Kris Mihaylov on the podium after winning the gold medal at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships. Photo: Team South Africa
St Benedict’s College and Durban High School (DHS) have every reason to celebrate after two of their learners, Kris Mihaylov and Cole Martin, delivered exceptional performances at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Bucharest, Romania.
The event ran over six days from 19 to 24 August and brought together the world’s best junior swimmers.
Mihaylov stole the spotlight by clinching gold in the 200m butterfly.
His victory follows closely on the heels of Pieter Coetze‘s record-breaking backstroke triumphs at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore – gold in the 100m backstroke and silver in the 50m and 200m backstroke – and shines a bright light on South Africa’s swimming future.
Mihaylov, who is better known for his freestyle achievements and is coached by former world 50m freestyle record holder, Peter Williams, qualified for the final with an outstanding swim in the morning heats, stopping the clock at 1:58.17.
In the final, he swam a strong first 100m split of 55.52 seconds, which left him 0.71 seconds clear of Hungary’s David Antal, and more than two seconds up on the rest.
He, then, powered home to touch the wall in 1:56.16, which bettered his personal best of 1:58.18 by more than two seconds. Behind him, Antal claimed silver in 1:56.87, while Turkey’s Tuncer Erturk took bronze in 1:58.14.
The 17-year-old’s Mihaylov’s remarkable swim delivered South Africa’s only gold medal, but DHS standout, Cole Martin, at only 15 years of age, caught the eye in breaststroke events.
Competing over all three distances, he produced superb times of 30:36 from the 50m, 1:06.24 for the 100m, and 2:28.35 for the 200m. With time on his side, he’ll be someone to watch out for over the next couple of years.
Northwood and Mairtzburg College remain in the hunt for the Cowie Cup. They recently met twice at the Primo Big 10, with both matches ending in draws, but the Knights progressed to the semi-finals after a penalty shootout. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup, after several weeks of sluggish progress, is headed towards its business end following the completion of the round of 16 fixtures, and some results have shaken up the competition.
During an intensified period of third-term football, unexpected results have become commonplace, and several of KwaZulu-Natal’s most prominent teams have suffered elimination.
Glenwood High, who won the Coastal A-League in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Primo Big 10 last year, fell to Brettonwood, who claimed the KZN Coastal C-Leaguetitle in June.
Despite Glenwood’s advantage in experience and their participation at a higher level of competition, it was Brettonwood who prevailed 4-3 from the penalty spot after the teams had finished regulation time level at 1-1.
Northwood‘s impressive resurgence continued, meanwhile, when they delivered an exceptional performance in a decisive 4-0 victory over St Nicholas Diocesan School.
Queensburgh High, the runner-up in the Coastal B-League, was pushed all the way by Reddam House Umhlanga. They played to a 1-1 draw, and the subsequent penalty shootout went all the way to sudden death before Queensburgh scraped through 6-5 from the spot.
The showdown between Greytown High and Bechet High extended even further, with Greytown snatching a 7-6 penalty shootout win following an exciting 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Port Shepstone dominated Newton School, romping to a 5-0 victory that propelled Sheppie into the quarterfinals.
Carter High, the runners-up of the KZNHSFA Inland A-League, also moved into the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 1-0 win over New Forest. Their Pietermaritzburg rivals, Maritzburg College, scored a 2-0 win over Fairvale Secondary School.
The quarterfinals’ lineup has thrown up some interesting fixtures, with Northwood tackling Queensburgh High, and Brettonwood aiming to continue their giant-killing form against Maritzburg College.
Carter High will head into their clash with Greytown favoured to advance to the semi-finals, while the remaining match, between Port Shepstone and Alexandra High, might well prove to be the pick of the bunch.
Cowie Cup Last 16 Results
Queensburgh High (6) 1-1 (5) Reddam House Umhlanga
Maritzburg College 2-0 Fairvale
Newton 0-5 Port Shepstone
Alexandra 2-1 Westville
New Forest 0-1 Carter
Greytown (7) 2-2 (6) Bechet
Quarter Finals
Queensburgh vs Northwood
Brettonwood vs Maritzburg College
Port Shepstone vs Alexandra
Carter vs Greytown
Since 2002, Wynberg has won 29 of their 43 matches against SACS, with SACS picking up 13 wins, while one game ended in a draw. When last they met, in June, Wynberg scored a 21-10 victory.
