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SuperSport United and trophies go hand-in-hand.

Who can ever forget the magical seasons, from 2007/08 to 2009/10, where the Tshwane-based club asserted its dominance in South African football, winning three Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles in a row while producing some of the country’s best-ever talents, including the Gqeberha-born Daine Klate and Teko Modise?

They have also enjoyed plenty of success at amateur and academy level, with coach Tumelo Ndaba‘s SuperSport United u19s leading from the front by capturing back-to-back Gauteng Development League (GDL) Top Eight trophies.

When SuperSport United ruled the PSL under Gavin Hunt, he had his close friend Thomas Madigage as his assistant coach and trusted right-hand man.

There are similarities in the current u19 set-up, with Ndaba and his assistant Jabu Maluleka, who enjoy a similarly cohesive relationship. They speak the same language and it shows in how synchronised their team is on the field.

Heading into the semi-finals and of the Top Eight competition, Maluleka was left to hold down the fort while Ndaba attended a coaching course. He put his trust in Maluleka to oversee the defence of the title that SuperSport United’s u19s won last season.

With Maluleka in charge, Supersport United beat School of Excellence 2-1 in the final to once again lift the trophy, courtesy of goals from Tshiamo Selemela and Tshegofato Modise.

“Firstly, I want to thank coach Jabu,” Ndaba told SuperSport Schools Plus. “This week I was not around. I was busy with my coaching course. He’s the one that was coaching this week.” 

Ndaba said he was particularly impressed with how his team has been able to win games by coming from behind, which they had to do in the final after conceding the first goal of the game to School of Excellence.

Earlier in the season, in their first league outing of the year, Ndaba’s team showed character to fight back from 0-2 down against Kaizer Chiefs to pull off a 2-2 draw.

Ndaba said the character of his side has impressed him despite the players not having had much pre-season game time to help them build the character of the team.

“We did have a pre-season but we did not have enough match fitness or friendly games that we played during our pre-season,” said Ndaba.

“In three or four games now, from the start of the league to this Top Eight final, we have come from behind. Credit must go to the conditioning coach. I think he did a good job with the boys.

“You can see the character and the resilience, coming back from 0-1 and 1-2 down against good teams.

“I think he played a big role during the pre-season by building that character. That’s what we’re lacking most of the time. With the other teams, you go down 0-1 and they give up. But this year it’s a different ball game.”

Die NWU Prestige-reeks het nóg ‘n aksiebelaaide ronde van netbalwedstryde opgelewer, met Montana en Marais Viljoen wat, oor ál die ouderdomsgroepe heen, uitgestaan het in hul kragmetings met Jeugland en Hoërskool Lichtenburg.

Montana het in die wedstryde teen Jeugland benadruk hoekom hulle as een van die top-netbalskole beskou word. Hulle het nege van die 10 wedstryde gewen en in verskeie van dié kragmetings groot tellings opgestapel. Die o.17 A-span het met ‘n telling van 42-10 beïndruk, terwyl die eerste span ook gemaklik met 45-14 die botoon gevoer het.

Jeugland se enigste oorwinning was in die o.17 B-wedstryd, waar die span van Kempton Park met 18-9 die paal gehaal het. Daar is beslis potensiaal in die jonger ouderdomsgroepe, maar Montana se oorheersing op die dag was onmiskenbaar.

Marais Viljoen het ‘n perfekte rekord in hul wedstryde teen Lichtenburg opgestel deur in ál 10 wedstryde te seëvier. MV was oorweldigend in die o.17 A-wedstryd, met ‘n massiewe telling van 50-8, terwyl die o.19 B-span met 47-5 hul stempel afgedruk het.

Die eerste span het strawwer mededinging teëgekom, maar sterk genoeg vertoon om steeds met 30-20 die oorwinning te behaal. Dit was ‘n sege geskoei op uitmuntende spanwerk, akkurate balhantering en ‘n puik verdediging, terwyl die jonger spanne se ewe indrukwekkende vertonings verder dui op ‘n blink toekoms.

