The annual Durban and Districts Gala, swum at Kings Park on Wednesday, produced a fascinating battle between the highly favoured Westville Boys’ High and Durban High School (DHS) for the overall honours, with only five points separating the two at the completion of the 26th and final event.
Relays are the order of the day and that’s exactly what suited Westville and DHS, with their superior depth. That depth is also a big reason why it was so close at the end, with 19 of the events finishing with those two schools in the first and second places.
Westville claimed victory in 17 events and DHS was first in the remaining nine. A disqualification in one of the butterfly relays almost cost the Griffin, as they were docked points while DHS added to their tally.
Clifton College finished second four times, Kearsney College managed the feat twice, and Northwood School achieved it once.
Kearsney College Headmaster Patrick Lees presented the winner’s trophy to Westville Boys’ High.
The u14 age group produced fireworks, with four records falling, split evenly between DHS and Westville.
Both DHS and Westville bettered the previous 200m freestyle relay record of 1:49.91, set in 2009 by Westville, with DHS clocking 1:47.61 and Westville finishing only seven-hundredths of a second behind them.
DHS also won the 200m medley, this time by eight-hundredths of a second over their rivals. They touched the wall in 2:00.20, which comfortably erased the previous record of 2:04.17, set by Westville, which had stood since 2004.
Westville won the 200m butterfly in 1:57.17, with DHS second in 1:59.15, and the 20-year-old record, which had been set by Westville, of 2:00.61, was no more.
It was in the backstroke relays where the Griffin truly excelled. Their u14 team knocked over six seconds off the mark of 2:04.24, which WBHS had set in 2011, when they won in 1:58.16. Then, the u15 team obliterated a record that had stood since 2005 at 2:00.56, powering their way to a time of 1:53.27.
There was more to come from Westville as their u16 relay team swam 1:49.67 to destroy the 1:56.91 record that WBHS had set in 2011. And the u17 backstroke relay went even faster, clocking 1:44.38 to take an astonishing 9.64 seconds off the previous mark of 1:54.02, which was also set by WBHS in 2011.
Having been beaten only once in the past decade, and with a 16th successive Durban and Districts title secured, Westville Boys’ High’s swimming success is unmatched by any other boys’ school.
Incredibly, the new u15 and u16 records would have also been enough to better the previous u17 backstroke relay mark. Meanwhile, the new u17 record is 4.62 seconds faster than the u19 record.
Despite an outstanding challenge from DHS, Westville ended where they almost always do, following up their wins in the Nestor Pierides Gala and the Alan Burt Gala with yet another top of the table finish. It was their 16th in succession in the Durban and Districts Gala.
Westville remains the gold standard in the pool, but DHS has been working hard in recent years to close the gap and they continue to make inroads.
FINAL STANDINGS
Westville Boys High School 140
Durban High School 135
Clifton College 86
Northwood 71
Kearsney College 67
Glenwood Boys High School 40
The topsy-turvy nature of cricket was on full display on Wednesday, when Northwood hosted high-flying Durban High School (DHS) in a W100 match on the Robin Smith Oval.
The Knights have, at times, struggled to score quickly enough in the shorter forms of the game this season, but their bowling and fielding has been a strength. Against DHS, they delivered on both fronts to hand the recently crowned Clifton T20 Tournament champions a 14-run loss.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Northwood didn’t start their innings particularly well, losing two batsmen, including the in-form Thayin Kuppan, with only 14 runs on the board. That, however, brought Nqobani Mokoena to the crease and he immediately went after the Horseflies‘ bowling.
While he was out in the middle, 24 balls were bowled, 13 of which he faced, and in that time the Knights added exactly 50 runs. Mokoena’s fiery knock produced three sixes, three fours and 32 runs before he was caught by DHS captain Semal Pillay off the bowling of Zaid Motala.
Unfortunately for the home side, they lost Mokoena’s partner, Mfana Shange only a ball later. His useful contribution of 26 came from 17 deliveries and included five fours.
Another wicket followed shortly after that, but Kyle White and Connor Leclezio then combined to reclaim some control for the Knights. They put on 35 for the seventh wicket before both departed with the total on 121.
White was the first to go, having made a crucial 23 from 30 balls. It wasn’t rapid scoring, but it was what Northwood needed. Leclezio then departed for 16 from 18.
After their 100 balls, the home team had put up 127/9 – not an exceptional total, but something to defend.
Ethan Cooper excelled for DHS, capturing 4/20 from 15 deliveries, while his captain, Semal Pillay, was both economical and penetrative, knocking over 2/13 from his 15 balls.
When DHS batted, Isaac Phiri got the Knights off to a good start with the ball, keeping the openers tied down, before Jordan Matthews removed Omar Ismaeel, one of the top performers for DHS at the Clifton T20, before a run was on the board.
Semal Pillay and Sibusiso Msibi advanced the total to 25, but Pillay was then out to a combination of Kyle White and Mason Storm for 11. Msibi stuck around until DHS had reached 42 from 42. Then Storm struck again to send him packing for 21 from 14, with two fours.