The southern suburbs’ rivals end their seasons in the spotlight of a King Price Derby Series clash on Saturday.
SACS head coach Nick Maurer told SuperSport Schools Plus, it’s about more than the last match of the season: “It’s the final game for the matric pupils. It’s an emotional one. They’ll be out there representing their school for the final time,” he explained.
After a few up and downs while dealing with injuries, SACS has looked strong in the latter part of the season. They’ll throw everything they have into Saturday’s clash on Hawthornden Field.
Hooker and captain, Sango Zangqa, is a lead-by-example player, whose physicality will challenge Wynberg.
Siphe Mbungendlu, at flank, has an all-out engine and he’ll be a threat at the breakdowns and when carrying the ball.
The hosts will fight fire with fire. Prop, Luqobo Makwedini, is a cannonball of power and will ask serious questions of the SACS scrum.
Meanwhile, the Wynberg lineout will be led by their workhorse lock and captain, Jaythen Orange, whose immense work rate makes him a threat all over the field.
The hosts’ halfbacks present a double-threat. Scrumhalf Morné Noble, distributes with pace and has a keen eye for any gaps that might appear around the fringes of rucks and mauls. Meanwhile, flyhalf Achmat Behardien, reads the game well and does an excellent job of identifying space. With good decision-making, he’s adept at exploiting those areas of potential weakness with his sharp kicking and passing.
With both teams aiming to end their season with a derby win and many players running out for their schools for a last time, it will be an emotional clash. Who will handle those emotions better, and might SACS claim an unlikely away win?
Teams
Wynberg vs SACS at 12:30 on Hawthornden Field this Saturday.
Wynberg: 15 Laeeq Davids, 14 Chad Campbell, 13 Kunene Gadu, 12 Daniel Oud, 11 Albert Lourens, 10 Achmat Behardien, 9 Morné Noble, 8 Esa van der Schyff, 7 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 6 Alvin Machinja, 5 James Orwin, 4 Jaythen Orange (captain), 3 Luqobo Makwedini, 2 Noah Gila, 1 Luke Miller.
Jason Rowles and Johan Feuth were outstanding with the bat and received purple caps at the close of play on day one. Photo: St David’s Marist Inanda on Instagram.
Jason Rowles, Johan Feuth, and Andrew Sobiech recorded centuries on the opening day of the Fasken Time Cricket Festival, at St David’s Marist Inanda, on Thursday.
Shiraz Perumal and Zizi Mkhize dominated with the ball and claimed the first five-wicket hauls of the competition.
Rowles (116*), Sobiech (109), and Feuth (100) were among the cohort of 12 players awarded purple caps as recognition for their outstanding craftsmanship on the field. The other recipients were: Goolam Ahmed, Jason Knoetze, Alec Loveland, Matthew Barbour, Ombesa Matsha, Luke Clark, Connor Simpson, Muhammed Malek, and Wander Roolvink.
Rowles put his experience on show to spare the hosts the blushes with a beautifully compiled unbeaten century that drew St David’s within touching distance of Waterkloof’s first innings total.
St David’s, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, had Waterkloof with their backs against the wall when Jared Stern ran through the Klofies‘ top order. The visitors, though, wrestled back control with an outstanding 98-run fifth-wicket partnership between Johan Feuth and AJ de Villiers, with Feuth carving an unbeaten 100 and De Villiers adding 81.
Rowles, who broke the big fifth-wicket partnership, anchored the St David’s innings with an unbeaten 116 and was well supported by Samrat Basu, who scored a valuable 64. At the close of play, the hosts trailed Waterkloof by only nine runs.
Andrew Sobiech constructed the third century of the day with a superb 109 against Jeppe High School for Boys. The opener held firm for the first 32 overs to lead St Andrew’s School’s reply to Jeppe’s first innings total of 188. While he survived the challenge of Shreshth Kumar’s bowling, he was unable to do the same against Zizi Mkhize.
Mkhize ran through the St Andrew’s batting order, snapping up 6/46. However, that wasn’t enough to prevent Saints from taking a handy 66-run lead into the second day after the Bloemfontein school tallied 254 all out.
