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After securing a nerve-wracking and nail-biting 1-0 win over St Cyprian’s School last weekend, Parel Vallei, will aim to make it two wins on the trot when they take on Hoërskool Outeniqua in George on Friday night.

Kick-off is at 18:00. Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The encounter will be PV’s third match of the regular season after they opened their campaign a fortnight ago with a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Paarl Girls’ High.

Before that, the side from Somerset West undertook an international tour to The Netherlands, which formed of their pre-season.

There, coach Jarred Pitout’s girls played five matches, winning two, losing two, and drawing once.

“I think I am blessed with a good depth of strong players, and the progress shows in our team unity on and off the field,” Pitout told SuperSport Schools ahead of their clash against Outeniqua.

“Our tour to Holland was something we have wanted to do ever since Covid-19, so it’s been in the planning for a while.

“We took 35 girls over, and I believe we can measure ourselves against those teams as our hockey in South Africa is very strong and incredibly competitive here in the Boland.”

One of the primary reason teams to tour The Netherlands was to test Parel Vallei’s hockey and measure its depth against some of the best junior hockey teams in the world.

During their time abroad, Pitout’s side was exposed to a different hockey culture, which he believes will have a positive impact on his team moving forward.

“The benefit of going overseas is exactly that, to measure yourselves against opposition that you don’t normally face,” he explained.

“It was a huge experience for our girls to see some 20 Astros in one area and the culture built around hockey on that side is something that can be experienced only by going there.”

PV has retained the bulk of their players from last year’s team, including four girls who are now in matric, and has further infused their lineup with young talent, with girls from grades 9, 10, and 11.

“This side has been working together for a while and so the cohesion is strong on and off the field,” said Pitout.

“We have a few new appointments, but we lost only three matrics last year and our u16 group last year was very strong, so some have now found their position in the first team.”

PV will be led on Friday night by their influential skipper, Jordan Boer, who was selected for the SA u16 High Performance Squad in 2023.

To secure victory, they’ll also bank on the skills of players like Eva Blaauw, who controls the midfield and is an influential attacking force, too, while Michaela Birch brings a workhorse attitude and consistency to the team.

A key to Friday’s showdown will be for Parel Vallei to finish better. They’ve scored only twice in their past two matches, so they’re due for a better outcome soon.

Parel Vallei squad
Jordan Boer, Zelda Rosenstrauch, Anmarie Grobler, Michaela Birch, Joane van Geest, Grace Millard, Elrie Pienaar, Eva Blaauw, Grace Taylor, Jodi Oostendorp, Hannah Ward, Anna Rose Cocks, Jessica Lavies, Skylar Bougaard, Lara Jales, Janae Theron, Andrea Fortuin.

Other matches

In other provincial matches this weekend, Herschel Girls High will face HMS Bloemhof in Stellenbosch on Friday night. Fairmont hosts Westerford.

Paarl Girls’ High, after a narrow 0-1 loss against Bloemfontein’s Oranje last Friday, which was followed by a 1-3 defeat against Bloemhof the following day, will look to get back to winning ways when they face Springfield Convent School on Saturday.

Durbanville will wrap up the action against St Cyprian’s School.

Fixtures

Friday, 26 April 2024

18:00- Outeniqua vs Parel Vallei
18:15- Fairmont vs Westerford
19:00- HMS Bloemhof vs Herschel Girls High

Saturday, 27 April 2024

10:40- Paarl Girls’ High vs Springfield Convent School
11:00- Durbanville vs St Cyprian’s

It promises to be a frenetic atmosphere, with the crowd buzzing, and war cries at full voice, when Wynberg Boys’ High takes a short trip to face Bishops Diocesan College at the Woodlands Astroturf on Friday night.

The southern suburbs’ meeting will be the first between the sides this year and both will be eager and highly motivated to grab the early season bragging rights.

To make matters even more interesting, both enter the clash with their unbeaten records in Western Cape competition on the line.

Bishops has been in fine form this season, winning all of their matches at the Bishops 175 Festival and following up with two one-sided victories in their opening leagues matches, outplaying DF Malan 8-0 and Reddam House Constantia 7-1.

Wynberg has been in good form, too, but were they tripped up by Maritzburg College and Jeppe at the Nomads Festival, in March.

During their in-season fixtures, they thumped Paarl Boys High 5-1 and Curro Durbanville by the same margin in their first two matches, before playing to a 2-2 draw against Gqeberha’s high-flying Grey High School at home last weekend.

“We are very happy with the start to the season. It has been a team manta so far that we are always looking to be growing as a team, on and off the field,” Wynberg head coach, Ben Wiley told SuperSport Schools ahead of the clash.

