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King Edward VII showed their strength as they ran over their rivals by 41 points on Saturday, leaving the visiting St John’s College scratching their heads after a big defeat. Rewatch all the action on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

The Reds were in good form, despite coming off a recent loss against Paarl Boys’ High, and performed fluently and confidently on attack and defence.

St John’s drew first blood, winning a penalty, which was easily slotted by Bryson Walker, but from there on the rivalry was painted red.

Flanker James Kobrowisky  and 8th-man Kebotile Maake scored two each as the host’s pack dominated the forward exchanges. The KES rolling maul was a huge weapon and it was those mauls that created the opportunities for the big front rankers to power over the St John’s try line.

Simphiwe Moyo showed again that he is an exciting talent at flyhalf, and he converted seven of his side’s eight tries. His performance highlighted the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes with coach Marco Engelbrecht.

Kyle Watson crossed for a try for the visitors. The nuggety hooker, who excelled as a ball carrier during the St John’s Easter Festival, is off to a good start to the season.

Perhaps the only slight negative for KES was a yellow card shown to winger Haniel Monkoti for not rolling away quickly enough from a ruck, which reduced the home team to 14 men. It could have been costly in a tight game but, fortunately for the Red Army, it didn’t hurt them on Saturday.

For large parts of the match, St John’s were forced to play from deep inside their own half as the Reds’ onslaught kept them on the back foot.

This coming weekend, KES is set to face Parktown Boys’ High School, while St John’s have the weekend off.

Down the road, Jeppe continued their excellent form. They look like the team to beat in Johannesburg.

On Collard Field, they rolled to a 36-point victory over St Stithians, winning 47-11 to extend their winning streak to three on the trot, which, of course, included that famous 22-19 victory over Grey College at the NMI Toyota North-South Tournament.

Jeppe has established itself as one of the top rugby schools in the country over the last few years and, while they went down to Garsfontein and Paarl Boys’ High earlier in the season, not many sides would fancy their chances against the Kensington school now.

Their captain, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, tacked on two more tries to his season’s tally. He’s an exciting talent, and when he has possession of the ball there is a sense that something special is about to happen.

Saints will be disappointed with the result, after a nice run of victories. However, their flyhalf Chris Anderson has looked the part and his assured play is a big positive for the side.

Jeppe hosts Westville Boys’ High School, from KwaZulu-Natal, this coming weekend. It will be a tough challenge from a feisty side which shocked Monument recently but, right now, Jeppe will fancy their chances against any opposition.

Point Scorers

King Edward VII 59 (28) – Tries: Kebotile Maake (2), James Kobrowisky (2), Indi-Gusha Mboniswa, Olunje Mehlomakulu, Haniel Monkoti. Conversions: Simphiwe Moyo (7). St John’s College 18 (13) – Tries: Kyle Watson, Riley Elliot. Conversions: Bryson Walker. Penalties: Bryson Walker (2).

Jeppe High School for Boys 47 (26) – Tries: McMillen Mongwana (2), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (2) Matthew Coetzee, Ndimphiwe Mjiji, Lesego Zungu. Conversions: Coetzee (6). St Stithians College 11 (6) – Try: Hlelo Ngwenya. Penalties: Chris Anderson (2).

The weather on Sunday was threatening but cleared up just in time for an exciting day of u16 action in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), with Highlands Park serving as the host to the league’s clubs for a day filled with goals.

One of the favourites to claim the league honours, Mamelodi Sundowns, made a thunderous statement in their opening match, running roughshod over the West Youth Academy, firing in 14 goals while conceding only one.

It was a tough day the West Youth Academy side, who shipped another seven goals in a 0-7 defeat to Remembers Elite Sports Academy (RESA), for whom Lesedi Motaung scored a hattrick. Jabulile Tsotetsi grabbed a brace, while Thando Mosia and Itumeleng Setipe also netted.

Pretty Modika, Ncingo Tescla, Thandi Sibiza, Nompilo Maseti, Chuene Thabakane and Princess Shongwe all found the back of the net as Mamelodi Sundowns displayed their dominance in their first game of the league season.

