Blog

With a win on Saturday, the Gauteng Lions maintained their perfect record to be crowned the 2023 CSA u16 Girls Week champions after a battle fitting of a final against Easterns in Pietermaritzburg.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the tournament

Fay Cowling, as she often did during the week, played a key innings as the Lions tallied 86/6 in their 18 available overs.

With all but one other match being cancelled due to rain, she impressed with an unbeaten 48 in in conditions that clearly favoured the bowlers.

Micaela Edwards, with an innings of 35, and Mieke van Voorst, with 20, made a valiant attempt to take their side past the required total, but Leani Swanepoel‘s four overs put the skids on the Easterns’ run chase. She sent four batters packing at crucial moments and vitally, too, conceded only 10 runs.

After the completion of their overs, the Eastern Storm were agonisingly close to the Lions’ total, finishing a mere six runs shy of their target.

The only other contest that took place was a crucial clash between Boland and Eastern Province to decide who would earn a spot in the Platinum division in 2024.

Despite Liyema Gqirana showing her class and taking three Boland wickets, Janel Steenkamp played a composed and unbeaten 35 to see her team across the line.

Apart from the claiming the Cup, the Gauteng Lions also picked up a number of other awards. Fay Cowling was selected as the best all-rounder of the week, as well as the best fielder.

Her teammate, Neo Molefe, who scored back-to-back centuries without losing her wicket in the opening two games, was honoured as both the cricketer and batter of the week.

The bowler of the tournament was Eastern Province’s Danika Marais, who took seven wickets to help EP to a three-run victory over KZN Inland in a thriller on day three.

The event was an excellent showcase of the young talent in the women’s youth cricket programme in South Africa. With the appetite for the women’s game heating up locally and worldwide, the national youth weeks provide opportunities and potential stepping stones for some within South Africa’s ever-growing ranks of young cricketers to potentially stake a claim for a future in professional sports.

For others, it will have been a cherished and rare opportunity to play alongside and test themselves against some of the top u16 girls’ cricketers in the country.

SUMMARISED SCORECARD (Day five)

Gauteng Lions 86/6 (Fay Cowling 48*; Ashleigh Van Wyk 2/28); Easterns 81/7 (Micaela Edwards 34, Mieke van Voorst 20; Leani Swanepoel 4/10). Gauteng Lions won by 5 runs.

Eastern Province 78/5 (Extras 21, Tara Nel 19*; Cornelia Destroo 1/6); Boland 79/4 (Janel Steenkamp 35*; Liyema Gqirana 3/26). Boland won by six wickets.

AWARDS

Cup winners: Gauteng Lions
Cricketer of the week: Neo Molefe (Gauteng Lions)
All-rounder of the week: Fay Cowling (Gauteng Lions)
Bowler of the week: Danica Marais (Eastern Province)
Batter of the week: Neo Molefe (Gauteng Lions)
Fielder of the week: Fay Cowling (Gauteng Lions)

MAKHANDA. – For the second successive year it was Ludwich Schuld from North West who scored the first century of the annual u19 Khaya Majola Week here.

Schuld (117) struck 16 fours in his side’s massive victory of 292 runs overs Kei. During last year’s edition in Stellenbosch he scored an unbeaten 119 runs during the opening day against Eastern Province.

The lefthanded batsman also shared a 237-run partnership with Muhammed Bulbulia (115) for the second wicket. Bulbulia reached his milestone shortly after Schuld and found the boundary ten times, of which two were maximums.

Kei got bundled out for a mere 25 runs thanks to some good bowling by Tumelo Makume (3/3) and Zavier van Rensburg (2/12).

The hosts, Eastern Province, suffered a 76-run defeat in the main match of the first day on the Somerset field against last year’s unofficial champions, Western Province.

WP reached 264 thanks to valuable contributions by Benni Hansen (58), Siyabonga Venge (46), Oliver Whitehead (30), and Raeeq Daniels (29). The latter had the tail wagging, hitting three sixes in his innings.

Hamza Khan (4/39) troubled Western Province’s batsmen and came very close to bagging a hat-trick. He removed Declan Gillespie (2) and Fayvaad Davids (0) with the first two deliveries of the forty-second over.

Olwakhe Goqoza (66) put up a valiant effort with the bat for the home side, but in the end, it was not enough.

The favourites to be crowned champions, the Central Gauteng Lions, bagged an easy eight-wicket victory over Boland.

Their SA u19 fast bowler Kwena Maphaka took four wickets for only 37 runs. He also picked up a wicket with his first delivery of the match to remove Josh Jordaan (0) to set the tone.