“Our pre-season was decent preparation for the Nomads tour, where we looked to refine our playing style, which has led us into a very confident start to our season.

“We are still looking to improve as we keep playing together, never the finished article, but a work in progress.”

Wynberg is one of the few sides in the province to have retained the bulk of its senior players from 2023. The infusion of junior players into the lineup, though, has left the team with a good balance between experience and youth, and coach Wiley believes that will serve the side well as the season progresses.

“We are playing a variant of the 4-4-2 this year,” he said. “It’s a bit new for the boys that stayed in the team from last year, but we only lost five matrics at the end of last year.

“We have a good group of experienced senior players to rely on, as well as a good group of juniors to learn, as the season goes on.”

In their previous two meetings, Wynberg and Bishops split the season’s series, with Wynberg winning 3-2 at home and Bishops scoring a 1-0 victory at Woodlands.

To get one over their opponents, Wiley believes Wynberg will have to be disciplined in their structures and clinical in front of goal. A complete team effort will be needed, and his leadership group will need to set a strong example.

“The belief that we can take the win away from home is real in our squad,” he said.

“We have a great leadership group of Jordan Paulsen, Ethan Lee, and Dayle Gertsen that has stepped up this year.

“Each one is showing great quality on the field and leading the team by example.

“But to just single out individuals also feels like a disservice to the team effort we are putting into every match.”

A confident Bishops team, which has performed well at home, will be a tough challenge for Wynberg.

Coach Ryan Julius has his side playing an attractive and winning brand of hockey, which they will hope to showcase on Friday evening. The action gets underway at 18:15.

TEAMS

Wynberg Boys High: Zach Raizenberg, Dayle Gertson, Daniel Rightford, Liam Kleintjies, Caleb Schilder, Jonty Albrecht, Jordan Paulsen, Ethan Lee, Seth Trantraal, James Burger, Dayyaan Brown, Ethan Daniels, Zach Alexander, Beni Hansen.

Bishops Diocesan College: Mu’aath Ganief, Robert Veldtman (c), Carl Van Wyngaarden, Tom Ludlam, Adam Diggle, James Grieve (vc), Joshua Mettler, Andrew Betty, Andrew Raubenheimer (vc), Christopher Gray, Bryn Parry, David Handley, Harry Morgan, Luc Dicey, Albert Steyn.

Gqeberha will be a hive of activity from 2 to 4 May, when Grey High School hosts its annual rugby festival.

To add to the drama and excitement, they will be defending the Kolisi Field against their rivals from Makhanda, Graeme College.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now

Last year, Graeme recorded their first win in 49 years over the Gqeberha outfit, and they will be chomping at the bit for a chance to repeat that success in the final match on Saturday afternoon.

Grey showed their potential in their most recent outing, rising to the challenge set by an unbeaten Wynberg Boys’ High in Cape Town, to draw 10-10.

First though, Graeme will have to navigate a tough fixture on the opening day against one of this season’s most outstanding and entertaining teams, Jeppe High School for Boys. The hosts, meanwhile, kick off their weekend against another Johannesburg school when they face St John’s College.

Makhanda will also be represented at the prestigious event by St Andrew’s College. They go up against Parktown Boys’ High, followed by a clash with Jeppe.

Fixtures

Thursday, 2 May 

Kolisi Field: 09:10 – Hudson Park v Brandwag; 10:25 – Westville v Durbanville; 11:45 – St Andrew’s College v Parktown; 12:55 – Queen’s College v St Stithians; 14:05 – Graeme v Jeppe; 15:25 – Grey High v St John’s.

Pollock Oval: 12:55 – Ithembelihle v St Charles College; 14:05 – Mali Foundation XV v Muir.

Saturday, 4 May

Kolisi Field: 09:10 – Hudson Park v St Charles College; 10:25 – St Stithians v Brandwag; 11:45 – St Andrew’s College v Jeppe; 12:55 – Queen’s v Durbanville; 14:05 – Dale v Westville; 15:25 – Grey High v Graeme.

Pollock Oval: 10:25 – Ithembelihle v Parktown; 14:05 – Muir v St John’s.

Diamantveld sit Woensdagaand hul onoorwonne Wesgrow Sentrale Sportreeks-veldtog voort wanneer hulle vir die Leeus van Fichardtpark in Kimberley ontvang.

Beleef die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou – Skakel na die reeks

Die Diamonds skitter letterlik tot dusver in die reeks, met spogseges oor Jim Fouché (38-15), Hoërskool Trio (29-27) en Voortrekker (18-6), en is ongetwyfeld een van die voorste aanspraakmakers op vanjaar se titel.