School upped their run rate slightly, moving on to 63 from 56 deliveries, but Sfundo Mthembu was then dismissed for 10 and he was quickly followed by Ethan Cooper and Josh van Biljon as DHS slipped to 70/6, with Connor Leclezio claiming the wickets of Mthembu and Van Biljon, and Harlee Jagga taking a caught and bowled to remove Cooper.
Jared Havemann and Dalan Naraidu put on 20 together but, when Naraidu was out, with the total on 90, there were just 15 balls left and DHS still required 38 to win.
Bayanda Majola offered some late innings fireworks for the visitors, blasting one six in an unbeaten 18 off of nine. But Havemann fell for 17 from 17 with the total on 99.
Thanks to Majola, DHS finished on 113/8, but it was Northwood’s day.
Connor Leclezio led the Knights’ bowling attack with 3/23 from 20 balls, while Mason Storm picked up 2/20 from 20, and Jordan Matthews 2/27 from 20, also.
Scores
Northwood 127/9 (Nqobani Mokoena 32, Mfana Shange 26, Kyle White 23; Ethan Cooper 4/20, Semal Pillay 2/13); DHS 113/8 (Sibusiso Msibi 21, Bayanda Majola 18*; Connor Leclezio 3/23, Mason Storm 2/20, Jordan Matthews 2/27) Northwood won by 14 runs.
Ntokozo Skhosana, School of Excellence’s fullback. Photo: Mondli Dube
Time and again, the Gods of this “beautiful game” lace up their boots for the one duty they have been known to do best in football: level the playing fields.
Although some perceive this only as a myth, most football fans around the world understand and believe in the power of the Gods of football.
Many believe it was the Gods’ intervention that saw Leicester City win the English Premier League eight years ago in the presence of the giants of English football, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
As we build up to the semifinals of the Gauteng Development League Top 8 Cup, where the giants of South African football, Mamelodi Sundowns (u19), are set to play School of Excellence, one wonders whether this will be one of those times when we witness the Gods’ divine intervention once again?
Across the African continent, and the world to an extent, the Tshwane-based Sundowns are respected as a successful football franchise and a talent-producing machine for the rainbow nation.
The domination of the “Kabo Yellow” nation was underlined when eight players in Bafana Bafana‘s starting XI during the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations were Sundowns players, a feat of dominance that is rare in any national team.
At the academy level, it is no different. Sundowns often dominate. In the under-19 division, they finished second in the GDL last season, 10 points behind league winners Highlands Park.
However, one team seems to be favoured by the Gods when facing Sundowns and that is School of Excellence (SOE).
Last season, SOE returned impressive results against the mighty Sundowns, drawing 2-2 in their most recent fixture, in August 2023, while emerging victorious by a 3-2 margin in June.
As the two teams prepare to meet this Saturday, will Excellence continue their good run of form against Sundowns?
SOE might not have the same pedigree as Sundowns, but they are an institution that has had a monumental impact beyond the football space in the country.
As a project, SOE has stuck to its main objectives of providing youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to stake a claim in the often-harsh world of professional sports.
Over the 26 years of its existence, SOE has hosted trials annually in search of 120 talented youngsters, to guide and equip them, not only with training facilities but also with an education. Players of the calibre of Steven Pienaar and Daine Klate are products of the project.
At 14:00 on Saturday, School of Excellence will go head-to-head with Sundowns for a spot in Sunday’s final in the first competition of the 2024 football season in the Gauteng region.
Semifinal Fixtures, Saturday 24 February
U13
Kaizer Chiefs vs Remember Elite Soccer Academy
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama
U15
Highlands Park vs Mamelodi Sundowns
School of Excellence (SOE) vs TUKS
U17
Supersport United vs Highlands Park
Kaizer Chiefs vs Randburg
U19
Prestige Football Development Academy vs Supersport United
Kearsney College captain Ross Coetzee on the attack. (Photo: Hannah Shirley)
With the excitement building ahead of the Independent Schools Cricket Festival, to be hosted by St Alban’s College in Pretoria, it seems as if bowlers could have a hard time when they come up against some of the best batsmen in the country.
Adnaan Lagadien, arguably South Africa’s leading batsman at school level thus far in the 2023/24 season, leads an impressive Bishops‘ batting line-up, alongside his excellent opening partner, Kashief Joseph.
Lagadien has been in astonishing form and will surely enjoy the conditions in Pretoria, which are usually good for batting.
In January, Lagadien scored the first and only double-century (218*) of 2024 thus far in his side’s opening game against Hilton College at the Peninsula Cricket Festival. Since then, he’s produced many more superb performances, including another unbeaten ton (112*) in Bishops’ win over Rondebosch in the annual BishBosch T20.
Joe MacRobert, St John’s College‘s premier batsman, will be another one to keep an eye on. He is also in scintillating form and has the ability to tear opposing bowling attacks to shreds with his aggressive striking and high rate of scoring.
Macrobert has been, by far, the Johannesburg-based side’s leading run-getter in 2024 and boasts an impressive 269 runs at an average of 67.25 in his last four appearances.
