With wins over Paarl Gimnasium, Grey College, and Paul Roos, no team has made a more impressive start to the season than Stellenberg High. Photo: Photography Lilia.
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Oakdale Landbou
Hoërskool Durbanville will head into their home showdown with Oakdale Landbou at 13:30 on Saturday high in confidence.
Last time out, they scored a hard-fought 20-18 victory over SACS after pushing Affies hard at the NMI Toyota Noord-Suid Rugby Tournament in Pretoria in their previous outing, going down 13-24.
Fullback Wihan Roux was the home side’s hero against SACS, slotting five penalty kicks, while their blindside flank Zay-Winn Januarie crossed for their only try. Both players will be at the heart of Durbies‘ efforts on Saturday.
Oakdale Landbou also has reason to be confident. They drew 13-13 with Paarl Boys’ High last weekend. They were the only team to beat Boishaai in 2025, and they also thumped Durbanville 43-7 in Riversdal last May.
It’s no secret that the Farmers possess some of the best set-pieces in schoolboy rugby, especially their lineout.
If the hosts can’t find a way to counter loosehead prop Kyle Burger in the scrums and lock Rico Ferreira in the lineouts, they won’t see much of the ball on Saturday.
They’ll be chasing better synchronisation, which they’ll need to defend their fortress against Oakdale on Saturday.
Stellenberg High vs Hoërskool Melkbosstrand
High-flying Stellenberg High plays host to Hoërskool Melkbosstrand at 12:30 on Saturday. The hosts have been in phenomenal form this season, and have every right to call themselves giant slayers, with their victims including Paarl Gimnasium, Grey College and, this past weekend, Paul Roos Gimnasium.
On Saturday, though, Stellies will be cast in the role of Goliath. Melkbosstrand heads into the contest in high spirits after a 26-10 win over DF Akademie last weekend. But they’ll be a heavy underdog.
The Jade Brigade boasts an arsenal of high-quality players. On Saturday, keep an eye out for eighthman Yanos Molnar. His non-stop engine gets him into the thick of the action, whether he’s carrying the ball, making tackles, or fiercely contesting breakdowns.
On top of that, Melkieswill have to figure out how to stop backs like Ralton Rhode from scoring out wide. He caused Paul Roos serious problems.
It’s going to be a tough contest for the visitors. Will they be able to find any weaknesses in the Jade Brigade’s defence, which has already withstood the challenges of three of South Africa’s most renowned rugby powerhouses?
TEAMS
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Oakdale Landbou at 13:30 on Saturday.
Durbanville (likely): 15 Wihan Roux, 14 Kyle Doyle, 13 Louwrens Rademeyer, 12 Callum Koekemoer, 11 Jean De Vries, 10 Hadley Erasmus, 9 Lorenzo Brogneri, 8 Muller Jansen van Vuuren, 7 Zay-Winn Januarie, 6 Jono Hearn, 5 Eben de Jongh, 4 Eugene Theron, 3 Hanno Rhode, 2 Tristen Muller, 1 Janu Sadie.
Oakdale Landbou: 15 André van der Merwe, 14 Luan van Tonder, 13 Myburgh Eksteen, 12 Dylan Jordaan, 11 Nathan-Lee Gordon, 10 Caleb Williams, 9 Mich van Eden, 8 Jacobus de Villiers, 7 Bernard Badenhorst, 6 Kane du Plessis, 5 Rico Ferreira, 4 Ruan Groenewald, 3 Francois le Roux, 2 Adrian Smith, 1 Kyle Burger.
Stellenberg High vs Hoërskool Melkbosstrand at 12:30 on Saturday.
Stellenberg (likely): 15 Liam Jacobs, 14 Ralton Rhode, 13 JC Swart, 12 Daniel Mongie, 11 Emile Cilliers, 10 Ethan Van Biljon, 9 Daniel Steffen, 8 Yanos Molnar, 7 Carlo Brink, 6 Seth Coetze, 5 Juvan Burden, 4 Jayden Young, 3 Janu Van Deventer, 2 Liam Joubert, 1 Waldo Schloms.
Melkbosstrand: 15 Craig Solomons, 14 Enrique Kastoor, 13 Sean Cooper, 12 Zandrich Nel, 11 Reese Jooste, 10 Arno Visser, 9 Patrick van Niekerk, 8 Beuran Geduld, 7 Leslie Smith, 6 Aiden Doubell, 5 Kevin Wessels, 4 Matthew Julies, 3 Jorden Lewis, 2 Connor Breytenbach, 1 Joshua Cloete.
Annika Kloppers has established herself as one of the best goalkeepers in South African schoolgirl hockey. Photo: Kaarl Seebach.
Eustress. That is the word Annika Kloppers mutters to herself when she takes her place in goal at the start of a hockey game.
She repeats it, under her breath, in high-pressure moments.
The term, which was introduced by endocrinologist Hans Selye in 1976, is Kloppers’ mantra.
“It’s the opposite of distress and serves as a reminder of a quote I once read: ‘The true sportsperson looks for difficult and challenging situations’.
