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Johannesburg rolls out its red carpet to welcome 13 of the nation’s top hockey-playing schools to the annual King Edward VII School (KES) Easter Festival, which runs from Thursday, 28 March, to Monday, 1 April.

The festival, which was first held in 2002 and is one of the province’s major school sporting highlights, will be played over four days. There will be no matches on Good Friday.

Six of the 35 games will be played at the St John’s College Astro. The other 29 matches will be contested on the Weinberg Astro, named after one of KES’ famous sons, Sir Mark Weinberg, who turns 93 this year.

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The hosts head into the festival on the back of a six-week pre-season programme that was affected by injuries to three of their core players. Last week, they traveled to the KZN Midlands for the Nomads Festival, where they found the going tough.

“We were met with some serious coastal hockey schools. This has given us the right amount of prep to tick some bigger boxes at the KES Fest,” said Sharmin Naidoo, the KES Director of Hockey.

In their quest to produce good results at home, the KES team will be led by their captain Fynn Campbell, who will be backed up by the talents of Andrew Arouca and Oyena Qwabe.

Campbell leads the hosts’ penalty corner attack team and presents a real threat with his drag flick. Arouca will marshal the defence. He enjoyed an outstanding Nomads Festival with the KES u16 team and has been rewarded with a move up to the first team. Qwabe, who can score from anywhere in the D, will spearhead the KES’ attack.

Red-hot Selborne College will be the team to beat. The Amathole-based outfit heads into the KES event having gone undefeated and untied in the Tony Godding Festival and Nomads Festival. Their captain Tre’ Gilbert will have his sights set on adding to his 14-goal tally.

Grey College will also be eager to give a good account of themselves. The Bloemfontein boys enjoyed a strong Tony Godding Festival, where they won four and lost one, and had a middling Nomads Festival, where they lost two after winning their first three matches.

Jeppe‘s efforts at the Nomads Festival worked the other way around. The lost their first three but finished with back-to-back wins. They’ll be keen to continue banking victories.

Rondebosch, battle-hardened after facing some stiff competition at the Founders Festival, and Waterkloof, who were in action at the Coastal Cup, will also be looking to make a mark on the festival.

Kearsney, who sparkled on their home turf during the Founders Festival, winning three and drawing two, will bear close watching, but the dark horse team to keep an eye out for is Northwood.

The Knights, who enjoyed a strong 2023 season, which included winning the Guschkie Top Schools under-18 Tournament, opened their season with a tour of Argentina and haven’t yet been in action on South African soil, so they will be keen to make a statement.

FIXTURES

Thursday, 28 March 2024

Weinberg Astro

13:00 – Hoërskool Eldoraigne vs Parktown Boys’ High, 14:10 – St John’s College vs Queen’s College, 15:20 – Jeppe vs Hoëskool Waterkloof, 16:30 – King Edward VII School (KES) vs Rondebosch

Saturday, 30 March 2024

Weinberg Astro

07:30 – Grey College vs Parktown, 08:40 – Selborne College vs St Charles College, 09:50 – Jeppe vs Kearsney, 13:00 – Maritzburg vs Waterkloof, 14:10 – Grey College vs Rondebosch, 15:20 – Jeppe vs Hoërskool Eldoraigne, 16:30 – Selborne vs Northwood, 17:20 – KES vs Kearsney, 18:30 – St Charles vs Queen’s

St John’s College Astro

07:30 – Maritzburg College vs Queen’s, 08:40 – St John’s College vs Northwood, 17:20 – St John’s College vs Waterkloof

Sunday, 31 March 2024

Weinberg Astro

07:30 – Jeppe vs St Charles, 08:40 – Selborne vs Parktown, 09:50 – KES vs Northwood, 11:00 – Grey College vs Hoëskool Eldoraigne, 13:00 – St John’s vs St Charles, 14:10 – Maritzburg College vs Parktown, 15:20 – Northwood vs Rondebosch, 16:30 – KES vs Hoëskool Eldoraigne, 17:20 – Grey College vs Kearsney

St John’s Astro

07:30 – Maritzburg College vs Rondebosch, 08:40 – Waterkloof vs Queens, 13:00 – Selborne vs Kearsney

Monday, 1 April 2024

Weinberg Astro

07:30 – Selborne vs Hoëskool Eldoraigne, 08:40 – KES vs Queens, 09:50 – Waterkloof vs Northwood, 11:00 – Jeppe vs Rondebosch, 12:10 – St John’s vs Kearsney, 13:20 – Maritzburg College vs Grey College, 14:30 – Parktown vs St Charles

 

Kearsney College‘s picturesque Stott Field is ready and raring to host the 15^th edition of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF), with 14 high school teams set to do battle while, in a first for the event, 10 local u13 teams will also be in action on an adjoining field.

The event, which has been sponsored by Standard Bank since 2012, previously featured u13 matches to open the action daily. Now, their full participation follows a very successful formula Kearsney has used for their Kearsney Soccer Tournament and Kearsney Hockey 5s.

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There are three newcomers this year: Cape Town’s Rondebosch Boys’ High, Pearson High School, from Gqeberha, and Hoërskool Rustenburg, from the North-West.

All three enjoyed outstanding 2023 seasons. Rondebosch produced the best record in competition against their three southern suburbs rivals – beating SACS and Wynberg twice, while winning one and losing one against Bishops.

Recently, on 16 March, they went 13-17 down against Oakdale. To put that result into context, Oakdale recently beat Garsfontein 23-17 and Helpmekaar 41-22 at the NMI Toyota North-South Tournament.

