Die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) is slaggereed om hul langverwagte Prestige-netbaltoernooi aan te bied, van 25 tot 27 Maart.
Met nie minder nie as 17 skole wat vanjaar deelneem, is die tafel gedek vir ‘n opwindende vertoning van talent en sportmangees.
Volgens Maggie du Plessis, Affies se direkteur van netbal en koördineerder van die toernooi, skryf skole hulself vrywillig in vir die gesogte toernooi.
“Om die Prestige-netbaltoernooi vir ‘n 10de jaar aan te bied, is uiters opwindend,” sê Du Plessis, “vernaam met die deurlopende tradisie van uitnemendheid wat met die geleentheid geassosieer word.
“Sommige skole is al ‘n dekade lank gereelde deelnemers, wat bydra tot die geleentheid se nalatenskap van mededing en kameraadskap.”
Die toernooi dien as ‘n ideale platform vir skole om hul spanne te verfyn en talent te assesseer op die vooraand van die liga-seisoen.
Du Plessis beklemtoon die belangrikheid daarvan om spelers se werklading te bestuur ten einde beserings te voorkom, met ‘n gestruktureerde formaat wat die aantal wedstryde, wat deur elke span gespeel word, beperk.
Affies se eerste netbalspan het in 2023 met die louere weggestap, wat die kaliber van kompetisie by die toernooi beklemtoon.
Du Plessis sien die geleentheid nie bloot as ‘n geleentheid vir spanne om hul vaardighede ten toon te stel nie, maar ook as ‘n manier om spangees en kameraadskap te bevorder deur uitdagende wedstryde en gedeelde ervarings.
“Ons is opgewonde om die deelnemende skole te verwelkom vir nog ‘n toernooi van hoë-gehalte kompetisie,” voeg sy by.
Die toernooi se se aansienlike omvang is duidelik, met 320 wedstryde wat oor 45 rondes geskeduleer is, en ‘n jaarlikse gehoor van 600 tot 800 toeskouers lok. Agter die skerms maak die toernooi staat op die toewyding van 180 beamptes en 65 skeidsregters, wat die gladde verloop van verrigtinge verseker.
At last, the highly anticipated arrival of coach Tebello Kheswa‘s NWU Vaal on the big stage of the Gauteng Development League was witnessed, with the side travelling to Clapham to take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Kheswa’s newly promoted team was on a mission to prove to all the teams in the league and fans around the country that their victory over Sundowns in last season’s GDL Youth Cup was not a fluke.
On the other hand, Sundowns were itching to put the newbies in their place.
In the first half, NWU Vaal played their typical game, controlling possession and looking to control the pace of the encounter.
However, Sundowns knew precisely when to press their opposition. They often caught them off guard, overwhelming them with pressure, and they were then clinical in front of goal.
To open the Brazilians’ goal account, Junaid Seedaf converted a set piece (free kick) to give them a 1-0 advantage at the break.
In the second half, Sundowns stunned the league newcomers with five more goals, courtesy of a double by Kamva Moni, and further goals from Molemo Seemela, Ntokozo Siquba and Reitumetsi Motlhasedi, which powered the team from Pretoria to a big 6-0 victory.
After finishing in the top three last season, Sundowns look like a team that has gone back to the drawing board to address its shortcomings. Now, after three rounds of action, they’re top of the GDL log.
In other fixtures, Kathorus Hyper Academy and Panorama drew 2-2 at Hunterfield Stadium, with Koketso Tshwene shining for Kathorus Hyper.
At the Greek Sporting Club, Joburg City suffered a 2-4 loss at home to Rosina Sedibane, while in Pretoria, Manelisi Mazibuko and Tshepo Mahlatsi bagged two goals each to help SuperSport United to a 5-2 win over UP Tuks.
Highlands Park put a tick in the win column with a 2-1 victory over the School of Excellence at Balfour Park, while Jomo Cosmos lost 0-1 at home to Remember Elite Soccer Academy (RESA) as Nkululeko Sekese‘s goal secured the points for the visitors.
Sevens Academy drew 1-1 with Wits Junior at Marks Park, while Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 2-2 draw by Randburg AFC.
Results
u13
Kathorus Hyper Academy 3-3 Panorama
SuperSport United 1-2 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-2 RESA
Joburg City vs Rosina Sedibane (Postponed, No match officials)
Sevens Academy 8-0 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 Randburg AFC
u15
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1 Panorama
SuperSport United 0-0 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 1-2 RESA
Joburg City 2-1 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 0-1 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 1-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Randburg AFC
Under 17
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-0 Panorama
SuperSport United 0-0 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-2 RESA
Joburg City 3-1 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 1-0 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 4-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 1-3 Randburg AFC
Under 19
Kathorus Hyper Academy 2-2 Panorama
SuperSport United 5-2 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-1 RESA
Joburg City 2-4 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 2-1 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 1-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Randburg AFC
Mamelodi Sundowns 6-0 NWU Vaal
Die platteland word hierdie langnaweek weer bederf met topgehalte skolerugby by die Namgola Parys-rugbyweek.
Volg die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou
Die gedagte agter die toernooi is om sowel aan opkomende spelers die geleentheid te bied om hul vaardighede op te skerp as aan afrigters ‘n finale geleentheid om hul spanne voor te berei vir die liga-seisoen.