“It reminds me that I should be more eager to play well than scared to make a mistake. If I do make a mistake, I tell myself what I could do better once and then put it out of my mind,” Kloppers shared with SuperSport Schools Plus.
The Menlopark goalkeeper has always embodied that mindset, even before she was aware of the existence of eustress. She became a ‘keeper because her primary school needed one, and no one was stepping forward to take on the role. Everyone else wanted to be an infield player.
Kloppers and her pink Grays’ hockey stick made goalkeeping look cool, however, and soon others wanted to take a turn between the sticks. However, they were too late. Kloppers was enjoying her new role so much that she didn’t want to relinquish it.
Her primary school coaches didn’t let her keep the position just because of her enthusiasm. They also saw potential; Kloppers’ reflexes and anticipation were second to none. She was also dedicated.
“Annika is extremely humble despite being so talented. She never stops working, and her willingness to learn is her best quality. She has two goalkeeper coaches, Gert Fourie and Shaun Laubscher, with whom Annika attends multiple sessions on top of school and club training,” Brad Brook, Kloppers’ coach at Menlopark, told SuperSport Schools.
During her time at the Pretoria school, he has watched Kloppers develop into one of the best ‘keepers in the country. The 18-year-old, who has made 55 appearances for Menlopark, is also the team’s vice-captain and one of the reasons behind the school’s rise as one of the top hockey-playing schools in South Africa.
“She had grown so much as a player and leader over the past two years, which is attributed to her desire to win games for her team,” Brook declared.
Kloppers is reserved and soft-spoken off the field. However, her duties as the last line of defence require her to be vocal and assertive. She has worked on that part of her game and is now an imposing figure at the back, where she uses her hockey IQ to organise the defence.
Kloppers is one of the best in one-on-one situations, including during penalty shootouts.
Brook identified 10 core attributes goalkeepers need: explosive reflexes, positioning and angle control, fast decision-making under pressure, controlled bravery, footwork and agility, communication, technique (kicks, blocks, slides), mental toughness, game IQ and anticipation, and fitness and durability. Kloppers ticks all those boxes.
“Our field players have a sense of calm, knowing Annika is behind them, and it allows them to play with a little more freedom,” the coach said.
Kloppers gave the world a glimpse into her abilities when Menlopark finished third in the u16 section of the 2024 Fairtree Super 12 Tournament. More recently, she pulled off some world-class saves in Menlopark’s campaign at the 2026 St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival, where they finished as the runner-up.
“One of her best performances that comes to mind would be the semifinal at St Mary’s Waverley against St Mary’s DSG Kloof. Annika was perfect from the start of regular time to the final eight seconds,” Brook recalled.
The match finished 0-0. Menlopark won through to the final, though, thanks to Kloppers’ performance in the penalty shootout. She cited that as one of her top two performances.
“My most memorable performances are beating St. Mary’s Kloof in shootouts at the semifinal of St. Mary’s Waverley Festival earlier this year and winning the [indoor hockey] Roku Cup in a shootout after chasing the game last year,” she shared.
Her consistency and brilliance have also brought her higher honours. She was a member of the Northerns‘ u16B team that finished third at the 2024 SASHOC u16 IPT. The following year, Kloppers represented the Northerns‘ u18B side, and her outstanding performances earned her a call-up to the national u17 squad.
Kloppers identified Malikah Hamza and Morgan de Jager as her goalkeeping role models, stressing Hamza’s humility and love for the game as one of her biggest drivers.
“Her humility and love for hockey stretch further than big matches and her skill level. Hamza’s character reflects what the sport is about for me. Morgan de Jager has agility and decision-making skills as a keeper that are inspiring beyond compare, and I strive to be more like her,” Kloppers said.
The Menlopark netminder is determined to follow in her icons’ footsteps. In the meantime, she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground, ready to do whatever is necessary to help her team win matches. And before each assignment, she recites the word that helps her focus: eustress.
Rhenish is gearing up to host Oranje in Stellenbosch. Photo: Belgotex Sport
The St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival, which took place in Johannesburg last month, rubberstamped a point: school girls’ hockey in South Africa is thriving.
The festival brought together some of the country’s top sides, and it ended with Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje claiming top honours after beating Die Hoërskool Menlopark 2-0 in the final.
While Oranje got past Rhenish Girls’ High in the semi-finals, there was little to separate the sides. Their clash ended in a goalless draw, but went Oranje’s way after an eight-second penalty shootout.
It was the second time the sides had met in as many weeks. They had also shared a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Greg Beling Festival in East London.
When Oranje and Rhenish face off again, one thing is certain: it will be a showdown of the best versus the best, and that’s something not often seen in the boys’ game.
Their third meeting of 2026 takes place in Stellenbosch on Thursday night. It will kick-start a bumper hockey weekend for both sides.
Oranje will aim to continue their brilliant start to the season against Rhenish and Paarl Girls’ High. Photo: Oranje on Facebook
“I think playing Oranje for the third time in less than a month is really exciting,” Rhenish head coach Chris Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“We pride ourselves on playing against the best as much as possible, and this will be another big test.
“They will come out firing, and we need to make sure we stay composed and structured as much as possible.”