Despite the massive margin of victory, coach Rhoda Mulaudzi may have mixed feelings about the win after expressing her concerns about her team’s defence in the past.

Unfortunately for Sundowns, their second game, against Origin FC, did not take place as Origin had issues with several injuries impacting their squad.  As a result, the Brazilians received a walkover and finished the day on top of the table with six points to their credit.

However, it wasn’t just Mamelodi Sundowns that caught the eye. RESA, Kempton Park, and JVW also produced impressive performances and claimed two victories apiece on Sunday.

RESA’s coach Simeon Lekhooana declared himself pleased with the improvements his team has made since last season.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus, he said he expects the girls to continue to excel and progress throughout the 2023 season. There remains a lot of work to do, he added, especially since it is a young and new team. They are on the right track, he reckoned.

It was a day that saw plenty of goals scored, including Panorama FC triumphing 8-0 over Edendale. Neo Moloto scored a hat trick, while the other goal scorers included Ona Resanyalo, Adrienne Mulligan, and Claudia-Joy Harmsen.

Thando Damba, Reabetswe Matsepe, and Thembisile Sindane were all on target for Kempton Park in a 3-1 win over Refilwe FC.

JVW also showcased their prowess by recording two convincing wins.

They outplayed Origin FC 4-0, thanks to a hattrick from Olivia McNeil and a goal from Bontle “Shorty” Khanye. In their other outing, against Kenneth FC, they kept another clean sheet, winning 3-0 on goals from Asante Cele, Gugu Mntambo, and Judah Heslop.

Tuks, after a 3-1 win over Panorama FC – with goals from Tshiamo Kekana, Daniella Humanand Ofentse Thobakgale – were beaten in their second match, going down 0-1 against Tornado FC. 

Bonginkosi Mncube, a member of Tornado FC’s technical team, reflected on a tough battle. The game was very challenging, he said, especially since most of the players were new to, and still getting to know, one another.

In the second half, Tuks almost managed to turn the game around, but they failed to convert any of the chances they created.

Mncube said Tornado’s performance was sub-standard and his charges’ fitness levels were low. That lack of fitness had led to a drop in the players’ performances in the second half.

RESULTS

Highlands Park FC 4-1 Kenneth FC
Kempton Park FC 9-1 Edenvale
Tuks 3-1 Panorama
JVW 3-0 Kenneth FC
Panorama FC 8-0 Edenvale
RESA 8-0 West Youth Academy
JVW 4-0 Origin FC
Mamelodi Sundowns 14-1 West Youth Academy
RESA 4-1 Tornado FC
Kempton Park FC 3-1 Refilwe FC
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Origin FC (Walkover)
Tornado FC 1-0 Tuks

Dit was hardlooprugby uit die boonste rakke, ongeag die reën in Plasieland.

Merensky Landbou Akademie het in nat weer op tuisbodem die bal skitterend rondgegooi om vir Hoërskool Ellisras met 33-12 te looi.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools. Skakel na die wedstryde.

Dit was van die eerste fluitjie duidelik dat die tuisspan nie van plan was om die besoekers enige genade te betoon nie. Die Plasies se stormverdediging het die Rassies deurentyd onder meedoënlose druk geplaas, en dit het tot ongedwonge foute gelei.

Die tuisspan het nie op hom laat wag om hierdie foute in punte te omskep nie. Rico Pieterse, die ligbloues se slot, het van ‘n tikskoppie die tuispan se rekening met ‘n sterk barslopie na aan die doellyn oopgemaak, waarna die buitesenter en onder-kaptein, Ulrich Maré, nog ‘n drie op sy 2024-kerfstok geplaas het.

Maré het blitsig opgevolg na ‘n steekskoppie deur losskakel, Byron Hendriks, om die bal onder die Rassies se neuse te gaps en te gaan druk. Haker, Ruan Marcos, het nog ‘n keer oorgebars om aan die tuisspan ‘n  rustydvoorsprong van 19-punte te bied.

Die tweede helfde was meer gebalanseerd, met die Rassies wat verbete teruggeveg het om 12 punte aan te teken. Twee verdere Plasie-drieë, deur skrumskakel, JD Boshoff, en vaskopstut, Tirelo Mashapa, het Ellisras egter die finale nekslag toegedien.