Al die uitslae:

o.19: Montana 45, Jeugland 14; Marais Viljoen 30, Lichtenburg 20.

o.17: Montana 42, Jeugland 10; Marais Viljoen 50, Lichtenburg 8.

o.16: Montana 21, Jeugland 17; Marais Viljoen 25, Lichtenburg 12.

o.15: Montana 24, Jeugland 16; Marais Viljoen 25, Lichtenburg 5.

o.14: Montana 20, Jeugland 5; Marais Viljoen 25, Lichtenburg 14.

Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom, Wesvalia en Potchefstroom Gimnasium het as die sterkste spanne na vore getree tydens die afgelope naweek se netbalaksie in die NWU Prestige-reeks.

Die reeks wedstryde tussen Potch Volkies en Bergsig was uiters mededingend, met die twee skole wat mekaar met mening uitgedaag het.

Volkies het op die einde van die dag die oorhand verkry met vyf oorwinnings uit nege wedstryde, insluitende die belangrike o.19 A en B-wedstryde. In die eerstespan-kragmeting het hulle naelskraaps met 28-25 die botoon gevoer. Bergsig kan nietemin trots voel met oorwinnings in die o.14 B, o.15 B, o.16 B en o.17 A-wedstryde, wat wys dat hul jonger spanne groot potensiaal toon.

Wesvalia het die ontmoeting met Wagpos oorheers deur agt van die 10 wedstryde te wen. Valia het verál indrukwekkend vertoon in die o.16 en o.15-afdelings, waar hulle groot tellings opgestapel het. Wagpos het egter ‘n paar blink oomblikke beleef, vernaam in die o.19 B-kragmeting, waar hulle ‘n naelbytstryd met 10-9 deurgetrek het.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium het skoonskip gemaak teen Die Anker deur in ál 10 wedstryde as oorwinnaars uit die stryd te tree. Hulle oorwinning met 58-1 in die o.17 B-wedstryd was een van die grootste tellings van die dag en het hul oorheersing en diepte, regdeur al die ouderdomsgroepe, beklemtoon.

In die eerstespan-wedstryd het Die Anker met 10-38 die onderspit gedelf teen die talentvolle Gimmies.

Al die uitslae:

o.19: Potch Volkskool 28, Bergsig 25; Wesvalia 29, Wagpos 19; Potch Gim 38, Die Anker 10.

o.17: Potch Volksool 12, Bergsig 17; Wesvalia 23, Wagpos 15; Potch Gim 26, Die Anker 6.

o.16: Potch Volkskool 25, Bergsig 16; Wesvalia 40, Wagpos 6; Potch Gim 36, Die Anker 15.

o.15: Potch Volkskool 22, Bergsig 18; Wesvalia 35, Wagpos 6; Potch Gim 26, Die Anker 10.

o.14: Potch Volkskool 22, Bergsig 15;  Wesvalia 28, Wagpos 8; Potch Gim 28, Die Anker 20.

Hoërskool Monument het ‘n nuwe era Saterdag op ‘n wennoot ingelui teen Welkom Gimnasium, in Welkom.

Herleef al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Monumentare het uiteindelik, in ‘n kragmeting wat aanvanklik gesukkel het om die gang te kom, met 38-27 oor die Gimmies van Welkom geseëvier.

Die ervare Vince Roberts het op agsteman die leiding geneem en was oudergewoonte uiters fisiek met bal in hand en ‘n moeilike kalant om grond toe te bring.

Robberts en losskakel, Jaydon Viljoen, wat spel netjies dikteer het agterlangs, het elkeen ‘n tweekuns aan drieë behaal. Viljoen het ook uitstekende diens van skrumskakel, Evan Bernhardi, ontvang.

Die Gimmies se vaskopstut, Julius Makhanda, het egter nie teruggedeins vir die Monumentare se fisieke aanslag nie. Hy het floreer in kontak, het die bal met mening gedra en oorgebars vir een van sy span se drie drieë.

Agterlangs het binnesenter, Dylan Titus, die Wit Bulle se middeveld dikwels getoets, terwyl linkervleuel, Vusi Ndayi, die verdediging laat bontstaan het met blitsige lopies langs die kantlyn af.