Daar is nietemin steeds ‘n groot mate van trots op die spel wanneer die spanne mekaar aandurf, en dit sal verál die geval wees vir die gasheerspan, Hoërskool Parys, waneer hulle Vrydag vir Hoërskool Riebeeckstad die stryd aansê in die hoofwedstyd van die eerste dag.
Die manne van Parys het reeds ‘n positiewe begin tot hul seisoen beleef toe hulle vir St Andrew’s School van Bloemfontein met 24-19 geklop het by SPS Brandfort se jaarlikse Pieter Swanepoel-sportdag.
Parys se senter, Qenan Bekker, het die Saints se verdediging kafgedraf om twee keer agter die doellyn te gaan kuier.
‘n Aantal van die spanne wat by daardie geleentheid te siene was, is ook hierdie naweek in Parys in aksie.
Brandfort het in die hoofwedstryd naelskraaps met 12-16 verloor en sal gretig wees om terug te keer wenpad toe wanneer hulle Vrydag teen Hoërskool Balfour te staan kom.
Hul stewige pak voorspelers sal nie sommer vir enige span hierdie naweek terugstaan nie, maar daar is paar ander spanne wat self beskik oor ‘n klompie groot plattelandse seuns wat in die skrum sak.
Hoërskole Bothaville en Ladybrand het altwee hul wedstryde by die sportdag in Brandfort gewen, en sal hierdie naweek op daardie sukses wil voortbou.
Bothaville het, danksy twee drieë deur Paul Verwey, daarin geslaag om vir Reddersburg (Landbouskool Hendrik Potgieter) met 34-26 te klop, terwyl Ladybrand ligte werk van President Steyn Hoërskool gemaak het om met 31-7 te wen.
Vrydag begin Bothaville hul veldtog teen Hoërskool Panorama, voordat Ladybrand teen Hoërskool Hoopstad uitdraf.
Die Hoopstad span het ook reeds twee goeie seges behaal, deur vir Brandfort met 47-14 pakslae te gee en ook, by die Hartswater-sportdag, vir Hoërskool Kalahari af te stof met 28-14.
Binnesenter, Abrie van Zyl, het in albei daardie wedstryde ‘n drie aangeteken en sal definitief een van die spelers wees om dop te hou hierdie naweek.
Die Groepe
Groep A: Retief, Carel de Wet, Morgenzon, Zastron.
Groep B: Parys, President Steyn, Riebeeckrand, New Horizons College Bethlehem.
Groep C: Die Anker Skool, Reddersburg, Zeerust, New Horizons College Harrismith.
Groep D: Hoopstad, Hoërskool Sasolburg, Ladybrand, Heilbron.
Groep E: Bothaville, Brandfort, Panorama, Balfour.
Die bepalings, 22 Maart
Dag Een: 10:00 – Heilbron t. Hoërskool Sasolburg, 11:10 – Carel de Wet t. Zastron; 12:20 – Bothaville t. Panorama; 13:30 – Die Anker Skool t. Zeerust; 14:40 – Hoopstad t. Ladybrand; 15:50 – Retief t. Morgenzon; 17:00 – Brandfort t. Balfour; 18:10 – President Steyn t. New Horizons College; 19:20 – New Horizons College t. Reddersburg; 20:30 – Parys t. Riebeeeckstad.
Die voormalige Bok- en Bul-breker, Danie Rossouw, was die vergestalting van wat klipharde, eerlike rugby behels. Geen wonder dat ’n skolerugbyweek na dié Wêreldbekerheld van 2007, wat sy hoërskoolloopbaan aan Hoërskool Rob Ferreira voltooi het, vernoem is nie.
Die Laeveld wemel juis hierdie naweek van rugbyspelers en ondersteuners wat op Witrivier toegesak het vir die jaarlikse Motswako Danie Rossouw-rugbyweek.
Beleef die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou
Rob Ferreira stel baie trots in hul rugbyprogram en sal vanaf hul eerste kragmeting, met Midstream College, hul stempel, op hul tuisveld, op die week wil afdruk.
Midstream het egter vir die afgelope twee jaar hul afdeling in die SDC Noordvaal Cup-kompetisie domineer, en sal dus hoë verwagtinge koester vir die seisoen wat voorlê.
Nóg ‘n span om dop te hou die naweek is die besoekers uit die Rosestad, Hoërskool Fichardtpark.
Die Fichie-Leeus het in 2023 met ‘n onoorwonne veldtog die Wesgrow Sentrale Sportreeks se o. 19 A-afdeling gewen, maar het tot dusver vanjaar gesukkel om daardie selfde spelpeil te bereik.
Spelbrekers soos heelagter, Pule Motsilili, en skrumskakel, Devanté Claasen, beskik nietemin steeds oor die vermoë om ‘n wedstryd op sy kop te draai. Die span van Bloemfontein kom in hul eerste wedstryd teen Hoërskool Birchleigh te staan.
Die blou-en-wit van HTS Sasolburg pryk ook in Witriver die naweek, en hulle pak vir Hoërskool Warmbad, van Limpopo, op die eerste dag.
Die res van die bepalings sal deur die uitslae van die eerste dag vasgestel word.
Na afloop van week se wedstryde gaan daar ook ‘n Span van die Toernooi aangewys word, wat later vanjaar na Georgië sal toer. Dit bied ekstra motivering vir die seuns om alles uit te haal en hul tyd in Witrivier ten volle te benut.