After going down in their showdown semifinal with Oranje at St Mary’s Waverley, Gerber’s side drew with St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, the 2025 winners, and finished joint third.
“After St Mary’s, we had a good review of where we are and where we are going as a side,” Gerber said.
“Our key takeaways were that we still played good, structured hockey and didn’t let the [25-minute] format stop us from doing so.”
After facing Oranje on Thursday, Rhenish will head to Gqeberha to take on Collegiate Girls’ High in a derby that’s grown into one of the country’s premier clashes over the past couple of seasons.
Last year, the sides drew 1-1 in Stellenbosch, and coach Gerber expects a tough outing against coach Michael Abrahams’ charges.
“This clash will again be a very nice, strong fixture for us. They are a quality side, and we will have to be in top form.
“The girls are mentally strong and very determined, so they know what we are working towards and what our objectives are.
“When it comes to these big fixtures, the girls are excited and ready to go.”
Other matches
On their Western Cape tour, Oranje will also face Paarl Girls’ High on Friday night.
Elsewhere, HMS Bloemhof hosts Parel Vallei on Friday, while Rustenburg Girls’ High tackles Fairmont High on Thursday.
FIXTURES
Thursday, 16 April
17:00 – Fairmont vs Rustenburg Girls’ High
18:45 – Rhenish vs Oranje
Friday, 17 April
18:15 – Herschel vs DF Akademie
18:30 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Oranje
18:30 – Bloemhof vs Parel Vallei
19:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs La Rochelle
NICOLAAS IMMELMAN, in action for Romania. PHOTO: Martin Flousek/Rugby Europe
During this year’s Rugby Europe Championship, no less than eight South Africans were in action for the various international sides in action in the competition.
Cody Thomas, who represented Westville Boys’ High as a tighthead prop back in 2014, was ever-present for Portugal in the competition and helped them to win the final against Georgia by 19-17 in Leganes. Not surprisingly, more than a couple of Saffas have played for Os Lobos (The Wolves) through the years.
Jacques le Roux (HTS Tuine), Nelio de Sa and Mike Andrade (both Grey College) have represented Os Lobos in their careers. Last year, Sergio Moreira (Noordheuwel) also toured South Africa with Portugal, but he still has to make his debut.
Romania had the largest Saffa-representation during the competition. No less than four South Africans represented Stejarii(The Oaks) during their campaign.
Nicolaas Immelman (Grey College), Dylan Schwartz (EG Jansen), Damian Bonaparte (Outeniqua) and Jondré Williams (Boland Landbou) were the four players. All of them also represented their respective unions at the annual Craven Week during their schooling careers.
Probably the most interesting Saffa in the Europe Championship is Switzerland‘s scrumhalf, Blessing Motaung (Jeppe High School for Boys). He is a freelance journalist who made his debut for the Swiss side during the competition and also represented the University of Johannesburg’s Young Guns earlier in his career.
For Spain, there was a certain John-Wessel (JW) Bell in action at fullback. Bell, a former learner from Eldoraigne in Centurion, also represented the Pumas, Valke and Lions during his proffesional career. He made his debut for Spain back in 2019 and has represented them in more than 30 tests since.
For Germany, Bader-Werner Pretorius (Michaelhouse) was the only Saffa in action for the Black Eagles. They have also used quite a few Saffas through the years, with Sebastian Ferreira (Paarl Boys’ High), who made his international debut in 2016, still part of their squad.
Other former Saffas who played for Germany are Paul Bosch (Ellisras), Ayron Schramm (Kearsney College), Adriaan Theisinger (Grey College), Jaco Otto, Kurt Haupt (St Alban’s College), Hendrik van der Merwe (Grey College), Jarrid Els (Hudson Park), Marcel Henn, Wynston Cameron-Dow (Durban High School), Marcel Coetzee (Maritzburg College), Michael Poppmeier (Graeme College), Nikola Klewinghaus (Hillcrest High) and Raynor Parkinson (King Edward VII).
Interestingly, Otto is the top try scorer for the Black Eagles with 25 tries in his career, while Parkinson’s 338 points is the most ever for the German national side.
Pabatso Sithole is the sharpshooter that Kearsney College turns to in the clutch. Photo: Supplied.
Kearsney College‘s basketball team put together a strong showing in the first term. Not only were they one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most successful teams, but they were also one of the most entertaining sides, thanks to their technical team and their standout player, Pabatso Sithole.
In a remarkably consistent career in the first team, one of Sithole’s most memorable performances dates back to September 2025, when he led Kearsney to a narrow 57-56 victory over St John’s College in the final of the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT) at The Skweyiya SportZone.
In a tense title game, he scored 26 points, including a late free throw, and Kearsney triumphed after the clash had to go to a second overtime period to decide the winner.
Sithole relies on self-confidence to let his game flow in crucial moments, he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
He has dedicated extra hours to basketball, apart from team practices, refining his shooting skills and understanding court expectations. As a result, he has confidence in his shooting.
He recalled a key moment in the ISSBT final against St John’s where that dedication paid dividends: “There was a point in the game where we were down by two points, and they had the ball. I think there were a few seconds left, and we thought we had lost. But we continued to push, and then my teammate, Daniel Prinsloo, got the steal, and he managed to pass it to me. I scored, which sent us into overtime,” he said.