Hoërskool Ben Viljoen se puntemasjien, Mignon Stevens, het hierdie keer verseker dat die span van Groblersdal behoorlik met ‘n telling van 53-19 teen Hoërskool Hans Strijdom seëvier. Die heelagter het nie minder nie as vier keer agter die Hansies se doellyn gaan kuier, terwyl losskakel, Anvernio Adonis, ook ‘n tweekuns bygedra het.

Linkervleuel, Dylan Nieuwenhuys, het die res bygevoeg met vier doelskoppe en ‘n drie van sy eie, om verdere sout in die Hansies se wonde te smeer.

Hoërskool Secunda moes naarstiglik spook, op tuisbodem, vir ‘n oorwinning van 19-7 oor ‘n begeesterde Hoërskool Piet Retief. Piet Retief het uitstekend gespartel op die verdediging om te verhoed dat die span van Secunda se agterlyn aan die gang kom. ‘n Derde drie deur Secunda se binnesenter, Bismark Jansen, was egter genoeg om die wa deur die drif te trek.

Bergsig Akademie het vir die soveelste keer vanjaar ‘n uitstekende vertoning opgedis om vir Hoërskool Florida ‘n rugbyles van 57-7 te leer.

Haker, Johandre van Zyl, het die pap voorlangs dik aangemaak met sy begeesterde dryfspel. Agterlangs was dit oudergewoonte die generaal op losskakel, Simeon Botha, wat Florida se verdediging deurgaans aan die raai gehou het met sy blitsige besluitneming.

Puntemakers:

Merensky Landbou Akademie 33 (19) – Drieë: Tirelo Mashapa, Ruan Marcos, Rico Pieterse, JD Boshoff, Ulrich Mare. Doelskoppe: Byron Hendriks (4). Hoërskool Ellisras 12 (0).

Hoërskool Ben Viljoen 53 (22) – Drieë: Mignon Stevens (4), Anvernio Adonis (2), Mihlali Ntebi, Dylan Nieuwenhuys. Doelskoppe: Nieuwenhuys (4), Adonis. Strafdoel: Nieuwenhuys. Hoërskool Hans Strijdom 19 (7).

Hoërskool Secunda 19 (12) – Drieë: EJ Venter, Zander Scheepers, Bismark Jansen. Doelskoppe: Damian de Beer (2). Hoërskool Piet Retief 7 (0) – Drie: Kyle Stock. Doelskop: Owethu Shabalala.

Bergsig Akademie 57 (36) – Drieë: Simeon Botha, Tjaart Bernard, Johandre Steyl, Alzandro dos Santos, Paulo dos Santos, MJ Pretorius, Siya Butelezi, TK Bagwase, Lundro Scheepers. Doelskoppe: Simeon Botha (6). Hoërskool Florida 7 (0).

Ander wedstryde: 

Dr Malan 24, Centurion 13; Driehoek 20, Alberton 15.

Ander spanne: 

o. 16: Merensky 20, Ellisras 18; Ben Viljoen 31, Hans Strijdom 19; Piet Retief 29, Secunda 22; Bergsig 17, Florida 0; Centurion 33, Dr Malan 0.

o. 15: Merensky 12, Ellisras 12; Hans Strijdom 15, Ben Viljoen 12; Piet Retief 43, Secunda 0; Florida 24, Bergsig 12; Centurion 27, Dr Malan 19.

o. 14: Ellisras 13, Merensky 5; Ben Viljoen 51, Hans Strijdom 0; Piet Retief 15, Secunda 10; Bergsig 26, Florida 12; Dr Malan 17, Centurion 12.

The Gauteng region had its fair share of inclement weather over the weekend as rain, thunderstorms and lightning wiped several fixtures from the schedule.

NWU Vaal Academy and Wits Junior’s matches at the George Thabe Stadium were postponed. At the President Park Stadium, only the u13 fixture ran its course as the three other matches on the fixture list, between Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) and SuperSport United, were called off.

In Soweto, the u19 fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos at Naturena was also postponed.

However, at Clapham High, the main fixture of the weekend – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park – was played on Sunday.