Verlede seisoen het Fichardtpark egter vir Diamantveld met 33-27 by hul jaarlikse sportdag in Bloemfontein getroef om hul onoorwonne veldtog na die Wesgrow-trofee mee af te skop. Devanté Claasen het uitgestaan op skrumskakel in daardie kragmeting, tesame met die Fichies se eerste SA Skole-verteenwoordiger, Jaco Grobbelaar.

Vanjaar het die Bloemfonteiners effens langer geneem om hul ritme te vind, maar na inspirerende vertonings oor die afgelope paar naweke, en met gevaarmanne soos Claasen, Duan Viviers en Pule Motshilili in hul midde, behoort die Leeus oorgehaal te wees om die Diamonds op tuisbodem te probeer skok.

Diamantveld se sukses tot dusver weerspieël die hoeveelheid top-talent to hul beskikking vanjaar.

Linkervleuel, Jonathan Harding, het byvoorbeeld twee keer gaan druk toe hulle verlede naweek in Bloemfontein met Jim Fouché afgereken het. Voorlangs sal die besoekers hulle ook moet staal vir die voorrystryd wat voorlê teen Diamantveld se Dian Ellis, De Wet du Plooy en kaptein, FJ de Vries.

‘n Oorwinning Woensdagaand behoort die Diamonds se selfvertroue ook ‘n beduidende hupstoot te gee alvorens hulle van die beste spanne in die land onthaal by die Absa Wildeklawer-toernooi van 1 tot 4 Mei.

Die spanne:

Diamantveld t. Fichardtpark om 19:20:

Diamantveld: 15 Kyle Taute, 14 Carel Viljoen, 13 Clinton Brits, 12 Simon Liversage, 11 Jonathan Harding, 10 Marno Greeff, 9 Dirk van Heerden, 8 Enrique Boshoff, 7 Stiaan van Lofferenberg, 6 Paul Cronje, 5 Zuan Rautenbach, 4 Daniël Kühn, 3 Dian Ellis, 2 De Wet du Plooy, 1 FJ de Vries.

Fichardtpark: 15 Martin Kalp, 14 Ayanda Quinisa, 13 Duan Viviers, 12 Junior Titoti, 11 Divan Martens, 10 Pule Motsilili, 9 Devanté Claasen, 8 MJ Herbst, 7 Janel du Plessis, 6 Marno Smith, 5 Pieter Tembo, 4 Buko Mlali, 3 Nathen Swanepoel, 2 MJ Hattingh, 1 Zaine van Zyl.

Ander bepalings:

Diamantveld A-veld: 14:00 – Diamantveld IV t. Landboudal III; 15:00 – Diamantveld o. 14 A t. Fichardtpark o. 14 A; 16:00 – Diamantveld o. 15 A t. Fichardtpark o. 15 A; 17:00 – Diamantveld II t. Fichardtpark II; 18:10 – Diamantveld o. 16 A t. Fichardtpark o. 16 A.

Diamantveld B-veld: 15:00 – Diamantveld o. 16 B t. Fichardtpark o. 16 B; 16:10 – Diamantveld o. 14 B t. Fichardtpark o. 14 B.

Kimberley Boys’ High B-veld: 15:00 – Diamantveld o. 15 B t. Fichardtpark o. 15 B; 16:00 – Diamantveld III t. Fichardtpark III.

Mamelodi Sundowns, Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) and JVW are setting the pace in Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) after two weeks of action and four matches.

Each of those three teams has accumulated a perfect 12 points from their four outings, with goal difference all that separates the frontrunners on the log.

Mamelodi Sundowns, the defending champions, lead the pack, having netted an impressive 23 goals while conceding only two. During their exceptional start, they’ve showcased a well-rounded and powerful team.

On Sunday, at President Park in Vereeniging, Sundowns Ladies scored seven times and conceded only once as they accumulated another two victories. They cruised to a 4-0 win over Panorama FC and then triumphed 3-1 over Tornado FC.

Tornado FC had the toughest schedule of the day. After facing Sundowns, they took on another of the unbeatens, JVW, and were handed a 5-0 loss.

JVW, meanwhile, kept up their winning ways with an easy 7-1 win against the West Youth Academy 7-1. West Youth Academy scored again in their match against Kenneth FC, but it didn’t go much better, and they were beaten 5-1.

The hosts, RESA, fell from second to third place in the standings, but they still tacked on another two wins. Up against a tough Kempton Park team, they won 2-0. Then, they edged out Panorama 1-0.