Shiraz Perumal spun a web around Noordheuwel‘s batting lineup to prevent the Gauteng side from bettering Clifton’s first innings.
The Durban school batted first and found the conditions to be challenging. Mohammed Malek, though, grafted hard for an unbeaten 69 from 117 deliveries to see Clifton to 206 all out. That total also owed a lot to Eliah van Jaarsveld, who cracked an aggressive 35 off only 25 balls, which included five fours and two sixes. He added 49 for the ninth wicket with Malek, which propelled Clifton past 200.
After Noordheuwel made a strong start to their reply, with Wander Roolvink making 49 and Kian Liebenberg 40 in an opening stand of 72, Clifton needed something special to halt Nories‘ smooth progress.
Leg-spinner, Shiraz Perumal, put his hand up. He snared six wickets for 83 runs as Noordheuwel was dismissed for 202, leaving Clifton with a small four-run first innings’ lead. By stumps, Clifton had reached 34/1 in their second knock.
King Edward VII‘s (KES) Connor Kuijers and Steele Grooteman combined to take seven St Charles’ College wickets, which helped restrict the KZN side to a first innings score of 188. When it was their turn to bat, KES overhauled the Pietermaritzburg school’s middling score and put 225/8 on the board.
Batting again, St Charles made a poor start to their second innings, with Grooteman and Lebone Ramedupe picking up early wickets to leave the KZN side on 10/2 and 27 runs behind at the close of play.
Matthew Barbour was one of 11 players to score half-centuries on the first day of the festival, and the opener’s contribution, 88 from 139 balls, helped lift the Lions Invitational XI to a good-looking 266/8 against St Stithians College.
Undaunted, St Stithians confidently set about chasing down the Lions’ total and by stumps they were only 59 runs in arrears, with seven wickets in hand. Ombesa Matsha struck a 97-ball 80, while Tahseen Hanslo settled in and was unbeaten on 40 when Saints ended the day on 207/3.
After Hoërskool Nelspruit had posted 227/7, led by 71 from Joshua Knoetze and 41 not out from Janco Breyl, St John’s College replied with 232/5 to end day one with a five-run lead.
St John’s opener, Aiden Barberini performed his job well, putting together an unbeaten 79, and together with Darshik Lutchman, who made 69, shared an opening stand of 111 runs. Alec Loveland shone with the ball in Nelspruit’s innings, knocking over 4/66.
Scores
Waterkloof 289/9 (Johan Feuth 100*, AJ de Villiers 81; Jared Stern 4/37, Miles Pegg 3/56). St David’s 219/8 (Jason Rowles 116*, Samrat Basu 64; Christiaan Smit 3/33, Johan Liebenberg 2/46, Vorster de Villiers 2/10). Waterkloof leads St David’s by nine runs.
Clifton 206/10 (Muhammed Malek 69*, Eliah van Jaarsveld 35; Hanru Begeman 3/22, Dihan Grove 3/59, Hinrich Smith 2/23) Noordheuwel 202/10 (Wander Roolvink 49, Kian Liebenberg 40; Shiraz Perumal 6/83, Keegan Watson 2/10). Clifton 34/1 (Declan Shaw 16*, Muhammed Malek 12*; JD Bezuidenhout 1/8). Clifton leads Noordheuwel by 38 runs.
Jeppe 188/10 (Goolam Ahmed 92, Keegan Cockburn 30; Nikhil Sukraj 4/41, Bohlokwa Leketa 3/34). St Andrew’s School 254/10 (Andrew Sobiech 109, Reuben van Aarde 34*; Zizi Mkhize 6/46, Shreshth Kumar 3/90). St Andrew’s leads Jeppe by 66 runs.
St Charles 188/10 (Connor Simpson 51, Ryan Clarke 22; Connor Kuijers 4/56, Steele Grooteman 3/40, Luke Clark 2/25). KES 225/8 (Urav Mukhija 53, Luke Clark 44; Keegan Vermaak 3/28, Daksesh Rajah 1/47). St Charles 10/2 (Thandolwethu Zuma 5, Keegan Vermaak 4*; Lebone Ramedupe 1/0, Steele Grooteman 1/4). St Charles trails by 27 runs.