Pearson’s signature result of 2023 was a 25-22 victory over Selborne College and this season they’re unbeaten in three outings which, most recently, included a 19-11 win over Queen’s College.

Rustenburg lost only twice in 15 matches last year and upset Glenwood High School 26-24. That same Glenwood team had won all three of their games at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.

Coach Derek Heiberg‘s charges suffered an upset loss to Welkom Gimnasium in their first game of 2024, although, in mitigation, they entered the contest without a number of their first-choice players due to injuries.

On 21 March, they were unimpressive in an 11-9 win over Wesvalia, so the Green Machine will want to set the record straight at Kearsney.

Westville Boys’ High, another of last year’s unbeaten teams at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, went down 17-25 to Michaelhouse in their first match of the season.

It was a scrappy first outing, but they showed that they could be a very dangerous team in the last quarter of the contest, when they started to find their way.

Monument was the other side to put together a perfect festival record in 2023, recording comfortable wins over Framesby (28-7), Noord-Kaap (50-5), and Dale College (41-5).

They’re a beefy outfit, with seven members of their squad weighing in at 100+ kilograms, including lock Jacques Botha, who stands 2.06m tall (6’8″) and weighs 128 kilos, and prop Wikus Meyer, who is 1.95m tall (6’4″) and tips the scales at 127 kilos. They’re not the heaviest! Prop Juandré Marais stands 1.89m (6’2″) and weighs 136 kilograms.

The hosts, who beat Dr EG Jansen 17-12 last year, to end Jansies’ unbeaten start to the season, went down 20-23 to Dale College and 24-26 to England’s Hartpury College in their other outings, and will be keen to put together a better record this time around.

At last year’s festival, Dr EG Jansen’s opener was a thrilling contest against Hartpury College, with the Boksburg boys fighting back from 14-28 down to force a 28-28 draw. Apart from the loss to Kearsney, they also went down 10-22 to Westville.

Like last season, they head into the festival undefeated, and have already played five matches. They’ve been dominant thus far, with their 36-26 win over Welkom Gimnasium the closest game they’ve played thus far.

With former Springbok and Sharks’ captain Keegan Daniel now heading up Kearsney’s rugby programme, the early signs have been positive, with the One-Stripe beating Witteberg 17-5, Hentie Cilliers 41-14 and, in a massive upset, Maritzburg College 16-14.

Their only loss came in their most recent game, when Durban High School (DHS) blanked them 23-0. It was a result that didn’t do justice to how tightly contested the match was.

DHS, meanwhile, will be keen to go three for three after winning two out of three in 2023. Last year, they headed into the festival straight from doing duty in the North-South Tournament and were shocked by Worcester Gimnasium in their opener, going down 31-36.

This season, DHS opted not to participate in the North-South Tournament to reduce the demands on their players. That will have its positives, but it also means that they go into the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival having played a lot less rugby than they had before the 2023 KERF.

One thing that be expected from DHS, however, is an entertaining running game, which is built upon the efforts of a solid, mobile, and hard-working pack.

Worcester Gimnasium, who won a lot of hearts with their running rugby when they debuted at KERF last season, head into the festival with a record of played four, won four.

They’ve exhibited a strong defence in their four victories, surrendering only 32 points in total. Their offence, though, has not yet fully sparked, scoring 88 points in their wins, so they’ll be keen to improve that aspect of their play.

Hoër Landbouskool Marlow has been in good early season form, although their most recent result was a 14-29 loss to Kingswood College. Their other results include a 32-14 win over Hoërskool Upington and a 16-5 victory over Hoërskool Duineveld. That same Duineveld team went down 32-33 to the highly rated Noordheuwel on Tuesday.

Noord-Kaap brings a clean record to the festival, although they haven’t played the toughest of opposition yet, recording wins over Sentraal (28-22), Landbouskool Jacobsdal (29-20) and HTS Louis Botha (59-14). One thing that can be expected from the Kimberley school is a willingness to run the ball.

Framesby have been regular visitors to the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, and their record in 2023 included a convincing 35-7 win over Noord-Kaap. However, they were beaten 31-10 by DHS and 28-7 by Monument in their other matches.

The boys from the Eastern Cape have begun 2024 well, with victories over Brackenfell (31-12) and Stirling (43-0).

Their fellow Eastern Cape school, Nico Malan, of Humansdorp, should be well prepared for KERF, with three matches in the bag. They won against Bergsig (15-7) and Dale College (32-29), but they were edged out by St Andrew’s College (24-21).

Online tickets for the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival can be purchased through Quicket at R45pp to avoid queues, or at the gate for R40pp. Children under six years of age get in for free.

There is ample on-site parking, numerous food outlets, a refreshment tent, and a fun KidZone for the little ones.

Fixtures

Day 1: Thursday, 28 March

09:00 – Worcester Gim v Rustenburg; 10:20 – Noord-Kaap v Dr EG Jansen; 11:40 – Glenwood v Marlow; 13:00 – DHS v Nico Malan; 14:20 – Framesby v Kearsney; 15:40 – Westville v Rondebosch

Day 2: Saturday, 30 March

07:40 – Noord-Kaap v Nico Malan; 09:00 – Westville v Pearson; 10:20 – Worcester Gim v Marlow; 11:40 – Rustenburg v DHS; 13:00 – Framesby v Monument; 14:20 – Glenwood v Dr EG Jansen; 15:40 – Kearsney v Rondebosch

Day 3: Monday, 1 April

07:30 – Marlow v Noord-Kaap; 08:50 – Rondebosch v Rustenburg; 10:10 – Framesby v Worcester Gim; 11:30 – Glenwood v Nico Malan; 12:40 – Closing Ceremony; 13:00 – DHS v Pearson; 14:20 – Monument v Westville; 15:40 – Kearsney v Dr EG Jansen

The Western Province u16 boys’ team was the undoubted class of the field as they powered their way to the title at the Junior Water Polo Championships, hosted in East London over the weekend.