Also in the mix is another classy top-order batsman. St Stithians‘ captain Emile Odendaal has led the way for the side from Sandton and is his team’s leading run scorer. What impresses most about Odendaal is the mature manner he has of going about his batting.
Usually, he starts slowly, but he possesses an invaluable ability to put his foot on the gas at exactly the right moment to take the game away from Saints’ opponents. One of his best innings this season was an outstanding 112 against Jeppe High School for Boys in a declaration match at the end of January.
Kearsney College all-rounder Ross Coetzee will also seek to stamp his authority on the festival as one of the best talents among South Africa’s independent schools.
Coetzee also dons the captain’s armband for the side from KwaZulu-Natal. His abilities with the bat at the top of the order, as a clean and powerful striker of the ball, provide a stable base for the Kearsney batting lineup.
His contributions with the ball, as a dangerous off-spin bowler, also play an integral part in a balanced bowling attack.
With an established record of success, which included scoring 739 runs and taking 59 wickets in 2023, Coetzee is clearly one of the top all-rounders in the country, and he is already on course to comfortably eclipse his run-scoring feats of last year. One of his better batting efforts came in Kearsney’s only loss of 2024, when he scored 107 against Durban High School. But there have been many more impactful knocks.
St David’s Marist Inanda‘s opponents will have their hands full when coming up against the Sandton-based side’s impressive batting line-up. Leading the way will be the talented Armaan Manack.
Opening the batting, Manack has put many bowling lineups to the sword during the course of the 2023/24 season and he enters the festival in red-hot form, having already scored two centuries this year.
His standout performance was an astonishing 174 runs in a 50-over clash against St Alban’s College in early February. Manack’s fluent batting style and ability to score at a rapid pace are his best attributes.
Together with his brother, Morteza, and captain, Matthew West, St David’s possesses a trio of batsmen with the ability to put any bowling attack under severe stress.
A determined and hungry Durban Girls’ College(DGC) side will be on the hunt for their second piece of silverware this season when they contest the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament at St Peter’s College over the weekend.
The annual event, recognised as one of the best girls’ water polo spectacles in the country, will see 28 schools compete for top honours, from Thursday to Sunday.
Last year’s winners, St Stithians Collegeare seeded in an interesting Pool A with Alexander Road, Crawford, Herschel, Hudson Park, Kingswood College, and Rand Park High.
Meanwhile, DGC will contest Pool C along with the hosts, Collegiate, Pretoria Girls, Reddam House Constantia, Rustenburg, and St Dominic’s.
The Durban side heads into the tournament high in confidence after winning the National Aquatics Festival, which took place in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month.
At that event, hosted by Maris Stella, Peter Lavett‘s side showed grit in the playoffs after finishing the pool stages unbeaten.
They held off Clarendon High 8-7 in the semi-finals before edging out St Mary’s Waverley in a thrilling title-decider.
“We were over the moon winning that tournament with such a young team, and with no Grade 12s!” Lavett revealed to SuperSport Schools.
“We trained quite nicely through January and had a good run at the Brian Baker Tournament in Makhanda, where we beat Clarendon.
“So, it was very nice to show our parents what we can do.”
In a gruelling final against St Mary’s, DGC claimed the honours on penalties after the match ended 7-7 after four chukkas.
It was their defence that shone, with several players making crucial blocks and steals with minutes left on the shot clock.
Lavett also said allowing young players to familiarise themselves with the tempo of the tournament early on reaped rewards for his side at a later stage.
“We took it one game at a time. The girls worked hard, and we focused a lot on our defence.
“Many of our young girls, who are in grade 10 and new in the team, got some water time and that paid off at the end of the tournament, where we had to show up.
“This season has started very nicely and I’m hoping we can continue the momentum into this weekend,” he added.
DGC, managed by Cortney Whitfield, will also need strong showings from some of their experienced players, including Inge Southey, Kayla Andrews, and Lara Mervis, if they are to go all the way in Johannesburg.
Durban Girls College fixtures at the Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament:
Thursday, 22 February
11:10- Durban Girls College vs St Peter’s College 17:00- Durban Girls College vs Rustenburg
Friday, 23 February
08:10- Durban Girls College vs Pretoria Girls 16:20- Durban Girls College vs St Dominic’s 18:40- Durban Girls College vs Reddam House Constantia
‘n Drietal vyftigtalle deur van Hoërskool Diamantveld se staatmakerkolwers het die span van Kimberley se plek in die Motheo o. 19 T20 Superliga-eindstryd verseker.
Diamonds het Dinsdag vir St. Andrew’s School van Bloemfontein se tweedespan in die halfeindronde uitskakel.
Diamantveld se drie openingskolwers, Benjamin Potgieter, Danie van der Merwe en Simon Liversage, het elk meer as vyftig lopies bygedra om hul span tot 184/4 in die 20 beskikbare boulbeurte te dryf.
Liversage het die Bloemfonteiners verál gestraf en sewe sesse gemoker vir sy blitsige 51 lopies vanaf 24 balle, nadat Potgieter en Van der Merwe se aanvangsvennootskap van 115 uiteindelik beëindig is deur Pluto Chen.