Results 

Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 Panorama FC
RESA 2-0 Kempton Park
JVW 5-0 Tornado FC
Kenneth FC 5-1 West Youth Academy
Refilwe 4-0 Edenvale
Origin FC 1-1 Highlands Park
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Tornado FC
RESA 1-0 Panorama FC
JVW 7-1 West Youth Academy
Tuks 2-0 Kempton Park
Kenneth FC 2-2 Origin FC
Highlands Park 7-1 Refilwe

Die plattelanders het Saterdag nogmaals spogrugby opgedis in die Sandveld, met ‘n paar kragmetings wat ‘n fees van drieë opgelewer het.

Hoërskool Bultfontein het hul stempel afgedruk teen Hoërskool Riebeeckstad met ‘n indrukwekkende wegsege van 24-10.

Gideon Labuschagne het al drie sy span se drieë verdoel en self agter die pale gaan draai om 11 punte by te dra. Hendri Roux en AC Greyling het albei ook gedruk vir die besoekers.

Riebeeckstad het nietemin verbete teruggeveg, en kon deur agsteman, Chad Dreyer, en die plaasvervanger, Zwelake Nomandla, bresse in Bultfontein se verdediging slaan.

Die res van die naweek se kragmetings was meer eensydig, maar het ewe veel aksie opgelewer.

Losskakel, Wian Muller, en heelagter, Marnus Swart, het die veld aan die brand gespeel vir Wilgerivier en was beloon met twee drieë elk in hul sege van 40-12 oor Hoërskool Bothaville.

Wessel Maree het met 33-8 teen HTS Welkom geseëvier danksy binnesenter, Kabelo Oliphant, en linkervleuel, Thando Singama, wat elk ook ‘n tweekuns behaal het, terwyl Hoopstad se ster-senter, Hennie Barnard dieselfde vermag het in sy span se oorwinning van 36-8 oor Henneman.

Puntemakers:

Bultfontein 24 – Drieë: Gideon Labuschagne, Henri Roux, AC Greyling. Doelskoppe: Labuschagne (3). Strafdoel: Bastian van Zyl. Riebeeckstad 10 – Drieë: Chad Dryer, Zwelake Nomandla.

Wilgerivier 40 – Drieë: Wian Muller (2), Marnus Swart (2), Tlhompo Motsapi, Driaan Engelbrecht. Doelskoppe: Muller (5). Bothaville 12.

Wessel Maree 33 – Drieë: Kabelo Oliphant (2), Thando Singama (2), Junior Moroke, Kagiso Plaatjie. Doelskoppe: Moroke (3). HTS Welkom 8.

Hoopstad 36 – Drieë: Hennie Barnard (2), Busi Mfebe, AP Meyer, Christo van Rooyen, Marko Wolfaard. Doelskoppe: Mfebe (3). Henneman 8.

Ander tellings:

Sandveld B-liga: Winburg 42, Theunissen 0; St Anne’s Technical 36, Hoërskool Sandveld 5; Salomon Senekal 12, Welkom High 10.

o. 19 – Wilgerivier II 54, Bothaville 0; Riebeeckstad II 38, Bultfontein II 0

o. 16 – Wilgerivier 31, Bothaville 5; Wessel Maree 20, HTS Welkom 7; Hoopstad 64, Henneman 0; Bultfontein 25, Riebeeckstad 24

o. 15 – Wilgerivier 31, Bothaville 14; Wessel Maree 33, HTS Welkom 7; Hoopstad 31, Henneman 5; Bultfontein 21, Riebeeckstad 12

Outeniqua doubled the visiting Hoërskool Durbanville‘s total, winning 34-17 in George on Saturday, but were made to work hard for their victory in the second half.

Watch the match again on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the game

The Kwaggas hit the ground running, storming roughshod over the visitors in the first 20 minutes to race into a 24-0 lead.

A brace by their flyer on the wing, Keenan Jantjies, coupled with tries by flyhalf Ellie Meyer and no. 8, Gareth Maree, put the hosts firmly in the driving seat.

The brave Durbie attack never let up, however, and they opened their account on the half-hour, when Claydon Karelse stepped through the narrowest of gaps in the Kwagga defence.

After the Durbies found their feet, it became a more competitive contest, with the visitors outscoring the hosts 12-10 after the break.

Mere minutes into the second, Tobie Roelofse, picked off an Outeniqua pass to strike for Durbanville again.

A final big shove by the burly lock from George, Ruben Rossouw, sealed the victory for Outeniqua and, despite hitting back one more time on the buzzer through Daniel Havenga, the Durbies will have to wait another year for a shot at taking down the Kwaggas.

