalties: Giliomee (2). Langenhoven Gimnasium 31.
Montagu 29 (7) – Tries: Ronaldo Koker (2), Xolani Yanta, Peter-Wayne Soldaat. Conversions: Koker (3). Penalty: Koker. Hoërskool Punt 29 (8) – Tries: Caleb Meyer, Deacon Cooper, Henro Kuhn, Ruan van Zyl. Conversions: Gabriel Hinkman (3), Penalty: Hinkman.
Other results
u19 – Parel Vallei II 8, Hoërskool Brackenfell II 5; Hoërskool Brackenfell III 24, Parel Vallei III 0; Hoërskool Punt II 26, Montagu II 5; Hoërskool Punt III 45, Montagu III 0.
u16 – Parel Vallei A 31, Hoërskool Brackenfell A 0; Montagu A 38, Hoërskool Punt A 22.
u15 – Parel Vallei A 12, Hoërskool Brackenfell A 12; Hoërskool Brackenfell B 14, Parel Vallei B 10; Hoërskool Punt A 14, Montagu A 10; Montagu B 7, Hoërskool Punt B 5.
u14 – Hoërskool Brackenfell A 17, Parel Vallei A 6; Hoërskool Brackenfell B 26, Parel Vallei B 10; Montagu A 10, Hoërskool Punt A 10; Hoërskool Punt B 17, Montagu B 3.
The NorthwoodSchool 1st XV dominated the opening half of their clash with Kearsney College on Stott Field to set themselves up for a 34-24 victory on Saturday.
In ideal rugby-playing weather, the Knights, who have been beaten only once all season, got onto the board seven minutes into the game when Siya Nkosi, with quick-thinking and sharp vision, launched a long pass to Nokutenda Gunda, who had space out on the left flank. The task, from there, was simple. The speedster pinned his ears back and raced over the try line from about 35 metres out. The extras were added, and Northwood led 7-0.
Six minutes later, the visitors were in for a try again. This time, it was Aphiwe Buthelezi who went over. He spotted a gap, went clean through it, then cut back inside to wrong foot the cover defence and score to the left of the uprights. The conversion, surprisingly, was missed.
Kearsney came close to replying, but the ball was lost forward over the try line.
Northwood responded by working their way up the field, and in the 21st minute they had their third five-pointer. It was the left-wing Gunda who crossed for his second, running himself into a gap before receiving a flat pass to score wide on the right.
The Knights were in charge, and they had their fourth try five minutes later when Kwenzo Dlamini showed his off his wheels after being afforded a little space next to the touchline on the right.
A penalty, landed by Cameron Veenstra, just before the half-time whistle, made it 22-3 to Northwood at the break.
There was more of the same early in the second stanza, with Kwenzo Dlamini dotting down for a second time in the right-hand corner.
Connor McIntyre almost bagged a try in response for the One-Stripe, but he was stripped of the ball as he dived over the line.
Then, a line break by Jude Greig brought Kearsney a ruck almost in the shadow of the Northwood posts, and captain Anele Cele was on hand to take a short pass and blast his way over the whitewash for a try. Veenstra added the conversion to make it 10-27.
Soon, they added another five-pointer, through Bukho Hlwatika, and Veenstra’s reliable boot pulled the One-Stripe to within 10 points of the Knights.
Jacques Deen‘s charges found a response. From a lineout inside the Kearsney 22, they made good ground through their forwards. Then, when stopped just short of the try line, they went blind, where Siya Nkosi picked out Bongani Khumalo with a beautiful pass through an attempted tackle. With the conversion made, and around seven minutes to play, Northwood appeared home and dry.
Kearsney, though, had the final say. The industrious Connor McIntyre, who had narrowly missed out on a five-pointer earlier in the contest, was rewarded for his hard work when he forced his way over in the 66th minute.
Another Veenstra conversion made it 34-24 to Northwood.