The tournament followed on the heels of the u18 competition, which saw Central Gauteng win both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools.

Province sprinted to the boys’ u16 title by defeating KwaZulu-Natal 22-10 in the final, while the girls’ honours went to Central Gauteng, who were pushed hard by KZN, before triumphing 8-6 in the title-decider.

On their journey to the final, coach Kwakhona Ngwanya’s Western Province side dominated their round-robin clashes, blasting through all of their opponents.

They opened with a 23-6 thumping of Nelson Mandela Bay, before claiming a 16-1 win over the hosts, Buffalo City.

In their last round-robin clash, they made light work of Eden, scoring a whopping 24 goals, while conceding only three.

Their semi-final opponents, Central Gauteng, were expected to be their toughest opposition. Coach Ngwanya’s boys, however, were not phased, and continued their prolific run, outscoring the Johannesburg team 12-3 to reach the final.

In their four matches preceding the title-decider, Province had scored a cracking 75 goals and conceded only 13.

Then, in the final, they took their game up a notch. Province was dominant from the outset, playing an attacking brand of water polo which saw them dominate ball possession and territory for large portions of the match.

They used almost every opportunity they created and thumped KZN 22-10 to take home the gold medal.

Reacting to his side’s performances during the tournament, coach Ngwanya said it was an honour for him to work with a talented and hard-working group of players.

“I’m super privileged to be leading this group. I think they are a very determined bunch of kids,” he told SuperSport Schools.

When asked about the strategy, and approach they implemented for the tournament, he said: “We just decided to stay focused from the start.

“Our mentality was that we wanted to treat every game like a final, and we respected every opponent in front of us but knew we had to play good polo.

“We didn’t take any teams lightly. We certainly did our homework on both Gauteng and KZN.

“We played Gauteng in the semifinals, and we knew the final would depend on emotions and everything. The boys didn’t underestimate KZN, and as the result reads, they duly delivered.”

The squad featured many players with experience of plying their trade for their first teams at Cape Town’s top schools.

Matt Fenn and James Malan were standouts for Bishops, who enjoyed an excellent season, while Rondebosch’s Boys High’s Noah Reiback shone as his team claimed the KES Water Polo Tournament title.

Coach Ngwanya said the system is producing more quality players that polo enthusiasts can look forward to watching.

“I was impressed by our centre-back, Timothy Young. He’s just come into the Bishops’ first team this year,” Ngwanya said.

“He’s tall, has a good reach on him, and scored some fantastic goals from the halfway line, and he’s a star for the future.

“Our goalkeeper, Michael Mafunda, is also one to look out for. He is a leader and could be a head boy at Bishops.

“He is just a good person to have in the cage, and his communication is great.

“Another player would be Benjamin Bigara. He comes from a good water polo family, and he is very determined,” he added.

The Western Province u16 team will return to a happy hunting ground later this year when the annual Inter-Provincial tournament is hosted at the same venue in East London from 7-11 December.

Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool het hul NMI Toyota Noord/Suid-toernooi met ‘n dominerende vertoning voorlangs en ‘n wentelling van 38-11 teen Hoërskool Stellenberg afgesluit.

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Die Affies-pak het behoorlik baljaar, en verál met hul dryfmaalbewegings om die lynstane vir die Kapenaars kwaai opdraande gegee. Haker, Ethan van Dyk (2), en oopkantflank, Luan Potgieter, het op dié wyse die drieë ingeryg.

Dit het aanvanklik geblyk of die span van die Kaap se plan was om die gashere se agterhoede met lang skoppe veld af te toets. Dit het egter nie die gewenste uitwerking gehad nie, aangesien Ruben Groenwald, die Pretorianers se heelagter, en sy kollega in die nr. 14-trui, Roux Eagan, meer as opgewasse was vir die taak.

Inteendeel, die twee het ‘n konstante gevaar vir die Stellie-verdedigers ingehou met venynige teenaanvalle, wat vir albei vroeg reeds op drieë uitgeloop het.

Stellenberg se voorspelers het moedig probeer, met agtsteman en kaptein, Dale du Toit, wat beïndruk het met sy fisieke spel en dapper verdediging. Haker, Almero Kaizer, het ewe besielende spel gelewer, vernaam in die vaste los, en het die besoekers se enigste drie gedruk.

Puntemakers:

Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool 38 (19) – Drieë: Ethan van Dyk (2), Roux Eagan, Ruben Groenewald, Theuns Maritz, Luan Potgieter. Doelskoppe: Ruben Pienaar (4). Hoërskool Stellenberg 11 (3) – Drie: Almero Keizer. Strafdoele: Eben Rademan, Dehan Neethling

Freek de Kock of Paarl Gimnasium scored a total of 35 points as his side ran rampant against Pretoria Boys’ High on the final day of the annual NMI Toyota Noord/Suid tournament in Pretoria.

Gimmies won the match by 75-10 scoring a total of 11 tries. De Kock scored a hat-trick of tries while also converting ten of his team’s tries.

Gimmies already managed to build up a more than comfortable lead of 47-3 by half-time. The Candies however showed some more enthusiasm after their coach Paul Anthony‘s half-time talk.