In another thrilling encounter between Boland Landbou and Stellenberg, the Paarl farmers were able to see off a spirited effort from the visitors, triumphing 25-19 after trailing for most of the match. Link to the game

The Jade Brigade were fired up for this one and grabbed points at the first opportunity when fullback Dehan Neethling split the poles with a well-struck penalty kick.

That became somewhat of a theme for the day, with Neethling contributing 14 of his side’s points off the tee.

A stunning try by Estian Steyn, just after half-time, and a Neethling penalty lifted the Cape Town outfit into a 19-8 lead, but the Boland boys never dropped their heads and kept battering at the visitors’ defences.

Tries by Ruan Viviers and Hans Verster put the home team in front for the first time, with only eight minutes to go, and a red card to Stellenberg compounded their woes. A try by Enslin Claasen then provided Boland with a little breathing space and prevented the Jade Brigade from repeating their success of 2022, when they last bested the farmers.

Oakdale beat Framesby in a high scoring clash, with Kurt Coetzee starring for the winners and scoring 20 of his side’s 50 points.

Scorers

Outeniqua 34 (24) – Tries: Keenan Jantjies (2) Ellie Meyer, Gareth Maree, Ruben Rossouw. Conversions: Meyer (3). Penalty: Meyer. Hoërskool Durbanville 17 (5) – Tries: Claydon Karelse, Tobie Roelofse, Daniel Havenga. Conversion: Karelse.

Boland Landbou 25 (5) – Tries: Kody Nell, Ruan Viviers, Enslin Claasen, Hans Verster. Conversion: Pieter Bergh. Penalty: Bergh. Stellenberg 19 (9) – Tries: Estian Steyn. Conversion: Dehan Neethling. Penalties: Neethling (4).

Oakdale 50 – Tries: Waylon Kortjie, Reinhardt Viljoen, Gustav van der Merwe, Lee-Winn Pretorius, Christiaan Vorster, Zak Wessels, Kurt Coetzee. Conversions: Coetzee (6). Penalties: Coetzee. Framesby 33 – Tries: Johan van Zyl (2), Sean Vermaak, Eden Calitz, Ethan Smith. Conversions: Logan Muller (4).

Other results

u19 – Outeniqua II 25, Hoërskool Durbanville II 12; Hoërskool Durbanville III 29, Outeniqua III 12; Hoërskool Durbanville IV 21, Outeniqua IV 14; Outeniqua V 27, Hoërskool Durbanville V 12; Boland Landbou II 43, Stellenberg II 12; Oakdale II 36, Framesby II 0; Oakdale III 17, Framesby III 13; Oakdale IV 34, Framesby IV 0; Oakdale V 47, Framesby V 0.

u16 – Hoërskool Durbanville A 36, Outeniqua A 21; Hoërskool Durbanville B 21, Outeniqua B 7; Outeniqua C 14, Hoërskool Durbanville C 14; Stellenberg A 24, Boland Landbou A 21; Oakdale A 17, Framesby A 0; Oakdale B 17, Framesby B 5; Oakdale C 19, Framesby C 0.

u15 – Outeniqua A 22, Hoërskool Durbanville A 18; Outeniqua B 12, Hoërskool Durbanville B 7; Hoërskool Durbanville C 7, Outeniqua C 0; Boland Landbou A 20, Stellenberg A 12; Oakdale A 17 Framesby A 15; Framesby B 19, Oakdale B 0; Framesby C 24, Oakdale C 15.

u14 – Outeniqua A 14, Hoërskool Durbanville A 0; Outeniqua B 24, Hoërskool Durbanville B 0; Outeniqua C 43, Hoërskool Durbanville C 12; Boland Landbou A 37, Stellenberg A 10; Oakdale A 42, Framesby A 7; Oakdale B 37, Framesby B 0; Oakdale C 75, Framesby C 0.

The Lady Frere Sport Legends, in collaboration with the Mfundo Cecil Foundation, hosts their annual u17 football tournament from 26 to 28 April at the Cacadu Stadium in Emalahleni.

The event, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools, was brought into being by the LFSL.

A non-profit organisation, the LFSL was founded in December 2016 with a goal of revitalising sports in the Emalahleni municipality. Besides backing sports, it also offers educational, health, and guidance initiatives to empower the youth of the region.

Since its founding, however, football has been at the forefront of the LFSL’s drive to reestablish sports in Emalahleni, with annual events, supported by South African Football Association (Safa) and the Department of Education, driving the initiative.

Their first annual football tournament took place in April 2018, and was attended by scouts of Ajax Cape Town. Also on the sidelines was former Bafana Bafana star, David Nyathi, who earned 45 caps for the South African national team.