Johan Liebenberg het ‘n teenaanval vir Saints probeer loods met ‘n onoorwonne beurt van 44 lopies, maar Francois Holtzhausen en Arno Mostert het die Bloemfontein-kolwers spoedig getem om oorwinning aan die besoekers te besorg.
Albei Diamond-boulers het drie paaltjies platgetrek, met die gevolg dat Liebenberg sy span net tot 136/9 kon aanspoor in die beskikbare beurte, 50 lopies skraal van die teiken.
Diamantveld speel op 26 Februarie teen Grey-kollege se tweedespan vir die trofee.
Toe die twee spanne mekaar verlede maand ontmoet het was dit die Diamonds wat die oorhand geniet het en met 43 lopies as oorwinnaars uit die stryd getree het.
Simon Liversage het uitgeblink in daardie wedstryd om 48 lopies aan te teken en van vier Grey-kolwers ontslae te raak.
Die Bloemfonteiners het egter hierdie week gewys dat hulle oorgehaal is vir die uitspeelrondes deur vir ‘n sterk HoërskoolJim Fouché ore aan te sit.
Muso Mokomela was aan die spits van Grey se aanval met 31 lopies en vier paaltjies. Lohan Nortje het ook 4/8 geneem om Jim Fouché te beperk tot slegs 29 lopies, nadat Mokomela en kie 109 vir Grey aangeteken het.
Beknopte telkaarte:
Hoërskool Diamantveld: 184/4 (Danie van der Merwe 52, Simon Liversage 51, Benjamin Potgieter 50, Ekstras 20; Johan Liebenberg 2/22). St. Andrew’s School II: 136/9 (Johan Liebenberg 44*, Andrew Beelders 25, Heindre Serfontein 20; Francois Holtzhausen 3/20, Arno Mostert 3/21). Diamantveld wen met 48 lopies.
Grey-kollege II: 109/7 (Muso Mokomela 31, Dale Williams 24; Henko Venter 2/17, Cobus Wilken 2/18). Hoërskool Jim Fouché: 29 (Lohan Nortje 4/8, Muso Mokomela 4/15). Grey II wen met 78 lopies.
The 2024 water polo season reaches a fever pitch on the highveld as one of its most prestigious events splashes into action in Johannesburg this coming weekend.
From Thursday, 22 February, at 10:00, St Peter’s College opens its doors as they host the Old Petrian’s Annual Girls U19 Water Polo Tournament, which culminates in the final at 15:40 on Sunday afternoon.
Two venues, the Wahoo Aquatic Centre, in Sunninghill, and St. Peter’s Girls Prep, will host the five-day extravaganza, which brings together 27 of the best teams from around South Africa and one from Zimbabwe.
Three-time winners, St. Stithians have set their sights on successfully defending the title they won in 2023. From 2019 to 2023, they had an incredible run, winning three trophies in five years, and that included 2021 when their run was interrupted by Covid-19, and 2022, when Crawford College (Lonehill) scooped their maiden title.
While Coach Etienne Le Roux‘s charges are expected to progress from the group stages, it will not be a cakewalk for them. They are in Pool A, where they go up against three previous winners, Rand Park, Herschel and Crawford.
Going on recent form, Herschel will be the team to beat. The Cape Town school made it to the final in 2023 and they will, no doubt, be aiming to go one better and earn their second Old Petrian’s title. At the end of January, Herschel, also, won the Brian Baker Water Polo Tournament in Makhanda, also against a high-quality field. They’ve clearly established their title credentials.
Pool B includes two previous winners, St. Mary’s Waverley and Stirling. The more recent winner of those two was Stirling, who lifted the trophy in 2017. They will be up against Springfield, Roedean, Kingsmead and Zimbabwe’s Chisipite. Of all the pools, this could be the most open one, where all seven teams have a chance of progressing further.
However, Roedean’s strong showing in the Prestige Cup last weekend suggests they’re a contender for the overall honours.
The third pool is led by five-time champions, Reddam House Constantia. Coach Nick Tinkler‘s side has won more Petrian titles than any other school, and they will be keen to add a sixth to end an eight-year drought. While their group matches will be challenging, Reddam is expected to conquer the group. Their competitors include the hosts, St Peter’s, who would dearly like to add a second title to the one they claimed in 2012.
KwaZulu Natal has two representatives at the tournament, St Anne’s and Durban Girls’ College (DGC). While Pool D contestants, St Anne’s, might not be on a short list of potential champions, DGC will bear watching.
The 2023 semi-finalists and 2016 champions come into the tournament high in confidence after winning the National Aquatics Festival in Durban earlier in the month. They swept the group stages and beat St Mary’s Waverley 11-9 on penalties after a thrilling final had ended 7-7.
DGC will not be easily shrugged aside. They face Reddam House Constantia, Collegiate, Pretoria High School for Girls, Rustenburg, St Peter’s and St Dominic’s in their group.
Coach Hannah Muller’s Clarendon is on the hunt for a third title and leads Pool D. To progress, they’ll have to wrestle their way past 2018 champions Pearson, the two Reddams (Bedfordview and Helderfontein), St Anne’s, Westerford and Wynberg.
Previous winners (last five years)
St. Stithians – 2023
Crawford – 2022
St. Stithians – 2020
St. Stithians – 2019
Pearson – 2018
Thursday
Centre: 10:00 – Reddam Constantia vs Rustenburg; 10:35 – Reddam Helderfontein vs St Anne’s; 11:10 – Durban Girls vs St Peter’s; 11:45 – Reddam Bedfordview vs Westerford; 12:20 – Pretoria Girls vs St Dominic’s; 12:55 – Pearson vs Wynberg; 13:30 – St Peter’s vs Collegiate; 14:05 – Clarendon vs Westerford.
St. Peters: 10:00 – Crawford vs St Stithians; 10:35 – Kingsmead vs St Mary’s; 11:10 – Hudson vs Kingswood; 11:45 – Herschel vs Rand Park; 12:20 – Roedean vs Springfield; 12:55 – Crawford vs Kingswood; 13:30 – Chisipite vs Stirling; 14:05 – Alex Road vs St Stithians; 14:40 – DSG (Makhanda) vs Springfield; 15:15 – Herschel vs Hudson; 15:50 – Kingsmead vs Roedean; 16:25 – DSG vs Stirling; 17:00 – Durban Girls vs Rustenburg; 17:35 – Pearson vs St Anne’s; 18:10 – Pretoria Girls vs Reddam Constantia; 18:45 – Reddam Bedfordview vs Reddam Helderfontein.
Friday
07:00 – Alex Road vs Rand Park; 07:35 – Chisipite vs St Mary’s; 08:10 – St Stithians vs Kingswood; 08:45 – Stirling vs Springfield; 09:20 – Crawford vs Herschel; 09:55 – DSG vs Kingsmead; 10:30 – Kingswood vs Alex Road; 11:05 – Chisipite vs Springfield; 11:40 – Rand Park vs Hudson; 12:15 – St Mary’s vs Roedean; 12:50 – Herschel vs St Stithians; 13:25 – Stirling vs Kingsmead; 14:00 – Hudson vs Alex Road; 14:35 – Roedean vs Chisipite; 15:10 – Kingswood vs Herschel; 15:45 – Kingsmead vs Springfield; 16:20 – Rand Park vs Crawford; 16:55 – St Mary’s vs DSG; 17:30 – Herschel vs Alex Road; 18:05 – Kingsmead vs Chisipite; 18:40 – Hudson vs Crawford; 19:15 – DSG vs Roedean; 19:50 – Rand Park vs St Stithians
St Peters Girls Prep Pool
07:00 – St Dominic’s vs Collegiate; 07:35 – St Anne’s vs Wynberg; 08:10 – Durban Girls vs Pretoria Girls; 08:45 – Pearson vs Reddam Bedfordview; 09:20 – Rustenburg vs St Peter’s; 09:55 – Clarendon vs Wynberg; 10:30 – St Dominic’s vs Reddam Constantia; 11:05 – Westerford vs Reddam Helderfontein; 11:40 – Collegiate vs Rustenburg; 12:15 – Clarendon vs St Anne’s; 12:50 – St Peter’s vs Pretoria Girls; 13:25 – Wynberg vs Reddam Bedfordview; 14:00 – Collegiate vs Reddam Constantia; 14:35 – Clarendon vs Reddam Helderfontein; 15:10 – Rustenburg vs Pretoria Girls; 15:45 – Reddam Bedfordview vs St Anne’s; 16:20 – St Dominic’s vs Durban Girls; 16:55 – Pearson vs Westerford; 17:30 – Pretoria Girls vs Collegiate; 18:05 – Clarendon vs Reddam Bedfordview; 18:40 – Reddam Constantia vs Durban Girls; 19:15 – Reddam Helderfontein vs Pearson; 19:50 – St Dominic’s vs St Peter’s
Saturday
07:00 – Westerford vs Wynberg; 07:35 – Reddam Constantia vs St Peter’s; 08:10 – Clarendon vs Pearson; 08:45 – Collegiate vs Durban Girls; 09:20 – Wynberg vs Reddam Helderfontein; 09:55 – Rustenburg vs St Dominic’s; 10:30 – St Anne’s vs Westerford
07:00 – Stirling vs St Mary’s; 07:35 – Crawford vs Alex Road; 08:10 – DSG vs Chisipite; 08:45 – Hudson vs St Stithians; 09:20 – Stirling vs Roedean; 09:55 – Kingswood vs Rand Park; 10:30 – Springfield vs St Mary’s; 12:30 – Quarterfinal Final Shield; 13:05 – Quarterfinal Shield; 13:40 – Quarterfinal Shield; 14:15 – Quarterfinal Shield
Kearsney College Director of Sport, Waylon Murray, addresses the guests at the launch of the 2024 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.
The 2024 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival(KERF) was officially launched at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday evening, where guests expressed their enthusiasm for the new format of the event, which now includes 14 high school and 10 primary school teams.
The high school field features three newcomers: Cape Town’s Rondebosch Boys’ High, Hoërskool Rustenburg, from the North-West, and Pearson High School, from Gqeberha.
Kearsney’s Director of Sport, former Springbok Waylon Murray, explained how he and his team go about inviting new schools to the event: “It’s a complicated procedure. We’ve got good relationships with schools that have come in the past. We want to honour the good relationships we have.
“It’s also good to look at up-and-coming rugby programmes that wouldn’t necessarily have the platform to come to a major festival like this, and to give their brand and their rugby team the exposure that they deserve for the good rugby that they played in 2023.”
Last year, Rondebosch recorded wins over their three southern suburbs rivals – SACS, Wynberg and Bishops – beating the first two twice and splitting the season’s series with Bishops.
Hoërskool Rustenburg enjoyed a superb season. One of their highlights was a win over Glenwood High, who won three out of three at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.
Pearson, meanwhile, was part of many exciting games, with their 25-22 victory over Selborne College being a standout result.
It’s the first year of the primary schools’ festival, and its addition follows Kearsney College’s very successful hosting of primary school competitions alongside the Kearsney Hockey Fives and Kearsney Soccer Tournament.
“It was something that we have discussed in the past, and we have been trying to understand how we could implement it to make sure that it was a success,” Murray explained.
“We had to make sure there was enough buy-in from the community and the schools that we had identified, and it definitely adds a different element to our event. It is something that we are very excited about.”
At the launch, it was stressed that the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival is not a tournament – there is no winner – but a festival where important values, like sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience and respect are encouraged.
The Headmaster of Kearsney College, Patrick Lees, in his speech, likened a rugby team to a symphony orchestra, where each player has a specific role to play which, when performed in concert with the rest of the team, produces a harmonious result.
Waylon Murray, during his address, spoke about how much thought goes into choosing which schools play one another. Last year, he said, there were 104 tries scored over the three days of action. The average scores were – on day one, 24-23; on day two, 28-14; on day three, 27-22.
Craig Polkinghorne, Head of Commercial Clients at Standard Bank, speaking on the major sponsor’s behalf, said: “We take great pride in the fact that a festival like this isn’t reserved for the elite. It’s not the top 20. There are schools from all over the country, from different backgrounds…And those people should be mixing and playing on the sports fields, because they are going to later on in life.”
“Diversity is a strength, and it’s what we must use in the country much more.”
Siya Ndlozi goes over beneath the posts during Westville Boys’ High’s 14-9 win over leading English side, Hartpury College, at the 2023 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.
Sharks’ CEO, Dr Eduard Coetzee, emphasised three key pillars in his speech – significance over success, purpose over perfection, and heritage over history.
He explained: “If we drive success, you won’t have a happy adolescence, because, as soon as we achieve success, the barriers move. Let’s rather focus on significance. When those boys run onto the field, teach them what it means to make a difference in people’s lives. Team them how important it is to be a part of a team, to serve one another.”
“Perfection is a moving target. As soon as you get there, it moves,” he added. “If you have a purpose, and it impacts other people, it changes their lives, the way we treat each other, the way we are kind to each other, the way we speak about each other. Let’s rather teach our kids to chase purpose over perfection.
History, Coetzee said, is something that divides people, in the South African context. Heritage is what binds us together.
“I think the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival leaves a heritage,” he said, and shared three examples of how Jayden Hendrikse, Aphalele Fassi and he, personally, as a player at Kearsney in 1996, had been impacted by the event. All three are now key members of the Sharks organisation.
The KZN participants in the Easter Rugby Festival are unchanged, with Durban High School (DHS), Glenwood High School, Westville Boys’ High and Kearsney College representing the home province.
Gauteng is represented by two traditional powerhouses – Hoërskool Monument, from Krugersdorp, and Boksburg’s Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen.
Worcester Gimnasium, who impressed with their running rugby in their first appearance at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival in 2023, returns and joins Rondebosch to showcase the Western Cape’s rugby. The Eastern Cape sides include Nico Malan High School (Humansdorp), Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Hoër Landbouskool Marlow (Cradock). Kimberley’s Hoërskool Noord-Kaap completes the line-up.
Previously, KERF included four u13 primary school teams, who started each day’s play at the event. Now, though, primary schools will have their own stage, Roberts Field.
The teams for the inaugural u13 festival are Ashton International College Ballito, Chelsea Prep, Glenwood Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Senior Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, Winston Park Primary and the KZNRU Ibutho Development Team.
Together with The Sharks, KERF’s successful Boots & Balls outreach initiative will again collect new and used sports kit, with a focus on rugby gear. All donated kit will be sorted, refurbished and distributed to selected schools and clubs. Participating teams and the public are requested to leave kit in designated collection bins at the main field.
The festival is designed with the family in mind and there will be numerous food outlets, a refreshment tent, a fun KidZone, and ample on-site parking available on the beautiful Kearsney campus.
Fixtures and festival information are available on www.kearsney.com
The annual Independent Schools Cricket Festival, which takes place at St Alban’s College from 22 to 25 February, promises to dish up a spectacle of exciting cricket as some of South Africa’s leading talents test themselves against opposition from all around the country.
Many of the country’s top schools’ cricket teams will be in action in Pretoria, where the first three days of competition will be over 50 overs, and the final day, Sunday, 25 February, will feature a T20 format.
The hosts start off with a bit of an unknown challenge when they take on St George’s College. The Zimbabweans are joined at the Festival by their Harare rivals, St John’s College, who go up against Helpmekaar Kollege in their opener.
Follow the Independent Schools Cricket Festival action live on SuperSport Schools
The high-quality field includes a powerful Gauteng contingent made up of St Alban’s, St John’s, St Stithians, St Benedict’s, Helpmekaar, Cornwall Hill and St David’s.
Then, there is also the Titans Invitational side, which brings together players from lesser-known cricket-playing schools to give them an opportunity to test themselves against top opposition. They face a tough task, taking on St Stithians, Helpmekaar, St Benedict’s and Kingswood.
The KZN flag will be flown by Kearsney, Clifton College, Hilton College and Michaelhouse, with Kearsney, so far, the best performing of the schools in the province this season.
Bishops, widely regarded as the number one team in South Africa at present, represents the Western Cape, and their game against St Stithians on Friday – with Saints now including their SA u19 stars Richard Seletswane, and Player of the u19 Cricket World Cup, Kwena Maphaka – should be a cracker.
St Andrew’s College, Kingswood, and Woodridge carry the hopes of the Eastern Cape. St Andrew’s School is the only team from the Free State, and Uplands College is the only side from Mpumalanga.
The Fixtures
Thursday 22 February (50 overs)
St Alban’s College vs St George’s College (TC Mitchell Oval, St Alban’s)
Michaelhouse vs Bishops Diocesan College (Baloyi Oval, St Alban’s)
Hilton College vs St Andrew’s College (Murray Oval, St Alban’s)
St John’s College vs Woodridge College (Tuks Oval)
Titans Invitation XI vs St Stithians College (Tuks B)
St Benedict’s College vs Kearsney College (Tuks C)
Helpmekaar Kollege vs St John’s College (Harare) (Tuks D)
Cornwall Hill College vs Clifton School (Van der Byl Oval, Cornwall Hill)
St David’s Marist vs Kingswood College (Parke de Terrace, Cornwall Hill)
St Andrew’s School vs Uplands College (Land’s End, Cornwall Hill)
Friday 23 February (50 overs)
St Alban’s College vs St Andrew’s School (TC Mitchell Oval, St Alban’s)
St Andrew’s College vs Kearsney College (Baloyi Oval, St Alban’s)
Woodridge College vs St John’s College (Harare) (Murray Oval, St Alban’s)
St David’s Marist Inanda vs Hilton College (Tuks Oval)
St Stithians College vs Bishops Diocesan College (Tuks B)
Kinsgwood College vs Uplands College (Tuks C)
St George’s College vs Michaelhouse (Tuks D)
Cornwall Hill College vs St Benedict’s (Van der Byl Oval, Cornwall Hill)
Helpmekaar Kollege vs Titans Invitation XI (Parke de Terrace, Cornwall Hill)
Clifton School vs St John’s College (Land’s End, Cornwall Hill)
Saturday 24 February (50 overs)
St Alban’s College vs Michaelhouse (TC Mitchell Oval, St Alban’s)
Clifton School vs Kingswood College (Baloyi Oval, St Alban’s)
Helpmekaar Kollege vs St George’s College (Murray Oval, St Alban’s)
St John’s College vs Bishops Diocesan College (Mitchell Oval, St John’s)
St Stithians College vs Kearsney College (Dlamini Oval, St Stithians)
St David’s Marist Inanda vs St Andrew’s College (La Valla, St David’s)
Uplands College vs Woodridge College (McGregor, St David’s)
Cornwall Hill College vs St John’s College (Harare) (Van der Byl Oval, Cornwall Hill)
St Andrew’s School vs Hilton College (Parke de Terrace, Cornwall Hill)
Titans Invitation XI vs St Benedict’s College (Land’ End, Cornwall Hill)
Sunday 25 February (T20)
St Alban’s College vs Woodridge College (TC Mitchell Oval, St Alban’s)
Helpmekaar Kollege vs Kearsney College (Baloyi Oval, St Alban’s)
Uplands College vs Clifton School (Murray Oval, St Alban’s)
St John’s College vs St Andrew’s College (Mitchell Oval, St John’s)
St Stithians College vs Michaelhouse (Dlamini Oval, St Stithians)
St David’s Marist Inanda vs St John’s College (Harare) (La Valla, St David’s)
St Benedict’s vs St Andrew’s School (McGregor, St David’s)
Cornwall Hill College vs Bishops Diocesan College (Van der Byl Oval, Cornwall Hill)
Titans Invitation XI vs Kingswood College (Parke de Terrace, Cornwall Hill)
Hilton College vs St George’s College (Land’s End, Cornwall Hill)
The 13th edition of the African Games, to be hosted in Ghana next month, will see the return of field hockey to the list of sports, with South Africa’s men’s and women’s teams set to represent the country during the two-week event.
The return of hockey, 21 years after it was last part of the Games, is highly anticipated.
From 1995, when South Africa first became a part of the continental showcase, the South African women’s team dominated the quadrennial event, claiming gold that year and in the following two editions, 1999 and 2003, but then hockey was removed from the schedule.
The 18-player squad announced by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) will be looking to pick up where their forerunners left off when the tournament kicks off at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium on 8 March.
The team is filled with season campaigners, with the most experienced players being Dirkie Chamberlain, Celia Seerane, and Quanita Bobbs, a trio with over 600 caps between them.
A player who is aiming to hit her stride early in her career is Taheera Augousti, who is one of the younger members of the squad, with 26 international caps to her name.
Augousti is fresh out of school, after matriculating from Bloemfontein’s Eunice High School for Girls last year. However, at just 18 years old, she has quickly become an integral part of the South African side.
In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools, she revealed how thrilled the team was to be a part of the Games, how she has settled into international hockey, and the invaluable experience of playing alongside experienced campaigners.
“It’s really exciting for us. It will be a great experience to play against some of the best teams in Africa,” she said.
“We are going to be there for a while, and we will be using it as preparation for the Olympics, as well.
“I’m very excited to see what we can produce as a team.”
The youngster made her international debut against Italy late in 2022, in her grade 11 year, during a Nations Cup Tournament in Spain.
In 2023, she played for her country while also representing her school, in a season where they finished as the top-ranked team in the country.
She shared the challenges she faced during her transition from high school hockey to the international scene.
“It wasn’t that difficult. I played for my country in grades 11, 12, and this year.
“I could say it was more challenging during matric, because I still played school hockey, also, and the level was different, and I had to get used to the international tempo again.
“The biggest challenge I faced on the field was probably the amount of time I had on the ball. At the school level, you get a lot of time on the ball and a lot of space to run with the ball and make decisions.
“But now, at the national level, players are just quicker to get to you, and the speed of the game is much quicker,” she explained.
In her final year in school, Augousti played a leading role in the Eunice side that finished atop of the country’s rankings and scooped up several awards, including the Southern Free State League, and the Super 12 title.
She was also part of the Southern Free State side that defeated Boland 3-2 in the final of the Inter-Provincial tournament.
Despite achieving so much during her school playing days, she admitted that it was hard saying goodbye to her team, and head coach Nika Coertzen, who welcomed her into the first team when she was in grade nine.
“It was tough for me to say goodbye, especially seeing how we ended up on a high note.
“It was always a goal of ours to finish first in the country, ever since I made the team in grade 9. I, and one of the other players, were the only grade nines, and we built a strong relationship with the coach.
“So, saying goodbye to her and the team, after four years of playing in the team, was tough.
“We came short of finishing in the first place when I was in grades nine, 10, and 11, and it happened in grade 12, so to end my school career finishing first was amazing.”
At the international level, Augousti now plays with some of the most experienced hockey players in Africa, and says she is taking a lot of lessons from them.
“A lot of the players in the team, help me, and give me advice,” she said. “The senior players are very helpful, and I can speak to any of them.
“I’ve grown a massive liking for Erin (Christie), and Quanita (Bobbs), simply because they’re always helping me, motivating me, just like the rest of the team.”
South Africa will enter the African Games with qualification for this year’s Olympic Games in France secured.
They will be using the tournament as an opportunity to test their depth, combinations, and tactics, with Paris 2024 looming ever closer.
Improving the country’s medal tally at the Games will also be on the agenda, after South Africa achieved a total of 86 medals (36 Gold, 26 Silver, and 24 Bronze), across 11 different sporting codes, to finish fourth on the medals’ table in Rabat, Morocco, 2019.
The annual Durban and Districts Gala, swum at Kings Park on Wednesday, produced a fascinating battle between the highly favoured Westville Boys’ High and Durban High School (DHS) for the overall honours, with only five points separating the two at the completion of the 26th and final event.
The topsy-turvy nature of cricket was on full display on Wednesday, when Northwood hosted high-flying Durban High School (DHS) in a W100 match on the Robin Smith Oval.
A determined and hungry Durban Girls’ College (DGC) side will be on the hunt for their second piece of silverware this season when they contest the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament at St Peter’s College over the weekend.
The 2024 water polo season reaches a fever pitch on the highveld as one of its most prestigious events splashes into action in Johannesburg this coming weekend.
The annual Independent Schools Cricket Festival, which takes place at St Alban’s College from 22 to 25 February, promises to dish up a spectacle of exciting cricket as some of South Africa’s leading talents test themselves against opposition from all around the country.
The 13th edition of the African Games, to be hosted in Ghana next month, will see the return of field hockey to the list of sports, with South Africa’s men’s and women’s teams set to represent the country during the two-week event.