Besides De Kock – the centre pairing of Kobus Blanckenberg and Markus Muller was also outstanding. Muller is a very exciting player with the ball in hand.

In the forwards, Marinus Daling (lock) enjoyed a very good first half.

Paarl Gimnasium concluded the tournament unbeaten as they defeated Monument of Krugersdorp by 38-21 in their first match.

A hat-trick of tries in the first half by Xavier Solomons (left wing) set the stage for Outeniqua to down Menlopark by 37-17 to finish their Noord/Suid campaign unbeaten.

The Kwaggas would’ve been a bit worried after losing their flyhalf, Andrew Stopforth, as well as scrumhalf, Ellie Meyer, due to injuries in their first match at Noord/Suid against Pretoria Boys’ High. Meyer recovered to start in Stopforth’s place in the number ten jumper.

Stopforth will be watching the next couple of games from the touchline. The Kwaggas however managed to bag two valuable victories in Pretoria. Their next clash against Grey College will be yet another tough encounter.

Captain and inside centre, Luca Potgieter, led his side from the front with an impressive performance. Their eighthman, Gareth Maree, also enjoyed a good day at the office.

Menlopark’s best player during the tournament was without a doubt their fullback, Divan Nel. He was once again asking questions to the defence and made many a meter with the ball in hand. The outside centre of Parkies, Ruben Fourie, also played well and was rewarded with a brace of tries.

Scorers: 

Paarl Gimnasium 75 (47) – Tries: Freek de Kock (3), Marinus Daling (2), Markus Muller, Nicolas Nel, Josh O’Neill, Jan Koegelenberg, Chandler Green, Adriaan van der Lingen. Conversions: Freek de Kock (10). Pretoria Boys’ High 10 (3) – Try: 8. Conversion: 4. Penalty: Tebogo Nchabeleng.

Outeniqua 37 (24) – Tries: Xavier Solomons (3), Gareth Maree, Juan Kleynhans. Conversions: Ellie Meyer (3). Penalties: Meyer. Menlopark 17 (7) – Tries: Ruben Fourie (2), Divan Nel. Conversion: Phillipus de Bruin.

Hoërskool Duineveld nearly caused the second major upset of this year’s NMI Toyota North/South Tournament, losing by one only point- 32-33 – against Hoërskool Noordheuwel on Tuesday in Pretoria.

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The side from Upington enjoyed a three-point lead, 22-19, at halftime after producing an exceptional first 35 minutes in which they dominated all facets of the game.

Eighthman Wihan Liebenberg led the way with a starring performance on attack and, especially, on defence. His reward was a personal haul of two tries.

Ethan Prins, Duineveld’s tighthead prop, proved to be equally valuable. Moving like an extra loose forward, he put his body on the line. His robust runs got his side over the advantage line time after time, and one of those drives led to a try for the front-ranker.

Hoërskool Noordheuwel, however, had enough left in the tank to stage an incredible fightback. Like Paarl Boys High in their match against Hoërskool Garsfontein on Monday night, with time ticking away, they managed to erase a 12-point deficit, scoring two wonderful tries through lock, Alex Greeff, and their hardworking eighthman, Brad Brown.

Lindsey Jansen (left wing) made his mark by launching scything counterattacks from the back, which helped swing the momentum in favour of the team from Krugersdorp. His exhilarating pace proved to be too much for the tiring Duineveld side.

Norries’ flyhalf, Jeandré Uithaler, found his rhythm after bursting through for a visit behind the Veldties try line, slotting two crucial conversions to see his side to a thrilling victory. 

Paul Roos Gimnasium proved too strong for a spirited Hoërskool Waterkloof, beating them 47-24.

The Paul Roos forwards enjoyed a good outing, asserting their dominance from the get-go. Luchwayito Mbaliswana, their burly tighthead, led the charge and barrelled over for two tries.

The impressive Riley Norton made a telling impact, especially at line-out time. He was also difficult to stop near the Waterkloof try line and burst through for one of his side’s seven tries.

In the backline, the nippy left wing, Keenan Stoffels, had the crowd going with his impressive runs down the touchline. Twice, Stoffels danced his way through the Klofie defences to score.

After appearing to be somewhat shocked in the first 35 minutes, Hoërskool Waterkloof began to find their way in the second half. The speedy Dennis Obi showed why he is highly regarded, with the wing scoring two wonderful tries from nothing.

Up front, no one put more into the contest than the Klofie eighthman, Marco Kok. He put his body on the line throughout and delivered some crushing hits. Just when it appeared that he might have played himself to a standstill, Kok crossed the try line after running an exceptional support line, which left the Paul Roos defenders baffled.

Paul Roos, however, bounced back with a late try through their reserve prop, Christiano Luizinho, to put an exclamation point on a solid win for the Stellenbosch school.

Scorers: 

Noordheuwel 33 (19) – Tries: Lindsey Jansen, Jeandre Uithaler, Xander Buitendag, Alex Greef, Brad Brown. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler (2), Jade Muller (2). Duineveld 32 (22) – Tries: Wihan Liebenberg (2), PJ Smit, Ethan Prins. Conversions: AJ Burger (3). Penalties: Burger (2).

Paul Roos Gimnasium 47 (19) – Tries: Keenan Stoffels (2), Luchwayito Mbaliswana (2), Riley Norton, Samuel Badenhorst, Christiano Luizinho. Conversions: Joshua Dumpies (4), Matthew Seymore (2). Waterkloof 24 (7) – Tries: Dennis Obi (2), Marko Kok, Ronan Bastiaanse. Conversions: Ronan Bastiaanse (3).

