It’s that time of the year again. St Andrew’s School for Girls from Bedfordview, has an excellent reputation for the hosting of their annual, national netball festival which will be held for the 21th consecutive year from 30 March to 3 April 2023.
A total of thirty-two first teams (u19’’s) committed to this event and approximately 400 girls will descend on the school to attend the annual national netball festival.
The teams range from both private and government schools; spread across Gauteng, KZN, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, Makhanda and White River.
Here is the list of schools participating:
Beaulieu College
Brescia House School
Cambridge High School
Collegiate Girls high
Diocesan School for Girls
Edenvale High School
Fourways High
Waterstone College
Herschel
Holy Rosary school
Kingsmead
Kingswood College
Southdowns College
Krugersdorp High School
Our Lady of Fatima
Parktown Girls’ High
Reddam House Bedfordview
Redhill
Roedean School
Uplands College
Somerset College
St. Andrew’s School for Girls
St Anne’s Diocesan College
Tholulwazi Secondary
St Dominics
St Dunstan’s College
St Mary’s School Waverley
St Peter’s College
St Stithians’ College
St Teresa’s
The Wykeham Collegiate
Southdowns College
Some of the South Africa’s top u15 schoolboy rugby players will gather from Friday in Paarl for the annual Frans Malherbe u15 Festival hosted by Paarl Boys’ High.
The festival was started back in 2005 and has been the top festival for u15 teams during the first school holidays.
Malherbe captained Boishaai’s First XV back in 2009. He has represented the Springboks in 55 tests so far since making his debut against Wales in 2013.
Paarl Boys’ High will open the festival on Friday by facing Hoërskool Rustenburg at the Brug Street Stadium in the only u15 clash of the day.
Boishaai will face Helpmekaar-kollege of Johannesburg and Monument of Krugersdorp in their other two clashes during the festival.
Rustenburg has some tough fixtures themselves as they will face Paarl Gimnasium next week Wednesday to conclude their participation. Their second encounter will be on Monday against Oakdale Landbou.
Paarl Gimnasium will face Grey College of Bloemfontein in the main match on Saturday which promises to be one of the highlights in Paarl. The team from the City of Roses will lock horns with HTS Drostdy and Boland Landbou in their other two matches.
The fixtures:
Day 1 – Friday, 1 March 2023
20:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
Day 2 – Saturday, 2 March 2023
19:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Grey College 18:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Helpmekaar 17:00 – Boland Landbou vs Monument 16:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs Boland Invitational 15:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Framesby 14:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs HeronBridge College 13:00 – Charlie Hofmeyr vs Hoërskool Punt 12:00 – Noord-Kaap vs Nico Malan
Day 3 – Monday, 3 April 2023
19:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Helpmekaar 18:00 – Grey College vs HTS Drostdy 17:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Westville Boys’ High 16:00 – Noord-Kaap vs Boland Landbou 15:00 – Hoërskool Punt vs HeronBridge College 14:00 – Charlie Hofmeyr vs Boland Invitational 13:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs Hoërskool Rustenburg 12:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Framesby 11:00 – Monument vs Nico Malan
Day 4 – Wednesday, 5 April 2023
A-field
12:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Monument 11:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Boland Invitational 10:00 – Boland Landbou vs Grey College 09:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Rustenburg 08:00 – Charlie Hofmeyr vs HeronBridge College
B-field
11:00 – Framesby vs Helpmekaar 10:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Nico Malan 09:00 – Noord-Kaap vs Hoërskool Punt 08:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs Westville Boys’ High
The third day of the Menlopark netball festival looked promising and most of the games were played, but round 55 the games were stopped because of bad weather, and the rest of the day’s games were unfortunately canceled.
It seems the rain just won’t stay away from this tournament.
Despite the rain – the hosts, Menlopark u18’s won all their games just like Milnerton who will end up with the most wins, if these two schools go up against each other.
Noordheuwel lost their first game against Menlopark 27-14 but got their revenge when they won against Secunda 22-21.
