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Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has made wholesale rotational changes to the SA u19 Academy matchday squad for Friday’s clash with Ireland u19 in Cork.

The match – the SA u19s’ final encounter of their two-week European tour – kicks off at 19:30 (21:30 SA time) at Virgin Media Park, the Cork home of Irish giants, Munster, with a capacity of 8000 and an artificial 3G pitch.

In an effort to give every player in the touring squad game time, Foote has made four changes to the starting pack, another five tweaks to the backline, and a further six changes among the replacements.

In the only tweak to the tight five that performed so well against a well-drilled France u19 side last week in Chateauroux, Foote has decided to move captain Riley Norton from his regular position at lock to blindside flank, with JD Hattingh promoted from the bench to the second row.

Norton completes a revamped loose trio alongside Junior Rasima (openside flank) and Vuyo Gwiji (No 8).

Experienced Junior Bok flyhalf Vusi Moyo retains the no. 10 jersey and will partner with Luan Giliomee in the halfbacks, from where they will direct a heavily rotated back division.

Lindsey Jansen swaps wings to take the no. 11 jersey and, in the midfield, Janco Purchase will partner with Pieter van der Merwe. Khuthadzo Rasivhago shifts from outside centre to right wing, while Dylan Miller slots in at fullback, having started on the left wing last week in France.

The SA u19s had an intensive training session on Tuesday afternoon, quickly acclimatising to the notoriously cold and wet conditions at their training base in Cork.

Foote said that after two productive weeks on tour, they are eager to finish their European visit strongly.

“After playing France, we are now facing Ireland and we know how passionate their supporters are over here,” he said.

“Considering the difficult local conditions, we know we are in for a proper challenge, and that’s exactly the kind of learning curve we need.”

Regarding his selection for the tour-ending clash, Foote explained: “We are specifically giving players who didn’t feature against France last weekend an opportunity. We are building crucial positional depth, and it’s important that everyone on this tour gets the chance to wear the Green and Gold.”

Foote added that the tour has provided his young charges with invaluable experience: “It’s been a great tour in terms of spending quality time together, connecting with each other, and understanding more about our game.

“Now, we have to take those hard-earned lessons from France and apply them directly against Ireland. It’s a great challenge and we are looking forward to the game, where the locals will no doubt support the Irish feverously.

“We expect the conditions to be tough, but we are ready for the opportunity to play Ireland,” Foote ended.

The game will be streamed live on IrishRugby+.

SA U19 Academy team to face Ireland in Cork

15 Dylan Miller (DHL Western Province)
14 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
13 Janco Purchase (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
12 Pieter van der Merwe (vice-captain, Vodacom Bulls)
11 Lindsey Jansen (Vodacom Bulls)
10 Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
9 Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
8 Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity ADT Lions)
7 Riley Norton (captain, DHL Western Province)
6 Junior Rasima (Fidelity ADT Lions)
5 JD Hattingh (Fidelity ADT Lions)
4 Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls)
3 Danie Kruger (DHL Western Province)
2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls)
1 Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province)

Replacements

16 Mahle Sithole (Vodacom Bulls)
17 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
18 Ulrich van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
19 Tom Barnard (DHL Western Province)
20 KB Maake (Vodacom Bulls)
21 Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
22 Brooklyn Newman (Vodacom Bulls)
23 Akahluwa Boqwana (Vodacom Bulls)

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The South African national u17 boys’ hockey head coach, Justin Collins, has praised his team for showing character and grit at the recently concluded Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia.

Malaysia Speedy was crowned the champions of the boys’ section, while Japan defeated Malaysia Tigress to win the girls’ title.

The SA u17 girls bagged a bronze medal, and the boys finished in fourth after going down in the third-place playoff match against the Malaysia Tigers.

Reflecting on the tournament, Collins said he was pleased with his team’s efforts but lamented small errors that cost them in crucial moments.

“International hockey is a difficult platform to compete on,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “It’s about small defining chances that you need to take advantage of. We created a lot of good opportunities and showed a lot of promise within the time frames we had to prepare.

“This year, we had very structured ideas of how we wanted to play, and I feel the boys tried their best to achieve this.

“If we look at the tournament in totality, we have lost only one game, and that being against Japan. We drew against the champions in the pool stages and narrowly missed out on the final.