Hoërskool Secunda se agtsteman, Renier Combrick, het ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal om sy span tot ‘n spogsege van 34-12 oor Merensky Landbou Akademie aan te vuur. Die span van Secunda se pak het op al agt silinders gevuur om die Plasies voorlangs te karnuffel, met nóg twee drieë wat deur voorspelers, Nathan Erasmus (loskopstut) en Rico Fourie (haker), gedruk is.

Die Plasies se losskakel en stelskopper JD Boshoff, het nietemin die tuisspan laat boet vir swak dissipline en was verantwoordelik vir al die Plasies se punte met vier strafdoele.

Dit is duidelik hoekom daar vanjaar opgewondenheid heers by Hoërskool Noordheuwel oor sy eerste rugbyspan. Die Blues het in hul eerste wedstryd, tuis op die “Heuwel”, ‘n taamlike stelling gemaak deur vir Hoërskool Rustenburg met 40-14 die loef af te steek.

Noordheuwel se agttal dwing groot gesag af, terwyl teenstanders ook hul keer agterlangs sal moet ken met Jeandré Uithaler wat ‘n spelskepper van formaat is.

Dié wedstryd se puntemakers volg kortliks.

Puntemakers:

Monument 38 (14) – Drieë: Jaydon Viljoen (2), Vince Roberts (2), Kamogelo Katisa, Juandré Ehlers. Doelskoppe: Viljoen (3), Caylum Schooney. Welkom Gimnasium 27 (7) – Drieë: Julius Makhanda, Dillon Titus, Vusi Nday, Strafdrie. Doelskop: Jaydewin Solomons. Strafdoel: Solomons.

Hoërskool Secunda 34 (17) – Drieë: Renier Combrink (3), Nathan Erasmus, Rico Fourie, Zander van der Merwe. Doelskoppe: Alonzo Blackenberg (2). Merensky 12 (12) – Strafdoele: JD Boshoff (4).

Ander Eerstespan-uitslae:

Krugersdorp – Noordheuwel 40, Hoërskool Rustenburg 14.

Ander spanne:

o.16: Monument 62, Welkom Gimnasium 0; Hoërskool Secunda 29, Merensky 21; Noordheuwel 20, Hoërskool Rustenburg 6.

o.15: Monument 48, Welkom Gimnasium 0; Hoërskool Secunda 34, Merensky 17; Noordheuwel 17, Hoërskool Rustenburg 7.

o.14: Monument 64, Welkom Gimnasium 5; Hoërskool Secunda 29, Merensky 0; Noordheuwel 12, Hoërskool Rustenburg 0.

Hoërskool Zwartkop het Saterdag voet in die hoek gesit ná rustyd om die besoekende Hoërskool Klerksdorp ore aan te sit in sy eerste uitstappie in vanjaar se NWU Prestige-reeks, tuis in Centurion.

Herleef al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Zwarries, wat met die omdraaislag met slegs 17-15 voorgeloop het, het daarna 19 punte, teenoor die vyf van Klerksdorp, aangeteken om met 39-20 as oorwinnaars uit die stryd te tree.

Die eerste 35 minute het ‘n fisieke stryd afgegee, vernaam tussen die twee pakke voorspelers, maar die Zwarries het stelselmatig hul ritme agterlangs begin vind.

Met haker, Reagan Blignaut, aan die spits, het die pak die nodige grondslag gelê, wat die skakelpaar van Tilon Baron en Luan Janse van Rensburg toegelaat het om die agterlyn op die voorvoet te plaas. Baron se visier vanaf die skopkegel was ook ingestel en hy was in die kol met vier doelskoppe en twee strafdoele.

Baron se losskakel-eweknie, Brendin Matthyse, was ewe indrukwekkend met sy korrelwerk pale toe, en het sy span se enigste twee drieë verdoel en met twee uitdagende strafskoppe geslaag om die telbord aan die rol te hou.