After its conclusion, a tournament Dream Team was invited to play against Ajax’s development team, and also took on Vasco da Gama, Ubuntu Football Academy, St Agnes Rangers, and the Khayelitsha Local Football Association in a three-day event.

The forthcoming competition was previously known as the Sisa Mbekeni Schools Soccer Tournament, because of the backing of the Sisa Mbekeni Foundation. However, this year, it has been renamed the Mfundo Cecil Foundation Soccer Tournament, with the organisation taking over the as tournament’s primary sponsor.

Among the goals of the LFSL, which will be promoted alongside the football tournament, are raising awareness of drug abuse and gender-based violence. The involvement of schools in sport is also a key theme.

Invitations have been extended to scouts from a number of prominent clubs, including Tuks, SuperSport United, Cape Town Spurs, TS Galaxy, and Sikhukhune United FC.

Further support will be provided by Umhlobo Wenene FM’s sports presenter Ongeziwe Mjana.

Match Schedule: Cacadu Stadium

26 April

Match 1:     09:00-09:45: SSS Academy vs Nonkululeko
Match 2:    09:50-10:35:  Mzamo High vs Phumlani Tech SS
Match 3:    10:40-11:45:   Young Chiefs Academy vs Thambekile SSS
Match 4:    11:30-12;15:    Sosebenza High vs Mthonjeni JSS
Match 5:    12:20-13:05:   Noshumi United Academy vs Freeman Boys High
Match 6:    13:10-13:55:   Ntsokotha High vs Pakamani SSS
Match 7:    14:00-14:45:   Nonkululeko SSS vs Echibini SSS
Match 8:    14:50-15:35   Phumlani Tech SS vs Lukhanyo SSS
Match 9:    15:50-16:25: Thambekile SSS vs Maria Louw High
Match 10:  16:30-17:15:  Mthonjeni JSS vs Kwa-Mhlontlo High
Match 11:   17:20-18:05: Fremantle Boys High vs Sosebenza High
Match 12:  18:10-18:55:  Pakamani SSS vs Get Ahead College

27 April: Freedom Day

Match 13:  09:00-09:45: Echibini SSS vs SSS Academy
Match 14: 09:45-10:35: Lukhanyo SSS vs Mzamo High
Match 15: 10:40-11:25: Maria Louw High vs Young Chiefs Academy
Match 16: 11:30-12:15: Kwa-Mhlontlo High vs Sosebenza High
Match 17: 12:20-13:05: Noshumi United Academy vs Gcinubuzwe SSS
Match 18: 13:10- 13:55: Ntsokotha High vs Dordrecht High
Match 19: 14:00- 14:45: Xonxa JSS vs Noshumi United Academy
Match 20: 14:50- 15:35: Get Ahead College vs Ntsokotha High
Match 21: 15:40- 16:25: Gcinubuzwe High vs Xonxa JSS
Match 22: 16:30- 17:15: Dordrecht High vs Get Ahead College
Match 23: 17:20- 18:05: Freemantle Boys High vs Gcinubuzwe JSS
Match 24: 18:10-18:55: Pakamani SSS vs Dordrecht High

28 April: Quarterfinals 

Match 25: 09:00-09:45: Winner A vs Winner B
Match 26: 09:50-10:35: Winner E vs Runner Up F
Match 27: 10:40-11:25: Winner C vs Winner D
Match 28: 11:30-12:15: Winner F vs Runner Up E

28 April: Semi-finals 

Match 29: 12:00-13:05: Winner A/Winner B vs Winner C/Winner D
Match 30: 13:10-13:55: Winner E/Runner Up F vs Winner F/Runner E

28 April: Final 

Match 31: 14:30-15:40: Winner A/B or Winner C/D vs Winner E/F or Winner F/Runner Up E

Two teams usually recognised more for their rugged defences than their offences put on a scoring clinic on Gilfillan Field on Saturday as Hilton College fought off an enterprising challenge from Kearsney College to capture an entertaining 55-37 victory.

With the points flowing at more than one a minute, it was a fun contest for the spectators. Maybe, though, the coaches will feel there’s some work to be done after Hilton ran in eight tries and Kearsney five. Sometimes, though, there is no defensive answer to a clinically executed attack.

Kearsney’s decision to move Cameron Veenstra to fullback gave the visitors a sharper cutting edge on the counterattack, but Dan Eager, who moved from the back to the left-wing, joined Veenstra as one of Kearsney’s try scorers.

The visitors struck first through Veenstra, who went over on the left, but that set off a furious response from Hilton, with Daniel Sweeney rounding off a wonderful long-range effort from the home side.