“The boys can be really chuffed with pushing the limits against some of the best in the world, especially because they are u17 competing against u18 boys. Japan was crowned the Asian champ earlier this year at u18 level, and for us to show so many promising signs against them, we can take a lot away from that.

“Hard lessons learnt, but the boys didn’t stop fighting for everyone back home.”

Heading into their final pool game against Japan, the South African boys needed one point to progress to the final.

It wasn’t going to be smooth sailing, though, as Japan had dominated play throughout the tournament and was unbeaten ahead of the meeting.

SA, however, made a bright start and went 2-0 up. However, lapses of concentration, mainly in the second half, cost them, and the East Asian side mounted a terrific comeback to win 5-2.

“The Japan match was a great game. We got outplayed in three of the four quarters. We had a chance to go 3-0 up, and a great save from them on the line unfortunately didn’t allow for that to happen,” Collins said.

“The boys were really disappointed to not get over the line, but what was encouraging was that we could put any team under pressure this tournament and, more importantly, we never gave up the fight. The boys showed courage and learnt some difficult lessons on the day.”

When asked for his opinion on what younger players aspiring to represent South Africa in the future should work on, the coach said: “I think, as a nation, and specifically at schools, we need to be more specific on training defensive concepts. Defending is a massive part of the game, and small moments can define outcomes.

“I also feel that younger players coming up the ranks could work on ball hitting in the circle. That makes your chances of making a national side much higher.”

Collins also thanked the Malaysian Hockey Federation and those who had got behind the South African teams.

“Playing in these conditions away from home, with different interpretations of the rules, is a great way for players to grow and broaden our base of players in our country.

“We, obviously, wanted to finish higher up, in the medals, but the boys tried their best.

“The coaching staff have been exceptional with giving these boys a base to grow their game. We have given the boys lots of tools to grow and hopefully exposed them to understand what it takes to get to the next level.

“I want to thank all the coaching staff for all their hard work in preparing for the tournament, as well as on the ground in Malaysia.

“Lastly, in closing, we want to thank everyone back home for supporting us and watching Team SA. We will bounce back and learn from the lesson tournament,” he concluded.

The winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the recent Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament, Aidan Erasmus, helped to lead Pinelands High to the title. He also shows off his skills for the Montana Vikings in club basketball.

SuperSport Schools Plus sat down for an interview with the 17-year-old to learn more about his basketball journey, which started in 2022.

“I was fortunate to have an exceptional coach, coach Inga Koli,” Erasmus said.

“At the time, he had just completed high school and returned to coach at Pinelands High. He was an outstanding coach, consistently putting in extra effort for me.

“Even during school holidays, he would invite me to play, which ignited my interest in the sport. Honestly, without his encouragement, I might not have developed such a passion for basketball,” he admitted.

Erasmus views his basketball experiences as a gradual learning journey towards his goals. This year, he received a Special Achievement Award from Cape Metro District Basketball and there was, also, that Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament title and MVP honours, which put him in the spotlight.

Winning the tournament against elite Cape Town schools and being named MVP was an overwhelming experience, which made him proud, Erasmus said.

“I think winning as a team was even better compared to the fact that I was the MVP. It was my first MVP, and I do not take it lightly. That’s a huge step in my basketball career, and I am grateful for the recognition,” he reflected.

In sports, you win some and you lose some, learning about yourself and about sportsmanship in the process. Erasmus said one of his toughest experiences in basketball was also one of his most valuable experiences.

“In 2023, we attended a tournament at Kearnsey College, in KZN, when I was 14. Our oldest player was 15. We lost every game by at least 30 points, which was tough. However, that experience sparked our love for basketball, motivating us to improve.

“Now, that team dominates the Western Cape, with many of us representing the province in the inter-provincial tournament (IPT).”

Erasmus said the IPTs helped him make friends like Lusekho Sikhulume, from Westville Boys’ High, whom he leans on for advice.

Assessing his game, Erasmus said he enjoys playing defence and wants to be well-rounded. His club coach, Shafiek Allie, stresses that strong defence is a crucial key to being a well-rounded player.

Erasmus values his defensive work as a key strength. He is quick and aggressive in that area of the game. Offensively, he considers himself a skilled shooter, enjoying mid-range and baseline shots, as well as three-pointers.

At Pinelands High, his coach, Adrian Daniels, said that Erasmus is one of the players who has helped to raise the standard of basketball at the school.