Sithole’s player evaluation identified areas for improvement against other top teams, including Northwood and Maritzburg College, which included a need to boost the team’s confidence, something their coaches actively fostered.
“Sometimes, I feel like we see the opponent and think that we’ve lost before the game has even started,” he admitted.
But, both he and the team have drawn confidence from their coaches, which bolsters the confidence he has grown through his own diligent practice habits.
His coaches have supported him, affirming that he is capable of achieving anything he sets his mind to do. When he struggles, they are there to uplift him, to make the most of his talent and potential.
Sithole admitted that he is sometimes not as focused on defence as he should be, losing track of his opponent, which allows scoring opportunities. Thus, having identified that shortcoming, he has put in work on his defence and on his concentration.
Sithole and his love for basketball
His passion for basketball comes from his older brother, who is an alumnus of Kearsney. He, too, was introduced to basketball at the Botha’s Hill school. When Pabatso was in the sixth grade, during the Covid-19 lockdown, their mother bought the brothers a couple of basketballs, and they played outside on the road.
Together, they began to appreciate the sport even more. Young Pabatso honed his skills against his older brother, and he turned to YouTube to learn more about the game, putting hours of practice into it.
When he was selected for his age group’s A-team at Kearsney in 2022, his game took another step forward, which he attributed to the guidance of the coaches. His confidence soared to new heights.
Photo: Supplied.
Sithole has already competed at a high level, which is evidenced by his impressive accolades.
He was a member of the u15 KZN Team in 2023 and served as the vice-captain of that squad. That same year, he led Kearsney to victory in the u15 Northwood tournament, where he was named the event’s MVP.
Despite those impressive achievements, he has continued to push ever harder, stating that such recognition has motivated him to strive to become an even better player.
Sithole said he is grateful for the support of his teammates, coaches, and fellow competitors, including Lusekho Sikhulume, from Westville Boys’ High, whom he regards as one of his closest friends. They represented the u15 KZN team together.
Another player who challenges him is Northwood’s Siya Shabalala. Matches against Northwood are always demanding, Sithole said, but competing against Shabalala, whom he acknowledges as a skilled player on a well-organised team, motivates him to perform at his best every time they face each other.
Pabatso Sithole’s Outstanding Achievements
2023
• u15 KZN (vice-captain),
• gold medal winner – SA Schools Summer Games
• u15 Northwood tournament winner
• u15 Northwood tournament MVP
2024
• u16 KZN Team
2025
• Kearsney half-colours
• u18 KZN training squad
• Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament champions
• Westville tournament All-Star team
• Blignaut Family Trophy (Kearsney’s most improved player)
Wynberg Boys’ High was beaten in the final of the Western Province Super Soccer Schools Tournament, losing 0-1 to Pinelands High in the title game. Both, however, secured places at the national finals at Urban Academy in August. Photo: Supplied.
The Super Soccer Schools Tournament, hosted by Urban Academy, kicked off with provincial qualifications over the weekend in the Western Cape, where teams competed to claim national finals places by finishing in the top three positions of the u19 competitions for boys and girls.
In 2025, Urban Academy hosted the first edition of the tournament. In 2026, the event has expanded into a national competition, with the top three finishers in each of the provinces set to contest the finals in Gqeberha in August.
From Friday through Sunday, it was a bustling weekend in Cape Town, with many of the province’s leading football-playing schools in action.
After a series of intense group stage matches, the boys’ title game came down to a showdown between Pinelands High and Wynberg Boys’ High, with both already assured of their places at the national finals. It was tight, but Pinelands claimed a 1-0 win.
Joining the pair as representatives of the Western Cape will be Phandulwazi High School, which scored a 5-4 victory on penalties over De Kuilen High after a goalless draw in their third-place playoff match.
Earlier on Sunday morning, Pinelands High rolled to a convincing 5-1 victory over De Kuilen to reach the final, while Wynberg Boys’ High was extended by Phandulwazi High, but came away with a 1-0 win.
In the girls’ competition, South Peninsula High, one of the most exciting teams throughout the weekend, became the first winner of the Super Soccer Schools Tournament Western Cape provincial playoffs.
They met St Cyprian’s in the final, winning it 2-0. The all-important third place went to Bergvliet High, who scored a comfortable 3-0 win over Pinelands High.
St Cyprian’s had beaten Pinelands High 3-0 in the semifinals, while South Peninsula High also won 3-0 in their clash against Bergvliet High.
The next stage of qualification will feature Eastern Cape Schools, with the tournament hosts, Urban Academy, hosting it from 24 to 26 April.