Log leaders, Sundowns, with the advantage of playing at home, started the encounter at high intensity, which helped them take a 1-0 lead into the break. The goal came from a well-timed pass from Bennet Mokoena, which was met with a clinical finish from Ntokozo Siquba, to put the hosts in front.

The second half saw more of the same as the “Lions of the North” struggled to keep up with Sundowns.

When Mokoena sent in another accurate pass, this time finding Joy Mtyali in front of goal, Sundowns opened up a match-winning two-goal cushion.

With the win, they top the log with 15 points, just two clear of Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School, who beat Sevens Academy 3-1 on Saturday.

At the Randburg Sports Complex, TS Galaxy lost 3-4 to Randburg AFC, which allowed Rosina Sedibane to move above them in the standings.

At Huntersfield, Kathorus Hyper Academy suffered a 1-2 loss at home to Joburg City, who walked away with all three points from their Saturday showdown.

Match Day Six Results

u13
RESA 3-1 SuperSport United
Kathorus Hyper Academy 0-0 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 7-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 1-1 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 0-2 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 7-0 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 1-1 Tuks

u15
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 0-1 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 6-4 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 2-3 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 1-1 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 2-0 Tuks

u17
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 2-4 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 1-2 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 1-0 Tuks

u19
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-2 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 4-3 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 3-1 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs vs Jomo Cosmos (Postponed)
Panorama FC 0-2 Tuks

Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr se eerstespan het die afgelope naweek momentum behou met nóg ‘n puik sege.

Die span van Ceres trek weer vanjaar aandag met hul opwindende spel en het dié spelpeil voortgesit om vir Hoërskool Strand met 27-10 te klop. Die twee spanne het verlede seisoen gelykop gespeel.

Beleef die wedstryd weer op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou – Skakel na die wedstryd

Die weersomstandighede het sake vir albei spanne moeilik gemaak om hul spelpatrone uit te voer, maar dit was die besoekers wat vinnigste by die toestande kon aanpas. Philip du Plessis, Charlies se drieëvraat op binnesenter, het vroeg eerste bloed getrek om tussen die pale te druk.

Die res van die eerste helfte was egter moeilik vir altwee spanne.

Die twee stutte van Ceres, Duran Shiba en Aaron Richter, het die veld vol gespeel en met hul kragtige dryfspel vir Charlie Hofmeyr op die voorvoet begin plaas.

Teen die einde van die eerste helfte het die besoekers ook meer balbesit geniet, maar klipharde verdediging deur, onder andere Wessel Cloete, Dewald Barnard en Chrismar Prinsloo, op Strand se doellyn, het die aanslag bly afweer.

Kort voor rustyd het Luan Giliomee ‘n vlymskerp teenaanval vanuit sy eie kwartgebied geloods wat die Strand-verdediging ontbloot het vir skrumskakel, Izah Vin van Wyk, om Charlies se tweede drie te druk.

In die doodsnikke van die eerste skof, het Strand-skrummie, Jayden Steenkamp, egter ook oorgeduik om sy span se rekening oop te maak en die rustydagterstand tot 5-14 te beperk.

Die tweede helfte was net so taai, met albei spanne wat alles in die stryd gewerp het om bresse te probeer slaan in die opponente se verdediging.

Ashraf Fanie het ‘n paar keer die bal met mening gedra vir Strand, maar niemand kon gedurende die eerste 22 minute na die omdraaislag enige gapings ontgin nie.

Met die wind agter hom, het Giliomee oplaas die telbord laat aanskuif met twee netjiese strafdoele.

Strand het weer teruggeslaan toe hul groot loskopstut, Wiehan Adams, oor die lyn kon bars, maar die span van Ceres het in die laaste vyf minute die sege beklink toe Zepinith Sass ore platgetrek het vir Charlie Hofmeyr se derde drie.

Volgende naweek pak Charlies vir Hoërskool Hopefield, voor hul eerste tuiswedstryd, op 20 April, wanneer Hoërskool Bredasdorp kom besoek aflê.