“His work ethic and determination are unmatched. At every practice, he is the hardest-working person on the court. He’s become a great role model for his peers and the younger kids who look up to him,” Daniels explained.

“Watching him win the MVP at this year’s Wynberg Tournament was great. I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s worked really hard, and it’s great to see the work pay off.

“I’m super excited to see how he takes his game to the next level next year,” he concluded.

Erasmus told SuperSport Schools Plus that he has gained significant insights from both club and school basketball, emphasising that there is no separation in the lessons he has learnt from the two.

He highlighted a key lesson from coach Daniels at Pinelands High: in basketball, one must be prepared to give their all for their teammates without expecting anything in return. This principle has resonated deeply with him, shaping his perspective on teamwork, which he views as more than just a group of players, but rather as a brotherhood.

At Montana Vikings, he said the players frequently discuss themes of brotherhood and family. The lessons he has acquired at both school and club levels are always accessible to him, he added.

Erasmus has been blessed to learn from esteemed coaches, including coach Daniels at Pinelands High and coach Allie at the Montana Vikings. He is also engaged in one-on-one private training sessions with Vincent Ntunja, a former South African basketball player and co-founder, alongside Giovanni Freeman, of African Grassroots Hoops, which organises an annual Youth Classic Basketball Tournament in Cape Town.

Erasmus said that when he first met Ntunja, the coach spoke with authority, telling him he would be helped to where he wanted to go, and that it wasn’t a sense of false hope.

“He said, I will help you work to get where you want to be. And that is what stood out to me, because nowadays I think everyone is trying to skip the hard work part to get where they want to be. So, what stood out to me was that he offered to help me get where I want to be, not to get me there,” Erasmus explained.

Ntunja said working with Erasmus is a pleasure, noting that he is a player who pays attention and consistently seeks to improve.

“Our private sessions on the court are always positive, and I feel privileged to help enhance the work already done by his club and school coaches to get him to the next level. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.” Ntunja said.

Erasmus said coach Allie and Floyd Brown, at the Montana Vikings, have helped his defence, especially. His teammates, too, have served to inspire him to work hard.

Coach Allie, who told Erasmus that Rome wasn’t built in a day, has coached the young man for close to four years. He describes Erasmus as one of the most diligent players on the team.

“He’s extremely hard on himself, but I think that’s what’s really nice about him.

“He is not arrogant. He’s coachable and extremely respectful.

“He comes out of a really good home, and it’s just a pleasure to coach him,” Allie concluded.

Erasmus ended the chat by saying he has a strong desire to pursue further studies at a university, ideally overseas, with the aid of a scholarship, which would enable him to continue his basketball career. He would greatly value such an opportunity, he said.

Incredible Milestones Aidan Erasmus Achieved on the Basketball Court

– Bronze – SA School Summer Games (2022)
– Silver – Jr. NBA Tournament (2022)
– Vice-captain of Western Cape provincial team (2023)
– Silver – SA Schools Summer Games (2023)
– O’Reilly Cup (best basketball player award) at Pinelands High (2024 and 2025)
– Gold – Soweto Uprising tournament (2024) with Montana Vikings
– Gold – champion of Cape Town Basketball Association’s u16 division (2024 and 2025)
– Gold – champion of Cape Town Basketball Association’s u18 division (2024 and 2025)
– u18 National Team watchlist (2023)
– Champion in the Western Cape Top Schools Tournament (2025)
– All-Star Team in Western Cape Top Schools Tournament (2025)
– Western Cape Provincial Team u17 (2025)
– u19 Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament Champion (2025)
– u19 Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament MVP (2025)
– School Half Colours [Pinelands High] (2024 and 2025)
– Provincial Colours (2022, 2023, and 2025).

Maritzburg College and St Charles had met twice recently, with College winning a T20 by 16 runs on 16 October and a limited overs match by six wickets on 25 October.

Saints turned the tables on them on Wednesday, triumphing in a Schools SA20 – Volume Two clash at the St Charles Oval to book a place in the KZN Inland final of the countrywide competition.

With the line-ups somewhat different because the Schools SA20 runs into 2026, it was a warmly welcomed win for the hosts, who fielded first after the toss went College’s way.

A run out of the in-form Akhil Bharath, who opened the innings with Kyle de Bruyn, gave St Charles their breakthrough, with the visitors on 29/1 midway through the fifth over.

