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It was Paarl Gimnasium, Diocesan College (Bishops), and SACS which came the fastest out of the blocks during the opening round of matches of the Western Cape’s regional final of the Schools SA20 in Oudtshoorn.

Bishops secured a vital four-wicket victory over Paarl Boys’ High in their opening match. Boishaai batted first and reached a formidable 150/7 thanks to a half-century by Abriam Jacobs (54) and another valuable contribution by Christiaan van Zuydam (31*).

Jacobs and his opening partner, Brent Goosen (16), laid the foundation with a 68-run opening partnership.

Julian Pilkington (2/12) and Thaafier Japtha (2/28) picked up two wickets each. Bishops then reached the target with three balls to spare with Japtha (41), Waco Bassick (36*) and James Robb-Quinlan (35) all making contributions with the bat in hand.

Paarl Gimnasium defeated the D’Almeida Hub by 100 runs after they posted a mammoth 195/5 in their 20 overs. Charles King (56), Wian Munnik (47), and De Waal Viviers (39) led the charge.

The D’Almeida Hub, from Mossel Bay, reached 95/6 in their 20 overs with their opening batsman Kearan Arends (50*) scoring the bulk of their runs.

SACS got their campaign in Oudtshoorn off the ground with a nine-run victory over Bridgton Hub. SACS was restricted to 115 with star player and captain, Ulrich Roth (19), top-scoring for them.

The visitors from Cape Town’s batsmen were troubled by the bowling of Lastio Williams (2/13), Sherwin Plaaitjies (2/21) and Jerwill van Wyngaard (2/22).

Bridgton mustered 106/7 in their reply, with Plaaitjies (30*) and Wilvino Meyer (26) providing some resistance. The picks of SACS’ bowling attack were Saeed Conrad (2/12) and Abhay Kalan (2/13).

Conrad is the son of the Proteas’ Test team coach, Shukri Conrad. Conrad sr. represented the South African Schools’ side back in 1983 and 1984.

Summarised Scorecards

Paarl Boys’ High 150/7 (Abriam Jacobs 54, Christiaan van Zuydam 31*; Julian Pilkington 2/12, Thaafier Japtha 2/28); Diocesan College 152/6 (Thaafier Japtha 41, Waco Bassick 36*, James Robb-Quinlan 35; Christiaan van Zuydam 1/15). Diocesan College won by four wickets.

Paarl Gimnasium 195/5 (Charles King 56, Wian Munnik 47, De Waal Viviers 39; Joshua Rossouw 2/44); D’Almeida Hub 95/6 (Kearan Arends 50*; Zayde Abrahams 2/10). Paarl Gimnasium won by 100 runs.

SACS 115 (Ulrich Roth 19; Lastio Williams 2/13, Sherwin Plaaitjies 2/21, Jerwill van Wyngaard 2/22); Bridgton Hub 106/7 (Sherwin Plaaitjies 30*, Wilvino Meyer 26, Keano Coericius 22; Saeed Conrad 2/12, Abhay Kalan 2/13). SACS won by nine runs.

Middelburg is weer in groen en rooi getooi met ‘n liplekker-stryd wat voorlê tussen die twee naburige skole op die krieketveld.

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

Die Middies word waarskynlik as gunstelinge beskou aangesien hulle in die laaste paar kragmetings die oorhand oor hul bure geniet het. Tuisveldvoordeel en die opwinding van ‘n derby kan egter ‘n groot rol speel, verál in die spel met die leerbal en wilgerlat.

Die Middies, wat reeds met ‘n oorwinning spog oor Hoërskool Ben Vorster van Tzaneen, sal vol vertroue wees om daarop voort te bou in 2025. Nóg ‘n positiewe is die feit dat die veelsydige draaier, Gavin Genis, reeds onder die paaltjies baljaar het, terwyl aanvangskolwer, Zubair Desai, ook goeie vorm getoon het vir sy 24 teen die Vossies.

HTS beskik self oor opsies wat draaiboulwerk betref, met Anthoni Smuts, ook ‘n venynige kolwer, en Ethan Dreyer wat belangrike rolle het om te vervul in hul span se boulbeurt. Die tuisspan se veelsydige kaptein, Armand Kotze, sal die pas met die bal en kolf wil aangee, vernaam teen die tradisionele aartsvyande.