Bergsig Akademie het vir die derde agtereenvolgende keer met twee punte of minder in die stof gebyt. Hierdie keer was dit Potchefstroom Volkskool wat die Rustenburgers se harte in die doodsnikke gebreek het.

Die Volkies, wat met 31-30 die pyp gerook het, het kanse om foute deur die tuisspan uit te buit aangegryp, soos toe heelagter, Anro Nel, ‘n afgestormde bal opgepik het om deur te dartel vir ‘n vyfpunter. Die Arende se regtervleuel, Keabetswe Diale en vaskopstut, Dylan Smith het nietemin hand opgesteek vir Bergsig en is elk met ‘n tweekuns beloon.

Die Volkies se toekomstige teenstanders sal egter moet ligloop vir die skopskoen van skrumskakel, Juhan Redelinghuys. Redelinghuys het met ál vier doelskoppe geslaag en met ‘n strafdoel die laaste spyker in die Arende se kis gemoker.

Die stryd tussen Hoërskool Pietersburg en Heidelberg Volkskool het duidelik vir ‘n drieëfees gesorg, met die Pieties wat met 43-34 die botoon gevoer het. Die Pieties het in die vaste fasette die oorhand geniet, danksy kragtige vertonings deur die stutte, Krissie Swanepoel en Stephan Janse van Rensburg, wat grotendeels verantwoordelik was vir die besoekers se formidabele dryfmaalbewegings waarvoor die Volkies nie ‘n teenvoeter gehad het nie.

Hoërskool Die Anker het weereens sy stem dik gemaak op sy tuisveld in Brakpan en sewe keer agter Potchefstroom Gimnasium se doellyn gaan kuier om die besoekers ‘n loesing van 50-10 toe te dien. Dié wedstryd se puntemakers volg kortliks.

Puntemakers:

Zwartkop 39 (17) – Drieë: Jethro le Roux, Luan Janse van Rensburg, Reagan Blignout, Luan Isaacs, Shayden Botha. Doelskoppe: Tilon Baron (4). Strafdoele: Baron (2). Hoërskool Klerksdorp 20 (15) – Drieë: Tiaan Koen, Jarred van Staden. Doelskoppe: Brendin Matthyse (2). Strafdoele: Matthyse (2).

Potchefstroom Volkskool 31 (14) – Drieë: Lethabo Riet, Lorenzo Louw, Anro Nel, Stef Schoeman. Doelskoppe: Juhan Geldenhuys (4). Strafdoel: Geldenhuys. Bergsig Akademie 30 (15) – Drieë: Kia Diale (2), Dylan Smit (2), Bradley Stonehouse. Doelskop: Carlo de Jager. Strafdoel: De Jager.

 Hoërskool Pietersburg 43 (24) – Drieë: Ziahn Lomaard, Stephan Jansen van Renburg, Basson Wolmarans, Armand Venter, Ryno Mienie, Strafdrie. Doelskoppe: Mienie (3), Keanu Potgieter. Strafdoel: Mienie. Heidelberg Volkskool 34 (12).

Ander Eerstespan-uitslae:

Brakpan – Die Anker 50, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 10. 

Ander spanne:

o.16: Hoërskool Klerksdorp 44, Zwartkop 34; Heidelberg Volkskool 14, Hoërskool Pietersburg 13; Potchefstroom Volkskool 27, Bergsig Akademie 12.

o.15: Zwartkop 20, Hoërskool Klerksdorp 17; Die Anker 31, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 18; Hoërskool Pietersburg 41, Heidelberg Volkskool 5; Bergsig Akademie 31, Potchefstroom Volkskool 7.

o.14: Zwartkop 13, Hoërskool Klerksdorp 12; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 15, Die Anker 10; Heidelberg Volkskool 5, Hoërskool Pietersburg 0; Bergsig Akademie 54, Potchefstroom Volkskool 0.

Queen’s College shrugged off a lightning start by the visitors, Ooskus Gimnasium, to defeat the East London side 39-7 in their 1st XV rugby clash in Komani (Queenstown) on Saturday.