WESTERN CAPE RESULTS
U19 BOYS
Friday, 10 April
Group 1
Lavender Hill High 4-0 Heath Field High
South Peninsula High 2-1 Curro Century City
De Kuilen High 1-0 Heath Field High
South Peninsula 1-1 Lavender Hill High
Bridge House School 2-1 Curro Century City
Phandulwazi High 0-0 Lavender Hill High
Heath Field High 4-3 Bridge House School
De Kuilen High 4-0 Curro Century City
Phandulwazi High 0-0 South Peninsula High
Group 2
Curro Delft 5-1 Herzlia High
Zeekoeivlei High 3-0 Osca Mpetha High
Bergvliet High 1-0 Herzlia High
Pinelands High 2-0 Curro Delft
Herzlia High 1-0 Zeekoeivlei High
Oscar Mpetha High 3-0 Herzlia
Zeekoeivlei High 0-0 Pinelands High
Wynberg Boys’ High 4-0 Curro Delft
Saturday, 11 April
Group 1
Curro Century City 2-1 De Kuilen High
South Peninsula 1-0 De Kuilen High
Phandulwazi High 6-0 Curro Century City
Heath Field High 2-0 South Peninsula High
Phandulwazi High 2-0 Heath Field High
Lavender Hill High 2-1 De Kuilen High
South Peninsula High 1-0 Bridge House School
De Kuilen High 2-0 Phandulwazi High
Heath Field High 2-2 Curro Century City
Lavender Hill High 4-0 Bridge House School
Group 2
Curro Delft 1-0 Oscar Mpetha High
Zeekoevlei High 1-0 Bergvliet High
Wynberg Boys’ High 1-0 Pinelands High
Oscar Mpetha High 1-0 Bergvliet
Zeekvoeivlei High 1-0 Curro Delft
Wynberg Boys’ High 4-0 Bergvliet High
Oscar Mpetha 1-0 Pinelands High
Wynberg Boys’ High 1-0 Zeekoeivlei
Bergvliet 2-0 Curro Delft
Wynberg Boys’ High 1-0 Oscar Mpetha
Pinelands High 5-0 Bergvliet High
Sunday 12 April
Group 1
Phandulwazi High 3-0 Bridge House School
De Kuilen High 1-0 Bridge House School
Group 2
Wynberg Boys’ High 1-0 Herzlia High
Pinaleands High 2-0 Herzlia
Semifinals
Pinelands High 5-1 De Kuilen High
Wynberg Boys’ High 1-0 Phandulwazi High
3rd Place
Phandulwazi High (5) 0-0 (4) De Kuilen High
Final
Pinelands High 1-0 Wynberg Boys’ High
U19 GIRLS
Friday, 10 April
South Peninsula High School 3-0 Bergvliet High School
Herzlia High 3-2 Pinelands High
Bergvliet 3-0 Herzlia High
St Cyprian’s 6-0 Herzlia High
Pinelands High 2-1 Bergvliet High
Saturday, 11 April
St Cyprian’s 1-1 South Peninsula High
South Peninsula High 1-0 Pinelands High
St Cyprian’s 3-0 Bergvliet High
St Cyprian’s 3-0 Pinelands High
Sunday, 12 April
Semifinals
St Cyprian’s 3-0 Pinelands High
South Peninsula High 3-0 Bergvliet High
Sfiso Mnguni’s Highlands Park recorded a crucial 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, following a string of challenging losses at the beginning of the GDL season. Photo: Supplied.
Just five games into the season, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) is delivering bucketloads of excitement.
On the weekend, that excitement included a win for last season’s runner-up, Highlands Park, over the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, while Kaizer Chiefs’ Njabulo Msimango scored four in a 6-0 win over Jomo Cosmos.
Msimango has been one of the standout players in the season’s early weeks. So far, he has netted seven goals, which were boosted by his extraordinary return of four goals against EzeNkosiat the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Saturday. Matthew Sinclair shone, too, netting the other two for Chiefs.
Goals were not in short supply on Saturday. Kathorus Hyper Academy scored a big win, handing Joburg City, who entered the weekend in second place, a 3-0 loss.
Aobakwe Ntseki was in fine form, firing in a hat trick. Tumelo Mokoena provided assists on Ntseki’s first two goals, while Mojalefa Nyelele laid on the third as Kathorus picked up three points.
Rockevfs claimed a 4-1 victory over Seven’s Academy, with Itebogeng Maake scoring the opening goal within the first 10 minutes, thanks to the service of Iminathi Bala.
Remothabetse Dithathe added a second eight minutes into the second half, with Maake turning provider. Thabang Mokoena converted a penalty for the third goal, and Phetogo Phetlele rounded off the scoring, thanks to an assist from Dithathe.
Panorama and the East Rand Athletic Club entertained, with a five-goal game going Panorama’s way by a 3-2 margin. Sangesonke Klaas set up Ali Makwanazi for the opener. Klaas then teed up Vukona Mawila for Panorama’s second, and Mawila played in Mxolisi Ngobese for Panorama’s third.
The league leaders, Siwelele, won their fifth match on the trot, scoring a 2-0 victory away from home against Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA).
Siwelele’s breakthrough came only 14 minutes into the game through an own goal as RESA tried to defend a ball from Kyle Troskie. The next goal belonged to Troskie, however, and the win took Siwelele to the maximum possible haul of 15 points.
After their win over Seven’s Academy, Rockefvs is in second, with 12 points, while Kathorus and Future of Africa, with 10 points each, occupy third and fourth places, respectively.