Lions Invitational XI 266/8 (Matthew Barbour 88, Sachin Sunkar 47, Zuan Joubert 44; Akhil Challa 3/40, Tajendra Naidu 2/36). St Stithians 207/3 (Ombesa Matsha 80, Tahseen Hanslo 40*, Nicholas Bayly 28*; Tebogo Lebuya 2/56, Heinrich Minnaar 1/18). St Stithians trails by 59 runs.
Nelspruit 227/7 (Joshua Knoetze 71, Janco Breyl 41*; Alec Loveland 4/66, Lwazi Khupe 1/34). St John’s 232/5 (Aiden Barberini 79*, Darshik Lutchman 69; Duan Smal 2/40, Jason Knoetze 2/26). St John’s leads by five runs.
The annual NMI Toyota Noord/Suid Tournament will return in 2026 to the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool(Affies) in Pretoria for the 12th edition of the prestigious schoolboy rugby event.
The tournament is one of the highlights on the 2026 school rugby calendar and will feature many of the country’s top rugby-playing schools’ First XVs, as well as their Second XVs, in the Jacaranda City.
Paarl Boys’ High, Paarl Gimnasium, Grey College, Affies, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Garsfontein are among the sides that will take to the field between 27 and 31 March. Those six schools have ranked among the top 10 school rugby teams in South Africa for the past four years.
The 2026 edition will also see three new faces with Hoërskool Zwartkop, of Centurion, Hoërskool Trio, of Kroonstad and Hoërskool Witteberg, of Bethlehem, receiving invites.
Zwartkop recorded 17 wins on the trot this season before narrowly losing 19-22 against Hoërskool Middelburg in the SDC Noordvaal Cup semi-final of the Plate-section.
Witteberg was crowned the champion of the GriffonsLeague for the first time after an emphatic 47-33 victory over their Bethlehem rivals, Hoërskool Voortrekker, in the final. Trio has shown since it was founded by the amalgamation of Die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad and Hoërskool Kroonstad that they are a serious rugby programme.
The two Middelburg powerhouses, HTS Middelburg and Hoërskool Middelburg, will also return to the Noord/Suid in 2026. The Rooi Bulle, as HTS Middelburg is affectionately known, last played in the 2021 edition of the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid-tournament.
Hoërskool Middelburg made only one appearance at the event previously, in 2015, when they took on Grey College’s formidable second stringers, the Cherries.
Two matchups on the opening day of the tournament that will be sure to capture the imagination are the showdowns between Jeppe High School for Boys and Paarl Boys’ High, and Paul Roos Gimnasium against Monument‘s Wit Bulle.
Boishaai tackles Garsfontein in another blockbuster on the tournament’s third day.
There will surely be fireworks when the hosts, Affies, clash with Oakdale Landbou in their first game on Saturday. Grey College locks horns with the Noordvaal finalists, Helpmekaar Kollege, while Paarl Gimnasium will take on Noordheuwel, of Krugersdorp, in another of the second day’s highlights.
On the final day, Gimmies will meet Die Hoërskool Menlopark, of Pretoria, who should have one of their stronger sides in recent years. Another match to look forward to is the battle between Grey College and Stellenberg‘s Jade Brigade.
The latter’s flyhalf, Ethan van Biljon, has been one of the standout performers during the 2025 season and will be a player on whom to keep an eye next year.
The Fixtures:
Friday, 27 March 2026
Mzwandile Mali XV vs Pretoria Boys High II
Zwartkop vs Voortrekker (Bethlehem)
Hoërskool Nelspruit vs Framesby
Waterkloof vs Diamantveld
EG Jansen vs HTS Drostdy
King Edward VII vs Outeniqua
Garsfontein vs Stellenberg
Jeppe High School for Boys vs Paarl Boys’ High
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Monument
Saturday, 28 March 2026
HTS Middelburg vs Hoërskool Trio
Welkom Gimnasium vs Nico Malan
Hoërskool Middelburg vs Witteberg
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Hoërskool Durbanville
Menlopark vs Boland Landbou
Noordheuwel vs Paarl Gimnasium
Grey College vs Helpmekaar
Affies vs Oakdale Landbou
Monday, 30 March 2026
Mzwandile Mali XV vs King Edward VII
Hoërskool Nelspruit vs Voortrekker (Bethlehem)
EG Jansen vs Framesby
Waterkloof vs Outeniqua
Jeppe High School for Boys vs Diamantveld
Monument vs HTS Drostdy
Pretoria Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
Garsfontein vs Paarl Boys’ High
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Zwartkop vs Witteberg
HTS Middelburg vs Nico Malan
Hoërskool Middelburg vs Hoërskool Trio
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Welkom Gimnasium
Helpmekaar vs Boland Landbou
Noordheuwel vs Oakdale Landbou
Menlopark vs Paarl Gimnasium
Grey College vs Stellenberg
Affies vs Hoërskool Durbanville
Hoërskool Montana benodig slegs een oorwinning, verkieslik in die eerste span se kragmeting met Hoërskool Pietersburg in die Skild-eindstryd, om promosie terug na die Plaat-afdeling te verseker.