Results
u19: Kearsney I 24 Northwood I 34; Kearsney II 17 Northwood II 21; Kearsney III 24 Northwood III 40; Kearsney IV 27 Northwood IV 7; Kearsney V 47 Northwood V 5; Kearsney VI 25 Northwood VI 5; Kearsney VII 17-7 Northwood
u16: Kearsney A Northwood 34; Kearsney B 10 Northwood B 50; Kearsney C 0 Northwood C 25; Kearsney D 33 Northwood D 26
u15: Kearsney A 12 Northwood A 17; Kearsney B 24 Northwood B 29; Kearsney C 5 Northwood C 55; Kearsney D 5 Northwood D 37
u14: Kearsney A 40 Northwood A 10; Kearsney B 26 Northwood B 31; Kearsney C 14-34 Northwood C.
The Grey High School u16 team after winning the Hibbert Cup at the Rectory Astroturf on Saturday, 4 May 2024. Photo: Grey High
While the Hibbert Shield concluded at Grey High’s Rectory Astroturf over the weekend, so, too, did the u16 Hibbert Cup, with Grey High claiming top honours by defeating Paul Roos Gimnasium 3-1 in the final on Saturday evening.
The u16 event, which was hosted at Pearson High School’s astroturf, showcased the young talent hovering just below first team level, and provided a look at what’s to come in the near future.
Heading into the four-day tournament, Grey was high in confidence after recently claiming morale-boosting wins over South African College High School(SACS) and Paul Roos.
At the Hibbert Cup, they were drawn in Pool C, alongside Garsfontein and Westville Boys’ High. They didn’t concede a goal in pool play, winning those matches 1-0 and 4-0 respectively.
In their quarterfinal, coach James Atherton’s side made light work of St Andrew’s College, easing their way to a 5-0 win, before being extended by SACS in a 2-1 semi-final victory.
“I thought the tournament itself was run really well from Pearson’s side, so credit to them, firstly,” coach Atherton told SuperSport Schools.
“The calibre of teams that attend this tournament is of a very high standard. I thought my boys played a really good brand of hockey, and to win it on home soil was special.
“We came into the tournament with the aim of winning it. We had some good momentum coming in with wins over SACS and Paul Roos the previous two weekends, so confidence was high.”
Only a week before the final, Grey had thumped Paul Roos 7-0 during an inter-schools’ clash at the same venue.
Atherton said, despite that result, his side remained calm, never got carried away, and the conversations in the locker room were solely focused on “trusting the process”.
“It’s never easy playing an opponent twice in a season, as they have a chance to study you better and be better prepared,”” he said.
“We took confidence from the 7-0 result, but we knew PRG would come back a lot stronger.
“The convo before the game was just to soak up what we anticipated would be early pressure from them and to trust the process. Discipline is so key off the ball, and this team can execute instructions well, and our pressing shape has been good all year.”
Hockey at Grey High appears to be in very healthy shape, with Old Grey Andrew Beynon, who started at his Alma Mater at the beginning of 2024, steering the ship.
Despite the Grey High first team having had to settle for the bronze medal, they’ve also been a cut above the rest this season, and have lost only against Paul Roos and SACS, who were the finalists on Saturday.
Coach Atherton said the u16 win was a testament to what Beynon is trying to implement within the programme.
“It’s massive for Grey hockey, as a whole,” he reckoned. “Andrew Beynon has come in this year as our Director of Hockey, and he has taken the Hockey Club to a new level, in terms of culture and professionalism.
“We, as coaches, are growing under his tutelage, and the boys are being exposed to so much more than ever before.
“We are only at the start of our journey and both the 1st team and u16A results are amazing rewards for the hard work that is being put in. It’s an exciting time to be involved with Grey hockey.
“We have major aspirations, as a school, to become the top hockey school around, which is no easy feat, but this weekend could lay the foundation to achieving that long term, in terms of belief and support.”
The challenges continue to stack up for the Grey u16A side, which returns to action this week with matches against Kingswood College and Queen’s College.
As he did at the Hibbert Cup, coach Atherton will bank on his captain Matthew Allibone to lead the side from the front. He will also look to Keegan Le Roux, who scored a brace in both the semis and the final, to fire on all cylinders inside the circle.
Dale Jennings, who has had a taste of first team action, will pose threats, while two youngsters, James Chree and Dante Elkington, are other players to keep an eye on.