In Malmesbury het Hoërskool Swartland se losskakel, Carlo van der Merwe, sy span tot ‘n naelskraapse oorwinning van 26-24 gesool in ‘n klipharde kragmeting met Worcester Gimnasium.

Die Gimmies het vier drieë teenoor die twee van die tuisspan gedruk, met agsteman, Ryan Jacobs, wat twee keer agter die lyn gaan kuier het, en Luke Cupido en Wilfred Slingers wat ook gedruk het.

Van der Merwe het egter vier strafdoele oorgeklits om ‘n witwarm-Worcester Gim te pootjie.

Volgende naweek meet die Malmesbury-seuns vir Hoërskool Robertson aan, voor hulle die 20ste April in Upington kragte teen Hoërskool Duineveld.

Puntemakers:

Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr 27 (14) – Drieë: Philip du Plessis, Izah Vin van Vyk, Zepinith Sass. Doelskoppe: Luan Giliomee (3). Strafdoele: Giliomee (2). Hoërskool Strand 10 (5) – Drieë: Jayden Steenkamp, Wiehan Adams.

Hoërskool Swartland 26 – Drieë: Kailen Kotze, Liam Anthony. Doelskoppe: Carlo van der Merwe (2). Strafdoele: Van der Merwe (4). Worcester Gimnasium 24 – Drieë: Ryan Jacobs (2), Luke Cupido, Wilfred Slingers. Doelskoppe: Aiden Abrahams (2).

Ander tellings:

o. 19 – Strand II 28, Charlie Hofmeyr II 9; Strand III 32, Charlie Hofmeyr III 7; Swartland II 11, Worcester Gimnasium II 10; Worcester Gimnasium III 26, Swartland III 13; Swartland IV 25, Worcester Gimnasium IV 17.

o. 16 – Strand 17, Charlie Hofmeyr 5; Swartland 18, Worcester Gimnasium 7; Swartland B 20, Worcester Gimnasium B 0.

o. 15 – Strand 25, Charlie Hofmeyr 7; Strand B 24, Charlie Hofmeyr B 5; Worcester Gimnasium 19, Swartland 8; Worcester Gimnasium B 40, Swartland B 20.

o. 14 – Strand 55, Charlie Hofmeyr 0; Strand B 59, Charlie Hofmeyr B 0; Swartland 18, Worcester Gimnasium 17; Worcester Gimnasium B 31, Swartland B 10; Wesbank A 38, Swartland C 19.

U19 Coastal Fixtures

The football season in KwaZulu-Natal kicks off on Monday, 8 April, with Glenwood High School, the reigning champions of the KZN High School Football Association’s second term Coastal competition, set for a showdown with Westville Boys’ High School at Queensburgh High.

In the 2023 competition, Glenwood eliminated Westville in a penalty shootout in the semifinals.

Westville’s very successful football programme is led by Dan Haswell, whose brother, Nick, has enjoyed tremendous success with Maritzburg College.

Last season was a very good one for Westville football, throughout all of their age groups, and the 1st XI finished it ranked number one in the country. With their undoubted quality and depth, they’ll be among the top teams again.

Durban High School (DHS) takes on Pinetown at the same venue at 15:00. Bechet faces Hillcrest, and Northwood School tackles Port Shepstone, who were the runners-up to Glenwood last year, at 16:10.

The opening week includes u19 Coastal B clashes, too, on 12 April. Grosvenor goes head-to-head with Amanzimonti, Ashton Ballito tackles New Forest, Empangeni plays Sastri College, and the final match features Queensburgh against Redwood, also at Queensburgh.

Inland Fixtures

On Thursday, 11 April, the KZN High School Football Association’s u19 Inland competition kicks off, with Maritzburg College beginning their quest to defend their title against Ixopo. The match takes place at College, on Barns, with kick-off at 15:00.

College will be trying to emulate a spectacular 2023, which began with them winning the Inland title, which was then followed by the Primo Big 10 Cup and the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands FA Cup titles.

Meanwhile the College 2nd XI takes on Linpark, the team the 1st side edged out 1-0 in last year’s final. Carter High and Haythorne meet at 16:00.

On 12 April, at Alexandra High, Heritage takes on Riverswood, Northbury does battle with Thornhill, Maritzburg College B meets ML Sultan, and Edendale has a date with the Alexander High School B team.