Dié afdeling se promosiewedloop is nog wawyd oop vir drie skole wat elk een of meer spanne in die onderskeie eindstryde van die verskillende ouderdomsgroepe het.
Die Monties is tans algeheel eerste, met 206 ligapunte, gevolg deur Hoërskool Ben Vorster, wat slegs 1.5 ligapunte agter die voorlopers is, en, in die derde plek, die Monties se teenstanders in die eerstespan-eindstryd, Hoërskool Pietersburg, met 201.5 punte. Die Pieties het drie spanne in die onderskeie eindstryde, die meeste van ál die deelnemende skole in dié afdeling.
Daar sal boonop vanjaar ‘n nuwe Skild-kampioen gekroon word, nadat die verdedigende kampioen, Hoërskool Wesvalia, verlede jaar opgeskuif het na die Plaat-afdeling.
Dit is gepas dat die twee voorste spanne op die puntelys mekaar die stryd aansê om die titel. Die Monties het verdien om heel bo te eindig en het reeds vroeër vanjaar met 36-24 vir die Pieties geklop.
Die Pietersburgers gaan nie die eindstryd binne met dieselfde span wat die afgelope vier weke amok gemaak het nie, met Cravenweek-senter, Siya Mahlangu, wat moes onttrek weens ‘n besering. Linkervleuel, Keanu Potgieter, skuif gevolglik na die middeveld, waar dié graad 11-leerder, volgens afrigter, Corstiaan Vermaak, ‘n vars benadering op die aanval bied. Potgieter sal nietemin moet uithaal en wys in sy tweestryd met die Monties se staamaker-senter en kaptein, Hendrew Schoeman.
Benewens moontike promosie, staan die Monties natuurlik ‘n kans om hul heel eerste Noordvaal-titel in te palm. Indien dit gebeur, sal dit die tweede agtereenvolgende jaar wees wat hoofafrigter AJ le Roux, ‘n span na een van die SDC Noordvaal Cup se titels lei, nadat Hoërskool Transvalia verlede jaar die Plaat gedeel het met HTS Middelburg.
Die spanne:
Montana t. Hoërskool Pietersburg om 11:45 in Pretoria:
Montana: 15 Marq de Villiers, 14 Dixie Sethuga, 13 Luan Barnard, 12 Hendrew Schoeman, 11 Sam Schoeman, 10 Rubel Bester, 9 Braam Schutte, 8 Ulrich van Biljon, 7 Dieter Scheepers, 6 Ashton Vorster, 5 Kyle Bronkhorst, 4 Eric Potgieter, 3 Aiden Vorster, 2 Juan Theunissen, 1 Joseph Wilkinson.
Hoërskool Pietersburg: 15 Ryno Mienie, 14 Elkan Esterhuyze, 13 Zuhan Labuschagne 12 Keanu Potgieter, 11 Armand Venter, 10 Juan Randall, 9 Celliers van der Merwe, 8, FC Smith, 7 Juan Jansen van Vuuren, 6 Andru de Beer, 5 Ludke Pienaar, 4 Brent Vorster, 3 Stephan Jansen van Rensburg, 2 Ziahn Lombaard, 1 Krissie Swanepoel.
Skeidsregter: Ruan Benadie (Goue Leeus)
Ander spanne:
o.16 – 10:20 – Hoërskool Pietersburg t. Piet Retief. o.15 – 09:10 – Ben Vorster t. Piet Retief. o.14 – 08:00 – Montana t. Secunda.