Hoërskool Dr. Malan sal wil voortbou op die goeie momentum van die eerste week wanneer hy na Witrivier reis om Uplands College die stryd aan te sê. Die Dokkies was blitsig uit die blokke met ‘n gemaklike oorwinning met agt paaltjies oor HTS Middelburg.

Luka Pretorius, ook ‘n kranige rugbyspeler, het met die eerste oogopslag die gevaarlikste met die kolf gelyk en dus bied hierdie naweek ‘n groot toets vir die span van Meyerton se voorslagkolwer op die Laeveld se blaaie.

Hoërskool Ben Vorster verwelkom Heidelberg Volkskool in wat ‘n bloedige warm en bedompige Tzaneen behoort wees. Alhoewel die Tzaneeners met 61 lopies teen Hoërskool Middelburg vasgeval het verlede week, was daar positiewe tekens. Santag Ramatsuma, die Vossies se ster met die bal, sal byvoorbeeld oorgehaal wees om weer vyf paaltjies te probeer oes.

Bepalings:

Week 2:
HTS Middelburg t. Hoërskool Middelburg
Uplands College t. Dr Malan
Ben Vorster t. Heidelberg Volkskool

Die tweede week van aksie in Afdeling C van die Finsbury-reeks sal fyn dopgehou word met drie klipharde kragmetings wat op krieketaanhangers wag.

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

Hoërskool Zwartkop durf die 80 km na Alberton aan waar Hoërskool Dinamika op hom sal wag. Albei spanne het hul reeks met goeie oorwinnings afgeskop.

Dinamika het beïndruk deur die gevaarlike Midstream College met drie paaltjies te verslaan, terwyl die Zwarries vir Hoërskool Lichtenburg op ‘n drafstap met 126 lopies die loef afgesteek het.

Die tuisspan sal vir Zwarries se kaptein en voorslagkolwer, Zandre van Staden, teiken as die grootste vangs in die Zwartkop-dam, nadat hy verlede week vir die Liggies met ‘n uitstaande 148* rondgejaag het. In die bouldepartement wag daar ‘n reuse stryd tussen die span van Centurion se Dawid Hanekom en Dinamika se bybreekbouler, Trent Shrives. Albei is normaalweg bedrywig in die middelbeurte, maar beskik elk oor die vermoë om paaltjies op nét die regte tyd te laat kantel.

Midstream College sal gretig wees om na die wenpad terug te keer, maar dit sal geensins maklik wees teen Hoërskool Pietersburg nie. Hoewel die Pieties die tog met die N1 vanuit die noorde moet aandurf, beskik hulle oor genoegsame skietgoed om die tuisspan in sy agterplaas te karnuffel. Celliers van der Merwe, wat onlangs taamlik opspraak gemaak het met die bal en kolf by die jaarlikse Kovsie Smash-toernooi, is een van die gevaarlike pyle in die Pieties se koker.

Midstream se Jonathan Wiseman, wat oor heelwat ervaring beskik, sal met sy veelsydige kaptein, Rikus Cilliers, ‘n vername rol hê om te vertolk indien die span van Centurion hoop om die besoekers stert tussen die bene huis toe te stuur.

Hoërskool Monument, wat teen Hoërskool Lichtenburg te staan kom, lyk witwarm op die oomblik, met die span van Krugersdorp se kaptein en voorslagkolwer, Logan Weetman, wat reeds met ‘n onoorwonne 87 lopies teen Queens in die Johnny Waite T20-kompetisie spog. Die Liggies is egter onvoorspelbaar en nóg ‘n pragbeurt deur hul aanvangskolwer, Raiyaan Khan, kan die Monumentare onder druk plaas.

Bepalings:

Week 2:
Dinamika t. Zwartkop
Midstream t. Pietersburg
Monument t. Lichtenburg

Coach Elmar Dorey‘s Hoërskool Garsfontein 1st XI has made a dream start to 2025.