Cole Francis (3/13) and Tjaart Mentz (2/11) supported Maphaka well in the bowling department as Boland was bowled out for only 122 runs.

Hayden Bishop (88) and Evan Fouché (68) led the way for KwaZulu-Natal with half-centuries as they defeated the Titans by 25 runs.

The Titans’ Steve Stolk (3/43) and Hernus Marais (3/46) caused the team from KZN some trouble.

Their teammate Jorich van Schalkwyk (96) just missed out on his century. Ntando Soni (4/39) was the pick of the KwaZulu-Natal bowling attack.

KwaZulu-Natal Inland also proved too strong for Free State as they secured a 53-run victory. Ross Boast (83) and Caleb Thomas (61) weighed in with half-centuries to get their side to 222/8 in their 50 overs.

Free State’s Juan Viljoen tried his best with ball and bat in hand as he scored 60 runs and boasted bowling figures of 2/59.

Mpumalanga’s Davico Kruger (5/28) bagged a five-wicket haul to help his side secure a four-wicket victory over Border. He also contributed with the bat as his 23 runs were only outshone by Jayden Meyer’s (51) half-century.

Limpopo’s Michael Nel (5/24) also got a fiver. However, it was not enough to take his side to a victory over Easterns.

Summarised Scorecards (Limited Overs): 

Western Province 264 (Benni Hansen 58, Siyabonga Venge 46, Oliver Whitehead 30, Kashief Joseph 29, Raeeq Daniels 29, Mbulelo Dube 21*, Paul James 20; Hamza Khan 4/39, Simnikiwe Soyaya 2/23, Jean Upman 2/37); Eastern Province 188 (Olwakhe Goqoza 66, Matthew Poole 39, Harry van Heerden 21, Extras 21; Sibulele Sibunzana 3/32, Fayvaad Davids 3/42, Raeeq Daniels 2/31). Western Province won by 76 runs. 

KwaZulu-Natal 254/9 (Hayden Bishop 88, Evan Fouché 68, Blake Simpson 27; Steve Stolk 3/43, Hernus Marais 3/46, Marcus Bakker 2/61); Titans 229 (Jorich van Schalkwyk 96, Dumisane Motshwene 32, Extras 22, Modise Maloka 21; Ntando Soni 4/39, Bandile Mbatha 2/32). KwaZulu-Natal won by 25 runs.  

Boland 122 (Johan Wege 31, Extras 23; Kwena Maphaka 4/37, Cole Francis 3/13, Tjaart Mentz 2/11); Central Gauteng Lions 123/2 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 37, David Teeger 31, Extras 28, Thebe Gazide 20; Thando Prusent 1/10). Central Gauteng Lions won by eight wickets.  

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 222/8 (Ross Boast 83, Caleb Thomas 61, Ivan Lockem 20; Johnathan Muller 3/20, Juan Viljoen 2/59); Free State 169 (Juan Viljoen 60, Connor Nel 38; Thabiso Ndlela 4/31, Ivan Lockem 3/20). KwaZulu-Natal Inland won by 53 runs. 

Border 137 (Bevaneo Mayham 32, Extras 25, Ben van der Merwe 24, Osiphesona Mbekwa 21; Davico Kruger 5/28, Kamogelo Sebola 2/14); Mpumalanga 139/6 (Jayden Meyer 51, Davico Kruger 23; Hlumelo Ntlola 2/15). Mpumalanga won by four wickets. 

North West 317/4 (Ludwich Schuld 117, Muhammed Bulbulia 115, Extras 27, Tumelo Makume 20*; Chulumanco Soyizwhaphi 2/77); Kei 25 (Tumelo Makume 3/3, Zavier van Rensburg 2/12). North West won by 292 runs. 

Easterns 157 (Sabelo Mabanga 59, Ahmed Imran 20; Michael Nel 5/24, Jeandré Strydom 2/35, Masilo Moremi 2/37); Limpopo 128 (Maan Mistry 29, Extras 23; Parth Partel 2/16, Juan Steyn 2/17, Simele Maye 2/22). Easterns won by 29 runs. 

Garden Route Badgers 119 (Charl-Francois Marais 33*, Extras 26; Malan Lubbe 3/6, Oratile Jubeni 2/17, Monnapule Jansen 2/22); Northern Cape 120/9 (Simon Liversage 48, Malan Lubbe 47; Sibabalwe Msi 3/5, Enathi Khitshini 3/35, Charl-Francois Marais 2/38). Northern Cape won by one wicket.  