Soon, though, College was in trouble. De Bruyn followed for 22, bowled by Relebogile Mokoena for 22 from only 19 balls, three of which he’d struck for four and another for six.

Luka Puddu followed one run later, bowled by Jayden Saville, and Saville removed Luan van der Merwe without the addition of a run, also bowled, to leave Maritzburg College reeling on 38/4 in the eighth over. The visitors’ batting momentum had slowed, and they had lost their top four.

Dom du Toit and Deolyn Naidoo halted the slide, adding 31 in 34 balls before Du Toit exited for 17.

Naidoo held firm, advancing the total by another 35 runs with Reece Willson, who played aggressively to give the College innings a boost. Their partnership lasted 22 balls and was ended when Mokoena, the pick of the Saints’ bowlers, claimed his second wicket, removing Naidoo, caught and bowled, for 23 from 29 balls, which included two fours.

Willson and Matt Bisset added a further 31 runs in an unbroken seventh wicket stand to lift the visiting team to 125/6 after their 20 overs.

Willson top-scored for College, smashing two fours and a six in his unbeaten 31 from only 22 deliveries, while Bisset chipped in with 11 not out from eight.

Relebogile Mokoena finished with an outstanding 2/13 from his four overs, while Jayden Saville shone, too, knocking over 2/18 in his four.

The St Charles’ openers, Matthew Weightman and Thandolwethu Zama, then set their side up for success with a decisive opening stand, putting on 49 in six overs before Weightman was trapped LBW by Luke Venter for 23. He had faced only 19 balls and sent five of them to the boundary.

Zama helped to advance the total to 65 before he fell in the eighth over, caught by James Pembridge, again off of Venter’s bowling, for 28 from 25. His innings included only two boundaries, but they were both sixes.

St Charles suffered a slight wobble when they lost two wickets in the space of nine balls, which left them on 84/4, but they had taken only 11.5 overs to get there. They were well ahead of the required run rate.

Keegan Vermaak and Caleb Sharp then combined for an unbroken stand of 42 runs in 44 balls to see their side to victory with five balls to spare.

Vermaak finished with 31 from 33, with two fours, while Sharp’s contribution was 21 from 21, with three fours.

Luke Venter claimed 2/19 in three for College, while Grant Hosking removed Ryan Clarke and picked up 1/10 in two. Akhil Barath trapped Connor Simpson in front and returned 1/19 in four.

Traditional rivals, Hilton College and Michaelhouse, meet at Hilton on Thursday in the second semi-final.

Summarised scorecard

Maritzburg College 125/6 (Reece Willson 31*, Deolyn Naidoo 24, Kyle de Bruyn 22; Relebogile Mokoena 2/13, Jayden Saville 2/18); St Charles College 126/4 (Keegan Vermaak 31*, Thandolwethu Zama 28, Matthew Weightman 23, Caleb Sharp 21*; Luke Venter 2/19). St Charles College won by six wickets.

From the very first day that she set foot on court, Edenvale High’s Shiloh Berardelli knew netball was more than just a game; it was her passion.

Shiloh’s journey began at pre-primary school when her mom signed her up for a club called Nutty Netters. What started as a fun after-school activity quickly developed into a lifelong love for the sport.

“Ever since then, I’ve been playing netball non-stop,” Shiloh says. “I’d definitely say the competitiveness made me fall in love with the sport because I’m a very competitive person.”

Beyond the drive to win, Shiloh also cherishes the friendships that she has built through the game, connections that have turned teammates into family.

Her inspiration began close to home, with her mom being the first person to motivate her. As she entered high school, Shiloh found new role models in Robyn Bull and Alex Meimaris, both standout players for Edenvale’s first team. Another major influence was Joy Toerien, the school’s first-team coach, who shaped Shiloh’s approach in terms of hard work and teamwork.

Primarily playing in the GA and WA positions, Shiloh thrives in attack. She is known for her ability to create opportunities, assist teammates, and give her all every time she steps on court.

“I love assisting my teammates and putting every bit of effort in so that the team can pull off a win,” she says.

One of her most memorable experiences came during the Menlo Tournament, where Edenvale High produced a stunning performance.

“The memories made on and off the court, as a team, are unforgettable,” Shiloh reflects.

Looking ahead, Shiloh has big dreams for her netball future.