Oranje of Bloemfontein got back to winning ways with victories over Secunda (24-11) and Paarl Gimnasium (17-16).
Paarl Girls’ High won against their opponents Florida with a massive score gap of 29-6. In the same lane of big scores is the victory Drostdy scored against Merensky 32-13, along with Hoërskool Middelburg that won 38-9 against Kalahari.
Paarl Girls’ High beat Ben Vorster 30-7.
Monument walked away from the court extremely happy with their score against Frikkie Meyer 34-3.
In other age group news, u14 Paarl Gimnasium won against the u15 Lichtenburg 22-5, just like u16 Lichtenburg won u17 Linden 20-10. Also, u14 Duineveld won against u15 Linden 9-4.
Just like the first two days, day three delivered on good netball and great support on the side lines. With everybody looking forward to what the final day will bring, hopefully a full day without weather interruptions.
Will the host walk away from the tournament as the overall winners or will someone else come in for the steal at the last minute?
Voortrekker in Bethlehem se sportgronde het verlede naweek met aktiwiteit gewemel, met 14 o.16-spanne wat in hul VKB Prestige-rugbyweek deelgeneem het, asook hul eerstespan wat Saterdag teen Helpmekaar meegeding het.
Al die wedstryde van die rugbyweek asook die eerstespan-wedstryd kan weer na gekyk word op SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
Helpmekaar beleef ‘n moeilike seisoen tot dusver, ondanks die feit dat hulle goeie rugby gespeel het om teen Michaelhouse gelyk te eindig en hulle sal verlig wees om hul eerste wen vir die jaar op die boeke te kry nadat hulle vir Voortrekker 41-3 verslaan het.
Darius Haasbroek (slot) en Ruan Welman (haker) het elk twee keer deur die swart truie van die Voortrekker verdediging gebreuk om punte aan te teken.
Michael Benzien (senter), Junayden Seffier (losskakel) en Ulrich Swart (flank) het ook uitstekend gespeel vir die besoekers.
In die VKB Prestige-rugbyweek wat deur die Trekkers aangebied word het die tuisspan se o.16s die naweek goed begin met ‘n sege oor Kemptonpark. Transvalia het om dag twee egter vir hulle meer probleme veroorsaak en daardie wedstryd het gelykop 17-elk geeindig.
Frikkie Meyer van Thabazimbi het hul veldtog begin met ‘n harde wedstryd teen die gekombineerde B- en -C-span van Grey-kollege, waarin hulle goed terug gekom het om daardie wedstryd gelyk met 19-elk te eindig. Hy het op die momentum voort gebou en vir Sentraal Saterdag met 50-5 gewen.
Hoërskool Middelburg se span lyk soos die uitblinkers die naweek, na hulle twee groot oorwinnings oor Witteberg en Grey se gekomnineerde span behaal het.
Die laaste wedstryd van die rugbyweek was ook ‘n hoogtepunt, met Middies wat uitstekende rugby gespeel het om die tuisspan se onoorwonne status tot ‘n einde te bring.
Puntemakers:
Helpmekaar 41 (24) – Drieë: Darius Haasbroek (2), Ruan Welman (2), Michael Benzien, Junayden Seffier, Rynardt van der Linden. Verdoelings: Benzien (3) Voortrekker 3 (3) – Strafdoel: Tiaan van Rooyen.
The annual Oakdale Rugby Week kicks off this weekend just outside Riversdale with 33 first teams from around South Africa that will be showcasing their talent.
The annual tournament, which stands out as one of the oldest and largest high school rugby tournaments in South Africa, has gone from strength to strength in recent years, expanding the pool of matches played and the quality of teams invited to the rugby week.
Unfortunately, Oakdale Landbou‘s First XV will miss the tournament due to participation in the NMI Toyota Menlyn Noord-Suid tournament.
However, despite the rugby week coming at a busy time with many schools taking part in festivals all over the country, viewers can still expect exciting matchups.