Kaino Broadhurst, Abigail Holderness, Alanda Rademeyer and Litha Kraai will be vying for top honours in the inaugural Hockey on 216 Awards. Photos: Grant Howard/DSG Makhanda/JB-LookonImages/Ray Chaplin Photography
There were some tough decisions and bold and interesting calls made when the Hockey on 216 panel announced the nominees for the inaugural “Hockey on 216 Awards” on Wednesday afternoon.
The highly anticipated awards ceremony will feature on Episode 25 of the show, which is scheduled for 3 September at 19:00 on DStv Channel 216 and the SABC Plus App.
The awards will recognise some of the outstanding players who shone for their schools, provincial teams, and national sides.
The panel consists of Kelvin Watt, the host of Hockey on 216, as well as co-hosts Bridgett Kee and Krinesan Moodley, who offer their expertise on the show weekly.
The awards take into account players’ in-season form and their performances at the SASHOC National Weeks, plus other achievements that may have impressed the panel over the course of the season.
In the u19 section, there are five categories for both boys and girls: Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Forward of the Year, and the prestigious Player of the Year.
The u16s will also get to enjoy the spotlight with the “Young Player of the Year” nominees added to the fold.
Other awards that will be dished out include Best Hospitality Experience, Boys’ and Girls’ Tournament of the Year, Coaches of the Year, and Teams of the Year.
THE NOMINEES (Note* – each category has three nominations)
Christo Swanepoel of Paul Roos Gimnasium is in the running for the Midfielder of the Year Award. Photo: Janco Saunders
BOYS
Goalkeeper of the Year
Khotso Mabona – St David’s Marist Inanda
Kaino Broadhurst – Grey High School
Owen McMenamin – Pretoria Boys High
Defender of the Year
Jo le Roux – SACS
Ethan Kapanda – Jeppe High School for Boys
Luken Brunette – Hoërskool Garsfontein
Well beaten by Michaelhouse in their previous match, Glenwood bounced back with typical grit to trounce Hilton College in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Opening bowler Vincenzo Loutz captured two key wickets in the first over of Glenwood‘s Eston One Insurance T20 Night League match against Hilton College on Wednesday, at the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club, to set the Durban school on track for a big nine-wicket victory.
Soon, Hilton had slid to 18/4 in the sixth over, with Bandile Mbatha removing the dangerous Alex Pitman for 11, and, painfully for Hilton, Obakeng Motsepa was run out by Kyle Bryan for a duck.
Jayden Roux and Robert Burman steadied the ship, adding 32 runs before Burman departed for 22. Roux went on to record the innings’ top score of 23, but Benoit Rey was the only other batsman to make it into double figures, contributing 17.
Loutz and Mbatha, the opening bowlers, laid waste to Hilton’s batting effort. Loutz captured 4/15 in four overs, while Mbatha knocked over 3/19 in four. Two run outs also damaged Hilton’s innings and they were all out for only 96 in the 20th over.
They had the runs on the scoreboard, though, and Glenwood did not. The Green Machineneeded a good start, and they made a decent one, with Karabo Ntsieng and Kreesan Pillai putting on 29 for the first wicket in just under six overs before Pillai was bowled by Benoit Rey for 13 from 13.
Unfortunately for Hilton, that was the first and last success their bowlers enjoyed. Ntsieng and KrianJugoo batted responsibly, taking what was given to them, to steer Glenwood to victory off the second ball of the 18th over.
Ntsieng finished with 44 runs from 53 balls, with three fours, while Jugoo was undefeated on 36 from 40, which included five fours.
Benoit Rey picked up 1/18 from his three overs, but the Hilton bowlers simply had too few runs to defend, which meant they weren’t able to build sufficient pressure on the batsmen, and Glenwood cantered to a handsome victory.
Scores
Hilton College 96/10 (Jayden Roux 23, Robert Burman 22, Benoit Rey 17*, Vincenzo Loutz 4/15, Bandile Mbatha 3/19); Glenwood High 97/1 after 17.2 overs (Karabo Ntsieng 44*, KrianJugoo 36*, Benoit Rey 1/18).
YUVRAH GEORGE, vleuel van Hoërskool Garsfontein, in aksie teen Hoërskool Menlopark. FOTO: Frans Lombard/Actionpix.