 

Edendale Technical High and the Ubuntu Football Academy produced title-winning performances at the CAF African Schools Football, Cosafa qualifiers on Saturday in Harare to record an historic double for the South African sides, who were crowned the regional champions for a second year in a row.

The reward for the winners is a place at the CAF African Schools Football Championship next year where they will face off against the continent’s top teams.

Coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo’s girls’ team, Edendale Technical, defended their title in style after defeating Botswana 3-1 in the title-decider. A brace from Khwezi Khoza, the event’s top goal scorer, with 11 to her name, and a strike from Rethabile Molefe, sealed the victory for a team which was clearly the most dominant and consistent outfit on display.

Prior to the Cosafa qualifiers, Khumalo had revealed that she was not entirely satisfied with her charges’ performances at the 2022 event. Although they won, she said, they were not at their best. This time around, there will surely be more than enough reasons for the coach to feel satisfied with her squad’s level of play.

Edendale’s run to the final was spectacular, as they overwhelmed one opponent after another. In four matches, they netted 28 times without conceding. That record was testament to the team’s well-balanced and ruthlessly effective performances.

When Edendale conceded a goal to Botswana in the final, it was the only time that their defences were breached in five games.

“I am so happy,” coach Khumalo told safa.net after her team had defended their title. “It is mission accomplished, and we have won again.

“Thank you to all the people that have supported these young girls – the parents, the coaches, the South Africans who are behind us, and SAFA. I am asking all of you to continue to do more for them because they are the future of our country. We love you South Africa. Thank you.”

South Africa’s boys’ team, Cape Town’s Ubuntu Football Academy, had a tough challenge in front of them as they tried to follow in the footsteps of Clapham High, who won the title in 2022.

It was tough sledding for Ubuntu in the final, and at half-time Malawi enjoyed a one-goal lead, thanks to a superb volley from Okestar Kanyenda. In the second half, however, South Africa manufactured an equaliser through Rhys Ferguson, which sent the contest to a penalty shootout.

The tension should have been turned up to the max. Strangely, though, it was a slightly anti-climactic cruise to the title for South Africa from there. They scored from all of their kicks, while Malawi failed to score any of their penalties: Amos Nyirenda struck the crossbar, while Tinga Nkhoma and James Msongole had their efforts saved by goalkeeper Sabrie Losper.

SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the South African representatives after their silverware-clinching performances on Saturday. “We are proud of the achievements of our boys and girls who completed the double in Zimbabwe,” he said.

“Schools have always been the bedrock of football development, and our two teams have shown we are moving in the right direction. This is a great Christmas present from our teams. Well done!”

There were further reasons for the South African sides to celebrate after Simama Inganathi was named the Player of the Tournament in the boys’ competition, while goalkeeper Sabrie Losper took home the Golden Glove. South Africa’s Rhys Ferguson and Zimbabwe’s El Shaddai Sadomba  shared the Golden Boot, with both netting four times. The tournament hosts, Zimbabwe, were the winners of the Fair Play award.

In the girls’ competition, South Africa’s Katleho Malebana was named the Player of the Tournament, Angel Zibula  received the Golden Glove, and the prolific Khoza was the Golden Boot winner. Namibia received the Fair Play prize.

There was significant prize money in it for the top teams. The winning associations in the two categories walked away with $100 000, with the runners-up bagging $75 000, and the third-place finishers $50 000.

The awards were decided on by the Technical Study Group at the tournament, which used data mined from the players’ performances in each match to make their determinations.

RESULTS

Girls’ Third-Place Play-Off

Mozambique 4 (Isabel Cuinhane 4) Namibia 0

Final
South Africa 3 (Khwezi Khoza 2, Rethabile Molefe) Botswana 1 (Amogelang
Sebotho)

Boys’ Third-Place Play-Off
Zimbabwe 1 (El Shaddai Sadomba) Namibia 0

Final
Malawi 1 (Okestar Kanyenda) South Africa 1 (Rhys Ferguson)
SA won 3-0 on penalties

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS

Boys

Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 62
Biggest victory: South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 7 – South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)

Girls
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 83
Biggest victory: South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 14 – South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)

Gauteng continued its dominance at the CSA u16 Girls Week in Pietermaritzburg on Friday. With another solid victory, this time over Boland, the Gauteng ladies kept their record neat and unblemished.

Watch all the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the tournament

Batting first, Boland’s efforts to force an uncomfortable run chase on the Lions never got off the ground.