Die Parys Namgola-beker het die naweek ‘n nuwe staanplek in Noord-Vrystaat gekry, nadat Hoërskool Hoopstad se eerstes vir die gasheerspan, Hoërskool Parys, met 19-5 kon troef in die eindstryd.

As wenners is Hoopstad vanjaar ook die eerste span wat die Lucien van Zyl Sr-wisseltrofee ontvang.

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Die Hoopies beskik oor ‘n bulspan vanjaar en het reeds voor die afgelope naweek se aksie indrukwekkende seges oor Hoërskole Ficksburg, Brandfort en Kalahari behaal.

Hulle het daardie momentum oorgedra na die byeenkoms in Parys en vir sowel Hoërskool Ladybrand (48-15) as Heilbron (36-6) kafgedraf om ‘n plek teen die tuisspan in die eindstryd te bespreek.

Parys het die plaaslike gemeenskap heel naweek vermaak met skitterrugby, wat uitgeloop het op spogseges oor Hoërskool Riebeeckstad (34-7) en President Steyn (31-10) gedurende die eerste twee dae.

In die finale kragmeting het Hoopstad egter oor té veel skietgoed vir Parys beskik, met die agterspeler van die toernooi, buitesenter, Hennie Barnard, wat ‘n tweekuns behaal en binnesenter, Abrie van Zyl, wat hul derde drie aangeteken het.

Cyris Bothma het nietemin die skare op hul voete gehad in die tweede helfte toe hy ‘n losbal opgeraap en ore platgetrek het om Parys se agterstand na sewe punte te laat krimp. Hoopstad het egter aanhou druk toepas, en Barnard se tweede drie was die laaste spyker in die tuisspan se kis.

Verlede jaar se Kovsiestreek Colt-liga kampioene lyk inderdaad oorgehaal vir nóg ‘n groot seisoen as hul voorseisoense resultate enigsins ‘n aanduiding bied.

Hoërskool Zastron het in ‘n opwindende stryd met 20-14 teen Hoërskool Bothaville geseëvier om die skild te verower.

Zastron het op die eerste dag vir HTS Carel de Wet oortuigend met 38-7 geklop, maar Retief High School het hulle Saterdag laat sweet vir ‘n oorwinning van 12-3. Bothaville het die stryd ook met ‘n onoorwonne rekord by die toernooi betree, na suksesse teen Hoërskole Panorama (19-5) en Brandfort (43-0).

Na die wegholsege teen Brandfort het Bothaville met heelwat momentum afgeskop en na vyf minute reeds eerste bloed getrek teen Zastron. Kort voor halftyd het Zastron se losskakel, Lechabile Leballo, vinnig gedink en ‘n steekskoppie deurgesit vir Frans Botha om toe te duik, om die rustydagterstand na 10-14 te laat krimp.

Na die breuk was dit eenrigtingverkeer, met Leballo wat eiehandig nog 10 punte bygedra het om sy span te help om die skild omhoog te lig.

Die Anker Skool van Vanderbijlpark se eerstespan het die LSEN-skole se naam hoog gehou teen die plattelandse kompetisie, om die Plaat-trofee weg te stap.

‘n Oortuigende sege van 34-0 oor Hoërskool Zeerust, gevolg deur ‘n klipharde kragmeting Hendrik Potgieter (Reddersburg), wat Die Anker met 15-10 kon wen, het aan die Gautengers ‘n plek in die eindstryd teen Retief besorg.

Die span van Kestell moes met slegs ‘n strafdoel tevrede wees, terwyl Die Anker die enigste drie kon druk vir ‘n welverdiende sege van 8-3.

Puntemakers:

Hoërskool Hoopstad 19 (5) – Drieë: Hennie Barnard (2), Abrie van Zyl. Doelskoppe: Busi Mfebe (2). Hoërskool Parys 5 (0) – Drie: Cyris Bothma.

Hoërskool Zastron 20 (10) – Drieë: Frans Botha, Lechabile Leballo. Doelskoppe: Leballo (2). Strafdoele: Leballo (2). Hoërskool Bothaville 14 (14).

Al die uitslae

Vrydag, 22 Maart: Heilbron 48, Sasolburg 0; Zastron 38, HTS Carel de Wet 7; Bothaville 19, Panorama 5; Die Anker Skool 34, Zeerust 0; Hoopstad 48, Ladybrand 15; Retief 56, Morgenzon 7; Brandfort 49, Balfour 0; President Steyn 37, New Horizon College Bethlehem 10; Hendrik Potgieter (Reddersburg) 32, New Horizon College Harrismith 18; Parys 34, Riebeeckstad 7.

Saterdag, 23 Maart: Ladybrand 14, Sasolburg 3; HTS Carel de Wet 19, Morgenzon 7; Panorama 33, Balfour 0; New Horizon College Harrismith 24, Zeerust 14; Riebeeckstad 43, New Horizon College Bethlehem 0; Hoopstad 36, Heilbron 6; Zastron 12, Retief 3; Bothaville 43, Brandfort 0; Die Anker Skool 15, Hendrik Potgieter (Reddersburg) 10; Parys 31, President Steyn 10.

Maandag, 25 Maart: Beker – Hoopstad 19, Parys 5; Skild – Zastron 20, Bothaville 14; Plaat – Die Anker Skool 8, Retief 3; Beelde – HTS Carel de Wet 13, New Horizon College Harrismith 0; Hendrik Potgieter (Reddersburg) 21, Panorama 0; Ander wedstryde – New Horizon College Bethlehem 21, Balfour 14; President Steyn 20, Heilbron 12; Morgenzon 14, Sasolburg 3; Brandfort 17, Riebeeckstad 5; Ladybrand 28, Zeerust 0.