Hibbert Cup Final Standings
Grey High School
Paul Roos Gimnasium
SACS
Durban High School
Selborne College
Pearson High School
St Andrew’s College
Garsfontein
Westville Boys’ High School
Waterkloof
Paarl Gimnasium
Clifton College
Grey High avenged their shock defeat to Graeme College last year when they beat their old rivals by 29-7 in front of a lively assembly of supporters on the Kolisi Field on Saturday to close out the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival in style.
Jon Hobson was instrumental in their 33-15 victory over St John’s College on the opening day, scoring twice to help his side build valuable momentum ahead of Saturday’s grudge match.
For the festival’s final game, he was moved back to hooker, but his immense contribution was undiminished. In fact, he crossed the Graeme try line four times behind the powerful Grey rolling maul.
Graeme saved face through a try by Lebo Mahasele in the second half, but they were outgunned from the start as Hobson and his teammates decidedly put last year’s loss behind them.
Grey dominated the lineouts and kept their discipline to open up a healthy 19-0 lead at the break, which they were able to defend in the second half.
Westville Boys’ High completely outgunned Dale College, beating the team from Qonce 52-12.
The Griffin dominated from the off and sped to a 40-7 lead by half-time.
With their captain, Chris Cloete, spearheading the attack with three tries and vice-captain, Unathi Mlotshwa, contributing 17 points with a try and six conversions, Westville were never in trouble despite Dale’s fighting spirit.
The Western Cape representatives, Hoërskool Durbanville, ended their tour on a high with an impressive victory over Queen’s College.
Tobie Roelofse was instrumental for the Durbies, striking off the kicking tee for eight vital points.
Roelofse’s penalty conversion early on, to open the scoring, would end up being the difference as the Capetonians outscored Queen’s 25-22.
The Eastern Cape outfit’s scrumhalf, Ryan Denston, starred for his side, also kicking well off the tee.
There was plenty of excitement provided by the wings, with Jameel Fleshman striking twice for Queen’s and Dale Martin doing the same for Durbanville.
Westville Boys’ High 52 (40) – Tries: Chris Cloete (3), Michael Sadate, Unathi Mlotshwa, Jadrian Afrikaner, Blake Allbon, Zekhethelo Siyaya. Conversions: Mlotshwa (6). Dale College 12 (7) – Tries: Singatha Rasi, Qhawe Mtati. Conversion: Phikolomzi Mtyalela.
Grey High 29 (19) – Jon Hobson (4), Caylum Jansen. Conversions: Zephyr Smith (2). Graeme 7 (0) – Try: Lebo Mahasele. Conversion: Marcus Williams.
RESULTS
u19 – Grey High 29, Graeme College 7; Westville Boys’ High 52, Dale College 12; Hoërskool Durbanville 25, Queen’s College 22; Jeppe 33, St Andrew’s College 5; St Stithians College 16, Die Brandwag 12; St Charles College 26, Hudson Park 5; St John’s College 38, Muir College 14; Parktown 20, Itembelihle 13; Grey High II 28, Graeme College II 7; Grey High III 52, Graeme College III 12; Grey High V 49, Graeme College IV 0.
u16 – Grey High 29, Graeme College 17; Hoërskool Durbanville 31, Queen’s College 0; Westville Boys’ High 44, Dale College 10; Die Brandwag 52, St Stithians College 24; Nico Malan 55, Parktown 0; St John’s College 27, Muir College 14; St Charles College 24 Hudson Park 0; HTS Drostdy 55, St Andrew’s College 7; Framesby 34, St Alban’s College 0; Grey High B 51, Graeme College B 14.
u15 – Grey High 22, Graeme College 15; HTS Drostdy 24, Dale College 0; Hoërskool Durbanville 59, Nico Malan 0; Die Brandwag 7; Queen’s College 0; Muir College 21, St John’s College 19; Westville Boys’ High 19, Framesby 18; St Charles College 14, St Andrew’s College 7; Grey High B 14, Hudson Park A 12; Grey High C 17, Graeme College B 5.
u14 – Grey High 22, Graeme College 0; Nico Malan 12, HTS Drostdy 12; Die Brandwag 20, Queen’s College 19; St Charles College 56, St Andrew’s College 0; Hoërskool Durbanville 44, Dale College 14; Muir College 26, St John’s College 0; Westville Boys’ High 29, Framesby 0; Grey High B 64, Graeme College B 0.