FIXTURES 

8 April

u19A Coastal
Queensburgh High

15:10, Field 1 – Glenwood vs Westville
15:10, Field 2 – DHS vs Pinetown
16:10, Field 1 – Bechet vs Hillcrest
16;10, Field 2 – Northwood vs Port Shepstone

11 April

u19A Inland
Maritzburg College, Barns

15:00 – Maritzburg College B vs Linpark
16:00 – Maritzburg College A vs Ixopo

Alexandra High

15:10 – Carter vs Haythorne
16:10 – Alex vs Haythorne

12 April

u19 B Coastal
Queensburgh High

12 April

15:10, Field 1 – Grosvenor vs Amanzimtoti
15:10, Field 2 – Ashton Ballito vs New Forest
16:10, Field 1 – Empangeni vs Sastri College
16:10, Field 2 – Queensburgh vs Redwood

u19B Inland
Alexandra High School

15:00, Field 1 – Heritage vs Riverwood
15:10, Field 2 – Northbury vs Thornhill
16:00, Field 1 – Maritzburg College vs ML Sultan
16:00, Field 2 – Edendale vs Alex B

Die NWU Skolesportreeks het ‘n opwindende naweek van netbalaksie by verskeie skole opgelewer, sowel as ‘n paar interessante uitslae.

Hoërskool Oos-Moot het ‘n indrukwekkende tuisoorwinning van 52-16 oor Hoërskool Middelburg behaal. Lesedi Ntimeng se uitmuntende vertoning, gekenmerk deur haar flink vaardigheid om die bal te onderskep, het ‘n deurslaggewende rol in Oos-Moot se sukses gespeel.

HTS Middelburg en Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen was in ‘n verbete stryd gewikkel, met die Middelburgers wat tuis uiteindelik met 30-21 as oorwinnaars uit die stryd getree het, terwyl Hoërskool Nelspruit in Mbombela naelskraaps vir Hoërskool Eldoraigne met 26-25 verslaan het in ‘n rillerstryd.

Hoërskool Waterkloof het tuis ook vir ‘n begeesterde Hoërskool Transvalia met ‘n telling van 34-24 getroef. Juané Kruger se uitsonderlike vertoning in die senterposisie, asook Zoe Smit se doelvaardighede, het heelwat bygedra tot Waterkloof se sukses, terwyl Transvalia se Dudu Malindi deurentyd groot vasberadenheid tentoongestel het.

St John’s DSG wrapped up their journey at the St Mary’s Hockey Festival with a smile on Sunday after they clinched the Vuvuzela with a 1-0 victory over their fellow KwaZulu-Natalians, Our Lady of Fatima, in Johannesburg.

With it being the last outing for both in the four-day festival, and despite 25th place being on the line, both sides gave it everything they had left in the tank.

It was a tight clash as neither team wanted to make a costly mistake. However, St John’s found a way to break the deadlock and secure a tense 1-0 win. That brought them a confidence boost after an up-and-down campaign at St Mary’s.

In their first round of pool matches, they mustered only a single victory in seven games, defeating their rivals from the KZN capital, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, while also drawing three matches and going down in three others.

That left them seventh in Pool C, with six points. Their fortunes improved in the next round, however, where their results included a 3-0 win over the St Mary’s Festival XI, but a 0-1 defeat to Our Lady of Fatima.

St John’s also enjoyed a 4-0 triumph over Roedean School in the cross-pool play-offs.

They were on their game, striking twice within the first six minutes. After 14 minutes, it was 3-0 as St John’s scored from a beautifully executed penalty corner. Another goal in the 23rd minute sealed a comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, Our Lady Fatima enjoyed some early successes, winning 1-0 against the St Mary’s Festival XI and Collegiate, which pleased their coach, Jacinta Wedderburn. “A very good win and a really fantastic start,” she said. “We wanted our girls to start strong. I couldn’t be prouder. They stuck to our structures, and they got the job done.”

In other clashes between sides in the bottom half of the standings, Paarl Girls’ High played to a goalless draw against their fellow Capetonians, St Cyprian’s in the 19th place playoff.