Some of Saturday’s matches were tight affairs, dominated by defences. The clash between the University of Pretoria (Tuks) and Randburg was decided by a Junior Khoza goal, which gave Tuks a 1-0 victory and all three points on offer.
Future of Africa won by the same margin against Africa School of Excellence, with Neo Makgobatlou converting a penalty after Okhule Chiya was fouled in the penalty area.
On Sunday, in a highly anticipated match at Clapham High School, Mamelodi Sundowns hosted Highlands North. It was an especially important litmus test for the Lions of theNorth. They had opened the season with three successive losses before winning against the Prestige Football Development Academy last week. Were they on their way back, or was their win a mirage?
In a showdown between the winners of the last three GDL titles – Highlands Park lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024 – the visitors rose to the occasion, handing Sundowns a 1-0 defeat.
The win has lifted Highlands Park to ninth on the GDL table with six points after five matches. They’re still behind the Brazilians, who also have six points, but they’ve played one game less, and they have a better goal difference.
RESULTS
Saturday, 11 April
Rockefvs 4-1 Seven’s Academy
Siwelele 2-0 RESA
Kathorus 3-0 Joburg City
Tuks 1-0 Randburg
Panorama 3-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Kaizer Chiefs 6-0 Jomo Cosmos
Future of Africa 1-0
Wits vs Prestige (Walkover Wits win)
Tereska Kabuika of the Boland Dames (Photo: SA Rugby)
Eighteen of the best young women rugby players in the country assembled in Stellenbosch on Monday for a 10-day Under-20 alignment camp that will not only expose the players to highly skilled coaching in the national set-up, but also put steps into place for the Junior Springbok Women’s international matches against the USA U20s in July.
The group will be coached in an Academy based set-up, with various SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coaches involved with the squad during this camp.
A number of the invited players have already played senior rugby, including EP Queens flyhalf Julene Haas and Sanlam Boland Dames flyer Tereske Kabuika, who finished the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League with six tries to her name.
Stellenbosch University player Sesethu Dumke is also amongst a group of attendees who participated in this year’s FNB Varsity Cup for Women.
The group also include players from last year’s South African U18 Girls squad that played two internationals against the Netherlands in December, and an U19 squad that assembled at the same time.
Louis Koen, Senior Talent Manager in SA Rugby’s High-Performance Department, indicated in December that players from these two groups will progress into the Junior Springbok Women squad in 2026 and this assembly puts action to those words.
Cooper Haworth was in action for the SA u18 boys at the Australian Youth Championships. Photo: ProSport.photos
The head coach of the South Africa u18A boys’ team, Jon-Marc de Carvalho, says their gold medal triumph at the recently concluded Australian Youth Water Polo Championships is a testament to the competitiveness of SA schools’ water polo.
The South African side ended the tournament unbeaten. In the final, they defeated Sydney Northern Beaches (SNB) Breakers 5-4 on penalties after the clash had ended in a pulsating 10-10 draw.
“Any win is pleasing. This one is especially pleasing as it’s a tournament we’ve never competed in before, and to come out on top really shows the talent we have in SA,” coach DeCarvalho told SuperSport Schools Plus.
South Africa produced entertaining water polo throughout the event, scoring 36 goals as they placed second in their group.
In the cross-pool playoff matches, they thumped the Mantas Blues 19-7, then convincingly beat the Polo Bears 21-6 and the Hunter Hurricanes 13-4.
In the last four, they edged the Melville Sharks in a shootout to secure a place in the final.
Despite the side’s dominant results, De Carvalho admitted it was tough getting the combinations right, as he had a star-studded squad from which to pick.
“Getting the right combinations was probably the hardest part with this team,” he reckoned.
“With such limited time together as a unit, the training camps and the first few games were used to work out those combinations.
“In the end, we went with as many provincial combos as we could, so that the guys were as comfortable as possible with the teammate next to them.
“Certain positions, we simply rotated each game, but others ended up being set combinations.”
It was South Africa’s debut appearance at the Australian tournament, with the side being selected after the conclusion of last year’s SWPSA Inter-Provincial Tournament in Johannesburg.
An Australian side from Brisbane, the Aussie Crocs, participated in the South African event for a second successive year. They were impressive, playing a high-tempo game, which put teams under pressure, and all those qualities gave the SA provincial sides a taste of what to expect Down Under.
Michael Mafunda shared goalkeeping duties in the SA u18 side with Dylan Wiggle. Photo: ProSport.photos
“The level of polo was at a really high level [in Australia]. The top teams were well-drilled and particularly fast transitioning from defence into attack,” De Carvalho said.
“That was our biggest challenge at this tournament. All the teams here had played together for years, and we were a jigsaw puzzle, a put-together team, with little time together.
“What we did have was a lot of ‘gees’ and determination, which allowed us to come back and briefly move ahead in our two toughest games, the semi and final.
“So, the pressure was certainly put on us, but we came back every time. This can only be done with strong belief and good preparation.”
While the u18 boys’ side won gold in the A-division, the u16 girls’ team took home silver, and the u16 boys also dominated their division, winning it.
Those results, according to coachDe Carvalho, are proof that South Africa can compete with the best in the world.