“In five years, I see myself playing competitively either here in South Africa or overseas. I’d love to play internationally, but for now, my goal is to play TNL.”

Her message to young athletes is simple but powerful:

“You must always work hard for what you want. Nothing will ever come easy. Don’t let a small setback defeat you or your purpose; it happens for a reason. Trust that reason and keep putting in the work. If you work hard and stay motivated, great things will come your way.”

The fourth edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Schools Football Championship, Cosafa Qualifiers, takes place in Stellenbosch from 5 to 7 December.

The tournament, which South Africa has won three times since its inception in 2022, serves as the final stage of the competition and leads to the finals of the CAF African Schools Football Champions where winners from various zones across the African continent compete to determine the ultimate boys’ and girls’ champions.

The Cosafa qualifiers features teams from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Since its inaugural edition in 2022, the competition has expanded. Initially, the qualifiers and the final stage featured top schools from each country representing their nations. In recent years, however, national teams have represented their countries.

In 2022, the Clapham High‘s boys’ team and Edendale Technical High‘s girls’ team represented South Africa during the Cosafa qualifiers, with both winning the zonal competition, which earned them the right to represent the South African boys’ and girls’ teams in the final stages of the competition in South Africa.

In 2023, the format shifted away from individual schools when the qualifiers were held in Zimbabwe. South Africa was, however, crowned the champion in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions of the Cosafa qualifiers again.

The latest Cosafa qualifiers took place in Namibia in 2024. Once again, South Africa won both the boys’ and girls’ competitions, thus earning themselves places at the CAF African Schools Championship, which was held in Ghana earlier this year.

The winners of the girls’ competition was Ghana, while the boys’ competition was won by Tanzania.

South Africa has represented the Cosafa region three times in the final stage of the CAF African Schools Championship, including in 2024, when the South African girls won the continental title in Zanzibar.

In 2023, South Africa was the runner-up in the competition, with their representative Clapham High losing the boys’ final to Ben Sekou, from Guinea. Regulation time in the title game finished at 1-1, but Ben Sekou won 5-4 from the penalty spot in a shootout.

The CAF African Schools Championship has been championed by South Africa’s Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the President of CAF, with the Motsepe Foundation contributing an investment of $10 million into the competition.

Speaking to Cosafa Media, Dr. Motsepe said: “School football is at the heart of the long-term development and growth of African football.

“One of the best investments that we can make to ensure that African football is among the best in the world is to invest in school football and football infrastructure for boys and girls at school, amateur, and professional levels.”

Earlier this year, both Tanzania and Ghana received $300 000 in prize money. The runners-up were awarded $200 000, while the bronze medallists took home $150 000.

The prize money is designated for infrastructure development at schools, with many investing in educational and sporting resources for their students. Prize money is also up for grabs at the zonal union level.

The champions of December’s CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier will be awarded $100 000, while the second-place team will receive $75 000, and the team finishing in third place will earn $50 000.

In addition to the action on the field, the event will feature numerous other initiatives, including Safeguarding Workshops for young individuals, a Young Reporters Programme, and workshops for referees and coaches.

A scintillating century from David de Bruyn powered Northwood to an emphatic 42-run victory over Grantleigh High in a Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two clash at Northwood on Monday.

Clifton College, meanwhile, restricted Hoërskool Suid Natal to a low total, which they chased down in only eight overs to win by eight wickets at the Riverside Sports Club.

Northood vs Grantleigh High

De Bruyn opened the Knights‘ innings with Ross McGlashan, and the pair gave the home side a strong start, making 68 for the first wicket before McGlashan was bowled by Luca Olivier for 27 from 17 balls, which included four fours and a six.

Thomas Oosthuizen and De Bruyn added 25 for the second wicket, with Oosthuizen contributing only five of those runs, which underlined De Bruyn’s dominance.

Oosthuizen was run out by Tristan van Rooyen and one run later Van Rooyen bowled Jamie Wimble, which left Northwood on 94/3 after 11 overs.

De Bruyn and Josh Mills then combined for un unbroken 75-run partnership to lift the hosts to 169/3 from their 20 overs.

Mills finished with 18 not out. De Bruyn, meanwhile, stole the show, smashing seven fours and five sixes in his undefeated 104, which took only 73 balls.

Tristan van Rooyen was the pick of the Grantleigh bowlers, returning 1/23 from four overs.

