Blog

Wade McQuinn starred with bat and ball as King Edward VII  defeated Jeppe High School for Boys by five wickets in their 50-over encounter on the Bottom Oval, at Jeppe, on Saturday.

Jeppe, who won the toss and elected to bat first, failed to build partnerships that could contribute towards a substantial total and was bowled out for 98 runs in 28.3 overs. In their chase, KES galloped to 101/5 in 21.3 overs to claim victory.

The KES-Jeppe cricket showdown is one of the oldest contests in the country. The two sides have been locking horns since around 1905. Jeppe was one of the first schools that KES contested against in cricket.

McQuinn was one of the six bowlers who strangled the Jeppe batting order, denying them any room to express themselves. The all-rounder was the visitors’ best bowler with two wickets for 18 runs in six overs. His first wicket was the dismissal of Jeppe’s star batter, Aiden Reyneke, whom he dismissed for only four runs in the 15th over. The wicket left Jeppe struggling on 51/3.

That was the beginning of the crumbling of Jeppe’s innings. The hosts had put together a 38-run opening stand between Munib Ayob (15) and Ethan Elliot (24). That opening pairing was broken in the 10th over. A short while later, Jeppe lost Ayob in the 14th over, then Reyneke in the next one. Jeppe’s collapse was so calamitous they lost nine wickets in 15 overs for a mere 60 runs.

Elliot was the only Jeppe batter to score 20 or more runs.

When it was their turn to bat, KES ran into trouble in the first over. They lost Luke Clark for a three-ball duck. They hadn’t consolidated when they lost Tiago Dias in the fourth over. This began to look bleak when they lost their third wicket of the innings in the 10th over, which left them on 22/3. However, that was also the moment McQuinn arrived at the crease.

McQuin carved four fours and four sixes on his way to an unbeaten 47 off 28 balls to guide his side to victory. His strike rate of 168 told the story of a batter operating on a different plane from everyone else. He was on rarefied air.

Sipho Potsane was the pick of the bowlers for Jeppe with two wickets for 17 runs in five overs.

Summarised Scorecards:

Jeppe High School for Boys 98/10 (Ethan Elliot 24, Ryan Young 16; Wade McQuinn 2/18, Eric Southey 2/12); King Edward VII 101/5 (Wade McQuinn 47*, Troy Gordon 16; Sipho Potsane 2/17, Franco Nortje 1/13) King Edward VII won by five wickets.

Jason Rowles continued his rich vein of form as he scythed an unbeaten century to lead St David’s Marist to an emphatic 10-wicket win over St Benedict’s College in their 50-over encounter on Raven Park Field One, at St Benedict’s, on Saturday.

St Benedict’s, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were bowled out for 236 in 48.4 overs. In reply, St David’s smashed 238/1 in 27.4 overs to claim victory.

On Wednesday, Rowles scored a brilliant 75 off 47 to inspire St David’s to a three-wicket win over HS Kempton Park in a T20 match. The opener had saved his best for the weekend. Rowles creamed an imperious unbeaten 140 off 80 deliveries (13X4s, 8X6s) as he shepherded his side to a dominant victory.

Rowles, who was adjudged to be the Player of the Match because of his outstanding innings and contribution with the ball, was in no mood to let the St Benedict’s bowling attack settle. He established a 37-run opening stand with Armaan Manack (13) from 4.3 overs. When that partnership collapsed, Rowles joined forces with Samrat Basu for an unbroken 201 third-wicket partnership.

Basu’s knock of an unbeaten 75 off 69 deliveries looked slow in comparison to Rowles’ innings, which was going at a strike rate of 166.67. However, Basu was not going at a pedestrian pace. His rate of 108.7 is a relatively brisk 50-over strike rate.

Earlier in the day, Christopher Emslie and the rest of the St David’s bowling attack saw to it that their hosts did not bat them out of the contest. Emslie bagged two wickets for 21 runs in seven overs as St David’s applied the squeeze. The spinner was one of five bowlers who walked away with a brace of wickets each. Jared Stern (2/28), Jason Rowles (2/43), Morteza Manack (2/44) and Kyle Butler (2/44), also took two wickets each.