The Wykeham Collegiate finished 17th after handing Hoërskool Garsfontein a 2-1 loss. Pearson clinched 15th place, edging out St Andrew’s 1-0 in a nail-biter.

Victory in the Plate competition went to Herschel, who defeated St Mary’s 2-1 in a penalty shootout after they had played to a goalless draw.

Playoff Results

1st/2nd – Durban Girls’ College 3-2 Eunice
3rd/4th – St Stithians 1-0 Paarl Gimnasium
5th/6th – Oranje 2-0 St Mary’s DSG (Kloof)
7th/8th – Bloemhof 0-0 Menlopark
9th/10th – Waterkloof 1-0 Affies
11th/12th – Rhenish 1-0 St Anne’s
13th/14th – Herschele 0(2)-0(1) St Mary’s Waverley
15th/16th – Pearson 1-0 St Andrew’s
17th/18th – The Wykeham Collegiate 2-1 Garsfontein
19th/20th – Paarl Girls’ 0-0 St Cyprian’s
21st/22nd – Collegiate 2-0 Clarendon
23rd/24th – Somerset College 1-0 DF Malan
25th/26th – St John’s DSG 1-0 Our Lady of Fatima
27th/28th – Windhoek HS 0-0 Roedean
29th/30th – St Mary’s Festival XI 0(7)-0(6) Pretoria High School for Girls
31st/32nd – Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High 2-0 St Mary’s DSG (Pretoria)

The Gauteng inter-schools’ hockey season got off to a sizzling start over the weekend, with 28 goals scored in eight matches.

The action started on Friday night, when Hoërskool Waterkloof, Pretoria Boys High, and Jeppe High registered wins against Transvalia, St Alban’s College, and St Stithians College respectively.

Waterkloof edged Transvalia 3-2 in a tightly contested clash in Pretoria.

After trailing for most of the first chukka, Klofies showed composure and got themselves back into the match courtesy of a Jordan Abbott strike.

They doubled their tally in the second chukka through Xander Kleynhans and went into half-time leading 2-1.

Adriaan Botha quickly made it three in the third chukka, and despite Transvalia’s never-say-die attitude, coach Mark Lamprecht’s side held on for the win.

Pretoria Boys High will also be happy with their performance after grinding out a 2-1 win against their old foes, St Alban’s.

Backed by their vibrant home supporters, coach Jacques Klopper’s team was made to work hard for the win, but Marco Upton netted twice to seal the victory for his side. The St Alban’s goal was scored by Liam Basch.

In Kensington, on the Boden Astroturf, Jeppe recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over a tough St Stithians College team.

Jeppe entered the clash on the back of mixed results at the Nomads Hockey Festival and the KES Easter Hockey Festival.

On Saturday, they were solid at the back, keeping the team who beat them in the final of the Aitken Cup in 2023 off the scoreboard, while Juan Martin scored the all-important only goal of the contest.

The action moved on to Saturday, with the fixtures including a n exciting derby between neighbours, King Edward VII (KES) and St John’s College.

As expected, it was a tough outing for both teams, with fortunes in the game ebbing and flowing. KES eventually pulled off a 3-2 win, with Michael Adamson netting twice, and Oyena Qwabe scoring their other goal.

Tapi Mutetwa and Dylan Viljoen scored for St John’s.

Meanwhile, Parktown Boys’ High dominated against Northcliff High School, winning 3-1, courtesy of a Robert Bailey brace and another from Ryan Venter.

St Benedict’s College, under coach Owen Mvimbi, continued their fine form, edging out St David’s Marist Inanda 1-0.

There was nothing to separate Garsfontein and Affies, who played to a 1-1 draw, with Zandré Nel getting on the scoresheet for Garsies and Christian Pullen scoring for Affies.

Beaulieu College was on song, beating St Peter’s College 4-1.