Hoërskool Hugenote is as die nuwe Mauritz Hansen Rugbyweek-kampioen gekroon nadat hulle die gasheerskool, Hoërskool Hans Strijdom, met ‘n telling van 26-10 in die eindstryd verslaan het.

Die oorwinning het egter nie maklik gekom vir die Hugies nie. Die Hansies het ‘n titaniese stryd opgesit, verál op die verdediging.

Op die einde van die dag was dit die hoë intensiteit waarteen Hugenote gespeel het, wat die deurslag gegee het.

Die Hugies se lostrio, met kaptein, Tyron Hand, aan die spits, het uitgetroon. Hand was deurgaans gevaarlik op die aanval, en hy en agtsteman, Hendrik Eybers, het dikwels soos ‘n wafferse senterpaar van mekaar afgespeel.

Die duo se kragtige barslopies in die middelveld het die span van Springs meermale oor die voordeellyn gedryf.

Haker, Luan Pretorius, het homself ook uitstekend van sy taak gekwyt en is, na ‘n netjiese lopie teen die kantlyn af, met sy span se eerste vyfpunter beloon.

Plaasvervanger, Anthony Smith, en slot, Xavier Ungerer, het ook voorlangs hul stem dik gemaak en elk ‘n drie gedruk.

Wat die Hansies betref is dit moeilik om iemand uit te sonder, met die gashere se pak voorspelers wat enduit alles in die stryd gewerp het.

Dit was veral hul effektiewe lynstaanspel en aanvallende verdediging wat die Hugies se aanvallers aan bande gelê het. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die besoekers heelwat ongedwonge hanteringsfoute begaan het, wat die Hansies moontlik beter moes uitbuit.

Steelkantflank, Janneman Benson, het die tuisspan se enigste drie gedruk, terwyl losskakel, Hendriko van der Kolf, in die kol was met ‘n doelskop en strafdoel.

Ligbron Akademie het hul ietwat teleurstellende week met ‘n puik oorwinning van 21-14 teen Northcliff High School afgesluit. Losskakel, Divan van Jaarsveldt, het, benewens sy twee drieë, ‘n aansienlike aandeel gehad in die span van Ermelo se sege, met die ondernemende wyse waarop hy die spel dikteer en spasie vir sy snellers geskep het.

Northcliff se verdediging was, nes vroeër die week, uit die boonste rakke, met slegs die intensiteit waarteen die Liggies gespeel het wat in die laaste 20 minute aan hulle die oorhand gegee het.

Hoërskool Bellville se Ashwin Cox het die span van die Kaap tot ‘n naelbytsege van 12-10 oor Hoërskool Witteberg gesool. Cox se geoefende skopskoen was verantwoordelik vir al 12 sy span se punte, terwyl die span van Bethlehem se dissipline hul klippie in die skoen was.

JC van Rhyn, Witteberg se buitesenter, en losskakel, Sydwil Sethi, het hul harte uitgespeel en is, na goeie stukkies spel, elk met ‘n drie beloon.

Puntemakers:

Hugenote (Springs) 26 (7) – Drieë: Luan Pretorius, Anthony Smith, Corne Pretorius, Xavier Ungerer. Doelskoppe: George Loucas. Hans Strijdom 10 (3) – Drie: Janneman Benson. Doelskop: Hendriko van der Kolf. Strafdoel: Van der Kolf.

Ligbron Akademie 21 (14) – Drieë: Divan van Jaarsveld (2), Janco Classeen. Doelskoppe: Renier van Staden. Northcliff 3 (3) – Strafdoel: Luke Roos.

Hoërskool Bellville 12 (3) – Strafdoele: Ashwin Cox (4). Witteberg 10 (0) – Drieë: JC van Rhyn, Sydwil Sethi.

Ander uitslae: 

Fochville 22, Kalahari 22; Linden 22, Frans du Toit 0; Piet Retief 21, Brits 5.

Ander eindstryde:

Tweedespanne: Hans Strijdom 25, Ligbron 7.

o. 16: Witteberg 20, Hans Strijdom 7.

o. 15: Merensky 33, Hans Strijdom 3.

o. 14: Witteberg 21, Dr Malan 5.

The picturesque southern suburbs of Cape Town will host this year’s edition of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament from Wednesday, 27 March, with the boys’ and girls’ finals set to be contested on Saturday evening.

The festival brings 80 schools and 1 400 players together in the Mother City for four days of festivities.

Teams from South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, will be in attendance, bringing together an interesting mix of styles and approaches from within and beyond the country’s borders.

The matches will be hosted at eight venues, all Belgotex Sport-manufactured turfs.

These include the Hartleyvale A and B turfs, Pinelands, Rustenburg Girls’ High, SACS, Wynberg A and B, and the University of Cape Town (UCT).

The players will not only be battling for silverware but also for places in the Enhanced Sports Team, which will be selected after the tournament for a tour of Europe in September.

The festival organisers have also introduced a new initiative, to encourage players to play with a purpose through their partnership with Sport for Lives. Throughout the week, they will be raising funds to help two beneficiaries from the Maitland Children’s Hospital acquire mobility devices.

All eyes will, however, be on the turfs, with Paarl Gimnasium, in the boys’ section, and Krugersdorp’s Monument High, in the girls’ competition, returning to defend their titles.

Paarl Gim is drawn in Pool C, alongside Belville High, Punt, Nelspruit High School, and Namibia’s St George’s Diocesan School.