Rondebosch Boys’ High outplayed an unbeaten Wynberg Boys’ High side on the Hawthornden Field on Saturday to emerge as the new front runners among the southern suburb schools.
The ‘Bosch boys made use of the full width of the field, with both wingers crossing for doubles as they upset the home team 49-27.
David Kadima scored his first within three minutes of the kick-off, then got the scoreboard moving again after the break.
Shakeel Abrahams scored their second and third to drive Rondebosch to a commanding 23-8 lead at half-time.
Wynberg, spurred on by their captain, Aden da Costa‘s sole try in the first half, fought hard to make the second stanza more of a battle, but ‘Bosch continued finding gaps and stacking up a substantial total.
The visitors’ backline ran like a well-oiled machine, with David Simon and Caleb Belelie steering the ship.
Simon added 14 points off the kicking tee, and Dylan Miller, Randall-John Davids and Matthew van der Merwe broke through the Wynberg defence to help bring Wynberg’s unbeaten streak to an end.
As they had done last weekend at Paarl Gimnasium, SACS stormed out of the blocks against Bishops Diocesan College on the Memorial Field. – link to the game
Two tries by the industrious flanker, Tashriq Bailey, and another by Endi Sidinile, on the wing, drove the hosts to a 22-0 lead by halftime.
The Bishops’ boys fought back hard after the break and, in a much tighter second half, both teams added only seven points each. But the damage had been done in the first half and the home crowd was able to enjoy an impressive win after seeing their team fall victim to Paarl Gim last week.
Scorers
Rondebosch Boys’ High 49 (23) – Tries: David Kadima (2), Shakeel Abrahams (2), Dylan Miller, Randall-John Davids, Matthew van der Merwe. Conversions: David Simon (4). Penalties: Simon (2). Wynberg Boys’ High 27 (8) – Tries: Aden da Costa, Xabiso Mkiva, Tyrone Gombe, Albert Lourens. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Penalty: Ahmed.
SACS 29 (22) – Tries: Tashriq Bailey (2), Endi Sidinile, Jack Benade. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (3). Penalty: Solomons. Diocesan College 7 (7) – Try: Alex Newton. Conversion: Lucca Mynhardt.
Other results
u19 – Rondebosch Boys’ High II 17, Wynberg Boys’ High II 14; Diocesan College II 8, SACS II 6;
u16 – Wynberg Boys’ High A 26, Rondebosch Boys’ High A 7; SACS A 13, Diocesan College A 6;
u15 – Rondebosch Boys’ High A 17, Wynberg Boys’ High A 13; SACS A 10, Diocesan College 3;
u14 – Rondebosch Boys’ High A 14, Wynberg Boys’ High A 10; SACS A 19, Diocesan College 7;
With the best junior tennis player in South Africa, Guy Vorwerk, at no. 1, Westville Boys’ High had an advantage over their opposition throughout the 2024 Kearsney Tennis Tournament.
It was a very good weekend for Paul Roos Gymnasium (PRG), with their 1st rugby team remaining unbeaten, after adding two more wins at the AbsaWildeklawer tournament, and their hockey team successfully defending the Hibbert Shield. However, Westville Boys’ High had PRG’s number in the final of the Kearsney Tennis Tournament.
The Griffin had won the event for a first time in 2023, when they beat the 14-time champion, Paul Roos, in the final, and the teams, once again, met for the title on Sunday.
With Connor Doig, one of the leading talents in South Africa, having left Westville at the end of 2023 to take up home schooling and pursue a career in tennis, coach Charles Tsangamwe‘s team was not quite as formidable as it was in 2023, but it remained, nonetheless, formidable, especially with Guy Vorwerk, the best u18 player in South Africa, still manning the no. 1 position.
The Paul Roos players, however, were up for the fight and they gave Westville a tremendous battle, but the KZN team came through with flying colours, demonstrating a gritty character, to capture the title when they clinched the first of the doubles’ matches.