“This is huge for SA ‘polo,” he said.
“It proves that we are right up there with players in the top 10 nations in the world, while at the school level.
“We then, unfortunately, drop off when we transition to university and senior levels. It’s something we need to improve upon.
“The system in Australia, with a lot of their clubs associated with their universities, gives them a clear pathway and transition to the highest levels of water polo. They also have a well-set-up national league, so the continuity and development thrive.”
Northwood and Westville scored five tries each, but Westville converted all of theirs to record a six-point win. Photo: Northwood School on Facebook.
After teams from KwaZulu-Natal lit up Easter rugby festivals, interest in the game in the province is at an all-time high, and there are a good number of sides in the running to claim the status of top dogs.
Just down the road, at the KES Easter Festival, Northwood ripped through Marlow Landbou, cruising to a 47-7 win, before dismantling St Andrew’s College 52-21.
Three KZN sides went unbeaten at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF). Westville Boys’ High thumped Framesby 83-0and followed up that extraordinary performance with a 33-17 win over Helpmekaar Kollege and a 41-3 defeat of Milnerton High.
In local matches played before the festivals, Hilton edged out Westville 39-35on Gilfillan Field, while Michaelhouse pushed DHS all the way on Van Heerden’s Field but fell 21-26. They won against Northwood on Baileys, in Balgowan, though, coming away with a 28-14 victory.
All of the above is a roundabout way of saying that KZN boasts many well-matched top-level teams in 2026. They’ve demonstrated their competitiveness against the country’s traditional powers and other leading sides, and they will improve as the season progresses.
In a season already filled with eye-opening upsets, Hilton College, Kearsney College, and DHS are unbeaten thus far. Paul Roos, Grey College, Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl Boys’ High, and Stellenberg High, who have already beaten the first three, have all lost. That makes it the most interesting and unpredictable season in ages.
Both headed into the clash high in confidence. They understood, though, that it was likely to be a tight contest.
In early 2025, Westville won a bruising showdown 16-14 on Reece-Edwards Field, before going on to achieve the first unbeaten season in the school’s history. On Saturday, it was tight again, but once more the contest tilted Westville’s way, with the home side claiming an entertaining 35-29 victory.
“It’s always tough playing them,” Westville coach Zander Erasmus told SuperSport Schools Plus. “We started really well, going 14-0 up. I thought our forwards laid a very good platform.
“But they clawed their way back, scoring two tries of their own. It was 14-10 at one stage, and then we scored again.” By halftime, the Griffinsled 28-15, but Northwood had plenty of fight left in them.
“We kicked a lot on them, making them turn, testing them under the high balls. In the second half, they tried to do the same to us. They kicked on us, and they backed their forwards. They scored a nice maul try,” Erasmus recalled.
Up front, he said, matters didn’t go smoothly for either team. “The scrums were not as good as they could have been. There were a lot of scrum penalties. That made it a stop/start affair.
“But there were signs that both wanted to attack and be physical and dominant through their pack.
The contest was decided only when the final whistle blew, as Erasmus explained. “I thought we did well, right at the end, when we picked up a yellow card in the last 10 minutes. They had a penalty kick for touch. They wanted to maul, but we counter-mauled, pushing them back about eight metres. We won a scrum, and the final whistle was blown.”
He described the goal-kicking of flyhalf Jade-Will Koopman as “sensational”. The Westville pivot converted each of his side’s five tries. Northwood converted only two of their five, and those six points were the difference in the end.
“All in all, it was a lekker game for the neutral fan because it was end-to-end stuff. The game was played in a really good spirit. It was high-tempo rugby and a classic local derby,” Erasmus concluded.
The Griffins’ hooker, Rorke Stirk, produced an outstanding performance and was rewarded with the second try of the contest, slipping a tackle with a big handoff before charging through to score from 20 metres out.
He was joined on the scoresheet by Ezra Karosilin, who switched from playing wing at KERF to flank on Saturday. Ngcali-Ka-Reve Nonxuba went over after a 50-22 from the impressive Lux Sonkononkono. Levi Allan scored, too, and Landle Makhanya, the 8th-man, scored the try of the day, handing off two players before bashing his way through two more to score.
The Knights showed just how physical they could be, also crossing for five tries against a very physical defensive unit, with four of them coming from Northwood’s forwards: hooker Zak Vrey, flank Tinayeishe Ruwana, prop Sphe Mlongo, and lock Nala Shabangu.
Wing Andile Thwala added their other try, and they did it all without their sidelined skipper, Sharks no. 8, Jamie Wimble, whose place was very well filled by Kevin van Volenstee.
While Westville came away with the win, Northwood served notice that they remain among the province’s top teams, well capable of challenging and beating any of KZN’s leading teams.
Maritzburg College scored 21 points without reply in the second half to turn a one-point deficit at halftime into a 33-13 win. Photo: Maritzburg College on Facebook.
Glenwood High vs Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College made the short trip to Durban on Saturday for a showdown with Glenwood High on Dixon’s Field.
After a strong showing at the Pretoria Boys’ High 125th Festival, where they beat Jeppe 35-12 and SACS 24-7, College carried confidence into the clash.