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

In preparation for the Schools SA20 Regional playoffs, to be played in Benoni from 31 January to 2 February, the Ysbere have been piling up one impressive performance after another.

On Saturday, 18 January, in a T20, the side from Pretoria dismantled Potchefstroom Volkskool in their backyard.

On the back of an exceptional innings by Xander Venter, the Ysbere rolled to a mammoth 213/3 from their 20 overs.

Venter, batting at three, went on the rampage. In an astonishing innings, he needed only 55 deliveries to smash an unbeaten 120 runs. His onslaught led to the boundary being peppered with seven fours and seven sixes, which meant 70 of his runs came from boundaries.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Reuben van Zyl lent superb support, smashing 56 from only 36 balls in the pair’s fiery 130-run partnership.

Gifted a large and intimidating total to defend, Garsfontein’s bowlers backed up their teams’s outstanding batting performance in some style.

Leading the charge, opening bowler, Ruan Coetzee, captured four wickets for only 12 runs in his four overs. His opening partner, Wikus du Preez, also impressed, knocking over 3/15, while Jared Carr, with 2/1, rubbed further salt into the Volkies‘ wounds as the Potchefstroom side slumped to a 177-run defeat after being bundled out for just 36.

More recently, on Thursday, Helpmekaar Kollege, who had beaten St Stithians in the Johnny Waite T20 on Wednesday, also fell to the Ysbere. This time, Garsfontein had the advantage of playing at home.

They bowled first and Xander Venter showed off his all-round skills by claiming 2/27 with the ball. Echard Struwig, the lynchpin of the Ysbere’s attack, snaffled 2/31 as Helpmekaar posted a decent 140/9 from their 20 overs.

Anrich Liebenberg led the Helpies’ batting effort with a focussed 46 runs, while Heinrich Minnaar chipped in with 25.

Needing to bat at just over seven runs an over to win, Garsfontein’s batsmen dominated again. Opening batsman Reuben van Zyl gave their run chase a solid platform by scooting to 34 runs from only 20 balls. Then, Rigardt Joubert made sound use of the launching pad.

His contribution was 40 runs from only 27 deliveries, which helped propel the Ysbere to a convincing six-wicket victory over the visitors from Johannesburg.

Summarised scorecards

Saturday, 18 January

Garsfontein 213/3 (Xander Venter 120*, Reuben van Zyl 56; Handré de Beer 1/13); Potchefstroom Volkskool 36/10 (Louis van Wyk 7; Ruan Coetzee 4/12, Wikus du Preez 3/15). Garsfontein won by 177 runs.

Thursday, 23 January

Helpmekaar Kollege 140/9 (Anrich Liebenberg 45, Heinrich Minnaar 25; Xander Venter 2/27, Echard Struwig 2/31); Garsfontein 145/4 (Rigardt Joubert 40, Reuben van Zyl 34, Heinrich Badenhorst 26; Dominic Tait 1/18). Garsfontein won by six wickets.

The battle has raged through many decades in many sports when Rondebosch Boys’ High and Bishops Diocesan College meet.

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

This time around, when they met on Wednesday at Bishops, in the annual Bish/Bosch T20, the bragging rights went the way of Rondebosch.

After being sent in to bat by the home side, Rondebosch made a decent enough start, although they lost two wickets in the first powerplay.

However, the Bishops’ opening bowlers, Waco Bassik and Luke de Klerk, kept making inroads, chipping away at ‘Bosch’s batting line-up by capturing timely wickets. Bassik, eventually, ended his four overs with 3/29, while De Klerk snapped up 2/28 in his four.

The action ramped up when Adeeb Levy and the experienced Joshua Neill came together. Levy took the fight to Bishops, top-scoring with 46 from 37 balls, while Neill weighed in with a valuable 30 as the pair combined for a crucial 51-run partnership.

The Rondebosch innings was boosted further by a cameo of 24 by Daniel Cooke, which helped lift the visitors’ total to almost nine runs an over, at 176/8 after their 20 overs.

Feeding off the momentum from Cooke’s 24, the Rondebosch bowlers did their bit. After Thaafier Jaftha (26) and opening batsman James Robb-Quinlan (24) gave Bishops a good start, Arin Spiller, captured 3/7 in just two overs to stem the flow of runs and force the home side onto the back foot.