With that victory achieved, the final was ended there. Victory was Westville’s by a 14-6 margin.
Vorwerk was given a good workout by PRG’s number one, Willem de Waal, but Vorwerk’s game has improved markedly in the past year, and he took a hard-fought straight sets victory. He’s lost only three times in 2024, and all three times on the ITF circuit. Ironically, one of those losses was to Connor Doig, but they’re one-all this year against one another.
On Sunday, though, it was Westville’s depth that told, with Johannes Adam, Rhys Vorwerk and Lindo Gcwensa also winning their singles.
After a hard-fought battle, respect for the opposition.
At the conclusion of the event, the top players in each position were recognised. That recognition corresponds to the success they enjoyed during the tournament. With Westville players in four of those six positions, the reasons why they won the event were clear.
The top players were No. 1, Guy Vorwerk (Westville); No. 2, Liam du Toit (Grey College); No. 3, Xander Pienaar (Paul Roos Gymnasium); No. 4, Johannes Adam (Westville); No. 5, Rhys Vorwerk (Westville); No. 6, Lindo Gwensa (Westville).
While Westville received the winners’ trophy, Pretoria Boys High, was the first recipient of the Willows Trophy, which is awarded to a team or player for demonstrating exceptional tenacity.
It was introduced to honour the massive contribution Ant Willows, Kearsney’s Deputy Headmaster, has made to the event since he introduced it in 1996. He retires at the end of this year having overseen it every year since its inception.
Kearsney’s tennis team presented tournament founder Ant Willows with a gift to recognise his valuable contribution to schools’ tennis in South Africa through the Kearsney Tennis Tournament.
Commenting after his charges claimed the winner’s silverware, Westville coach Charles Tsangamwe said: “It was quite tense, but we were expecting that. They’re a very good side, so the boys had to dig deep today. It was really good tennis.”
Teamwork played a big role in Westville’s victory, Tsangamwe said: “They play for each other, and that came through in the end. They had some tough moments in there, but they came together, and that’s what I think made the difference today.”
Of course, having an exceptional talent leading the team was also a luxury, he admitted: “To have a top player like that, number one in the country, is always a plus, especially after losing someone like Connor, who was of the same standard, so we’re really grateful to have Guy. He’s going to be tough to replace, very big shoes to fill.”
With back-to-back titles for Westville, it feels as if a big rivalry is building with Paul Roos, who were, for so long, the standard-setters.
Westville Boys’ High celebrates winning the Kearsney Tennis Tournament, with Guy Vorwerk lifting the trophy.
Grey College finished third after a 15-3 win over Affies. They remain a force but, very clearly, there is a little distance between Westville and Paul Roos and the rest.
The hosts, Kearsney, should feel excited and encouraged by their showing. With a young team, brimming with talent, they took fifth place, scorching Rondebosch Boys’ High 18-0 in their Sunday showdown.
Pretoria Boys High, the Willows Trophy winner, finished seventh after an 18-0 win over St David’s Marist Inanda.
Final Standings
Westville Boys’ High School
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Grey College
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Kearsney College
Rondebosch Boys’ High School
Pretoria Boys High School
St David’s Marist Inanda
Die span van Klerksdorp het gewys waarom hulle, as nuwelinge in die afdeling, reeds as van die voorste aanspraakmakers op die titel beskou word, deur vir Hoërskool Lichtenburg tuis met 23-12 te klop.
Die tuisspan moes nietemin alles uithaal om die knoop deur te hak, met die Liggies wat niks wou weet van tou opgooi nie. Albei spanne se verdediging was rotsvas en die skote het vir die volle 70 minute geklap.
Die Wessies se bestendige binnesenter, Rickardt van Heerden, het oudergewoonte weer die telbord vir die Klerksdorpers laat aanhou rol met sy stewel, wat op die ou end die verskil beteken het. Hy het albei die Wessies se drieë verdoel en ook drie strafdoele deur die pale gejaag.
Die tuisspan se ander staatmaker, Francois Dumond, was ook weer op sy stukke. Dumond het, nes verlede naweek, sy stempel met begeesterde barslopies afgedruk en vir een van die Wessies se twee drieë oorgebars.