Geen span het, sedert die ontstaan van die Noordvaal-reeks (voorheen Virsekerbeker) se Beker-afdeling sewe jaar gelede, daarin kon slaag om dié titel drie keer agtereenvolgens te verower nie.
Volg al die SDC Noordvaal Beker-aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com) of Kanaal 216
Dit is die geel wortel voor die neus van Hoërskool Garsfontein, die verdedigende kampioen van die afgelope twee jaar, wanneer hy Saterdag vir gevaarlike Helpmekaar Kollege in die eindstryd op Berepark verwelkom.
Die Helpies se matriek- sowel as Graad 11-groep is as kampioen op o.16-vlak in onderskeidelik 2023 en 2024 gekroon.
Die Lourens-tweeling, Ethan en Shaye Lourens, twee van die Helpies se grootste uitblinkers vanjaar, was verlede jaar staatmakers in Helpies se seëvierende o.16-span van verlede jaar. Helpies se kaptein, Ty Ax, en sy o.16-span het in 2023 ook die trofee omhoog gehou. Dié groeiproses is voortgesit met ál drie bogenoemde spelers wat vanjaar hul buiging by die Cravenweek vir die Leeus gemaak het.
Dit is juis hoekom die Bere se hoofafrigter, Johan du Plessis, meen dat die Helpies Saterdag straks die eindstryd as gunstelinge betree.
“Helpmekaar is ‘n gedugte span en dus besef ons dat dit nie ‘n maklike taak gaan wees om hulle in die eindstryd te klop nie,” het Du Plessis vandeesweek gesê.
“Ons fokus nooit te veel op geskiedenis nie, want elke jaar bring ‘n nuwe span, met nuwe uitdagings en kombinasies. Daarom fokus ons nie op dit wat die vorige twee jaar gebeur het nie, en weet ons ook dat die bal in enige rigting kan hop, vernaam in ‘n eindstryd.”
Die Bere sal, nes verlede week voor hul halfeindstryd teen Menlopark, weer kopkrap oor hoe die span Saterdag daar gaan uitsien.
Yuvrah George se twee agtereenvolgende driekunste maak dit moeilik om hom uit die span te laat, maar terselftertyd sit die tuisspan met SA Skole-vleuel, Junaide Stuart, en Drewyn Baron wat elkeen op enige gegewe dag iets uit niks kan optower. Stuart het in die halfeind teen die Parkies ‘n onmiddelike impak gemaak vanaf die bank, terwyl Baron ook sy indrukwekkende self was.
Boonop beskik Garsies oor die SA Skole “A”-heelagter, Junade Pasensie, wat waarskynlik vir die laaste keer as ‘n Beer in die nr.15-trui sal uitdraf. Dit alles maak die Garsies se keuse van kombinasies in die agterlyn uiters interessant.
Nuus vanuit die Helpies se kamp is dat hul beginspan, wat vir Hoërskool Noordheuwel met 39-36 getroef het, onveranderd bly ter wille van momentum. Die Helpies het wel vroeër vanjaar met 29-47 teen die Bere vasgeval, maar sedertdien hul ritme gevind en geen ander nederlaag in die rondomtalie-ronde gely nie.
Die span van Johannesburg kan Saterdag self ‘n stukkie geskiedenis skryf.
Indien Helpies die Bere kan klop sal dit die eerste keer in 50 jaar, sedert 1975, wees wat hulle as kampioen op die grootste verhoog in die Noordvaal gekroon word. Hulle het wel in 2016 en 2017 die Grootskole-trofee verower, en in 2019 weer die Beker-eindstryd gehaal, maar met 17-44 teen Hoërskool Menlopark verloor.
Dit is heel gepas dat vanjaar se twee Beker-voorlopers sake in die laaste en grootste wedstryd van die seisoen uitspook, en dit beloof 70 minute van naelbytrugby in Pretoria.
Die spanne is:
Garsfontein t. Helpmekaar Kollege om 14:00 op Berepark in Pretoria:
The countdown is on to the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, one of the country’s premier boys’ water polo events.
It takes place over five days at the picturesque Clifton Aquatic Centre from Wednesday, 24 September, to Sunday, 28 September, with 16 leading teams in action.