Meanwhile, it will be a tough ask for Monument to finish atop their group, which includes tough challengers in Stellenbosch High, Belville, Wynberg Girls’, and Kingswood College.

The Western Cape will be well represented. The boys’ section includes, among others, Hugenote, SACS, DF Malan, Outeniqua, Somerset College, Fairmont, and Worcester Gymnasium.

La Rochelle, Wynberg, and Rustenburg are some of the local girls’ teams to keep an eye on.

Representing the Eastern Cape are Stirling High, Hudson Park, Woodridge College and the aforementioned Kingswood College.

Namibia’s representation includes St George’s Diocesan School, Windhoek Gymnasium, Pro-ed Akademie, Private School Swakopmund, and Windhoek High School.

One of Zimbabwe’s top schools, St John’s College will also grace the festival and will go up against Bridge House, DF Malan, Outeniqua, and Pro-ed Akademie, in the pool stages.

The action kicks off on Hartleyvale A with a cracker between SACS and Hugenote High School at 08:00, while the other venues will run matches on a similar schedule.

For the full fixture list, please visit IH Sports App (qr.codes).

Later, all the teams will assemble at the Hartleyvale A Astroturf for the opening ceremony, which starts at 19:30.

Catch all 280 matches LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Pools

Boys

Pool A: Hugenote, SACS, Stirling High, Private School Swakopmund, Middelburg.
Pool B: Bridge House, DF Malan, Outeniqua, Pro-ed Akademie, St John’s (Harare).
Pool C: Paarl Gimnasium, Belville High, Punt, St George’s Diocesan School, Nelspruit.
Pool D: The Settlers, Somerset College, Kingswood College, Windhoek Gymnasium, Rustenburg.
Pool E: Stellenbosch, Fairmont, Oudtshoorn, Windoek HS, Monument.
Pool F: Paarl Boys’ High, Stellenberg, Langenhoven Gimnasium, Robertson, Red Hill School.
Pool G: Worcester Gymnasium, Curro Durbanville, Hudson Park, Swartland, Northcliff.
Pool H: Strand, Durbanville, York High, Hermanus, Woodridge College

Girls

Pool A: Hugenote, Hudson Park, Middelburg, Curro Durbanville, Private School Swakopmund.
Pool B: Woodridge College, Redhill, Bridge House, Pro-ed Akademie, DF Malan.
Pool C: Nelspruit, Hermanus, Stirling High, St George’s Diocesan School, Rustenburg Girls’.
Pool D: Paarl Gimnasium, Oudtshoorn, Rustenburg, Windhoek Gymnasium, The Settlers.
Pool E: La Rochelle, Outeniqua, Eldoraigne, Worcester Gymnasium, Fairmont.
Pool F: Somerset College, Punt, Penryn College, Durbanville, Robertson.
Pool G: Stellenbosch, Kingswood College, Monument, Belville, Wynberg Girls’.
Pool H: Strand, York High, Northcliff, Stellenberg, Langenhoven Gimnasium

Fixtures on the Hartleyvale A Astro

Wednesday, 27 March 2024

08:00 – Hugenote vs SACS (Boys); 09:00 – Hugenote vs Hudson Park (Girls); 10:00 – Stirling High vs Private School Swakopmund (Boys); 11:00 – Private School Swakopmund vs Middleburg (Girls); 12:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Nelspruit (Boys); 13:00 – Hermanus vs Rustenburg Girls (Girls); 14:00 – Belville vs Punt (Boys); 15:00 – Stirling High vs Nelspruit (Girls); 16:00 – Nelspruit vs St George’s (Boys); 17:00 – St George’s vs Rustenburg Girls (Girls); 18:00 – Pro-ed Akademie vs DF Malan (Girls); 19:30 – Opening Ceremony.

Thursday, 28 March 2024

08:00 – Somerset College vs Penryn (Girls); 09:00 – Paarl Boys High vs Langenhoven Gimnasium (Boys); 10:00 – Punt vs Durbanville (Girls); 11:00 – Stellenberg vs Redhill (Boys); 12:00 – Somerset College vs Robertson (Girls); 13:00 – Paarl Boys High vs Robertson (Boys); 14:00 – Northcliff vs Stellenberg (Girls); 15:00 – York High vs Woodridge (Boys); 16:00 – York High vs Langenhoven Gimnasium (Girls); 17:00 – Durbanville vs Hermanus.

Friday, 29 March 2024

08:00 – 2^nd Pool A vs 2^nd Pool B (Girls); 09:10 – 2^nd Pool A vs 2^nd Pool B (Boys); 10:20 – 2^nd Pool E vs 2^nd Pool F (Girls); 11:30 – 1^st Pool A vs 1^st Pool B (Girls); 12:40 – 1^st Pool A vs 1^st Pool B (Boys); 13:50 – 1^st Pool E vs 1^st Pool F (Girls); 15:00 – 1^st Pool E vs 1^st Pool F (Boys); 16:10 – Semi-final 1 (Girls); 17:20 – Semi-final 1 (Boys); 18:30 – Semi-final 2 (Girls); 19:40 – Semi-final 2 (Boys).

Saturday, 30 March 2024

08:00 – Super Bowl Final (Girls); 09:10 – Super Bowl Final (Boys); 10:20 – Shield Final (Girls); 11:30- Shield Final (Boys); 12:40 – Plate Final (Girls); 13:50 – Plate Final (Boys); 15:00 – 3^rd/4^th place-playoff (Girls); 16:10 –3^rd/4^th place-playoff (Boys); 17:20 – Final (Girls); 18:30 – Final (Boys); 19:40 – Prize Giving

Hoërskool Robertson het op die laaste dag van die Klein Karoo Saadproduksie-rugbyweek die tuisspan uitoorlê met 19-17, en so vir die Oakdale-vyftiental hul eerste nederlaag van die byeenkoms toegedien.