Die spanne en bepalings vir Dag 1, 21 Maart:
A-veld
Rob Ferreira II t. Hoërskool Middelburg om 10:00:
Hoërskool Rob Ferreira II: 15 B Mashego, 14 O Soko, 13 L Magagula, 12 S Shikwambana, 11 S Mdhluli, 10 M Mahamba, 9 S Khoza, 8 N Malherbe, 7 L Matsane, 6 W Nitsche, 5 L Siwele, 4 A Calitz, 3 M Zeelie, 2 J Dinkelman, 1 S Tshabalala.
Hoërskool Middelburg: 15 Marco de Wet, 14 Hlapo Sebapu, 13 Le Roux French, 12 Logab Faber, 11 Jannie Janse van Rensburg, 10 Ruan Smit, 9 Owami Ngewnya, 8 Unknown, 7 Lesego Nkauta, 6 Andre Roberts, 5 Unknown, 4 Rico van Niekerk, 3 Blessing Mabena, 2 Eckardt Marx, 1 Henno Hatting.
HTS John Vorster t. Delmas om 11:25:
HTS John Vorster: 15 Christian Nel, 14 Jason Smidt, 13 Owen Williams, 12 Ruben Bester, 11 Tyron de Beer, 10 Xander Roesch, 9 Andre Huyser, 8 Fanu Venter, 7 Reagan van der Merwe, 6 Heinrich Coetzee, 5 SJ van Mourik, 4 Jonatan Walters, 3 Armand Beetge, 2 Drikus Coetzee, 1 Tiaan van Loggerenberg.
Hoërskool Delmas: Onbekend
Hans Moore t. Bergvlam om 12:50:
Hoërskool Hans Moore: 15 Warren Minnaar, 14 Jayden Naido, 13 Stephan Kellerman, 12 Ruben van der Berg, 11 Wikus Rossouw, 10 Ettiene Smith, 9 Dian Britz, 8 Keagen van Zyl, 7 Liam Diedericks, 6 Slade Mowbray, 5 Marnus van der Walt, 4 Franco Pienaar, 3 Jayden van Heerden, 2 Hanrique Cronje, 1 Vernon Lindeque.
Hoërskool Bergvlam: 15 E Malinda, 14 N Fulton, 13 K Malinda, 12 K Mokoena, 11 L Mathebula, 10 C Maritz, 9 K Masuku, 8 D Aucamp, 7 D Appies, 6 T Shokane, 5 L Bulwana, 4 S Maisane, 3 S Ndwandwe, 2 S van den Heever, 1 K Mashego.
Hoërskool Wonderboom: 15 Eduan Kritzhinger, 14 Nathan Fitchat, 13 Ryan van Greunen, 12 Tyron Jansen van Noordwyk, 11 Carlo Schmahl, 10 Navan Jansen, 9 Barend Bossert, 8 Ryan Otto, 7 Kevin Fensham, 6 Sibusiso Monane, 5 Jayden Prinsloo, 4 Donovan van Heerden, 3 CJ Snyman, 2 Nathan Wilke, 1 Guillaume Luus.
HTS Witbank: 15 Duan Pelser, 14 Divan Hattingh, 13 Alex Taylor, 12 Jan-Dean Paxton, 11 Siphesihle Nkosi, 10 Xavier Smit, 9 Donathan Oosthuizen, 8 Johan Engelbrecht, 7 Kevin Lubbe, 6 Alwandi Ndlovu, 5 Janco Reynders, 4 Hendroe van As, 3 Henko de Villiers, 2 Damian McKay, 1 Xian Jacobs.
Rob Ferreira t. Midstream om 19:20:
Hoërskool Rob Ferreira: 15 Mayare Mbatsane, 14 Asanda Shiba, 13 Lwandle Makhubele, 12 CJ Pretorius, 11 Bundas Mabunda, 10 Ofentse Maunye, 9 Ryan Cogill, 8 Marcele Nel, 7 Bandile Zwane, 6 Ruben Hills, 5 Zander Visser, 4 Daniel Ferreira, 3 Jean Dean Nunes, 2 Juandre Shand, 1 Sandile Nkoana.
Midstream College: 15 Luca Jankovic, 14 Thabang Rammabi, 13 Jean Holtzhausen, 12 Yanko Cronje, 11 Thomas Stofberg, 10 Jeanré Lourens, 9 Xander Senekal, 8 Jahred Smit, 7 Nicholas Grobler, 6 Louis Verhoef, 5 Nathan Judelsohn, 4 Neil de Vleeschauwer, 3 Keiran van Wijk, 2 Hanno Britz, 1 Leeunard Ehlers.
Ander bepalings:
21 Maart
B-veld: 10:00 – Bergvlam o. 15 t. HTS Middelburg o. 15; 11:00 – Hoërskool Middelburg o. 15 t. HTS John Vorster o. 15; 12:00 – Nelspruit o. 16 t. Birchleigh o. 16; 13:10 – Wonderboom o. 16 t. Oosterland o. 16; 14:10 – HTS Witbank o. 16 t. Midstream o. 16; 15:20 – HTS John Vorster o. 16 t. Bergvlam 0. 16.
C-veld: 10:00 – HTS Witbank o.14 t. Birchleigh o. 14; 11:00 – Bergsig o. 14 t. Midstream o. 14; 12:00 – HTS John Vorster o. 14 t. Bergvlam o. 14; 13:00 – Rob Ferreira o. 14 t. Wonderboom o. 14; 14:00 – Rob Ferreira o. 15 B t. Oosterland o. 15; 15:00 – Nelspruit. 15 t. Birchleigh o. 15; 16:00 – Rob Ferreira o. 15 t. Bergsig o. 15.