Glenwood spent the Easter long weekend at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, where they fell 5-24 to Helpmekaar Kollege and 14-15 to Framesby. However, they ended with a hard-fought 14-12 win over Dr EG Jansen.
In recent seasons, the pendulum has swung College’s way in their rivalry with the Green Machine, but Dixon’s has been a tough hunting ground for the Pietermaritzburg school. They won 14-10 there in 2025 after a 37-25 win at Goldstone’s earlier in the season. In 2024, they completed their first double over Glenwood since 2005, winning 39-20 on Goldstone’s and 18-7 on Dixon’s.
The danger that awaited them on Glenwood’s home field was revealed in 2023, though, when a College side that had enjoyed a strong season, which included a convincing 42-15 win over the Green Machine at home, ended with a 24-27 defeat on Dixon’s. That same College team had put 51 points on Affies in a 21-point victory in Pretoria.
On Saturday in Durban, though, the Red, Black, and Whiteruled the roost, turning a tight 12-13 halftime deficit into a 33-13 victory.
For Glenwood, their challenge thus far in 2026 has been putting together a complete game, and that was again the case.
Scrumhalf Vincenzo Loutz, one of their leading performers at KERF, gave the hosts the lead with an early penalty, but College turned a try line siege into five points to take the lead and added a converted try to make it 12-3.
Glenwood’s response was outstanding. They gained momentum and forced College back into their territory. Then, just before halftime, they struck twice. Outside centre Cade Isaacs bounced off a couple of tacklers before crashing over for a try, and Loutz added the extras. Another penalty from Loutz edged the Green Machine ahead.
College seized the initiative early in the second half, driving Glenwood back towards the Green Machine’s try line, and the visitors’ big tighthead Alanda Ngubane corkscrewed his way over to put them back in front. They never trailed again. A successful conversion from the reliable right boot of Dom du Toit made it 19-12.
A favourable bounce of the ball, after a well-directed box kick from Du Toit, got College onto the front foot in the 51st minute after a back-and-forth arm wrestle to start the second half. Lock Sean Jansen took play up to the hosts’ 22, and College built momentum through phase after phase. Only a knock-on right on the try line stopped them from adding to their total.
Glenwood, though, was unable to exit their 22, and College turned a subsequent lineout into a rolling maul, which brought them a try from their feisty hooker Theo Boshoff from 15 metres out. Another accurate conversion kick from Du Toit took them 13 points clear.
The last points of the game came with seven minutes to go. College, with the bit between their teeth, were back inside the Glenwood 22, and, after no. 8 Rory Stanton dented the Glenwood defensive line with a snipe, Boshoff was the first to the loose ball, snatching it off the ground before spinning his way over for a second five-pointer.
Dom du Toit nailed the simple conversion, and Maritzburg College went on to a 33-13 victory.
Scorers
Westville 35 (28) – Tries: Ezra Karosilin, Rorke Stirk, Ngcali-Ka-Reve Nonxuba, Levi Allan, Lwandle Makhanya. Conversions: Jade-Will Koopman (5). Northwood 29 (15) – Tries: Zak Vrey, Andile Thwala, Tinayeishe Rowana, Sphe Mlongo, Nala Shabangu. Conversions: Ludi van der Walt (2).
Glenwood 13 (13) – Try; Cade Isaacs. Conversion: Vincenzo Loutz. Penalties: Vincenzo Loutz (2) Maritzburg College 33 (13) – Tries: Theo Boshoff (2), Alanda Ngubane. N/A. Conversions: Dom du Toit.
Glenwood vs Maritzburg College Played: 21 | Glenwood won: 0 | Maritzburg College won: 21
u19
Westville II 26 Northwood II 5; Glenwood II 12 Maritzburg College 22
Westville III 17 Northwood III 17; Glenwood III 5 Maritzburg College III 41
Westville IV 5 Northwood IV 35; Glenwood IV 0 Maritzburg College IV 52
Westville V 12 Northwood V 22; Glenwood V 5 Maritzburg College V 38
Westville VI 14 Northwood VI 7; Glenwood VI 5 Maritzburg College VI 29
Westville VII 50 Northwood VII 0; Glenwood VII 7 Maritzburg College VII 40
u16
A: Westville 24 Northwood 0; Glenwood 15 Maritzburg College 25 B: Westville 39 Northwood 7; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 36 C: Westville 21 Northwood 0; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 50 D: Westville 45 Northwood 0; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 50
u15
A: Westville 20 Northwood 7; Glenwood 3 Maritzburg College 66 B: Westville 33 Northwood 0; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 25 C: Westville 41 Northwood 6; Glenwood 7 Maritzburg College 50 D: Westville 55 Northwood 5; Glenwood 15 Maritzburg College 48 E: Glenwood 3 Maritzburg College 69 u14
A: Westville 17 Northwood 12; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 22 B: Westville 52 Northwood 5; Glenwood 19 Maritzburg College 24 C: Westville 24 Northwood 0; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 66 D: Westville 36 Northwood 10; Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 55 E: Glenwood 0 Maritzburg College 50