The pick of the fixtures for day one is undeniably Duineveld taking on Hoërskool Middelburg from Mpumalangaat 16:20. The Velties are usually an outfit who are very physical in their approach while the Middies like to run the ball at every opportunity that presents itself.
Duineveld suffered a humiliating 59-0 defeat against Wynberg Boys’ High two weeks ago, they’ll surely want to beat their Middelburg counterparts.
Brackenfell, who are coming off a 27-0 victory against Hoërskool Belville in their sports day last week, will also look to dominate when they face Merensky from Limpopo.
The Eastern Cape is also represented with Pearson, Die Brandwag from Uitenhage, Graaff Reinet Volkskool, Westering, and Port Rex THS set to take the field.
Die Brandwag has been struggling so far this season and suffered defeats against Worcester Gimnasium (12-39), Hilton College (3-48) and Queen’s College (0-22) thus far.
The match against Worcester Gimnasium was during the Outeniqua Centenary Festival, while the two defeats against Hilton and Queen’s came during the Graeme College Festival in celebration of their 150th anniversary.
The team from Uitenhage was one of the top team’s during last year’s Oakdale Rugby Week and the Rusties won’t underestimate them.
In the main match on the opening day Oakdale’s second team without their touring members sitting on the bench for the firsts in Pretoria will take on Augsburg Gimnasium of Clanwilliam.
The fixtures for the rest of the festival will be selected based on performances using a strength versus strength method.
Fixtures – Day 1:
A FIELD
08:45 – Upington vs Die Anker 09:55 – Strand vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium 11:05 – Hugenote vs Merensky 12:15 – Brackenfell vs Transvalia 14:00 – Pearson vs Oos Moot 15:10 – Hermanus vs Lichtenburg 16:20 – Duineveld vs Hoërskool Middelburg 18:00 – Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) vs Hoërskool Rustenburg 19:10 – Oakdale XV vs Augsburg Gimnasium
B FIELD
08:45 – Overberg vs Port Rex THS 09:55 – Montagu vs Parel Vallei 11:05 – Bredasdorp vs Westering 12:15 – Swartland vs Vryburg 14:00 – Robertson vs Graaff Reinet Volkskool 15:10 – Langenhoven Gimnasium vs Sentraal 16:20 – Jim Fouche vs Kemptonpark
It was a great second day at the annual Menlopark Netball Festival in Pretoria, with no rain interruptions. Whistles blowing from all sides and the crowds cheering on the players, spirits were high.
In first team news, Menlopark’s fast paced game was the key to winning against Potchefstroom Gimnasium 23-10.
It was an extremely close game all the way, Noordheuwel gave it their all, but it was Oranje that walked off the court as victors with 20-16. The team also walking away with a very close game is Kalahari, being the winning team against Prestige College with 22-21
Secunda will be happy with their win against Florida 24-15, but not as happy as Paarl Girls’ High that won 28-10 against PotchVolkies.
Kalahari unfortunately met their match in the next round and lost to Ben Vorster 18-12. The same story with Noordheuwel, they won their game against Potchefstroom Gimnasium 26-11, but lost in the next round against Oranje 20-16.
The teams that won all their games were: Milnerton, Secunda, Paarl Girls’ High, Linden and of course the host showing how things are done, Menlopark.
Durban High School held on by the skin of their teeth to take down rivals Maritzburg College by 14-7 in the Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools first team rugby clash at DHS on Saturday.
These two traditional rivals fought tooth and nail with Durban High School coming up trumps in a titanic clash with solid defence playing a key part in their victory.
Tries from DHS flanker Dale Hendrikse and scrumhalf Florensen Ockhuis sealed the win for the home side in a match that ended in dramatic fashion.
The final five minutes saw College piling on the pressure in a desperate search for the tying score, whilst DHS relied on solid defence to pull them through.
College thought they scored their second try through eighth man, Sasha Kadira, in the last minute of the match, but referee, Cameron Smith, stated that the ball was held up.
Kadira and his College team-mates were in disbelief as a possible game changing try was denied.