A charge down by Jaque Olivier led to Ricky Adonis going over next to the uprights to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match. Kearsney replied, though, through hooker Blake Kruger, who provided a strong finish in the right-hand corner from a sharp lineout move.

Hilton’s response was outstanding as they dialled up the intensity and broke open the game. Always well drilled in the rolling maul, the home side used it to good effect to force their way over the Kearsney try line, and a conversion by Liyema Nela, one of five he made in the game, put Hanu Pieterse and company 21-12 in the clear.

Cameron Veenstra slotted a penalty to pull the visitors within six, but Hilton then delivered a decisive passage of play. Nela sliced through Kearsney’s defences with ease by looping around Ben le Roux and running into a gap. When confronted by fullback Veenstra, he flung out a long pass to Adonis, who had an easy run-in to score.

A beautifully weighted kick over a ruck, wide on the left and just outside the Kearsney 22, by scrumhalf Zander Vorster brought Hilton another five-pointer before the break, with the ball falling kindly into the hands of Adonis, who waltzed over the line, and they changed sides 33-15 to the good.

To their credit, Kearsney fought back well in the second stanza and, in fact, edged it 24-22.

Eager went over in the left-hand corner early to bring the One-Stripe within two converted tries. Then, they stopped a Hilton attack on the Kearsney 22, where they forced a turnover.

Kearsney broke away from the ruck, with their captain and tighthead Anele Cele barrelling forward. They were briefly halted on the halfway line, but swiftly moved the ball out to the backline.

Jarred van Staaden spotted space behind the Hilton backs and kicked over the top. The ball sat up invitingly for a flying Valentino Lenge and the right-wing gathered and accelerated away from the cover defence to score beneath the posts. Veenstra converted to make it 33-27. Game on!

Hilton worked their way into Kearsney half, probing left and right, and soon won themselves a penalty when the visitors were caught offsides. Nela had no problem from in front and extended the home side’s lead to nine.

Doan Nel, though, caught Hilton unawares when he snapped off a sweetly struck drop kick from about 28 metres out to make it 36-30.

Then, for the second time in the match, the home side benefitted from a charge down, with some quick hands getting them over the line in the right-hand corner.

A sharp-eyed break from Nela set Hilton on their way for another five-pointer. Sweeney was brought down within metres of the try line, but a quick pick ‘n go put Brad McLeod-Henderson‘s charges over the line and they opened up a comfortable lead.

Kearsney, then, strung multiple phases together to work their way down deep into the Hilton 22, stretching the defensive line out. In the end, though, they crossed from a ruck, and another conversion from Veenstra made it 48-37.

Hilton had the final say and, appropriately, it came from their captain Hanu Pieterse, who picked up off of a five-metre scrum, pinned his ears back and broke wide and to the blind to crash over.

Substitute Xola Makongolo nailed the conversion to put the seal on an enthralling game that was a fine advertisement for schoolboy rugby and for both schools.

In Pietermaritzburg, St Charles College welcomed Clifton College to Old Orchards on their Old Boys’ Weekend.

Saints played an attractive brand of rugby, letting the ball do the work and, with scrumhalf Matthew Fick, who was part of the Sharks’ Craven Week squad in 2023, directing the show, they ran in some thrilling tries in a captivating display, which brought them a 50-15 victory.

Raphael Ajibade led the way, breaking through for a hat-trick, while Okuhle Peti went over for two of his own. Athenkosi Qumo, Matthew Ludick and Christian Allardice made it eight tries in total for St Charles.

It was a tough day for Clifton, but they played to the final whistle and scored the last try of the match through Wandile Ngubane. Matt Hammond also got over the whitewash.

Scores

Hilton College 55 (33) – Tries: Ricky Adonis (2), Dan Sweeney, Josh Grant, Seb Gaboreau, Liyema Nela, Hanu Pieterse, Zander Vorster. Conversions: Liyema Nela (5), Xola Makongolo. Penalties:
Liyema Nela. Kearsney College 37 (15) – Tries: Cameron Veenstra, Blake Kruger, Dan Eager, Valentino Lenge, maul. Conversions: Cameron Veenstra. Conversions: Cameron Veenstra (3). Penalty: Cameron Veenstra. Drop goal: Doan Nel.

St Charles College 50 (31) – Tries: Raphael Ajibade (3), Okuhle Peti (2), Athenkosi Qumo, Matthew Ludick, Christian Allardice. Conversions: Ukhanyo Ntsangani (5) Clifton: 15 (3) – Tries: Matt Hammond, Wandile Ngubane. Conversion: Athabe Mthabela. Penalty: Adam Selikow.