Thanks to an interception by Kwagga Liebenberg, Ooskus was first onto the scoreboard after he crossed for a try in the fourth minute. He also added the conversion to make it 7-0.

However, Queen’s fought back well and went over for three tries to take a handy 15-7 lead into the second half.

From that position, the home side upped the ante after the break, showing their physicality in the contact phases, to set themselves up for four more tries as they took control of the game.

Capitalising on mistakes by Ooskus, speedy wing Ncute Kepe crossed for two tries. Other tries for Queen’s came from Jeffrey Niland, Sbabalwe Magwebu, Bulumko Manqina, Milisa Malapi, and Inga Mnunu. Mveli Mqulo kicked two conversions.

In the face of the home side’s onslaught, Jandré le Roux put in a big shift for Ooskus and made some telling tackles, while Sabian Riek and Kwagga Liebenberg were also solid in defence.

Despite the final score, Ooskus coach Rynardt van Wyk was encouraged by his team’s performance. “I am very proud of how hard the team worked, but we also know that there is plenty to work on,” he said. “We are looking to bounce back next week when we play Cradock High, away.”

In a scrappy early season match at “The Graveyard“, in Qonce, Dale College was able to stave off a determined Port Rex side who were hunting their first win over the home side since 2006.

Dale took an early lead through a fourth-minute penalty by flyhalf Phiko Mtyalela, but Port Rex then proceeded to hold most of the possession for the first quarter of the game.

That required a spirited Dale defensive effort to keep them from crossing the line, but the visitors drew level with a penalty in the 19th minute.

Dale, then, spent much of the rest of the first half on the attack and they were finally able to cross the whitewash in the 28th minute after a brilliant run by wing Yamkela Molose, only to be denied the try because of an earlier infringement. That left the teams level at 3-3 at halftime.

The second half saw both sides forced to defend strongly, but, eventually, Dale’s replacement flyhalf Inga Mafanga pounced on an errant pass by Port Rex to cross for a try.

The last 12 minutes were all about Port Rex as they held onto the ball, but the Dale defence rose to the occasion and kept out wave after wave of attacks to preserve their five-point lead until the end.

In a tightly contested game, Selborne College overturned a 0-3 deficit at halftime to edge out their East London rivals, Hudson Park, 12-3.

The Selbornians exerted a degree of control after the break to cross for two tries while keeping Hudson scoreless.

POINTS SCORERS

Queen’s College 39 (15) – Tries: Jeffrey Niland, Sbabalwe Magwebu, Bulumko Manqina, Milisa Malapi, Ncutu Kepe (2) and Inga Mnunu. Conversions: Mveli Mqulo (2). Ooskus Gymnasium 7 (7) – Try: Kwagga Liebenberg. Conversion: Kwagga Liebenberg.

Dale College 8 (3) – Try: Inga Mafanga. Penalty: Phikolomzi Mtyalela. Port Rex 3 (3) – Penalty: Ndimphiwe Songqwaba.

Selborne College 12 (0) – Tries: Robert John-Osunkwo, Samora Bushet. Conversion: Bungqina Nuku. Hudson Park 3 (3) – Penalty: Landile Gidi.

In a match-up of two teams featuring players with plenty of 1st XV experience, Westville Boys’ High visited Hilton College on Saturday and came away with a hard-earned 23-15 victory on Gilfillan Field.

Flyhalf Lux Sononkonkono slotted a couple of early penalties to put the visitors an early lead. After falling behind, though, Hilton worked their way into the match and began to play the game inside Westville’s half.

Their effort was rewarded with a penalty in the 22nd minute, kicked by Liyema Nela.

Immediately after conceding those points, though, Westville backed up Hilton into their 22 and kept them pinned there. After bashing it up with their forwards, they scored the first try of the match when lock Moustapher Gcina crashed over under the uprights. Sononkonkono added the easy kick to increase the visitors’ lead to 13-3 in the 27th minute.

Just before halftime, Hilton laid siege to Westville’s try line after winning a penalty, which they kicked into touch five metres out. The home team tried to maul their way over the line, but coach Zander Erasmus‘s boys laid their bodies on the line to stop the surge.