Dorpsveld: 11:00 – Wonderboom II t. Birchleigh II; 12:10 – Fichardtpark II t. HTS Witbank II; 14:00 – HTS Witbank o. 15 t. Wonderboom o. 15.
Bishops Diocesan College celebrates its 175th Anniversary this weekend, marking the historic milestone with their Bishops 175 Rugby and Hockey Festival, which will see 1 400 young sportsmen representing their schools over the course of four days.
In 1849, just as swarms of people began flocking to the west coast of the USA, in the California gold rush, and Queen Victoria was into the twelfth year of a nearly 64-year reign as Monarch of the United Kingdom and Great Britain, the first Bishop of Cape Town, Robert Gray founded Diocesan College in Rondebosch.
To put it into perspective, that was only 26 years after William Webb Ellis famously picked up a football in the town of Rugby in England and made a mad dash towards the opposition’s goal line, inspiring the sport that would come to play such a large part in our culture.
The hosts’ 1st XV has already revved up its engine this past weekend with two good wins at the Wynberg Boys’ High Rugby Festival. They flexed their muscles in their opener against Windhoek High School, from Namibia, winning 43-8, before showing real character to see out a 28-24 arm-wrestle against St Charles College from Pietermaritzburg.
Scrumhalf, Kashief Joseph, has already put his hand up as a player to watch in the Bishops’ team this season, stepping up to fill the boots of the Class of ’23’s Haashim Pead, who made the SA Schools team last year.
Joseph also captained his school’s 1st XI cricket team through a brilliant season, but he’s shown that he is not yet done etching his name into the Diocesan College history books by scoring two tries against St Charles.
Co-captains, James Le Feuvre and Alex Smith, lead the Bishops’ first team out for their first challenge at the festival on Thursday at 16:00, when they take on Michaelhouse. They’re in action again on Saturday, in the final match of the weekend against St Andrew’s College.
Before both of those matches, a team of Bishop’s old boys will square off against representatives from their respective challengers to set the table for the main games.
SACS and Wynberg Boys’ High also got off to winning starts at last weekend’s event.
SACS outmuscled Hoërskool Durbanville by five tries to three, but kicking difficulties made the SACS boys sweat to secure a 25-22 victory. They will hope to have shaken off the last remaining rust from the off-season in that match because they might be punished for those types of mistakes in their fixtures against Grey High and Michaelhouse.
Watch out for some of the big boys in the SACS front row, like Ikhona Maxegwana and Ethan Combrink, this weekend.
Wynberg stormed to a lopsided 84-3 victory in their opening match of the season against Windhoek High, but they will be expecting much more resistance on Thursday and Saturday when they square off against St Andrew’s College and Kingswood College.
The big victory, and hat-tricks for flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed and scrumhalf Tyron Gombe, will have done wonders for the boys from Wynberg’s confidence heading into the weekend.
Kingswood faces Hilton College on the first day. They will hope to continue building on their momentum from the Graeme College Festival where they made an early statement by beating Marlow Landbou 29-14.
Teams
Bishops Diocesan College vs Michaelhouse at 16:00
Bishops Diocesan College: 15 Lucca Mynhardt, 14 Iviwe Dadamasi, 13 Wa-keem Fortuin, 12 Alex Newton, 11 Ammar Laatoe, 10 Jordan Petersen, 9 Kashief Joseph, 8 Aza Gabada, 7 Imma Magongwa, 6 James Le Feuvre, 5 Fouke Wagener, 4 Alex Smith, 3 Yusuf Ahmed, 2 Jack Campbell, 1 Gareth McKinnon.
Michaelhouse: 15 Stefan Moolman, 14 Aya Mkhodeli, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 Tom Baguley, 11 Rourke Murray, 10 Luke Davidson, 9 Jack Hughes, 8 Carlyle Hawkins, 7 Anesu Nduru, 6 Riley Gehren, 5 Dom Sesink Clee, 4 Robert Combrinck, 3 Thomas Peach, 2 Jordan Ratsey, 1 Aphiwe Shelembe.
Wynberg Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College at 14:30
Wynberg Boys’ High: 15 Morné Noble, 14 Kunene Gadu, 13 Albert Lourens, 12 Brandon Ashburner, 11 Levi Brown, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Tyrone Gombe, 8 Torren February, 7 Aden da Costa, 6 Jamie Stride, 5 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Benjamin Matthews, 2 Xabiso Mkiva, 1 Luqobo Makwedini.
St Andrew’s College: 15 Karabo van Heerden, 14 Aza Nonxube, 13 Nic Hall, 12 Aphindile Ncuka, 11 Julian Mapoore, 10 Scott Miles, 9 Will Stern, 8 Murray Wilson, 7 Guy Fraser, 6 Philip Maske, 5 Roman van Zyl, 4 Rob Faber, 3 Thato Machaba, 2 Joe Wostenholm, 1 Mark Were.
Kingswood College vs Hilton College at 13:00
Kingswood College: NA
Hilton College: 15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudzo Madinga, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Requime Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 7 Stewart Falconer, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Meyer Malherbe, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oliver Proudfoot.