On Bowden’s Field, at Westville, the home team stormed into a 20-3 lead against Glenwood, and it looked as if they would cruise to a straightforward victory. In the end, though, there were only three points in it, with the Griffin securing a 35-32 win over the Green Machine on Saturday.

Jadrian Afrikaner opened the scoring after 10 minutes, rounding the Green Machine’s defences down the left flank and Unathi Mlotshwa knocked over an easy conversion.

In the 20th minute, the visitors replied when Juan Viljoen kicked a penalty to get Glenwood on the board.

Griffin’s captain Chris Cloete then spun out of a tackle to crash over for Westville’s second from close range and Mlotshwa tacked on two.

The Westville flyhalf has been kicking beautifully and he had no trouble landing a penalty from near halfway, 15 metres in from the right-hand touchline. In the 36th minute, he added another from 10 metres out to give the hosts a 20-3 advantage at the break.

Earlier in the second half, Glenwood laid siege to Westville’s try line, hitting it up hard with the forwards running off the rucks. Then, when the home side conceded a penalty five metres out, in the middle of the field, scrumhalf Lian Lochner hastily took the tap and just as quickly laid on a pass for centre Sisipho Dwayi, who was running hard into a gap. He crashed through and was in under the poles. Viljoen converted to reduce the deficit to 10 points.

Westville responded, with some sharp handling putting Afrikaner in the clear on the left and he sped away to score his second try of the contest.

There was no give in Glenwood, and they set up a maul from a lineout inside the Westville 22. When the Griffin gave away a penalty, Lochner again caught them before they could organise their defence. The ball was taken into contact, then quickly released to the blind where a big overlap awaited, and Michael Ize-Iyamu dived over in the left-hand corner.

A penalty from Mlotshwa, then, made it 28-15. Glenwood were undaunted, however, and they again visited the left-hand corner, with a grubber setting up the score for Mvelo Ndwalane after a period of sustained pressure inside the Westville 22.

The excellent Lochner then made a long-striding break, with the Glenwood no. 9 finally being brought down five metres from the Westville try line by Jade-Will Koopman. The referee, however, ruled the tackle to be high and showed Koopman a yellow card while rewarding the Green Machine a penalty try. The visitors trailed 27-28.

The Griffin’s scrumhalf Ryan Pistor delivered a brilliant riposte. After the Westville forwards had knocked dents into Glenwood’s defensive line, they won a scrum near the try line. Pistor, taking the ball out of the back of the scrum, feinted to the right but then broke to the blind side, where he went over unchallenged to give his team the lead again. Mlotshwa converted and Westville led 35-27.

With time up on the clock, Glenwood struck back. Hooker Junior van Wyngaardt burst off the back of a well-controlled maul and dived over for a try. The kick was wide, and the final whistle sounded. Westville had withstood a serious fightback from Glenwood, winning 35-32.

On Meadows, in Balgowan, Michaelhouse made a strong start to force unbeaten Northwood onto the back foot early on.

Two tries from fullback Stefan Moolman, either side of a score by Rourke O’Sullivan, to which Northwood replied with an unstoppable maul for a five-metre lineout, took Carlyle Hawkins and company 21-5 clear, after Luke Davidson converted all three.

The Knights, though, struck back just before the break, with the backs and forwards combining well before the pack shoved their way over the Michaelhouse try line once more, which brought the score to 21-12 at half-time.

A penalty brought the visitors to within striking distance, but Davidson replied with one for ‘House, making it 24-15.

Northwood reacted to that setback with a relentless assault on the Michaelhouse defences. Led by their loose trio, Carlyle Hawkins, Riley Gehren and Robert Combrinck, the home side manfully fronted up, with the aforementioned trio doing a masterful job of turning over possession.

The Knights’ pressure eventually paid off when 8th-man Titus Cesonis burst over from a quick tap ‘n go, but time had run out on the Durban side and they fell just short, losing 22-24 and with that ceding their unbeaten record in 2024.

Westville 35 (20) – Tries: Jadrian Afrikaner (2), Chris Cloete, Ryan Pistor. Conversions: Unathi Mlotshwa (3). Penalties: Unathi Moltshwa (3). Glenwood 32 (3) – Tries: Sisipho Dwayi, Michael Ize-Iyamu, penalty try, Junior Wyngaardt, Mvelo Ndwalane. Conversion: Juan Viljoen. Penalty: Juan Viljoen

Michaelhouse 24 (21) – Tries: Stefan Moolman (2), Rourke O’Sullivan. Conversions: Luke Davidson (3). Penalty: Luke Davidson. Northwood 22 (12) – Tries: Titus Cesonis… TBC