Then, just when it appeared that Hilton was about to go over for five, Westville burst away from the maul after ripping away possession. They hacked the ball down the field and into the hosts’ territory. It was a crucial passage of play.

The teams turned with the score 13-3 in the visiting team’s favour. Hilton, though, closed the gap early in the second half when they drove over in the left-hand corner from a lineout, with hooker Josh Grant, unsurprisingly being the player to finish it off. Liyema Nela’s conversion nearly bisected the uprights to reduce the deficit to only three points.

Westville responded quickly. From a five-metre scrum on the left in Hilton’s 22, they shifted the ball quickly to the backline. With some dummy runners challenging the Hilton defence, captain Liam Simpkins fed inside centre Sean McGough and he ran hard and straight at the home side’s defensive line. He crashed through a tackle, hit the ground, and his momentum carried him over for a try under the poles. Sononkonkono added two more points with the easy conversion to make it Westville 20-10 Hilton.

Momentum shifted again, with Hilton playing the game deep in Westville’s half. Up front, the packs were engaged in a hard battle in the set scrums. When Hilton got the better of one, they earned a put-in five metres from the Westville try line, out on the left. They charged at the line from the scrum but were held up over the whitewash.

After another series of pick ‘n goes, Zander Vorster was prevented from grounding the ball, but the referee went back to award Hilton a penalty for Westville being offsides. For a third time in succession, Hilton drove it up and went over the try line, but they were held up. Then, Westville finally exited their 22.

It was another passage of play that went a long way towards determining the result, and Zekhethelo Siyaya delivered a sucker punch moments later when he landed a long-range penalty to put Westville 23-10 ahead.

Coach Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s side kept taking it to the visitors as the clock ticked down and, with only four minutes remaining, they opened up space on the left flank for Ricky Adonis to go over in the corner. Nela needed to land the difficult conversion to bring Hilton within seven points, but, in the wind, his effort fell short.

Westville was able to play the remainder of the game in Hilton’s half and came away with a hard-earned 23-15 victory.

POINTS SCORERS

Hilton College 15 (3) – Tries: Josh Grant, Ricky Adonis. Conversion: Liyema Nela, Penalty: Liyena Nela. Westville Boys’ High 23 (13) – Tries: Moustapher Gcina, Sean McGough. Conversions: Lux Sononkonkono (2), Penalties: Lux Sononkonkono (2), Zekhethelo Siyaya.

RESULTS

u19 – Hilton I 15 Westville I 23; Hilton II 20 Westville II 20; Hilton III 3 Westville III 27, Hilton IV 24 Westville IV 7; Hilton V 12 Westville V 7; Hilton VI 29 Westville VI 0

u16 – Hilton A 12 Westville A 20; Hilton B 24 Westville B 17; Hilton C 18 Westville C 17; Hilton D 0 Westville D 54

u15 – Hilton A 21 Westville A 24; Hilton B 7 Westville B 8; Hilton C 7 Westville C 38; Hilton D 14 Westville D 38

u14 – Hilton A 31 Westville A 7; Hilton B 7 Westville B 31; Hilton C 0 Westville C 59.

Pretoria Boys High School‘s strong and impressive defensive effort was enough to stop a determined Jeppe High School for Boys side on Collard Field in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The Candies came to play and put in a massive shift on defence against the home side’s very dangerous attack.

When threatened by Jeppe in front of their try line, the visitors’ pack stepped up to the plate. Their outstanding resistance put the home team under pressure, which led to some finishing errors.

On two occasions, however, Jeppe capitalised on lapses in concentration from the Candies as lock, Lagan Leisher, and scrumhalf and captain, Talent Sithole dived over from close range for important tries.

The biggest battle on the day was between the boots of Jeppe’s flyhalf, Nehemia Hollenbach, and Boys High’s fullback, Blake Mger. Hollenbach slotted five penalties and an important conversion, while Mger scored all the visitors’ points from the tee. He never looked like missing and sent six penalties flying through the uprights for a personal contribution of 18 points.

Parktown Boys’ High School scored 24 points in the second half of their game, after trailing 0-7 at halftime against St Stithians College, to record a 24-14 win.

Playing at home, the Parktown boys drew inspiration from the home crowd’s chants, which echoed through the streets of Johannesburg. They ran in three tries, with left-wing Owami Phambuka crossing for the first after the break.

Flyhalf, Enrico van Coller assisted their winning effort with his accurate kicking from the tee, contributing nine points with three conversions and a penalty to see the home side to victory.

POINTS SCORERS

Jeppe High School for Boys 27 (18) – Tries: Lagan Leisher, Talent Sithole. Conversion: Nehemia Hollenbach. Penalties: Hollenbach (5). Pretoria Boys High 18 (12) – Penalties: Blake Mger (6).

Parktown Boys’ High 24 (0) – Tries: Owami Phambuka, Christian Cele, Kelvin Kotey. Conversions: Enrico van Coller (3). Penalty: Van Coller. St Stithians College 14 (7).

Other Teams

u.16: Jeppe 27, Pretoria Boys High 13.

u.15: Jeppe 12, Pretoria Boys High 10.

u.14: Pretoria Boys High 13, Jeppe 10.

The official launch of the 36th edition of the Bayhill Premier Cup 2025 took place on Saturday at Cape Town’s City Hall, with the event being broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools App.

During the launch, the draw was conducted, assigning the qualified teams to their respective groups.

The prestigious event starts on 16 April at Erica Park, in Belhar, Cape Town, where matches will continue until Easter Sunday, 20 April.

Athlone Stadium will host the final, with thousands of spectators expected at the popular venue.

The match schedule has not yet been finalised but will be announced shortly.

GROUPS

Group A
Bayhill United FC, Riverheights Football Academy, Maties FC, Rygersdal FC

Group B
Stellenbosch FC, Madeama Sporting Club, La Masia Elite FC, Eagles Performance Academy

Group C
AmaZulu FC, Shayamoya Academy, Rock-A-Fellas, Safa Cape Town Academy

Group D
Mamelodi Sundowns, Randburg AFC, Antalyaspor JPM CT, Valhalla United FC

Group E
Virginia Football Academy, Major Chiefs Club, Hellenic FC, Ubuntu Football Academy

Group F
Cape Town City FC, British Football Academy, JL Zwane FC, Mafikeng Football Academy

Group G
University of Pretoria, FN Rangers St Agnes, Jomo’s Powers FC, Young Bafana FC

Group H
Cape Town Spurs FC, CBS Talents, Stanturf United FC, FC Porto

Michaelhouse, after a hard-fought seven-point loss against Helpmekaar Kollege in their season-opening game last week, visited Northwood School on Saturday for a showdown with the Knights.

Coach Jacques Deen‘s Northwood team has a lot to live up to after the 1st XV put together an outstanding season in 2024, losing only two games in the province. They faced a stiff challenge from ‘House.

The visitors dominated territory and possession in the early going and that pressure produced points after they turned over possession through a charge-down inside the Northwood 22. When the home side was pinged, conceding a penalty five metres out, just to the left of the uprights, they were caught napping by scrumhalf Dan Aissing, who took a quick tap and scythed through to score a try.

Maybe they were expecting Michaelhouse to kick at the posts, but it was the kind of error that would have frustrated the Northwood coaching staff.

Stefan Moolman added the easy extras from pretty much where he would have taken a penalty kick to give ‘House a 7-0 lead after seven minutes.

The visitors were full of running, moving the ball from side to side and quickly through the hands. Under pressure, Northwood was caught offsides and Moolman put Michaelhouse 10-0 ahead with a kick from 27 metres out in the 12th minute.

Still, the Balgowan boys continued to play most of the game in Northwood’s half. Northwood couldn’t escape the shackles, but they defended doggedly.

Michaelhouse had a chance to extend their lead in the 24th minute, but Moolman, from just left of the posts and 27 metres out, pushed a penalty kick to the right of the uprights.

It was only right at the end of the half that Northwood was able to exit their half and, when they, at last, made it into the ‘House 22, they made it count with a grubber taking a favourable bounce, which evaded a couple of defenders but not fullback Trevor van Vollenstee, who gratefully snatched it out of the air and fell to the ground over the try line.

Ludi van der Walt converted to make it 10-7 to Michaelhouse at the break. Coach James Fleming‘s men had dominated the opening stanza, but all they had to show for it was a three-point lead.

Early in the second half, the boys in red and white were once more camped in Northwood’s half. They turned that pressure into three points, with Stefan Moolman knocking over a penalty from just outside the 22 to make it Michaelhouse 13-7 Northwood.

After the restart, Northwood began to play more of the game in the visitors’ half and, for the first time in the match, they spent considerable time in the Michaelhouse 22.

They almost went over from a five-metre scrum with only a desperate tackle preventing the Knights from scoring next to the poles. Northwood, though, recycled the ball quickly and a long pass out to the left enabled Jaydon Smith to dive over out wide for five.

The tough conversion missed the mark, which left Michaelhouse with a narrow 13-12 lead.

‘House, again, played the game down in Northwood’s territory, forcing their way up to the Durban side’s try line, but the Knights, with typical grit, defended it ferociously.

Then, with only a couple of minutes remaining, the home team was awarded a penalty on Michaelhouse’s 22, about six metres in from the left touchline. It was in a similar position to where they had scored their second try. They opted not to take a crack at the posts and instead set up a lineout just five metres from the ‘House try line.

That decision didn’t bring them a try, but Michaelhouse was blown up for going offsides while defending Northwood’s rolling maul, which left the Knights with a penalty only five metres out and on the 15-metre line. This time, they took the kick at goal. It looked like a gimme, but it was wide right, much to the delight of the Michaelhouse supporters.

William Ridl and his men were unable to exit their half from the 22 drop out and, when ‘House went offsides again, the Knights had an opportunity to snatch a late victory. This time, Trevor van Volenstee was handed the ball. The kick was from 38 metres out, just to the right of the posts. A hush descended over the field.

That hush became a roar as Van Volenstee’s kick was straight and true. The final whistle sounded. Northwood supporters stormed onto the field to celebrate while the Michaelhouse 1st XV stood motionless for a moment, stunned to have a win snatched away from them in the very last seconds of the match.

Northwood coach Jacques Deen’s halftime talk had helped to turn around a game in which they were outplayed in the first half and it showed the character of his side. However, they have lots of work to do, he said.

For Michaelhouse coach, James Fleming, it was a frustrating day. His side had enjoyed the better of territory and possession and had trailed for only the last second of the contest. Unfortunately for the visitors, that meant they were beaten.

POINTS SCORERS

Northwood 15 (7) – Tries: Trevor van Volenstee, Jaydon Smith. Conversion: Ludi van der Walt. Penalty: Trevor van Volenstee. Michaelhouse 13 (10) – Try: Dan Aissing. Conversion: Stefan Moolman. Penalties: Stefan Moolman (2).

RESULTS

u19 – Northwood I 15 Michaelhouse I 13; Northwood II 27 Michaelhouse II 26; Northwood III 20 Michaelhouse III 13; Northwood IV 0 Michaelhouse IV 33; Northwood V 7 Michaelhouse V 12; Northwood VI 0 Michaelhouse VI 44

u16 – Northwood A 31 Michaelhouse A 19; Northwood B 17 Michaelhouse B 5; Northwood C 26 Michaelhouse C 7; Northwood D 8 Michaelhouse D 0; Northwood E 19 Michaelhouse E 5

u15 – Northwood A 12 Michaelhouse A 22; Northwood B 10 Michaelhouse B 26; Northwood C 0 Michaelhouse C 5; Northwood D 0 Michaelhouse D 22; Northwood E 7 Michaelhouse E 0

u14 – Northwood A 22-0 Michaelhouse A; Northwood B 19 Michaelhouse B 9; Northwood C 12 Michaelhouse C 5; Northwood D 24 Michaelhouse D 10.