Schalk Fourie (2/13) and Jamie Hundermark (2/20), also, rocked the host’s reply. They shared four wickets between them for only 33 runs to give Spiller the kind of support his excellent effort deserved.

Bishops collapsed and watched their challenge slip away. With balls running out, , the home team lost its last wicket off the second last ball of the penultimate over, leaving Rondebosch the winners by 31 runs.

Summarised scorecard

Rondebosch Boys’ High 176/8 (Adeeb Levy 46, Joshua Neill 30, Daniel Cooke 24; Extras 22; Waco Bassik 3/29, Luke de Klerk 2/28, Michael Kruiskamp 2/36); Bishops Diocesan College 145/10 (Thaafier Jafta 26, James Robb Quinlan 24, Lithe Mbiko 21; Arin Spiller 3/7, Schalk Fourie 2/13, Jamie Hundermark 2/20). Rondebosch Boys’ High won by 31 runs.

Zizi Mkhize struck an unbeaten half-century and claimed two wickets to help Jeppe High School for Boys score a comfortable 44-run win over Hoërskool Randburg in their Johnny Waite Trophy match at Jeppe on Thursday.

Mkhize was in fine form, blasting two sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 52 off 33 deliveries. The left-hander shepherded Jeppe, who had won the toss and elected to bat first, to 162/5.

The home side’s bowling attack backed up their batsmen with a clinical display, restricting Randburg to 118/8 in reply.

“Zizi Mkhize is an exciting talent. He scored a 50 on Wednesday and followed that up with this half-century,” Casey Arnold, the Jeppe head coach, said.

“He has just come into the first team. He also bowls good off-spinners. We are extremely excited about Zizi and how he has taken to first-team cricket.”

When Mkhize arrived at the crease, Jeppe was in trouble after losing two wickets in six balls, which reduced them from a decent 42/2 to a wobbly 42/4. The new batsmen, Mkhize and Keegan Caxeiro, needed to arrest the fall of wickets before it devolved into a collapse.

The pair shared the crease from the eighth to the 17th over and in that time produced a 78-run fifth-wicket stand. Caxeiro anchored the partnership with a patient 40 off 44 deliveries, but he also let loose for two sixes and a single four. Unlike earlier, when he departed, one wicket did not turn into two. No more went down after his dismissal.

Mkhize and Sipho Potsane (15*) saw out the remaining overs, combining for an unbroken 37-run seventh-wicket partnership.

“We have had a really good start to the year, barring the mishap against St John’s. We are starting to understand our plans as a team,” Arnold said.

When Randburg visited the crease, Reza Ayob gave Jeppe the start they wanted with the ball, bagging a wicket with his second delivery of the first over. Randburg hadn’t yet registered a run. Potsane followed that up with a wicket in the fifth over to leave Randburg in a spot of bother on 22/2.

The visitors halted Jeppe’s attack for a while as they rebuilt and consolidated through Liam Peek (56) and Josef van den Berg (31), who put on 42 for the third wicket. But Van den Berg’s dismissal in the 11th over proved to be Randburg’s undoing. He was one of Mkhize’s two victims.

The visitors needed another partnership to keep their run chase on track. They, however, lost wickets at regular intervals, which made that impossible. The next four batsmen failed to score a total of 10 runs between them. Peek finished with a hard-fought 56 off 57 balls, but he didn’t receive the support he needed. His outstanding effort was in vain.

Left-arm spinner Sipho Potsane was Jeppe’s most successful bowler, snaring three wickets for 15 runs in four overs. Mkhize chipped in with two for 23 from four, while Reza Ayob kept Randburg in check, capturing one for 17, also from four.

Summarised scorecard

Jeppe 162/5 (Zizi Mkhize 52*, Keegan Caxeiro 44, Louw Geldenhuys 2/27, B Viljoen 1/19,). Randburg 118/8 (Liam Peek 56, Josef van den Berg 31, Sipho Potsane 3/15, Zizi Mkhize 2/23). Jeppe won by 44 runs.

Roedean started the 2025 edition of the Brian Baker Water Polo Tournament like a house on fire. The Johannesburg side registered, by far, the most goals by a team on Thursday, the first day of the annual showpiece.

The competition, which is being hosted by Kingswood College, runs from 23 to 26 January.

Coach Siya Guzana‘s outfit powered their way to 41 goals and conceded a mere five in two matches on their way to the summit of Pool D.

Roedean also boasts the top three scorers in the tournament, thus far. Ané du Plessis, Gabrielle Morell, and Emma Pelicot were responsible for more than half the goals Roedean chalked up, with 23 between them.

Du Plessis and Morell netted eight goals each, while Pelicot beat opposition goalkeepers seven times. In Roedean’s first match of the day, Morell starred with five goals, as the Gauteng side trounced Kingswood 17-5, while Du Plessis and Pelicot bagged a hat-trick each.

Du Plessis led the way with a five-goal haul when Roedean overran Alexander Road 24-0 and Pelicot struck four times. Du Plessis’s sister, Esmé, scored a hat-trick, which was matched by Morell, Taylor Billet, and Amy Stubbs.

St Anne’s is in second place in Pool D, followed by Kingswood, Stirling, and Alexander Road, in third, fourth, and fifth respectively.

St Stithians scored the second-most goals on day one and had the fourth-highest individual scorer, with Emily Carle netting six of their 25 goals. She opened her account by tallying four in Saints’ 12-2 win over Rhenish.

Carle played second fiddle to Erin Blackburn when St Stithians handed St Dominic’s a 13-7 defeat, with Blackburn scoring four, while Carle, Courtney Calenborne, and Tori Tanner-Ellis contributed two each. The back-to-back wins launched Saints to the top of Pool A after day one, Clarendon lies second, followed by St Dominic’s, Rhenish, and Woodridge.

Pool B leaders Reddam House Bedfordview were way behind Roedean’s incredible goal-scoring pace, but ended Thursday with the third-most goals, netting 20 times. The Malcolm Ackermann-coached side began their campaign with a nailbiter against Durban Girls’ College (DGC).

Four goals from Jessica McCamlie, and hat-tricks from Anastasia Hambakis and Annabelle Morton, plus a solitary strike from Aimee Hattingh lifted Reddam Bedfordview to 11 goals. However, their KZN opposition struck back with four goals each from Kayla Andrews and Lara Mervis, a brace from Bailey Bartlett, and a single goal from Inge Southey, to match that tally.

The contest went to a penalty shootout from there, with DGC edging it 4-3. Reddam Bedfordview bounced back from that tough loss with a 9-5 win over Pearson, courtesy of goals from Hambakis (2), Caitlin Scrimgeour (2), Kacey Williams (1), Annabelle Morton (1), Aimee Hattingh (1), Jessica McCamlie, and Alisha Beswick (1).

Reddam Constantia occupies second place in the pool, followed by Glenwood House, DGC, and Pearson.

St Mary’s Waverley surged to the top of Pool C with two wins in as many matches. They scraped a thrilling 8-7 win over Hudson Park in their opener, with Julia Joseph stealing the spotlight with a hat-trick. She was well-supported by Jenna Blaauw, who added a brace, while Giorgia Leather, Skyla Roberts, and Isabella Rajak all made it onto the score sheet with one each.

St Mary’s was also extended in their second outing, with Kyla Moolman‘s team holding on for a 6-4 win over Collegiate late in the afternoon. This time, Jenna Blaauw chalked up a hat-trick, with Kathryn Thorburn bagging two and Julia Joseph the other.

Defending champions Herschel ended the day second in Pool C after winning their only match. DSG Makhanda, Hudson Park, and Collegiate fill third, fourth, and fifth places respectively.

Results

Roedean 17-5 Kingswood
DSG Makhanda 8-2 Collegiate
Reddam Bedfordview (3) 11–11 (4) DGC
St Dominic’s 6-2 Woodridge
Pearson 2-4 Glenwood House
St Mary’s Waverley 8-7 Hudson Park
Roedean 24-0 Alexander Road
St Stithians 12-2 Rhenish
St Anne’s 11-8 Stirling
Clarendon 10-3 Woodridge
St Mary’s Waverley 6-4 Collegiate
Reddam House Bedfordview 9-5 Pearson
Reddam House Constantia 10-4 DGC
Herschel 11-4 DSG Makhanda
St Stithians 13-7 St Dominic’s
Kingswood 12-7 Stirling.

Fixtures

07:00 – Clarendon vs Rhenish, Reddam House Constantia vs Pearson
07:50 – Herschel vs Hudson, Reddam House Bedfordview vs Glenwood House
08:40 – Kingswood vs Alexander Road, DSG vs St Mary’s Waverley
09:30 – Woodridge vs Rhenish, Roedean vs St Anne’s
10:20 – Clarendon vs St Dominic’s, DGC vs Pearson
11:10 – Herschel vs Collegiate, Reddam House Constantia vs Glenwood House
12:00 – St Anne’s vs Kingswood, DSG vs Hudson Park
12:50 – St Stithians vs Woodridge, Stirling vs Alexander Road
13:40 – St Dominic’s vs Rhenish, DGC vs Glenwood House
14:30 – Herschel vs St Mary’s Waverley, Reddam Bedfordview vs Reddam Constantia
15:20 – St Stithians vs Clarendon, St Anne’s vs Alexander Road
16:10 – Hudson Park vs Collegiate, Roedean vs Stirling

A whopping total of 214 goals were scored across the 13 matches on the opening day of the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield, hosted by St Andrew’s College, in Makhanda on Thursday.

The annual tournament, which features some of South Africa’s best water polo-playing schools, runs until Sunday, 26 January, with the final scheduled for 12:10.

Much was expected from the opening day’s play, with sunny and warm weather creating ideal playing conditions.

Watch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

It was fitting that the hosts kicked off matters with a Pool A clash against Westville Boys’ High.

Head coach Grant Mackenzie‘s troops were quickly out of the blocks and played some exciting polo, displaying maturity in attack and defence, to secure an 11-5 victory.

Their second outing of the day resulted in a hard-fought 6-9 defeat against South African College High School (SACS).

The big winners in the group were the Cape duo of Bishops Diocesan College and SACS, who scooped up two wins apiece.

Bishops, led by skipper Heath Blackwell, looked dangerous when in possession and they were clinical in front of goal, although they allowed 14 goals to get past their goalkeeper Michael Mafunda.

They did just enough to defeat Clifton College and St Stithians College in matches where scoring goals appeared to come easily for the Cape Town school.

Prolific goalscorer Matt Fenn netted six times across the two matches, while Owen Cross chipped in with a handful.

Goals were scored from all angles by Bishops as Tim Young, Milo Letschert, Heath Blackshaw, and Luke Cartwright all found the back of the net. James Malan topped off his day with a hat-trick.

SACS won against St Andrew’s College and St Stithians, while another team that impressed was Clifton College.

Despite losing against Bishops, coach Pierre Le Roux‘s boys bounced impressively, beating their provincial rivals, Westville 8-5.

Jamie Nicolau led the scoring with four goals, while Kyle Human netted a brace. Connor Donaldson and Nathan Burger added one each.

Pool B was dominated by Rondebosch Boys’ High and St John’s College, while Selborne College pulled off a shock result.

St John’s College captain, Nicholas Searle, led his team to two wins, while coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s ‘Bosch boys, who had produced a dominant win over Reddam House Constantia in round one of the SACS Nite Series, carried that momentum into the SAC Shield.

They edged out Hilton College in their opener before outmuscling Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in their second match of the day.

St John’s, meanwhile, led by veteran coach Vlado Trninic, never got out of first gear but still managed to get the job done against Selborne and Grey High School.

Nicholas Searle was among the St John’s scorers. Luke Shipway and Luke Towell both doubled up against Selborne, and Chris Chapman chipped in with a solitary goal.

Coach Storm Siebert‘s Selborne side caused the upset of the tournament so far by beating PRG 5-4.

It was the lowest-scoring match of the day and was won only 20 seconds from time when SA Schools’ forward Liam Hansen converted from five metres out.

Hilton recovered from their defeat against Rondebosch to beat Grey High 17-13.

Only three teams remain without a win after day one. Day two presents an opportunity for Westville, Grey High, and PRG to place a tick in the win column.

DAY 1 RESULTS

Pool A

St Andrew’s College 11-5 Westville Boys’ High
Bishops 12-6 Clifton College
Clifton College 8-5 Westville Boys’ High
Bishops 10-8 St Stithians College
SACS 9-6 St Andrew’s College
St Stithians College 9-4 St Andrew’s College
SACS 10-7 St Stithians College

Pool B

Rondebosch Boys’ High 13-11 Hilton College
St John’s College 7-5 Selborne College
Hilton College 17-14 Grey High
Selborne College 4-3 Paul Roos Gimnasium
St John’s College 10-5 Grey High
Rondebosch Boys’ High 10-5 Paul Roos Gimnasium

Fixtures

Friday, 24 January

Pool A

09:30 – SACS vs Westville Boys’ High; 10:20 – St Andrew’s College vs Bishops Diocesan College; 11:10 – Clifton College vs Stithians College; 14:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs Stithians College; 15:20 – Clifton College vs St Andrew’s College; 16:10 – Bishops Diocesan College vs SACS.

Pool B

07:00 – Hilton College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 07:50 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs St John’s College; 08:40 – Grey High School vs Selborne College; 12:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Grey High School; 12:50 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 13:40 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 17:00 – St John’s College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 17:50 – Hilton College vs Selborne College.

Saturday, 25 January

Pool A

07:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Westville Boys’ High; 07:50 – SACS vs Clifton College.

Pool B

08:40 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Grey High School

Play-offs

10:20 – Quarterfinal 1; 11:10 – Quarterfinal 2; 12:00 – Quarterfinal 3; 12:50 – Quarterfinal 4; 13:40 – 5th-8th place-playoff; 14:30 – 5th-8th place-playoff; 17:00 – Semifinal 1; 17:50 – Semifinal 2.

Sunday, 26 January

08:00 – 11th/12th place-playoff; 08:50 – 9th/10th place-playoff; 09:40 – 7th/8th place-playoff; 10:30 – 5th/6th place-playoff; 11:20 – 3rd/4th place-playoff; 12:10 – Final.

St John’s College and King Edward VII School (KES) will make the almost 400km trip to Bloemfontein for what promises to be four enthralling encounters against the Free State’s leading teams, Grey College and St Andrew’s School. over the weekend,

Back in Johannesburg, St David’s Marist Inanda will host Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies), while St Stithians College jousts with Noordheuwel. Jeppe High School for Boys will play their third match of the week against St Benedict’s College.

St John’s heads to the Free State capital on a high, after securing a 43-run win over Parktown Boys’ High on Wednesday in the Johnny Waite T20 competition.

Coach Bongani Ntini’s side is the tournament’s defending champion – they beat St Stithians by 21 runs in the 2024 final – and they will be aiming to go back-to-back this year. Their victory against Parktown came on the back of a 35-run win over Jeppe.

St John’s has a Saturday morning appointment with St Andrew’s on Vossie’s Field and will travel a short distance to Grey College on Sunday. KES plays the reverse of St John’s fixtures. They tackle Grey College on Saturday and then go up against St Andrew’s on Sunday.

KES, coached by Vincent Jordaan, won against Northcliff in a truncated 50-over encounter on Saturday before going down to Waterkloof on Sunday. They’ll be eager to get back to winning ways in Bloemfontein.

Jeppe will chase a hat-trick of victories within four days when they cross swords with St Benedict’s on Saturday. Should they pull it off, it would be their second victory over Bennies within the week.

Coach Casey Arnold‘s side cruised against St Benedict’s on Wednesday, walloping them by 101 runs in a Johnny Waite clash. They added a 44-run thrashing of Randburg in another Johnny Waite encounter on Thursday. The format on Sunday will change from T20 to a 50-over-a-side contest, which will present the teams with a different challenge.

St David’s gave their team a breather after their pre-season sojourn to Makhanda, where they took part in the Makhanda Cricket Festival. Coach Jeff Levin’s side returned to Gauteng on a positive note, after scoring more victories than losses. They will be keen to replicate their exceptional performance against Pearson at the Makhanda Festival, which saw them to a massive 181-run victory, when they face off against a talented and skilled Affies side on Saturday.

Noordheuwel started the year with a victory over Northcliff in a low-scoring encounter. Coach Donald Dinake‘s side navigated a tricky pitch to post an unassailable total and will head into their Saturday encounter with a positive mindset after a Johnny Waite win on Wednesday. Their opposition, St Stithians, went down to Helpmekaar in a Johnny Waite match on the same day. Saints, coached by Lazarus Mokoena will be focussed on avoiding consecutive defeats.

It’s a tasty fixture list between top teams, with the results difficult to predict. Spectators, though, should be the winners.

Fixtures

Saturday: St Andrew’s vs St John’s, Grey College vs KES, St David’s vs Affies, Noordheuwel vs St Stithians, Jeppe vs St Benedict’s.

Sunday: St Andrews vs KES, Grey College vs St John’s.

Nadat die eerste naweek van aksie in die B-afdeling van die Finsbury-reeks basies in ‘n swemgala ontaard het, kan die ses deelnemende skole se ondersteuners hierdie slag uitsien na ‘n aksiebelaaide Saterdag .

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

In só ‘n talentbesaaide afdeling is dit bitter moeilik om te voorspel wat die drie kragmetings gaan oplewer. .

Hoërskool Kempton Park durf die N12 na Potchefstroom aan, om met ‘n giftige Potchefstroom Gimnasium kragte te meet. Die Gimmies het die vorige week gewys wat in hulle steek om die streek-uitspele van die Schools SA20 in Potchefstroom te haal en het vroeër in die kompetisie ook met die uiteindelike kampioen, St Andrew’s School van Bloemfontein, afgereken.

Alhoewel T20-krieket ‘n perd van ‘n ander kleur is, het die tuisspan reeds in sy wedstryd teen Hans Moore vroeër in die week ook kookwater-krieket gelewer in die 50-beurt formaat. Hulle het in dié kragmeting met 36 lopies koning gekraai, met staatmaker, Caiden Seleka, wat die waarskuwingskote met ‘n pragbeurt van 67 lopies, van net 60 aflewerings, laat klap het.

Die Kempies onder leiding van kaptein, Marko Richter, beskik self oor heelwat grofgeskut, met die span van die Oos-Rand wat ‘n gros spelers behou wat deel uitgemaak het van verlede jaar se suksesvolle seisoen. Wian Pieters sal waarskynlik die sleutel, met sy veelsydigheid, met sowel die bal as kolf, wat van sy span sterk aanspraakmakers op die titel maak.

In Alberton wag daar ‘n liplekker-stryd op die ondersteuners van Hoërskool Marais Viljoen en die besoekers van Benoni, Hoërskool Hans Moore. Die Moories, wat hulself verlede jaar as die Fain Noordvaal-kampioen en een van die krieketkragte Noord van die Vaalrivier gevestig het, is ongetwyfeld ‘n span om dop te hou.

Daar is geen tekort aan talent die kolfdepartement nie, met voorslagkolwers soos Xavier Coetzee en Kenan en Aiden Shaw in hul midde. Marais Viljoen is self nie te versmaai met die wilgerlat nie. Sy kaptein, Jaden Govender, wat onlangs deel van die SA o.19-groep teen Engeland uitgemaak het, sal heelwat waarde met die kolf en ook handskoene agter die paaltjies toevoeg.

Die nuwelinge, Hoërskool Centurion, wat van die A-afdeling moes afskuif, ontvang vir Hoërskool Montana in Centurion. Die Monties, een van die minder bekende krieketskole in Pretoria, het oor die laaste paar jaar, stil-stil hul pad na bo oopgespeel met ‘n sterk en goed georganiseerde krieketprogram. Derhalwe moet die Woeries op hul hoede wees vir Luca Bairos en die res van die Monties.

Bepalings:

Week Twee:
Potchefstroom Gimnasium t. Hoërskool Kempton Park
Marais Viljoen t. Hans Moore
Hoërskool Centurion t. Montana