Die Liggies se voorspelers het moedig probeer, met agtsteman, Abrie Coetzee, wat met sy energieke en fisieke spel uitgeblink het. Hy was ook ‘n yster op die verdediging, wat die vuur onder sy haker, Juan van Rhyn, en loskopstut, Donovan Rosato, aangesteek het.
Hoërskool Die Anker het ‘n taamlike verrassing op tuisbodem gelewer deur vir Hoërskool Pietersburg ‘n rugbyles van 53-7 te leer. Daarmee het die span van Brakpan ook op dramatiese wyse die bordjies verhang, na hul vorige nederlaag met 17-23 teen die einste span van Pietersburg.
Agsteman en kaptein, Ruben Herbst, het van voor gelei, en was beloon met twee drieë vir sy uitstekende spel op die aanval.
Hoërskool Ben Vorster het so hittete ‘n belowende begin tot hul veldtog verbrou. Die Buffels van Tzaneen het nietemin koelkop gebly om ‘n sege van 38-32 oor Heidelberg Volkskool in die sitrusvallei te verseker.
Dit was hoofsaaklik te danke aan Ben Vorster se vuurvreter-agtsteman, Ewald Kirstein, wat ‘n barshou gespeel het en regoor die veld te sien was. Hy het vir die Volkies van meet af onder druk geplaas met sy vurige dryfspel en ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal.
Volkies het egter ook gewys dat hulle nog nie naastenby afgeskryf kan word nie. Die besoekers het, met 10 minute oor, ‘n tamaaie agterstand van 30 punte in die gesig gestaar, maar het, danksy buitesenter, Kevin Oormeyer, se tweekuns, verbete terugveg om byna ‘n groot opskudding te veroorsaak.
Puntemakers:
Wesvalia 23 (20) – Drieë: Francois Dumond, Chad Hofmeyer. Doelskoppe: Rickard van Heerden.(2). Strafdoele: Van Heerden (3). Lichtenburg 12 (5) – Drieë: Juan van Rhyn, Donovan Rosato. Doelskop: Albert Joubert.
Die Anker 53 (24) – Drieë: Ruben Herbst (2), Xavier Erasmus, Gerhard Oosthuizen, Jonathan Jordaan, Danie Smit, Paul Schutte, Brendan van Lutterveld, Branden Sauerman. Doelskoppe: Xavier Erasmus, Paul Schutte. Strafdoel: Schutte. Hoërskool Pietersburg 7 (0) – Drieë: Juan Jansen van Vuuren. Doelskop: Divan Brown.
Ben Vorster 38 (12) – Drieë: Ewald Kirstein (3), Damian Bye, Tihandré Reyneke, Nikelo Moyo. Doelskoppe: Shelton Primo (4). Heidelberg Volkskool 32 (3) – Drieë: Kevin Oormeyer (2), Joshua Munro, Christopher Makgonfoane, Jean de Villiers. Doelskoppe Theuns van der Merwe, Kayle Venter. Strafdoel: Venter.
Secunda 35 (17) – Drieë: Ryan Erasmus (2), Bismarck Jansen, Divan Mulder, EJ Venter, Franko Rossouw. Doelskop: Damian de Beer. Strafdoel: De Beer. Jeugland 17 (7).
Ander spanne:
o. 16: Wesvalia 44, Lichtenburg 3; Die Anker 20, Pietersburg 8; Heidelberg Volkskool 40, Ben Vorster 15; Jeugland 29, Secunda 21.
o. 15: Wesvalia 29, Lichtenburg 16; Pietersburg 12, Die Anker 9; Ben Vorster 24, Heidelberg Volkskool 7; Secunda 31, Jeugland 25.
o. 14: Wesvalia 40, Lichtenburg 17; Pietersburg 34, Die Anker 10; Ben Vorster 26; Heidelberg Volkskool 8; Jeugland 17, Secunda 17.
The Northwood School 1st XV dominated the opening half of their clash with Kearsney College on Stott Field to set themselves up for a 34-24 victory on Saturday.