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Teen halftyd was daar nog niks wat die twee spanne  kon skei nie, met die telling op 14-14. Oakdale kon na die breuk slegs met ‘n enkele strafdoel, deur losskakel, Tyrese Plaatjies, verdere punte aanteken, terwyl Robertson se Haygen Persent met sy span se derde drie die oorwinning beklink het.

Die Oakdale-span het hul skool heel naweek met trots verteenwoordig, en ook in hierdie wedstryd puik vertoon. Dit was slegs twee skitterende drieë deur Robertson se opwindende SA o .17-Sewesster, Bernardo Diedericks, wat die besoekers binne trefafstand gehou het.

Die Robbies het verbete verdediging aan die dag gelê om Oakdale te verhoed om in die tweede helfte te druk, en, met slegs vyf minute oor, het daar uiteindelik ‘n gaping in die tuisspan se verdediging oopgegaan wat Haygen Persent deurgelaat het vir die wendrie.

Hoërskool Strand het ook hul veldtog op ‘n hoë noot afgesluit in ‘n riller teen Hoërskool Kempton Park. Teen halftyd het die Strandhonde aan ‘n skrale voorsprong van 19-17 geklou en, na nog ‘n aksiebelaaide halfuur, was dit steeds twee punte wat die verskil gemaak het op 34-32.

Hoërskool Oosterlig het indrukwekkend vertoon deur vir Hoërskool Bredasdorp met 36-19 af te ransel.

Die Boksburgers spog met driekwarte wat mekaar beter verstaan as meeste, met die tweeling, Dean en Dylan Jordaan, wat die nr. 13- en 14-truie dra, terwyl hul neefs, Joël Jordaan en Joshua Booyens, op binnesenter en linkervleuel speel.

Al vier neefs het gedurende die byeenkoms agter die doellyn gaan kuier. Jordaan en Booyens het in die eerste twee wedstryde drieë aangeteken, terwyl die boeties altwee teen Bredasdorp gedruk het.

Merensky Landbou Akademie het ‘n uitstekende tweede helfte teen Hoërskool Lichtenburg beleef om van 0-24 terug te veg en uiteindelik met slegs vyf punte te verloor.

Hul groot agsteman, Hardus Terblanche, het ‘n tweekuns behaal en die span, wat in die liga bokant hulle speel, deurentyd kopsere besorg.

Twee drieë deur sy direkte opponent, Abrie Coetzee, in die eerste helfte, en ‘n derde deur buitesenter, Dundré Dempers, was egter genoeg om die knoop vir die Liggies deur te hak.

Puntemakers:

Hoërskool Robertson 19 (14) – Drieë: Bernardo Diedericks (2), Haygen Persent. Doelskoppe: Jaydan van Niekerk. Oakdale XV 17 (14) – Drieë: Daniel Joubert, Jurgen Isaacs. Doelskoppe: Tyrese Plaatjies (2). Strafdoel: Plaatjies.

Hoërskool Lichtenburg 24 (24) – Drieë: Abrie Coetzee (2), Dundré Dempers. Doelskoppe: Albert Joubert (3). Strafdoel: Joubert. Merensky Landbou Akademie 19 (0) – Drieë: Hardus Terblanche (2), Byron Hendricks. Doelskoppe: JD boshoff (2).

Hoër Volkskool Graaff-Reinet 24 (10) – Drieë: Ethan Davids, Casper Becker, Joshua du Toit. Strafdoele: Elrico Prins (3). Hoërskool Die Anker 22 (12) – Drieë: Duvan Booyens (2), Damian Boshoff. Doelskoppe: Ruan Smith (2). Strafdoel: Smith.

Hoërskool Strand 34 (19) – Drieë: Roeben Robinson, Lyle Julies, Na-Eem Adams, Cayden Theunisen, Strafdrie. Doelskoppe: Darren Dramat, Tyron Nicholas. Strafdoel: Jayden Steenkamp. Hoërskool Kempton Park 32 (17) – Drieë: Tiaan Delport, Tian Aucamo, Deon Mulligan, Vaughn Fouche. Doelskoppe: Delport (2). Strafdoele: Delport (2).

Hoërskool Middelburg 19 (14) – Drieë: CW Hanekom (2), Matthew Abbey. Doelskoppe: Abbey (2). Hoërskool Upington 14 (0) – Drieë: Roelof Slabbert, LJ Isaks. Doelskoppe: Hercules Hudson, Caden Daniels.

Hoërskool Pietersburg 24 (10) – Drieë: Pieter Oosthuizen, Hanno van Zyl, Divan Brown. Doelskoppe: Brown (3). Strafdoel: Brown. Hugenote Hoërskool (Wellington) 19 (12) – Drieë: Basson Truter, Heinrich Landsberg, Ethan-John Isaacs. Doelskoppe: Lian Wiid (2).

Hoërskool Oosterlig 36 (26) – Drieë: Jeandré Bekker (2), Tristan Else, Dylan Jordaan, Dean Jordaan. Doelskoppe: Jaydon Bouwer (4). Strafdoel: Bouwer. Hoërskool Bredasdorp 19 (7) – Drieë: Naide April (2), Liam Engel. Doelskoppe: Kyle Willeman (2).