They lost wickets regularly in the face of a committed Gauteng fielding performance, which left the girls from the Cape on 81 for 9 from their 20 overs. Leani Swanepoel, with 3/10, led the Lions’ attack, while Thutu Thibedi, with 2/3, and Tana Burne, with 2/19, delivered further breakthroughs for Gauteng.

Fay Cowing, a consistent run scorer throughout the week, then delivered another excellent knock, striking an unbeaten 54 from 51 deliveries, to steer the Lions to a comfortable four-wicket win.

Meanwhile, Hannah Warner‘s excellent all-round contributions spurred KZN to a win over KZN Inland.

She took 2/3, and Aleah Govender claimed 2/4, as any momentum provided by Siphokazi Xaba‘s fine 39 was lost in a flurry of falling wickets in the latter stages of the Inland innings of 81 for 7.

Warner followed up on her bowling success with 20 runs from the bat. That was the vital support Shreeya Subbiah, who top scored with 38, needed to steer KZN to the local rivalry honours by eight wickets.

Lillie Blignaut stood firm as all around her wickets tumbled and batters scrambled for runs in the match between Mpumalanga and Kei.

Blignaut made 34 but received precious little support as Kei were limited to a meagre 56 for 6 in their innings.

Needing just 57 to win, all that was required was one innings of substance and Enkosi Mditswa’s 21 was enough, to take Mpumalanga to a victory in their final outing of the week.

With rain soaking the fields in the area, only two games will be contested on the final day.

It will be Gauteng and Easterns doing battle for the title, while Eastern Province and Boland will duel for a place in the Platinum Group at next year’s event.

SUMMARISED SCORECARDS (Day four)

Boland 81/9 (Extras 19, Cornelia Destroo 17; Leani Swanepoel 3/10, Thuto Thibedi 2/3, Tana Burne 2/19); Gauteng Lions 86/6 (Fay Cowling 54*; Kezia Jordaan 2/20). Gauteng Lions won by four wickets.

Limpopo 77/7 (Extras 31, Karabo Monyela 11; Oletha Cindi 2/13); Easterns 81/6 (Extras 26, Mieke van Voorst 18*; Respect Mabasa 2/18, Murisi Rikhotso 2/25). Easterns won by four wickets.

KZN Inland 81/7 (Siphokazi Xaba 39; Hannah Warner 2/3, Aleah Govender 2/4); KZN 82/2 (Shreeya Subbiah 38, Hannah Warner 20; Nothando Khumalo 1/2). KZN won by eight wickets.

Titans 85 (Extras 28, Jane Verhage 14; Estelle Russouw 3/13, Ashline Titus 2/14, Miya Lalor 2/18); Western Province 86/4 (Imaan van Schalkwyk 25; Gabrielle Sequiera 3/16). Western Province won by six wickets.

Mpumalanga 56/6 (Lillie Blignault 34; Papama Zinyosi 2/11, Qhawe Tenjwa 2/11); Kei 57/5 (Enkosi Mditswa 21; Omphile Mandi 2/5). Kei won by five wickets.

North West 98 (Extras 25, Ayanda Mosothoane 22; Inam Sigede 2/14); Garden Route Badgers 47/3 (Tiché Frans 21*; Lesedi Loate 1/10). Garden Route Badgers won by Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Northern Cape 35/2 (Chloe Nagel 16; Kekeletso Mohapi 1/4); Free State 37/1 (Leoze Lottering 19*; Remoneilwe Gabobonwe 1/24). Free State won by nine wickers. (Reduced overs)

Eastern Province vs Border – Match abandoned

The main match of the opening day between Eastern Province and Western Province will be broadcasted live on SuperSport Schools – Channel 216.

All of the other matches will be live-streamed via the SuperSport Schools app.

Fixtures | Day 1

[ninja_tables id=”31868″]

With the annual Khaya Majola Week taking place from 16 to 20 December, we decided to have a look into the crystal ball and pick our five cricketers at the week to keep an eye on.

Catch all the action live from the Khaya Majola Week on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com). The main match of each day will also be broadcasted live on DStv Channel 216.

With the excitement growing about the growth of the game with new tournaments like the SA20, which incorporated rookie signings from next year and the u19 World Cup to be hosted in South Africa, this year’s tournament is one you don’t want to miss.

The next ICC World Cup will also be hosted by South Africa in 2027. Some of these five players or maybe all five could be in line to represent the Proteas at this prestigious event in four years.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Central Gauteng Lions)

The Southpaw has had a fantastic 2023 to date. With an SA20 contract sealed and appearances in the South African Emerging squad that won the CSA Division Two One Day Cup title, Pretorius has made himself well-known as a destructive top-order batsman, able to compete at the highest level.