RESULTS

Jeppe High 1-0 St Stithians College
Pretoria Boys High 2-1 St Alban’s College
Garsfontein 1-1 Affies
Parktown Boys’ High 3-1 Northcliff High
King Edward VII 3-2 St John’s College
St Benedict’s 1-0 St David’s Marist Inanda
Hoërskool Waterkloof 4-3 Transvalia
Beaulieu College 4-1 St Peter’s College

Durban Girls’ College (DGC) played exceptionally well to defeat Eunice 3-2 in a thrilling final of the St Mary’s Hockey Festival in Johannesburg on Sunday. It was a fitting humdinger after four days of absorbing, unpredictable action.

With the win, DGC joins St Mary’s Waverley and Oranje in a very small class of teams that have won the title three or more times. The Durban school, which finished seventh last year, previously lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2009.

Relive the final on SuperSport Schools

DGC’s St Mary’s campaign was defined by their discipline, their ability to connect well in all phases of the game, and their understanding of each player’s role. However, those parameters did not turn them into a rigid outfit.

“They have also been agile whenever the situation has needed them to adapt. They have not been unwilling or shy to play outside of their comfort zones. They have tried new systems and have been willing to change our press. They have been dynamic,” DGC coach Chardinay Penniston told Supersport Schools Plus.

While Penniston’s team was ambitious and hungry for success, they headed into the St Mary’s Festival not quite where they wanted to be after a difficult run of games in which they did not tick all the boxes.

“Our progression has been a little slower than in previous years, but it has been more meaningful,” Penniston said.

The KZN side focussed on taking it one game at a time, choosing not to look beyond that. However, that changed on Saturday evening when they walloped Eunice 4-0 in their final pool match to book a semi-final spot. That allowed them to dream for a moment.

The victory convinced them that they could go all the way and lift the title. Up until that point, Eunice had enjoyed an unbeaten run at the festival.

Though young, coach Nika Coertzen’s team had shown that they were worthy successors to their predecessors, the dominant, all-conquering Eunice team of 2023.

The majority of the 2024 unit was far less experienced, with fewer than 20 caps per player. That was counter-balanced by five matric learners, each with more than 100 caps. Eunice was led by the reliable Trusten Barnard and inspired by the prolific Bianca Rees-Gibbs, who scored an outstanding hat-trick on Saturday, in a gripping 3-2 win over St Anne’s.

Penniston also drafted a young side for the tournament. Like Coertzen, she had five players in matric, four grade 11s and a few grade nine learners.

Their Saturday evening win over Eunice had shown DGC that although they were exceptionally talented, the Bloemfontein side was not indomitable. They identified Eunice’s weaknesses and exploited them, firing four goals into the net while keeping a clean sheet. Memories of that encounter spurred them on in the final.

Only two minutes into the title-decider, DGC breached Eunice’s defences with a brilliant reverse stick shot from Ruby Kraus lifting them into a 1-0 lead.

The match was already moving at a high pace, but the tempo picked up as Eunice went on the hunt for an equaliser and they got it shortly afterwards through Megan Joubert. She was on the far post to direct the ball into the backboard after a bumbled penalty corner push out was neatly cleaned up.

However, Barnard and her teammates’ joy was short-lived as Kraus again produced some reverse stick magic to put DGC ahead for a second time.

Against a dangerous opponent like Eunice, DGC knew that the job was far from done, and a one-goal difference was a distinctly uncomfortable advantage. The Bloemfontein school took the game to their Durban opposition, but Emily Macquet, the DGC captain, marshalled her players with authority, to repel wave after wave of Eunice’s attacks.

However, the pressure told and one of those attacks earned Eunice a penalty stroke. They turned to their leading goal scorer, Bianca Rees-Gibbs. She stepped up and calmly converted.

Based on their results over the past two years, DGC was the underdog in the tie, and in true underdog fashion, they were not disheartened by Eunice twice fighting back to level the scores. They responded by going on the offensive again.

They made up for their lack of experience by employing a high work rate and boundless belief that they had what it takes to win. That unrelenting positivity was rewarded four minutes from time when they scored a brilliant second-phase short corner goal through Tara Pakendorf.

Over the four days of the festival, DGC coach Penniston had kept her message consistent: the big things for her team were consistency, trust, and pulling together as a unit.

In the final minutes of the title-decider, they were consistent in their defensive structure. they trusted one another when it mattered most, and they pulled together as one until the final whistle blew to end the match.