Half the field, eight teams, are from KZN, and they will desperately want to ensure that the trophy doesn’t go to a side from outside of the province again. They’ll also be confident they have the firepower to do that. The strength of water polo in KZN is, undoubtedly, on the up.
Kearsney College, the KZN Top 10 champions, meanwhile, won the St Stithians Invitational Water Polo Tournamentin late October 2024, beating Bishops in that final, and their team has changed little since then. They’re still young, but battle-hardened, hard-working, and very talented.
While Clifton College were not their usual dominant selves at the start of the year, there are reasons for optimism. Firstly, they are almost always in the hunt for the title at their tournament. Last year, they were the best of the KZN teams, finishing third.
Secondly, coach Pierre le Roux returned from New Zealand to join the team late in 2024, which meant he didn’t have the same preparation with his players that other coaches had. But no one doubts Le Roux’s coaching chops. He’s one of the best. They’ll be well prepared.
And thirdly, Clifton boasts some of the most exciting talent in the countryin their junior ranks. What remains to be seen is if Le Roux will promote some of those players to the first team for the Clifton Water Polo Tournament.
Durban High School, led by SA Schools’ defender Kirk Wilson, is a dark horse. They’ve made great strides in 2024. The same could be said about Northwood, Michaelhouse, and Maritzburg College, while Westville Boys’ High, like DHS, is a dark horse.
For a second year in succession, SACS won the Clifton Water Polo Tournament in 2024. Photo: Brad Morgan.
King Edward VII (KES), with wins over Westville and Paul Roos at their tournament, and a narrow one-goal loss to Kearsney, showed they’re a top tier team, and they, too, could make some noise.
The other team from Gauteng is Affies. A hard-fought loss by a single goal to Hilton College in the playoff for seventh last year is indicative of their quality.
Reddam House Constantia also represents the Western Cape. One of their highlights of the year was an astonishing 15-7 win over SACS in the SACS Nite Series, and that serves as warning to their opposition. If Reddam gets on a roll, as they did early on in that win over the defending champs of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, they could be a problem.
Selborne College carries the hopes of the Eastern Cape. They placed ninth in 2024’s tournament, never quite playing up to their potential, but they finished strongly with a comfortable 9-6 win over Northwood. They’re more of an unknown, compared to many of the other teams, but Selborne produced SA Schools’ players Liam Hansen and Thomas Caswell at the end of 2024, which underlines their quality.
Grey College completes the field. They have the most difficult task of all because they face no school opposition in the Free State. To play, they, mostly, have to travel. They’re well coached and, typical of Grey, play with an unwavering spirit, but it would be a surprise if they challenged for the title.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Clifton offers up one of the best water polo-viewing experiences in one of the best water polo facilities in South Africa. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Clifton will, as always, be welcoming hosts, and that includes hosting a Parents/Supporters function on Friday, 26 September, at 18:00, which will offer up an exciting opportunity to build the South African water polo community. Details and tickets are available from Quicket.
This is South Africa and that means that pride for the Springboks runs deep. Towards the business end of the tournament, on Saturday, 27 September, the Boks tackle Argentina at 15:00, and Clifton has taken care of that, too. The match will be shown on five big screen TVs, so there’s no need to miss either the rugby or the water polo.
The event will also include a designated u18 area for the athletes and an over-18 area, with a stocked bar for spectators and visitors.
Nine sponsors – Bioteen, Sir Fruit Juice, Gigazone, Capitol Caterers, Varsity College, Waterhouse, Thekwini Motor Group, The Press Club (Salta, eMdloti), and Prime Human Performance Institute – underlines the prestige the Clifton Water Polo Tournament carries. And with the competition as open as it has ever been, five days of thrilling entertainment is on the cards.
POOLS
Pool A Selborne College, Reddam House Constantia, Clifton College, Maritzburg College
Pool B Northwood School, Kearsney College, Paul RoosGimnasium, Grey College
Pool C
Durban High School, St John’s College, Westville Boys’ High School, AfrikaanseHoërSeunskool (Affies)
Pool D Hilton College, South African College High School (SACS), Michaelhouse, King Edward VII (KES)
The annual NMI Toyota Noord/Suid Tournament will return in 2026 to the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria for the 12th edition of the prestigious schoolboy rugby event.
The countdown is on to the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, one of the country’s premier boys’ water polo events.