DHS had the most of the territory in the first 10 minutes and were duly rewarded when openside flanker Dale Hendrikse scored under the posts. This was largely due to terrific hands from tighthead, Simphiwe Ngobese, who got the pass away to Hendricks with sublime timing.
Deano Boesak slotted the conversion for a 7-0 lead after 12 minutes.
DHS strengthened their grip on the match only five minutes later after capitalising on an error from College flyhalf, Luc du Toit. Du Toit failed to find touch with a penalty which resulted in DHS gaining possession of the ball.
Ngobese made another storming run, before an offload to scrumhalf Florensen Ockhuis started a magical piece of individual brilliance. Ockhuis sidestepped numerous College defenders to score a superb 22-metre solo try. Boesak slotted the conversion for a deserved 14-0 lead.
The boys in navy blue had numerous opportunities to extend the lead, but College’s defence held firm to keep them in the game. The half-time whistle sounded with DHS being the happier of the two schools with a 14-0 lead.
Maritzburg College showed improved initiative in the second-half and camped out in DHS’s 22 for the seven minutes. Colm Reardon knocked on after solid DHS defence and Jake Jansen was kept millimetres from a try as he was held-up.
Persistence eventually paid off with Phiwayinkosi Kubheka powering through three defenders to score Maritzburg College’s opening try in the 47th minute. Du Toit slotted the conversion to narrow the gap to a converted try.
College suddenly had momentum on their side with fullback, Luyanda Kunene, making a couple of dangerous breaks in attack. College though just could not find the final pass to close the gap.
Both schools’ handling errors also let them down in a scrappy second half as the excessive humidity sapped the energy from the players.
DHS managed to defend for their lives in front of home support to gain the win. Overall, DHS used their opportunities in attack and deserved to keep the Skonk Nicholson trophy in their cabinet based on the 70 minutes of play.
Scorers:
Durban High School 14 () – Tries: Dale Hendrikse, Florensen Ockhuis. Conversions: Deano Boesak (2). Maritzburg College 7 () – Try: Phiwayinkosi Kubheka. Conversion: Luc du Toit.
Kaizer Chiefs u19 and Mamelodi Sundowns u19 continued their impressive run in the Gauteng Development League and remain unbeaten thus far in the tournament. The goal difference is the only thing separating the two teams which have started the new season with great results, putting solid performances week in, week out.
Highlands Park FC u19 continues to be a prominent threat to Bafana Ba Style (Mamelodi Sundowns U19) and to the Glamour boys U19. The Lions of the North (Highlands Park) sit in 3rd position with 12 points, only three points behind the log leaders which have 15 points in the first five games. Since their (Highlands Park U19) first defeat against Tuks u19, the team has gone on to win four games, scoring 18 goals with just one goal going past the goalkeeper.
The School of Excellence u19, current holders of the GDL Top 8 Cup, defeated Supersport United u19 on Saturday afternoon in a very exciting game that saw 8 goals scored in the encounter, with The School of Excellence u19s winning the game 5 goals to 3.
TS Galaxy with 12 points, same as Highlands Park and The School of Excellence, defeated Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School U19 to sit fourth on the log, a spot below Highlands Park.
Kathorus Hyper Academy, Remember Elite Sports Academy and Jomo Cosmos are amongst the teams at the bottom of the league.
It should be a concern for them to be in sit at the bottom of the league five games into the new season.
Wits Juniors U19 recorded their first win of the season after beating Randburg u19 2-1.
GDL U19 Match Week 5 Results, 25 March 2023
Home
FT; Score
Away
Kaizer Chiefs
4-2
Kathorus Hyper
Supersport United
3-5
School of Excellence
TS Galaxy
3-1
Rosina Sedibane School
Tuks
3-0
Remember Elite Sports Academy
Wits Juniors
2-1
Randburg AFC
Highlands Park
6-0
Prestige Football Development Academy
Jomo Cosmos
0-0
Panorama
Kagiso Porto
0-7
Mamelodi Sundowns
GDL B Stream U19, 26 March
Home
Score
Away
Joburg City
1-2
Siluma 7
On a Sunday afternoon, we got to witness a late drama as Siluma 7 U19 beat Joburg City U19 through a late goal, seconds before the referee could blow the final whistle, ending a very exciting game at 2-1 in favour of the travelling side. A win for Siluma 7 U19 sees them moving from the 12 position to the 7th on the log.