Grantleigh’s reply began with the loss of Kian Topham in the first over, but Yadav Dayaram and Luca Oliver then stymied the Knights’ attack for over 15 overs, adding 96 runs.

It was a solid partnership, but a higher scoring rate was required. Nonetheless, both batsmen scored at a run rate of 106 per 100 balls faced.

Olivier was caught by David de Bruyn off the bowling of Max Nicholson for 52, which featured six fours. Dayaram stayed on until the last over, eventually losing his wicket to a stumping off the bowling of Luc Boyall for 62. Like Olivier, he had struck six fours.

Two more wickets went down in the final over, which left Boyall with the sparkling figures of 3/2 from one over.

With their 20 overs done, Grantleigh finished on 125/5.

Clifton College vs Hoërskool Suid Natal

At the Riverside Sports Club, Suid Natal chose to bat first against Clifton. Scoring had been difficult at the venue on Saturday, when Clifton beat Kearsney College by 19 runs in a limited overs match, and the visitors from Port Shepstone found the going tough on Monday.

Only three of their batsmen made it into double figures. Marco Fritz, with 18, top-scored, while opener, Karlo Jacobs, made 10, while Sameer Mangisa, batting tenth, in the order, finished with 12 not out.

Suid Natal made a decent start, moving to 18 without loss after four overs. That’s when matters went awry, however, with Clifton capturing four wickets for the addition of only one run in just over two overs.

The bowlers responsible for the collapse were the two spinners who have been superb for the Durban school all year long: Shiraz Perumal, who is in the Dolphins’ Khaya Majola team, and Blake Johnson, who was selected for the KZN Coastal u16 side. Perumal snared 3/18 in four overs with his leg spin, while Johnson picked up 2/18 in four with his left-arm spin.

Keegan Watson grabbed two late wickets as Suid Natal finished with 79/9. Watson’s contribution was 2/11 in three.

Clifton required only four runs an over to win. They lost their openers early, with Veer Ramouthar out in the third over for 12, while Daniel Rea followed in the fourth over for two.

After that, Muhammed Malek and Hayden Drieselmann dominated. It took them 26 balls to see Clifton to victory with an unbroken stand of 52.

Malek slammed six fours in his 25 from 16 balls, while Drieselmann cracked six fours and a six in his rapid unbeaten 33 from 15.

Liam Scholtz was the best of the visiting bowlers, returning 1/18 from his three overs.

Summarised scorecards

Northwood 169/3 (David de Bruyn 104*, Ross McGlashan 27; Tristan van Rooyen 1/23); Grantleigh High 125/5 (Yadav Dayaram 62, Luca Olivier 52; Luc Boyall 3/2). Northwood won by 42 runs.

Hoërskool Suid Natal 79/9 (Marco Fritz 18; Shiraz Perumal 3/18, Keegan Watson 2/11, Blake Johnson 2/18); Clifton College 80/2 (Hayden Drieselmann 33*, Muhammed Malek 25*). Clifton College won by eight wickets.

Although the majority of schools nationwide have concluded their basketball matches for 2025, several KZN schools were in action on Saturday, including a big-time showdown between Northwood and Maritzburg College.

A basketball clash between Northwood and College is a guarantee of a high-voltage action-packed game and the KZN basketball powers delivered again, outdoors in Durban.

The conditions were testing, sunny but windy, but both teams adapted their games well to meet that challenge.

From the very first tip-off, the match was intense and charged with emotion. Both teams entered the fray with determination, and early technical fouls on both sides established the competitive atmosphere for the afternoon.

Once the initial chaos subsided, Northwood, led by u18 South African national basketball team player, Siya Shabalala, took control, launching aggressive attacks in transition, which led them to a four-point advantage by the end of the first quarter.

Defensively, Northwood transitioned into a two-three zone, maintaining discipline and focus. Communication was precise, rotations were compact, and the team effectively controlled the boards. By halftime, the Knights had extended their advantage to 32-24, having restricted College to minimal second-chance opportunities.

The Red, Black, and White headed into the second half having made strategic adjustments and were able to narrow the deficit to just one point. Northwood, though, responded with a scoring run of their own.

In the fourth quarter, the home side was faced with further challenges to overcome when both Sims Vacu, one of Northwood’s standout players, and Shabalala incurred their fourth fouls. The Knights’ bench rose to the challenge, defended tenaciously and sustained the game’s tempo.