These performances, including, a pivotal 76 runs in the One Day Cup final versus a strong Itec Knights side, have earned him a spot in the SA u19 side which will host the World Cup on home soil early in 2024.

In a rich vain of form, Pretorius will look to kick on and make the 2023 tournament his own, cementing his promising future in the circles of South African cricket.

Kwena Maphaka (Central Gauteng Lions) 

The young left-arm fast bowler has been labeled to follow in the footsteps of fellow ex-St Stithians quick Kagiso Rabada, making his first SA u19 appearance at the tender age of only 15 years old.

Mapakha, too, was in action for the same SA Emerging side alongside Pretorius and Saints teammate Richard Seletswane. He was recently signed by the Paarl Royals as a rookie signing, falling under the new addition to the highly successful SA20 competition.

Maphaka also impressed the Lions’ selectors, which earned him his debut at the senior professional level for the Betway Lions in the CSA Division One Four-Day competition where he claimed his first wicket in Proteas opening batsman Matthew Breetzke at St George’s Park.

Maphaka also made his first-class debut during the season as Protea’s red ball coach, Shukri Conrad, included him in his South African A-squad for a tour through Sri Lanka.

Riley Norton (Boland)

An impressive young sporting talent from Paul Roos Gimnasium down in the Western Cape, Riley Norton has excelled in both cricket and rugby. Norton was selected as part of the SA Schools rugby side earlier in 2023 and most recently joined Pretorius and Mapakha in the u19 World Cup Squad as they prepare to take on the world’s best at the u19 level.

In 2021 Norton received the accolade of player of the year at the CSA u16 Week. In 2022 he went one better booking a place in the SA Colts side and later on attended the prestigious Cubs Week. If he manages to break through to earn a place in the SA Schools side, he will become only the 15th player to do so, being the third forward to do so as well.

Riley Norton will certainly be one to watch among a strong Boland side at this year’s tournament.

David Teeger (Central Gauteng Lions)

David Teeger is one of South Africa’s best young batsmen at the moment. Teeger has already had a taste of international cricket, leading the South African u19 side on their tour to Bangladesh in June of 2023. He will do so again in 2024 as the man in charge of the young South African side hoping to bring home the trophy for the first time since 2013.

He, too, was in action for the SA Emerging side that won the CSA Division Two One Day Cup, top-scoring with a memorable unbeaten 95 runs from just 70 deliveries, against an unbeaten Itec Knights side at the time.

With ambitions to don the Green and Gold in the not-so-distant future Teeger will aim to use this year’s tournament as a stepping stone to achieve his goal.

Tristan Luus (Titans) 

Being an exciting young fast bowling prospect, Tristan Luus has taken the South African schools and domestic scene by storm. The Waterkloof pupil’s sheer pace has made many a supporter and selectors shift to the end of their seats.

So much so that, like the before mentioned four, he will be in action for his country in the u19 World Cup next year and played his part in the SA Emerging side’s wonderful campaign in the Division Two One Day Cup.

He, however, has encountered some struggles with injuries in recent times, making the Khaya Majola Week an important one for the young fast bowler as he aims to get back to the fiery Tristan Luus South Africans have come to know about.

Luyanda Nzuza’s efforts with the bat ensured that the SA Fillies side pushed a strong SA Schools team all the way in a T20 clash played between the two national u19 teams on Friday in Cape Town.

The SA Schools team was made to sweat before they clinched a hard-fought four-run win.

In just 47 deliveries, the talented KwaZulu-Natal batter blasted her way to an attractive 54 runs as the Fillies chased 130 for victory.

After winning the toss, the Fillies decided to put the SA Schools side in to bat first. Deidre van Rensburg, however, got the senior line-up off to a good start with a well-played 28 from 39 balls. Her strike rate of 72, though, was testament to a disciplined bowling performance from the Fillies, who rarely strayed from a good line and length.

This led to a number of wickets falling in quick succession. The consistent Caitlin Wyngaard led the charge, snapping up 2/19, to stunt the momentum that Van Rensburg had given the innings.

The SA Schools’ captain, Kayla Reyneke, provided her side’s batting effort with some much-needed impetus, weighing in with 21 runs from 22 balls to help SA Schools to 129/7 from their 20 overs.

Nzuza went after the SA Schools’ bowlers from the start of her innings, however, determined to see her team chase down the victory target. She played a fantastic knock. However, after her departure, things went pear-shaped for the Fillies.

Their demise was triggered by wonderful bowling from Western Province’s Jemma Botha, who claimed three wickets at the cost of only 12 runs.

Koketso Lesenyago provided stubborn resistance, making 22 from 26 balls, but a good spell by Reyneke, who bagged two wickets for 21 runs, led to the Fillies being bowled out for 125, leaving them an agonising four runs shy of the SA Schools’ total.

Summarised Scores 

SA Schools 129/7 (Deidre van Rensburg 28, Kayla Reneke 21; Caitlin Wyngaard 2/19); SA Fillies 125/10 (Luyanda Nzuza 54, Koketso Lesenyago 22; Jemma Botha 3/12, Reneke 2/21). SA Schools won by four runs.

Westlake Boys from New Zealand and Ireland’s St Michael’s will face each other in the final of the 2023 World Schools Festival in Thailand on Sunday after cutting short the South African challenge for the title in Friday’s semi-finals.

In the first semi-final of the day, Dr EG Jansen were on the scoreboard first after their winger, Cameron van Wyk, slotted an early penalty to ensure they weren’t caught unawares like the New Zealanders’ first opponents.

Westlake had made it to the semi-finals thanks to a late comeback draw against Hartpury on the opening day, with the tournament rules stipulating that the first team to score advances in the event of an undecided match.

Later in the game, brilliant interplay between Van Wyk and hooker, Danré Pike, led to EG Jansen’s first try, which helped them regain the lead after Iggy Iversen had opened Westlake’s account.

Their two New Zealand Schools’ representatives, captain James Cameron (centre) and Isaac Murray-Macgregor (fullback), showed their class in the second half as Westlake took control of the contest. In the end, they beat the Boksburg boys 25-16.

St Michael’s demonstrated their intent early on, scoring in less than three minutes through Irish international Ethan Black.

Oakdale was starved of possession in the first 10 minutes until their captain Kurt Coetzee (centre) took matters into his own hands by bursting through to score.

Kai Pratt, Oakdale’s young loosehead prop, was a standout again. Early in the second half, he crossed the whitewash for a five-pointer, which brought the boys from Riversdal back into the game. The Irish side kept piling on the pressure, however, with their game-breaking flyhalf, Joe Quigley, pulling the strings to see St Michael’s to a thrilling 17-12 victory.

This means the two South African schools will do battle for third place in the playoffs on Sunday, while Westlake will seek to emulate Hamilton Boys’ victory in the 2022 World Schools Festival and return the cup to New Zealand. They will need to deliver their best performance of the week, however, if they are to upset a St Michael’s team which hasn’t revealed any chinks in its armour.

The South African teams in the Open had a more successful time on Thursday. Southern Legion continued their dominant run with a decisive win over the Odyssey Knights (55-14) in which Durbanville’s Lian Jordaan caught the eye by crossing the line twice for his team.

Both Rugby Travel Academy teams in the Open also won their matches, beating the Odyssey Spartans (27-7) and the Dubai Tigers (38-24) respectively.

With the squads being mixed to give everyone time to rest and recover, Raynard van Loggenberg scored for RTA in both games.

The RTA boys showed resilience to come from behind to take victory on both occasions.

The Dubai Tigers’ captain Marcus Guerin and his side gave the South Africans a good challenge, but a hattrick by Marno du Plessis, from Hoërskool Nelspruit, was enough to see them take the win.

Guerin is a particularly rare find in that he is a captain who plays lock, jumps in the lineout, handles the kicking responsibilities, and falls into the midfield on the attack.

The action in the Open tournament continues on Saturday before the Cup finals take place on Sunday.

SCORERS

Cup

 St Michaels 17 (14) – Tries: Ethan Black, Riain Coogan. Conversions: Joe Quigley (2). Penalty: Quigley. Oakdale 12 (5) – Tries: Kurt Coetzee, Kai Pratt. Conversion: Warren Labuschagne.

Westlake Boys 25 (10) – Tries; Iggy Iversen, Tyler Pulini, Casey Good, Travis Findlay. Conversions: Isaac Murray-Macgregor. Penalty: Murray-Macgregor. EG Jansen 16 (8) – Tries: Cameron van Wyk, Jeandre Jacobs. Penalties: Van Wyk, Matthew Bergman.

Hartpury 29 (17) – Tries: Ruben Cummings, Caio James, Harry Tovey, Charlie Manship, Taite Fortey. Conversion: Hugh Jones, Fortey. Rugby Travel Academy 14 (0) – Tries: Reinhardt Venter, Jayden de Leeuw. Conversions: De Leeuw (2).

Eton College 24 (19) – Tries: Guy McMullen, Chinonso Ogbunude, Izaak Manuel, Hunter Deane-Johns. Conversions: Benji Bushnell (2). Cardiff & Vale 12 (5) – Tries: Tom Hughes, Kian Williams. Conversion: Hughes.

Open

Southern Legion 55 (29) – Tries: Lian Jordaan (2), Armand Pretorius, Happy Makate, Dehan Neethling, Jacques Benadie, Cody Petersen, WJ Buitendag, Ewan Korb. Conversion: Rynhardt Uys (2), Armand Griessel (2), Ewan Korb. Odyssey Knights 14 (7) – Tries: Rohan Sheldon, Douglas Searles Jnr. Conversion: Ryder Donovan (2)

Rugby Travel Academy Invitational 27 (5) – Tries: Taboka Makhobotloane, Luhann van Rensburg, Chad Leukes, Raynard van Loggenberg, Redifentse Mokoene. Conversion: Van Rensburg. Odyssey Spartans 7 (7) – Try: Zach Smith.

Rugby Travel Academy Barbarians 38 (14) – Tries: Marno du Plessis (3), Pieter Moller, Raynard van Loggenberg. Conversions: Jaedon de Leeuw (4). Dubai Tigers 24 (14) – Tries: Sonny Hudson Allen, Matteo Garcia, Livio de Divitiis. Conversion: Marcus Guerin (3). Penalty: Guerin.

The SA Schools and SA Fillies teams have been announced following the completion of the CSA u19 Girls Week, which was hosted in Cape Town from 10 to 14 December.

The home side’s captain, Kayla Reyneke, will also wear the skipper’s armband for the SA Schools side. She enjoyed a stellar tournament, contributing to her side’s success with both bat and ball.

North-West‘s destructive opening batter, Deidre van Rensburg cracked the nod, too. She produced throughout the year, and was similarly effective during the tournament, while her teammate Karabo Lemphane joined her in the national squad.

Jemma Botha was the only Western Province representative, besides Reyneke, to receive an SA Schools call-up. The Titans also produced two national players, Lesedi Nadisha and Simone Lourens.

After some noticeable performances with the bat and behind the stumps, Karabo Meso was the sole selection from the Gauteng Lions.

The squad was completed by Megan Fourie (Eastern Province), Sisanda Ngubane (KwaZulu-Natal), Miané Smit (Free State), Gizelle Abrahams (Garden Route Badgers), Lucian Swartz (Northern Cape) and Shelfa Muklari (Limpopo), each of whom were the sole representatives from their provincial sides.

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal’s Seshnie Naidu will captain the SA Fillies side after consistent performances from the talented all-rounder helped her team reach the tournament’s unofficial final.

Badgers’ batter, Tabitha la Grange also earned a well-deserved call-up after she dominated the run scoring for her side throughout the week.

Nthabiseng Nini and Koketso Lesenyego, from the North-West Dragons, were also selected for the Filles, while Luyanda Nzuza gave KZN a second player in the squad.

The impressive Caitlin Wyngaard and her Western Province team-mate, Jae-Lee Philander, received Fillies’ call-ups, while Rutsha Yonga (Kei) was rewarded for a consistent week.

Daneli Boshoff and Mia-Lize van der Vyver were included from a Boland side that produced good cricket, and the consistent contributions of Thelma Makhubela (Easterns) and Jessica Chandler (KZN Inland) also earned them favour with the Fillies’ selectors.

The Teams

Girls SA Schools: Kayla Reyneke (Western Province, captain), Deidre van Rensburg (North West), Simone Lourens (Titans), Karabo Meso (Gauteng Lions), Karabo Lemphane (North West), Gizelle Abrahams (SWD Badgers), Megan Fourie (Eastern Province), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Sisanda Ngubane (KwaZulu-Natal), Lesedi Madisha (Titans), Lucian Swartz (Northern Cape), Miané Smit (Free State), Shelfa Mukhlari (Limpopo).

Girls SA Colts (Fillies): Seshnie Naidu (Captain) (KwaZulu-Natal), Mpumelelo Mashiloane (Easterns), Luyanda Nzuza (KwaZulu-Natal), Koketso Lesenyego (North West), Thelma Makhubela (Easterns), Jae-Lee Philander (Western Province), Jessica Chandler (KZN Inland), Daneli Boshoff (Boland), Mia-Lize van der Vyver (Boland), Nthabiseng Nini (North West), Rutsha Yonga (Kei), Tabitha La Grange (SWD Badgers), Caitlin Wyngaard (Western Province).

A spectacular bowling performance by the impressive Alexis Kontopirakis, backed up by outstanding batting from Jemma Botha, led the hosts, Western Province, to a thumping 10-wicket victory over KwaZulu-Natal in the unofficial final of the CSA Girls u19 Week in Cape Town on Thursday.

Kontopirakis produced the goods with the ball early on, tearing through the KZN batting lineup, as she claimed 3/17. Caitlin Wyngaard, who was exceptional throughout the week, provided vital support with a spell of 3/22.

Seshnie Naidu was the only KZN batter to offer serious resistance to the continuous pressure applied by the Western Province attack. She battled hard for a well-played 22 runs, which helped her side to 80 before they were bundled out.

The KZN bowlers, then, had no answer to an onslaught from the in-form Jemma Botha. She wasted no time, racing to a match-winning and unbeaten 52 runs from only 48 deliveries.

Kontopirakis played her part, feeding Botha the strike while contributing a mature 28 from 48 balls, to help Western Province reach the victory target without the loss of a wicket.

Tabitha La Grange, who was arguably the biggest find of this year’s tournament, led the Garden Route Badgers to a comfortable 29-run victory over Border.

She demonstrated why she belonged in the SA Fillies side, which was named after the week, striking 87 runs from only 59 deliveries to lead the Badgers to an imposing 137/4 in their 20 overs.

A balanced all-round effort from the Badgers’ bowlers then kept Border to just 108/9 in reply.

Megan Fourie‘s rapid-fire 87 runs from just 73 deliveries and Emma Tinley‘s haul of 4 for 17 ensured that Eastern Province, like the Badgers, ended their campaign on a winning note, after a 110-run victory over the Eastern Storm.

With Fourie setting the pace, the Eastern Cape side posted a whopping total of 190/6. Tinley’s decisive spell, combined with Olwethu Kwedini‘s 3 for 18, had the Eastern Storm batters shell-shocked, and they stumbled to a disappointing 80 all out.

Boland convincingly withstood Kei‘s challenge to claim a 55-run win, thanks to a determined exhibition of composure and patience from Mia-Lize van der Vyver. She stabilised the Boland innings after they had made a rocky start, finishing with 66 not out from 84 deliveries, to help her team to 115/6 from their 20 overs.

Thanks to a well-rounded team effort from the Boland bowlers, Kei’s run chase never materialised as they were held to only 60/9 in their 20 overs.

Summarised Scoresheet

KwaZulu-Natal 80/10 (Sehsnie Naidu 22; Alexis Kontopirakis 3/17, Caitlin Wyngaard 3/22); Western Province 83/0 (Jemma Botha 52*, Kontopirakis 28*). Western Province won by 10 wickets.

Garden Route Badgers 137/4 (Tabitha La Grange 87; Cayleigh Wanckel 2/21); Border 108/9 (Jenna Roberts 40; Sange Somatamba 3/22, Rusha van Wieling 2/19). Garden Route Badgers won by 29 runs.

Eastern Province 190/6 (Megan Fourie 87*, Iman Bonnasse 39, Extras 33; Payton Coppin 2/24); Eastern Storm 80/10 (Mpumelelo Mashiloane 34; Emma Tinley 4/17, Olwethu Kwedini 3/18). Eastern Province won by 110 runs.

Boland 115/6 (Mia-Lize van der Vyver 66*; Elethu Mataka 1/8); Kei 60/9 (Binsha Robert 10, Extras 24; Anelmarie van Niekerk 2/17, Gizelle Abrahams 2/15, Melanie Flippies 2/9, Van der Vyver 2/1). Boland won by 55 runs.

Other Results

Free State 100/8 (Miane Smit 38, Chane Lang 26; Lethabo Bidli 2/9); Gauteng 101/3 (Thristan Cronje 38, Karabo Meso 23; Tlaleng Masukela 2/14). Gauteng Lions won by seven wickets.

Titans 107/4 (Simone Lourens 58; Tlotlo Bogatsu 3/11); North West Dragons 46/10 (Koketso Lesenyego 13; Lethabo Mthimkulu 3/18, Amone Muller 2/19). Titans won by 61 runs.

Northern Cape 53/10 (Mathapelo Ntsayagae 12, Extras 21; Shakira Malatji 5/12, Nicole Labuschagne 2/13); Limpopo 35/10 (Rethabile Mathlanke 3/5, Omolema Itumeleng 3/5, Elizma Erasmus 2/9, Lucian Swartz 2/16). Northern Cape won by 18 runs.