However, St Benedict’s did not roll over and play dead, allowing St David’s to run them over. Marco Mendes and Matt Feiretag constructed an impressive 96-run fifth-wicket partnership that rescued the hosts from a middling total. Mendes scored an impressive 68 off 99, while Feiretag scored a 71-ball 57. However, their half-centuries were not enough to help St Benedict’s compile a winning total.

Summarised Scorecards:

St Benedict’s College 236 (Marco Mendes 68, Matt Feiretag 57; Christopher Emslie 2/21, Jared Stern 2/28); St David’s Marist 238/1 (Jason Rowles 140*, Samrat Basu 75*; Russell Jones 1/45) St David’s Marist won by ten wickets.

Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) opened their Schools SA20 campaign with a solid 22-run victory, beating Hoërskool Zwartkop in their backyard.

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

The Zwartkop pitch, renowned for being a bit tricky to bat on, did not disappoint as it kept things interesting in the low-scoring affair.

After winning the toss, Affies decided to bat first, hoping to post a reasonable total in their allotted 20 overs. Zwarries’ star with the ball, Zandré van Staden, however, had other plans.

Van Staden led the side from Centurion’s attack with poise and precision, producing a spell that would eventually let the Affie batting lineup stumble. His impressive return of 3/20 in his allotted four overs yielded the prized scalps of Vihan Pretorius and Ruben Groenewald, who have both been in impressive nick with the bat thus far. He later capped it off by claiming the wicket of Affies’ top scorer on the day, Zirk Meyer.

Meyer, the only Affies batsman to make more than 20 runs, scored what proved to be a decisive 21 from 20 balls lower down the order, helping his side reach 100 after a taxing 20 overs.

Groenewald thereafter took a leaf out of the Zwarries book, as the all-rounder produced a top spell claiming figures of 2/13 in his three overs. His performance inspired the rest of the attack, mostly notably Jayden Beukes and Nico Loggerenberg.

Loggerenberg bowled an economical spell, conceding only 12 runs for two wickets in his four overs. Beukes, too, boasted two wickets conceding only eight runs in his two overs.

This kept the pressure piled on the Zwarrie batsmen, as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. With only three batsmen able to reach double figures, Zwarries’ lower order batter, Dawid Hanekom, fought a lone battle. Hanekom tried valiantly with his 22 runs from 28 deliveries, as the home side slumped to a meagre 78 when the last wicket fell, leaving them well short of the required target.

Summarised scorecards: 

Affies 100/7 (Zirk Meyer 21; Zandré van Staden 3/20); Zwartkop 78 (Dawid Hanekom 22; Jayden Beukes 2/8, Ruben Groenewald 2/10, Nico Loggerenberg 2/12). Affies won by 22 runs.

An old rivalry, most probably Pretoria’s oldest school sports rivalry, will take centre stage on Saturday when Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) welcomes neighbours Pretoria Boys’ High School in the final round of the Titans Platinum A-League.

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

Both sides will be looking to get back to winning ways after a string of disappointing performances in the recent Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week.

With a chance to still qualify for the Fain Noordvaal playoffs, things are expected to heat up amid the Pretoria spring.

Affies will be delighted to welcome back star batsman, Jorich van Schalkwyk, following his tour with the South African U19 Emerging squad in Zimbabwe.

Van Schalkwyk has been instrumental as his side’s leading run scorer in 2024. He  showed glimpses of his best form in Zimbabwe, which would’ve triggered certain warning lights for the visitors.

Affies captain, Divan de Villiers, has also been immense with both bat and ball throughout the year, although some argue that the talented batting all-rounder is yet to hit his stride in this year’s league. De Villiers has shown before that he is a man for the big moments and will be fizzing to make a major contribution on Saturday.

In their own right, the Boys High side has enough firepower to see off their arch rival. Stalwart Tim Gordon has been the shining light with the willow, and his calmness and clarity under pressure may just be what is needed against the powerhouse Affies bowling lineup.

Alongside Gordon, another threat looms in Adam Cannata. Cannata, who has developed into one of the most potent leg-spinners in the region, will pose a definite danger to Van Schalkwyk and Co, especially if he finds his rhythm early on. This might be needed, seeing that the Affies pitch has traditionally been more beneficial towards batsmen.

Cornwall Hill College hosts the unpredictable Prestige College on home soil. The side from Hammanskraal will still be buzzing following their sterling victory over Hoërskool Centurion before the September break.

They will, however, need to get past Cornwall’s inform kingpin, Lethabo Phahlomohlaka. Phahlamohlaka also makes his return after enjoying some success alongside Van Schalkwyk in the SA U19 Emerging side’s 5-0 whitewash of Zimbabwe.

Hoërskool Centurion’s talented right-handed batsman, Charl Prinsloo, will be relishing the opportunity to upset an in-form and well-balanced Hoërskool Menlopark side. A strong batting lineup, led by opening batsman, Matt van der Westhuizen, however, stands in the way of the Woeries’ first victory in this year’s league.

St David’s Marist head into their weekend fixture against St Benedict’s College buoyed by their dominant 81-run victory over Kempton Park in their T20 encounter on Wednesday. The two sides crossed swords on the La Valla Oval at St David’s.

Jason Rowles, who enjoyed a fruitful outing with the South Africa u19 Emerging side during their tour to Zimbabwe, made a great comeback to the side with a 47-ball 75 (10×4) as he inspired St David’s to 167/5 in 20 overs. Kempton Park’s chase stuttered and proceeded in stops and starts as they fought their way to a lowly 86 all-out.

Rowles didn’t just top-score for his side, he also held the St David’s innings together as he batted through 17.4 overs of their innings. During his knock, he shared a match-winning with Kamogelo Phiri.

The wicketkeeper, who enjoyed a great Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week with the bat, continued his wonderful form as he added 40 runs to the total. The number three batter was the foil to Rowles’ swashbuckling innings. His 40 runs came at a pedestrian strike rate of 102.56. He faced 39 deliveries for his score.

Rowles and Phiri’s 73-run third-wicket partnership was the highest stand in the contest, and besides the duo, no other St David’s batter scored 20 or more runs.

Rowles and Phiri demonstrated that their understanding of each other on the field extended beyond batting as a pair when they executed a run out to dismiss Ethan Kotze early in the Kempton Park innings. The run out earned St David’s their second wicket and pinned the visitors on the back foot. Morteza Manack made things worse for Kempton Park when he dismissed Stian de Villiers for a 3-ball duck three deliveries later.

Manack made things worse for the visitors when he took a wicket to reduce Kempies to 48/4 in his next over. The visitors could read Manack’s deliveries, and he finished the match with three wickets for 13 runs in four overs. Manack was so good that 14 of the 24 deliveries he sent down were dot balls. Only Jason Rowles, who bowled 16 dot balls, had a higher percentage. However, despite having a better economy rate than Manack, Rowles finished with a single wicket for 12 runs in four overs.

Hayden Campbell took the second-highest tally of wickets for St David’s with two wickets for 19 runs in three overs. That was as many wickets as Kempton Park’s leading wicket-taker, Hanroux Siemens, who bagged two wickets for 26 runs in two overs.

On the batting side, Kempton Park was so dismal only two batters, Sheldon Kruger (29) and Ethan Kotze (20) scored 20 or more runs.

The contest, which was St David’s first since their participation at the Michaelmas Week, was supposed to be against St Benedict’s, however, the Bedfordview school cancelled and Kempton Park had to step in.

The comprehensive victory is a great moral booster for St David’s. Jeff Levin’s charges did not enjoy a great Michaelmas Week, but thanks to the victory, they go into their 50-over tie against St Benedict’s on Saturday high in confidence.

Summarised Scorecard:

St David’s Marist 167/5 (Jason Rowles 75, Kamogelo Phiri 40; Hanroux Siemens 2/26, Kristian Du Plessis 1/17); Kempton Park 86/10 (Sheldon Kruger 29, Ethan Kotze 20; Morteza Manack 3/13, Hayden Campbell 2/19) St David’s Marist won by 81 runs.

SuperSport Schools is proud to announce the coverage of the upcoming Mzwandile Mali Rugby XV Team tour to the UK, taking place from 5 to 13 October 2024.

As part of our ongoing commitment to showcasing the future of sports and supporting grassroots development, we are thrilled to stream these matches live on the SuperSport Schools App for the world to watch.

This tour represents a unique opportunity for young players from South Africa to shine on an international stage and gain life-changing global exposure.

The tour will kick off on Sunday morning, 6 October, with the Mzwandile Mali Rugby Team taking on Sevenoaks Academy. The second fixture will be against the renowned Brighton College on Wednesday afternoon, 9 October.

These matches will not only showcase the incredible emerging talent of the Mzwandile Mali players but also test how they fare against tough opposition from overseas, bringing fans closer to the future stars of world rugby.

As part of the cultural exchange, the players will be hosted by the families of their opponents, offering them a chance to experience life in the UK and build lasting relationships with their hosts.

Post-match dinners will also take place, reinforcing the bonds of sportsmanship between the teams, and the players will also have the opportunity to explore the local towns, experiencing British culture beyond the rugby field.

The Mzwandile Mali XV was selected from the best players at the Mzwandile Mali Schools Rugby Tournament, the 2024 edition was held from 14 February to 15 March.

Established by the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation in 2014, honouring the legacy of founder Lincoln Mali’s father, Mzwandile. A trailblazer in South African rugby, Mzwandile Mali played for The Orientals, the country’s second-oldest black rugby club.

The foundation and its tournament are dedicated to reviving rugby in the townships of the Eastern Cape, providing a pathway for young athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds to compete at the highest level. Through this initiative, future Olympians and World Cup winners are being nurtured in communities where sport has the power to transform lives.

To our UK-based app users, don’t miss the chance to watch these rising stars live! If in the areas, we urge you to attend the matches in person at Sevenoaks Academy and Brighton College and help us cheer on the Mzwandile Mali Rugby Team as they embark on this epic tour.

At SuperSport Schools, we believe that “World Cups are won 10 years before they’re played”, and we are proud to support programs that contribute to the future of South African rugby. Join us on this journey and witness tomorrow’s rugby heroes today by tuning into the matches on the SuperSport Schools App.

Kaizer Chiefs missed the Gauteng Development League (GDL) last week as they had their sights on the Engen Champion of Champions at Marks Park in Johannesburg.

Coach David Mathebula‘s side, despite being made up of a balanced mixture of 15 and 19-year-olds, won the under-20 tournament courtesy of a sparkling performance by 15-year-old Neo Bohloko in the final against Western Cape-based Stellenbosch FC.

The Soweto giants are set to return to the Gauteng Development League this weekend as they travel to the Tsakane in the Ekurhuleni Municipality to take on seventh-placed East Rand Athletic Club.

Chiefs are behind the log leaders, Highlands Park, by seven points but have the cushion of one game in hand having missed their fixture last weekend.

However, while Chiefs lifted the Champ of Champs trophy, Highlands Park extended their lead in the standings and took it to a reassuring 73 points in 28 matches.

This weekend, the ‘Lions of the North’, will be looking to further establish their dominance in the league and tighten their grip on the top spot when they make the hour drive to Vaal to lock horns against coach Tebello Kheswa’s NWU Vaal FC at George Thabe Stadium.

What has been impressive with the Balfour Park-based Highlands Park is how clinical their goalkeeper, Morobi Moribi, has been all season.

His saves are definitive, and his positioning behind the post is accurate. As a result, Morobi have recorded a jaw-dropping seven clean sheets.

Moreover, Highlands Park has conceded only 13 goals this season, more than half the amount of goals every team in the top five has conceded thus far.

Trailing behind Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs is coach Surprise Moriri’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

The unfortunate fate that Moriri and his team have had to deal with this season is well-documented – the rained-out fixtures and the water-clogged fields have seen ‘Downs lose points, allowing Highlands Park and Chiefs to close the gap and eventually leapfrog ahead.

However, for a host of different reasons, ‘Downs have vividly dropped in intensity having had a very dominant first half of the tournament where they went unbeaten.

The Pretoria-based side will welcome 16th-placed Joburg City in Clapham High for their 28th fixture of the season.

With only four weeks remaining in the Gauteng Development League season, this weekend’s game promises to entertain the fans in the stadiums throughout the Gauteng province and viewers that are tuning in on the action via the SuperSport Schools App and DStv Channel 216.

Fixtures: 

East Rand Athletic Club vs Kaizer Chiefs
Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Jomo Cosmos
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Joburg City
NWU Vaal FC vs Highlands Park
Panorama FC vs Wits Junior
Randburg AFC vs TUKS
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs SuperSport United
School of Excellence vs Sevens Academy

The national South African U20 football team, Amajita, has secured their place in the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-0 victory over Angola in Maputo on Thursday, 3 October.

South Africa’s objective was achieved by the prolific scorer, Lee Jody Ahshene, who netted the only goal in the semi-final encounter with Angola, through an assist by Letlhaku Kutlwano.

This crucial goal propelled Amajita into the finals of the Cosafa Championship, securing an automatic qualification for the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations set to take place next year. In the AFCON tournament, South Africa will compete against various other African nations, all vying to be crowned as the leading nation at U20 level on the continent.

Coach, Raymond Mdaka, along with his technical team and players, is currently directing attention towards the final of the Cosafa Championship, as there remains a title to contend for. Although South Africa has historically been regarded as one of the dominant forces in U20 football within the SADC region, the last time they secured the title was in 2018, which does not convey a favourable image of South African football.

South Africa has secured the Cosafa Championship title on eight occasions, with its inaugural victory in 2000. The nation has also had the honour of hosting this esteemed tournament for 11 consecutive years from 1999 to 2009.

The Amajita team has qualified for the Africa U20 Championship eight times in the past, achieving a silver medal in 1997. Additionally, they attained a third-place finish in 2019 and recorded two fourth-place finishes in 2009 and 2017.

Amajita aims to secure their ninth title in the finals of the Cosafa Championship, where they will compete against either Zimbabwe or Zambia, depending on the outcome of the semi-final match scheduled for today, Thursday, at 15:00.

The championship final will be contested on Saturday, 5 October.

Die 18-jarige Bianca Lubbe van die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria (Affies) het die afgelope paar jaar naam gemaak op die netbalbaan.

Van jongs af het Bianca ‘n liefde vir die sport gehad en reeds in graad 1 begin speel. Nou, met talle toekennings en prestasies reeds agter haar naam, staan ​​sy uit as ‘n toegewyde speler met groot drome wat sy graag wil bereik.

Bianca speel hoofsaaklik as ‘n doel, maar is ook vaardig in ondersteunende rolle op die baan.

Haar talent is vroeg reeds raakgesien toe sy gekies is vir die skool se eerste span in sowel graad 10 as 12. In graad 11 is sy as die beste ligaspeler van die jaar by Affies aangewys en het sy ‘n plek in die provinsiale Gauteng-span verwerf. Sy het ook deurgedring na die Top-35 Suid-Afrikaanse-span vir nasionale proewe in beide graad 11 en 12, en die SA o.19-groep gehaal.

In 2022 het sy ‘n taamlike terugslag beleef toe ‘n kniebesering tydens die Absa Wildeklawer-toernooi ‘n operasie vereis het, en moes sy vir nege maande lank langs die baan staan.

Sy het egter met mening teruggekeer om haar o.17 A-span tot ‘n onoorwonne seisoen in 2023 te lei, waartydens hulle liga-, Gauteng- en SA-titels ingepalm het. Vanjaar het haar span weer die Wildeklawer-, Gauteng- en SA-kampioenskap gewen, terwyl sy haar veerkragtigheid en leierskap as kaptein van die Gautengse provinsiale o.18-Delta-span tentoongestel het.

Vir Bianca is die lonendste aspek van netbal om die resultate van haar harde werk te ervaar.

“Om te sien hoe my harde werk vrugte afwerp, is ongelooflik,” sê sy. “Die opgewondenheid om ‘n doel aan te teken en aanmoediging van die skare te ontvang, dryf my om te wil presteer.”

Sy erken egter dat dit moeilik kan wees om gemotiveerd te bly, verál wanneer teleurstellings ‘n mens in die gesig staar.

Bianca kyk op na Gretel Bueta, ’n voormalige speler vir Australië se nasionale span, en droom daarvan om vir die Proteas en in die Suncorp-netballiga in Australië te speel.

“Daardie liga bied soveel potensiaal vir groei,” verduidelik sy en beklemtoon haar ambisie om die beste speler te word wat sy kan wees.

Sy skryf heelwat van haar sukses toe aan haar sterk ondersteuningstelsel, vernaam haar ouers.

“Hul opofferings en aanmoediging by elke wedstryd beteken alles vir my,” sê sy en benadruk hoe belangrik dit is dat mense haar aanspoor terwyl sy haar drome najaag.

Sy spog met indrukwekkende prestasierekords, insluitende provinsiale kleure vir Gauteng en verteenwoordiging van sowel Suid-Afrika se o.16- as o.18-Fast 5-netbalspan by die Statebond-jeugspele.

Die 18-jarige Luané Smith van Hoërskool Garsfontein was ook die kaptein van haar skool se eerste span, op beide o.17- en o.18-vlakke.

Luané se reis in netbal het reeds op vyf-jarige ouderdom begin toe sy die eerste keer mini-netbal gespeel het. Sy presteer hoofsaaklik as ‘n hulpdoel, maar is ook vaardig om as ‘n doel en verdediger te speel.

Sy het regdeur haar hoërskoolloopbaan merkwaardige mylpale bereik. Sy het onder andere deel uitgemaak van die Gauteng-span wat ‘n goue medalje by die nasionale All Ages-netbaltoernooi verower het, asook die nasionale o.16-span wat goud ingepalm het by die eerste Afrika-spele in 2022.

Sy het onlangs ‘n sleutelrol gespeel vir die nasionale o.18-Fast 5-span wat ‘n silwermedalje by verlede jaar se Statebond-jeugspele in Trinidad en Tobago verwerf het.

As ‘n diabeet staar Luané unieke uitdagings in die gesig, vernaam wat die bestuur van haar bloedsuikervlakke betref. Sy glo egter dat netbal haar dwing om voortdurend te verbeter en haar help om uit haar gemaksone te stap.

“Dit druk my uit my gemaksone uit en juis daarom is ek mal oor netbal. Dit leer vir ‘n mens soveel meer as bloot netbalvaardighede en dit bou lewenslange vriendskappe.”

Een van Luané se rolmodelle is die voormalige Nieu-Seelandse speler, Maria Folau.

“Haar menslikheid op én van die baan af, asook haar absolute toewyding aan die spel, inspireer my.”

Luané droom daarvan om ’n loopbaan uit netbal te maak en hoop om haar land as deel van die Proteas, Suid-Afrika se nasionale netbalspan, in sowel tradisionele netbal as die Fast 5-Wêreldreeks te verteenwoordig.

Die ondersteuning van haar familie speel ‘n belangrike rol in Luané se lewe.

“My ouers en susters is my grootste ondersteuners. Hulle offer baie vir my op om my drome te verwesenlik.”