Matchweek 6 will return on 01 April with the teams at the top hoping to maintain the good performances they have put in in the first few games, while the teams at the bottom will be looking to breathe life into their campaign.
The teams did however get a chance to take to the court as the weather cleared up later in the day. The hosts, Menlopark, defeated Monument of Krugersdorp by 33-8 in their only match on the opening day.
Ben Vorster of Tzaneen would be very happy with their 23-15 victory over Helpmekaar on the opening day, while Potchefstroom Volkskool managed to beat Oranje of Bloemfontein by 17-11 in na exciting encounter.
Helpmekaar did manage to secure a 20-all draw against Paarl Girls’ High, who probably was the top side in the country last year.
Paarl Gimnasium bagged a convincing 27-8 victory over Florida in their only match on the opening day. Gimmies seems to be a team to watch out for this season.
Probably the highlight of the opening day was the showcase match between the Gauteng Jaguars and the North West Flames
The results:
u18
Court 1:Leeuwenhof 14, Linden 12; Ben Vorster 23, Helpmekaar 15; Lichtenburg 23, Prestige College 13; Ferrum 10, Wonderboom 10.
Coming into today’s game a win for Highlands Park u19 would see them edging closer to the second or even the first spot of the Gauteng Development League.
Highlands Park lost their first game of the season, to Tuks u19, however after that tough loss on the first day the team picked itself up. Since then they went on to beat teams such as the School of Excellence by eight goals to nil and the Remember Elite Sports Academy by three goals to nil.
On a calm afternoon, Highlands Park u19 took to the grounds and faced their opponents, Prestige Football Development Academy.
Highlands Park showed hunger and determination in the first minute of the game as they took an early lead. With high pressing, the team showed how comfortable they were with the ball on their feet. Finding through the gaps in the midfield position the team took dominance and played to their strength by knocking the ball in and around the field.
Going into the second half, the score could have been worse than as it was due to several missed opportunities by Highlands Park U19 forwards. However, they comfortably ended the first half leading three goals to nil.
Coming into the second half, the team even looked more dangerous as they were in the first half, with sheer dominance. The Prestige Football Academy continued to hunt for a consoling goal in the second half, however their opponents proved to be a tough mountain to climb.
In the dying stages of the game (88th minute on the clock) Highlands Park u19 had netted three goals making it 6 nil lead.
Once again Highlands Park comfortably beat their opponents by six goals to nil, continuing with their impressive run on netting goals. That leaves the team with 4 wins and one loss after five games in the log of the GDL.
Highlands Park sits on the third position with 12 points just lagging behind Mamelodi Sundowns who are on the 2nd position with 15 points, meanwhile Kaizer Chiefs U19 continues to lead the log, also with 15 points after 5 games.
Some of the South Africa’s top u15 schoolboy rugby players will gather from Friday in Paarl for the annual Frans Malherbe u15 Festival hosted by Paarl Boys’ High.
It was a great second day at the annual Menlopark Netball Festival in Pretoria, with no rain interruptions. Whistles blowing from all sides and the crowds cheering on the players, spirits were high.
Kaizer Chiefs u19 and Mamelodi Sundowns u19 continued their impressive run in the Gauteng Development League and remain unbeaten thus far in the tournament. The goal difference is the only thing separating the two teams which have started the new season with great results, putting solid performances week in, week out. 
The first day of the annual Menlopark Netball tournament in Pretoria was delayed due to some consistent rain in the Jacaranda City.
Coming into today’s game a win for Highlands Park u19 would see them edging closer to the second