Inside, Awande Chiliza delivered an impressive performance, concluding the contest with 18 points and 22 rebounds, which left him only two points shy of his third consecutive 20/20 game.

Shabalala topped the scoring chart with 27 points and set the game’s tempo through fearless drives and relentless hustle. Vacu contributed 10 points and six assists and skilfully managed the attack until foul trouble hindered his progress.

In the end, Northwood won by 14 points to reaffirm their status as one of South Africa’s top basketball teams.

Pabatso Sithole leads Kearsney College to win over Clifton 

In hot and windy conditions, Kearsney College made their way to the Riverside Sports Club to take on Clifton College in their final fixture of the year

Pabatso Sithole, who has enjoyed a superb season, once again demonstrated his skills by leading Kearsney with 21 points.

He was their star performer when Kearsney lifted the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament title and his excellent form has continued throughout the term.

Sithole received good support from Lubansi Mseleku and Daniel Prinsloo, who contributed 12 points each, while Lwandile Njapha dropped eight points in a 66-21 Kearsney victory.

The game got off to a slow start, with both sides struggling to find their shooting range. At the end of the first quarter, Kearsney held a slim 8-7 lead.

In the second quarter, the visitors found their shooting stroke and their defensive structure, adding 21 points without conceding any to go into the break leading 29-7.

Clifton picked up their game in the second half, but Kearsney comfortably eased clear, with the home side adding 14 points and the visitors tacking on another 37.

At Westville, the visitors, St Charles College, pulled off a hard-fought 10-point victory over Westville Boys’ High, winning 69-59.

In Balgowan, the honours in the big clash between Michaelhouse and Hilton College went to the visitors, who came away with a six-point win, 62-46.

RESULTS

Kearsney College 62-21 Clifton College
Hilton College 52-46 Michaelhouse
Northwood 66-52 Maritzburg College
St Charles College 69-59 Westville Boys’ High

Nicholas Bayly has all the gears. When he arrived at the crease in a game against St John’s College, St Stithians was on 23/1 after 5.2 overs. Saints needed to consolidate and rebuild. So, he dropped anchor, and after three overs, he had taken two singles off 11 deliveries.

Halfway through their innings, Saints had recovered, and Bayly had picked up the pace. Going at just under a run-a-ball, he was on 54 from 56 deliveries.

After he reached his century, the St Stithians’ captain broke free, not because he felt that he had done his job, but because he recognised the need for his side to be aggressive in the last 10 overs if they were to set a winning total.

His contribution from the last eight overs was a decisive 71 runs from 31 balls.

“That was a very good innings. I came in early, and Tom Collins and I built a very good partnership to get us back on track. It was hot, it was 35 degrees or so, but I stayed focused for a much longer time and played some better shots. I had some very good shots against St John’s. I liked that,” Bayly told SuperSport Schools Plus.

The St Stithians’ captain, whom first team coach, Lazarus Mokoena, describes as a level-headed cricketer, was born into a sporting family. His mother, Inga, made the SA Schools‘ hockey team in her youth, while his father, John, had a stint with Leicestershire.

“I think the passion came from my husband, John, throwing balls to him when he was little. We bought him little golf and cricket sets, and stuff like that. My husband is a massive, massive cricket fan. He’s passionate about the sport,” Inga said.

Bayly took his cricket out of the backyard at six and was playing in the Northern Suburbs Saturday Schools (NSSS) League a year later. It was there that he showed his penchant for big scores.

He had barely turned 10 when he recorded his maiden double century. It was the start of a journey that has been littered with accolades from the junior ranks at Bryneven Primary School to the senior ranks at St Stithians.

“My first hundred was a double hundred. I scored a double hundred off around 100 balls. It was quite a fun time,” Bayly recalled.

The teenager, who named Proteas’ legend Jacques Kallis as his role model, offers a similar skillset to the South African great. Bayly bowls first change for St Stithians and the Gauteng Lions‘ representative teams. He possesses the ability to swing the ball away from right-handers and shapes it into left-handers.

“I much prefer my batting,” he admitted, “but I feel like my bowling has come along really well. I’ve gotten better with my bowling over the past two years and pretty much see myself as a normal all-rounder.