SACS vs Grey High at 11:00
SACS: 15 Jack Benade, 14 Matt Carrick, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Endi Sidinile, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Daniel Grant, 7 Siphe Mbungendlu, 6 Ben van Coller, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Connor King, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Zinzan Paulsen, 1 Ethan Combrinck.
Grey High: 15 Kyle Callaghan, 14 Meyer Prinsloo, 13 Lavela Pongolo, 12 Dylan Garrod, 11 Luc de Villiers, 10 Divan Lamprecht, 9 Liyema Makaane, 8 Jon Hobson, 7 Blayton Ward, 6 Tanner Howard, 5 Likhona Sodlaka, 4 Steven Lee, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Evan Mucka, 1 Alex Ferreira.
Fixtures
Wednesday, 20 March
Piley Rees Field (u16 A): 11:30 – Diocesan College vs Michaelhouse; 13:00 – Kingswood College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 14:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College; 16:00 – SACS vs Grey High.
Range Rugby Field (u15 A): 11:30 – Hamiltons vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 13:00 – SACS vs Grey High.
Cemetery Rugby Field (u14 A): 11:30 – SACS vs Grey High; 13:00 – Diocesan College vs Ubombo; 14:30 – Hamiltons vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 16:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College.
Thursday, 21 March
Piley Rees Field (1st XVs): 11:00 – SACS vs Grey High; 13:00 – Kingswood College vs Hilton College; 14:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College; 16:00 – Diocesan College vs Michaelhouse.
Avenue Rugby Field (2nd XVs): 09:00 – SACS vs Grey High; 10:30 – Bergvliet vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 12:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College; 13:30 – Diocesan College vs Michaelhouse.
Friday, 22 March
Piley Rees Field (u16 A): 12:00 – Grey High vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 13:30 – SACS vs Michaelhouse; 15:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Kingswood College; 16:30 – Diocesan College vs St Andrew’s College.
Range Rugby Field (u15 A): 10:30 – Diocesan College vs Grey High; 12:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hamiltons.
Cemetery Rugby Field (u14 A): 10:30 – Grey High vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 12:00 – SACS vs Hamiltons; 13:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Ubombo; 15:00 – Diocesan College vs St Andrew’s College.
Saturday, 23 March
Piley Rees Field (1st XVs): 11:30 – Grey High vs Hilton College; 13:00 – SACS vs Michaelhouse; 14:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Kingswood College; 16:00 – Diocesan College vs St Andrew’s College.
Avenue Rugby Field (2nd XVs): 09:00 – Grey High vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 10:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse; 12:00 – SACS vs Bergvliet; 13:30 – Diocesan College vs St Andrew’s College.
The Durban High School (DHS) 1st XI, with an experienced lineup, will be one of the favoured sides at the Coastal Cup.
Four schools from the KZN coastal region, four schools from Pretoria, one from Gqeberha and one from Paarl, will be in action at the Coastal Cup in Durban from Friday, 22 March until Sunday, 24 March. The event caters for 1st, u16A and u14A teams.
The Menlopark and Glenwood 1st teams get matters rolling on Friday morning at the Riverside Sports Club.
The Pretoria school is a new addition to the event and will be eager to make a good impression. Glenwood, meanwhile, endured a tough 2023, suffering some heavy defeats. They have some ground to make up this season and have looked like an improved outfit in the early going.
The second game sees Westville Boys High face Pearson High School. Last year, they shared a six-goal thriller, drawing 3-3. Westville has settled into the season well, recording wins over Michaelhouse and Clifton College, while Pearson has already played in the Tony Godding Festival.
Meanwhile, Durban High School (DHS) will take on St Alban’s College. When they met at the Coastal Cup in 2023, DHS comfortably ran out 4-0 winners.
The local boys have lost only three players from their outstanding team of last year, but they were major contributors, so just how that impacts them remains to be seen. They did, nonetheless, hand Kearsney College a first loss at home in two years last weekend.
In other 1st team fixtures, a young but exciting Clifton College lineup will tackle Garsfontein, while PaarlBoys’ High faces Waterkloof, another newcomer, at 13:00, before taking on Westville at 17:00.
The schools’ u16 teams will be in action alongside the 1st teams, on the Riverside 2 Turf.
DHS will open the u16 fixtures against St Alban’s, while Paarl will go up against Waterkloof in the second match of the day. Westville and Pearson will lock horns, while the Clifton 1st XI has a date with Waterkloof, which takes place on the Riverside 2 Turf, followed by another 1st XI clash between DHS against Garsfontein.
Day one of the u14 matches takes place at DHS. They include Paarl Boys’ High versus Waterkloof, to get matters underway, with the hosts, DHS tackling St Alban’s in their first outing.
Friday’s u14 action wraps up a little earlier than the games at Riverside, with the last of them, Westville versus Paarl, starting at 16:30.
FIXTURES
Friday, 22 March
1st XI – Riverside 1
08:00 – Menlopark vs Glenwood; 09:15 – Westville vs Pearson; 10:30 – DHS vs St Alban’s; 11:45 – Clifton vs Garsfontein; 13:00 – Paarl vs Waterkloof; BREAK; 14:30 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood; 15:45 – Pearson vs Menlopark; 17:00 – Westville vs Paarl
u16A – Riverside 2
07:30 – DHS vs St Alban’s; 08:30 – Paarl vs Waterkloof; 09:30 – Westville vs Pearson; 10:30 – Clifton vs Garsfontein; 11:30 – Menlopark vs Glenwood; BREAK; 12:30 – Westville vs Paarl; 13:30 – Clifton vs Waterkloof; 14:30 – DHS vs Garsfontein; 15:30 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood; 16:30 – Pearson vs Menlopark; 17:30 – Clifton 1st vs Waterkloof 1st; 18:45 – DHS 1st vs Garsfontein 1st
u14A – DHS
07:30 – Paarl vs Waterkloof; 08:30 – DHS vs St Alban’s; 09:30 – Menlopark vs Glenwood; 10:30 – Clifton vs Garsfontein; 11:30 – Westville vs Pearson; BREAK; 12:30 – St Alban’s vs Glenwood; 13:30 – DHS vs Garsfontein; 14:30 – Pearson vs Menlopark; 15:30 – Clifton vs Waterkloof; 16:30 – Westville vs Paarl
Saturday, 23 March
1st XI – Riverside 1
13:30 – Garsfontein vs Glenwood; 14:45 – Paarl vs Pearson; 16:00 – DHS vs Menlopark; 17:15 – Clifton vs St Alban’s; 18:30 – Westville vs Waterkloof
u16A – Riverside 2
12:00 – DHS vs Menlopark; 13:00 – Clifton vs St Alban’s; 14:00 – Westville vs Waterkloof; 15:00 – Paarl vs Pearson; 16:00 – Garsfontein vs Glenwood
u14A – Riverside 1
08:30 – Paarl vs Pearson; 09:30 – Clifton vs St Alban’s; 10:30 – DHS vs Menlopark; 11:30 – Westville vs Waterkloof; 12:30 – Garsfontein vs Glenwood
Sunday, 24 March
1st XI – Riverside 1
08:00 – Clifton vs Menlopark; 09:15 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood; 10:30 – Westville vs Garsfontein; 11:45 – St Alban’s vs Pearson; 13:00 – DHS vs Paarl
u16A – DHS
09:00 – Clifton vs Menlopark; 10:00 – Westville vs Garsfontein; 11:00 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood; 12:00 – DHS vs Paarl; 13:00 – St Alban’s vs Pearson
u14A – Riverside 2
08:00 – Clifton vs Menlopark; 09:00 – Westville vs Garsfontein; 10:00 – St Alban’s vs Pearson; 11:00 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood; 12:00 – DHS vs Paarl
The annual Jean de Villiers u16 Rugby Festival will once again be one of the highlights of the u16 schoolboy rugby calendar of 2024.
The festival is hosted by Paarl Gimnasium in Paarl and has been held since 1993. Most of the country’s top rugby schools’ u16 sides have been in attendance since the inaugural festival.
One of the highlights annually was the match-up between the hosts and Grey College of Bloemfontein. This match won’t be part of the fixtures this year as these two schools will have their first interschools
Paarl Gimnasium will face Waterkloof of Pretoria in the main match of the opening day. The hosts will lock horns with the two Krugersdorp schools in attendance, Monument and Noordheuwel, in their two remaining matches.
The encounter with Monnas could be the highlight of the festival. Monument will take on Oakdale Landbou in their opening clash and will conclude their Paarl visit against Framesby from Gqeberha.
Grey College will come up against Hilton College, Boland Landbou, and Hoërskool Durbanville in their three matches in Paarl.
The main curtain raiser for the main match on Saturday between Paul Roos Gimnasium and Affies also promises to produce some fireworks.
The Fixtures:
Thursday, 21 March 2024
JA KRIEL FIELD
19:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Nelspruit 17:45 – Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) vs Paarl Boys’ High 16:30 – Oakdale Landbou vs Monument 15:15 – Hoërskool Durbanville vs Noordheuwel 14:00 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Nico Malan 12:45 – Diamantveld vs Outeniqua 11:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Waterkloof
STOFBERG FIELD
16:30 – Boland Landbou vs Framesby 15:15 – Affies vs Stellenberg 14:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium 12:45 – Hilton College vs Grey College 11:30 – Marlow Landbou vs Menlopark
Saturday, 23 March 2024
JA KRIEL FIELD
19:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Monument 17:45 – Affies vs Paul Roos Gimnasium 16:30 – Boland Landbou vs Grey College 15:15 – Stellenberg vs Hilton College 14:00 – Waterkloof vs Hoërskool Durbanville 12:45 – Framesby vs Diamantveld 11:30 – Marlow Landbou vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium
STOFBERG FIELD
16:30 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Menlopark 15:15 – Nico Malan vs Outeniqua 14:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Hoërskool Nelspruit 12:45 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Oakdale Landbou 11:30 – Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) vs Noordheuwel
Monday, 25 March 2024
JA KRIEL FIELD
10:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Noordheuwel 09:15 – Grey College vs Hoërskool Durbanville 08:00 – Affies vs HTS Drostdy
STOFBERG FIELD
10:30 – Oakdale Landbou vs Menlopark 09:15 – Nico Malan vs Hoërskool Nelspruit 08:00 – Boland Landbou vs Marlow Landbou
OUKRAAL FIELD
10:30 – Diamantveld vs Hilton College 09:15 – Stellenberg vs Waterkloof 08:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
LEMOENKLOOF FIELD
10:30 – Outeniqua vs Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) 09:15 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium 08:00 – Monument vs Framesby
Die Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale se jaarlikse Klein Karoo Saadproduksie-rugbyweek trek hierdie naweek weer 30 skole van regoor Suid Afrika na Riversdal vir ‘n aksiebelaaide ses dae op die plaas.
Die spanne het Woensdag by Oakdale gearriveer, met die eerste wedstryde wat Donderdagoggend om 08:45 afskop waneer Hoërskool Montagu en Hoër Volkskool, Graaff-Reinet, mekaar die stryd aansê.
Montagu het verlede naweek hul spiere gebult teen Jakes Gerwel Tegnies met ‘n reuse oorwinning van 52-12 by die Robbie-fees, maar hierdie naweek sal die kompetisie aansienlik strawwer wees.
Beleef al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou
Oakdale se eerstespan is natuurlik by die Noord/Suid-toernooi in Pretoria in aksie, waar hulle getoets sal word teen Hoërskool Garsfontein en Helpmekaar Kollege. Dus word die skool se trots word deur ‘n vyftiental verteenwoordig, wat jaar na jaar wys dat hulle skouers kan skuur met die besoekende spanne.
Die Oakdale-vyftiental speel in die hoofwedstryd van die eerste dag teen Hoërskool Bredasdorp.
Die Bredasdorp-manne het vroeër in die seisoen by Hoërskool Outeniqua se 101-jaar sportdag hulself in Pearson High School vasgeloop en ‘n pakslae van 71-7 op die lyf geloop.
Die span van die suide het egter verlede jaar ‘n goeie seisoen beleef, en tel jaarliks onder van die voorste plattelandse sewesspanne, so toeskouers kan lekker opwindende hardlooprugby in die hoofwedstryd verwag.
Opwindende, vrygeestige rugby is inderdaad iets wat ‘n hele paar van die spanne by die toernooi in gemeen het. Hoërskole Charlie Hofmeyr en Robertson, byvoorbeeld, spog elkeen met ‘n verteenwoordiger in die SA o. 17-Sewesspan wat verlede jaar ‘n derde plek behaal het by die Statebond-jeugspele in Trinidad en Tobago.
Charlies se losskakel, Luan Giliomee, en die Robbies se buitesenter, Bernardo Diedericks, was deel van die groep seuns wat ‘n bronsmedalje by daardie byeenkoms verower het.
Verlede naweek het die span uit Ceres ‘n uiters indrukwekkende sege van 41-15 oor Hoërskool DF Malan behaal, terwyl Robbies die hoofwedstryd by hul jaarlikse sportnaweek op ‘n dramatiese wyse teen Hoërskool Vredendal kon wen, danksy ‘n skitterende drie deur vleuel, Ruwan Stevens.
Bloemfontein se verteenwoordigers, HoërskoolSentraal, sal van die geleentheid wil gebruik maak om weer op die wenpad te kom na ‘n taai begin aan die seisoen, maar hul eerste kragmeting, met Pietersburg Hoërskool gaan beslis ‘n taamlike uitdaging bied.
Die Pieties het egter ook reeds gestruikel aan die begin van die jaar, so die wedstyd bied aan albei skole die geleentheid om waardevolle momentum te bou.
Hoërskool Brackenfell se losskakel, Junior Louw, kon verlede Vrydag sy span tot oorwinning teen Hopefield High School sool by hul jaarlikse sportnaweek. Louw het vyf strafdoele deur die pale gejaag vir ‘n naelbyt-sege van 15-14.
Die wedstryd tussen die Brakkies en Hoërskool Kempton Park beloof om heel interessant te wees. Die Kempies is gewoond aan tawwe opponente in die NWU-Sportreeks, maar hulle moet nie die gevaar wat in Brackenfell se agterlyn skuil onderskat nie.
Parel Vallei High School watt verlede naweek ook ‘n puik sege van 13-5 oor Hoërskool Hermanus behaal het, kom Donderdag teen Hoërskool Oosterlig te staan. Die span van Somerset-Wes sal hul stempel wil afdruk teen die Boksburg-manne wat tot dusver vanjaar gesukkel het om hul ritme te vind.
Die res van die bepalings sal na die eerste dag se spel bekendgemaak word.
Daar sal vanjaar ‘n nuwe kampioen by die 30ste Mauritz Hansen Rugbyweek gekroon word.
Die toernooi, wat sedert 1993 in Naboomspruit, by Hoërskool Hans Strijdom, aangebied word, vind van 21 tot 25 Maart plaas.
Die week is deur menere Mauritz Hansen en Lofty Koorzen op die been gebring, en in 2001 is dit amptelik as die Mauritz Hansen Rugbyweek gedoop.
Vandaar het die toernooi van krag tog tot krag gegaan, met 82 spanne wat in 2008 aan die gesogte toernooi deelgeneem het.
Hoërskool Ellisras is in 2023 as kampioen van die week gekroon, danksy ‘n sege van 18-7, en ‘n uitmuntende vertoning deur Speler van die Week, Ewald Kirstein, teen aartsvyande, Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer, van Thabazimbi.
Daar sal egter vanjaar nie net ‘n nuwe kampioen gekroon word nie, maar ook ‘n nuwe naaswenner wees, met sowel die Rassies as Frikkies wat nie vanjaar in Naboonspruit in aksie is nie.
Dit laat die deur oop vir spanne soos die gashere, Hans Strijdom, Northcliff High School, Hoërskool Hugenote (Springs), Ligbron Akademie en Hoërskool Witteberg om sake vir die titel uit te spook.
Die aksie word Donderdagoggend om 09.30 afgeskop deur Hoërskool Kalahari en Ferrum High School, met die gashere wat om 18:20, in die hoofwedstryd van dag een, met Northcliff High School, van Randburg, kragte meet.
Hugenote sal in hul eerste wedstryd verby Hoërskool Linden moet kom, terwyl Witteberg en Ligbron mekaar om 13:30 in ‘n liplekker-kragmeting die stryd aansê. Hoërskool Belville en Hoërskool Piet Retief pak mekaar in die voorwedstryd van dag een, om 15:30.
As ekstra beloning vir die spelers wat deur die loop van die drie dae puik vertoon, sal ‘n Span van die Week soos gebruiklik, na afloop van die eindstryd, aangekondig word.
Stacked! That one word describes the line-up for the 2024 Founders Hockey Festival, which takes place at Kearsney College from Saturday, 23 March, to Monday, 25 March.
All eyes will be on SACS, the clearcut number one team in South Africa last year. While they have lost players from their all-conquering side, they remain loaded.
Last year’s team produced the best goalkeeper, the best defender and the best attacker award winners at the SASHOC Hockey Week, with six players being selected for the SA u18A team and one for the SA u18 B team, while four SACS boys were included in the SA u16A ranks and one in the SA u16B team.
In 38 matches, which included a tour of The Netherlands, SACS won 34 times, drew three games and lost just once, scoring 227 goals while conceding only 35.
That sole loss came to Paul Roos, a 2-3 setback at the Hibbert Shield, but they also beat PRG 3-1 and 8-1 during the season.
Speaking of the Stellenbosch school, they will also be in action at the Founders Festival, led by Reuben Sendzel, who ran out for the SA u21 team in 2023. He also captained the SA u17 team to a silver medal at the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia in October, scoring a hattrick in the final against India, who won the game 4-3.
Paul Roos has a new Director of Hockey, Michael Baker, who did an outstanding job at Durban High School (DHS), helping DHS to become a top five-ranked school in the country at u14, u16 and 1st team level. He also helped the Horseflies dominate KZN Coastal selections.
Hockey in the Western Cape is in very good health, and the challenges will be tough, but Baker has a habit of getting the best out of the boys who play under him, so it will be interesting to see if Paul Roos, also ranked in the top five last season, is able to make even further progress.
Leading the Gauteng challenge will be St Stithians College, who won the Aitken Trophy for the first time since the 1980s last year. They played to a 2-2 draw with Jeppe in the final, and then secured victory in a shootout by a 4-2 margin.
Having Gauteng’s best and the Western Cape’s best at the same festival is quite something, and Northwood School will be staking their claim to being KZN’s best this year.
They enjoyed a very strong 2023 season, which ended on a high note after they beat Grey College 2-0 in the final of the Guschkie Top Schools under-18 Tournament in Bloemfontein in mid-August.
They’ll be ready for action having opened their season with a tour of Argentina.
Expect a hard-running effort from the Knights, who function well as a defensive unit that applies a tight press and then counterattacks with pace.
The hosts, Kearsney College, led by SA Schools’ midfielder Matt De Oliveira, will be tough to beat on Mason’s Astro. Only once in the past two seasons have they lost there, although that happened in their most recent outing when they went down 0-1 to a DHS side that has all but three players returning from their 2023 team.
It will be interesting to see Rondebosch in action. They were convincingly outplayed by SACS last season, but ‘Bosch has a proud hockey tradition and will be keen to make amends for 2023’s misfortunes.
Affies is a dark horse candidate to make some noise, while Parktown, Queen’s College and Dale College, who complete the lineup, would love to spring a surprise or two.
Fixtures
Saturday, 23 March
07:30 – Affies vs SACS; 08:35 – Kearsney vs Dale; 09:40 – Northwood vs Rondebosch; 10:45 – Parktown vs Paul Roos; 11:50 – Queens vs St Stithians; 12:55 – Kearsney vs Affies; 14:00 – Northwood vs Dale; 15:05 – Parktown vs SACS; 16:10 – Queen’s vs Paul Roos; 17:15 – St Stithians vs Rondebosch
Sunday, 24 March
07:30 – Queen’s vs Parktown; 08:35 – Northwood vs SACS; 09:40 – St Stithians vs Paul Roos; 10:45 – Affies vs Dale; 11:50 – Kearsney vs Rondebosch; 12:55 – Queen’s vs SACS; 14:00 – Northwood vs St Stithians; 15:05 – Affies vs Paul Roos; 16:10 – Dale vs Rondebosch; 17:15 – Kearsney vs Parktown
Monday, 25 March
07:30 – Affies vs Rondebosch; 08:35 – Dale vs Parktown; 09:40 – Northwood vs Queen’s; 10:45 – SACS vs St Stithians; 11:50 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos
Matches will be played in four 12-minute chukkas, with breaks of two minutes, three minutes and two minutes.
Die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) is slaggereed om hul langverwagte Prestige-netbaltoernooi aan te bied, van 25 tot 27 Maart.
At last, the highly anticipated arrival of coach Tebello Kheswa‘s NWU Vaal on the big stage of the Gauteng Development League was witnessed, with the side travelling to Clapham to take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Daar sal vanjaar ‘n nuwe kampioen by die 30ste Mauritz Hansen Rugbyweek gekroon word.
Stacked! That one word describes the line-up for the 2024 Founders Hockey Festival, which takes place at Kearsney College from Saturday, 23 March, to Monday, 25 March.