“I’ve always admired how Jacques Kallis batted and also the way that he scored so many runs and took so many wickets, as well. If I were to ever be any cricketer, I would be Jaques Kallis,” he added.

His twin skills earned him a place in the St Stithians’ first team when he was still a Grade 9 learner. He received his first cap on a tour of Sri Lanka.

Bayly fondly remembers learning lessons from top players, including Richard Seletswane and Kwena Maphaka.

“Nic is a great thinker, and I love and enjoy his work ethic,” Nqaba Matoti, who has worked with Bayly over the past 18 months, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“He is a leader who likes to lead from the front. His one failing is that he can sometimes overthink the little things. He must understand that it’s still a game that needs to be enjoyed.”

Matoti’s assessment of Bayly’s cricket IQ and work ethic matches that of the St Stithians’ think tank, which includes Mokoena and Wim Jansen. They see him as a player who inspires and motivates his teammates, and that’s why they entrusted him with leading the first team.

“When approaching captaincy, you have to first make sure that your team is motivated to win. The main cause of cricket is to win. You don’t want to just go there and just mess about. You need to be motivated to the cause,” Bayly said.

While they use different words, Mokoena, Jansen, and Matoti also speak in unison when they discuss Bayly’s most important other skill: coachability.

“It’s really been great to see how he has taken to some of the discussions we have had in our sessions,” Matoti said.

That feedback has resulted in Bayly developing more scoring options on the on-side, especially off his legs. Matoti conceded that Bayly still needs to fortify his technique against spin. However, he is in no doubt that the teenager will soon be a greater force against the turning ball.

“He is hitting the ball sweetly and with so much more control,” said Matoti.

When asked about the future, Bayly repeated what he said when he was 12: he wants to pursue cricket as a career. However, like every good leader, he has a plan B ready, just in case the first one fails to materialise or is delayed.

“I’m quite big on my numbers and economics. So, I’m looking at going into a BCom in financial and risk management at Stellenbosch. That will lead to me becoming a CA or a financial analyst,” he revealed.

Right now, though, Bayly is focused on leading St Stithians to as much success as possible.

The South African u19 Academy squad arrived in Ireland on Sunday evening, determined to finish their two-match European tour on a high note against Ireland u19 on Friday.

The SA u19s are aiming to bounce back from a hard-fought 12-20-to France u19 in Chateauroux on Saturday.

Following the physically demanding match in France, the SA u19 touring party encountered travel delays on their journey from Paris to Dublin on Sunday, while some luggage items were left behind in France. That resulted in a very late arrival at their Cork hotel after a three-hour bus transfer from Dublin airport.

However, the coaches are viewing the travel wobble through a positive lens, with Junior Springboks‘ head coach Kevin Foote noting that overcoming off-field challenges is a critical part of the growth process for these young rugby hopefuls.

“Every international tour brings unexpected tests, and this journey was certainly one of them, but it only reinforces the need for adaptability and mental toughness,” said Foote, in Cork, on Monday.

“We’re here to learn and grow, and that applies to how we handle travel and adversity just as much as how we handle the on-field challenge.”

The primary focus of the U19 tour remains firmly on player development, gaining international experience, and integrating the team’s culture as they build towards the 2026 international season, which includes the U20 Rugby Championship and the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia, where the Junior Boks will defend their title.

Foote said the tough encounter against a highly structured French side provided an ideal learning platform: “We reflected hard and looked at our game in more detail. I thought our set-piece was good, and our tight-five, in particular, did a proper job in our scrums and our lineouts.”

The SA u19 coach praised his charges’ defensive effort: “We were under huge pressure in the beginning of the game, but our defence scrambled well, and some of our kicking out of hand, particularly by Vusi Moyo, was good.”

However, the key lessons came down to improving fundamentals.

“We obviously must work on our combinations, just spending some time together and making sure we do better with our link play, so we can play the type of rugby we really want,” said Foote.

“But that all comes from our breakdown and our fundamental work. We realise that some of our actual core skills weren’t great against France – understanding what line speed and physicality around the breakdown at international level is, and how we are going to deal with that.”

Looking forward to the coming week and their stay in Ireland, Foote explained said Monday would be dedicated to game clarity and match review, and to pick up the players’ energy levels before they resume on-field training on Tuesday.

Wednesday will be a recovery day and on Thursday they will wrap up preparations with their captain’s run as final preparation for Friday’s clash with the Irish.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications