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One of the most intriguing and exciting matches of the season takes place on Van Heerden Field in Durban on Saturday, where Durban High School (DHS) tackles Jeppe High School for Boys at 12:20.

There is plenty at stake for both teams and there is a remarkable record on the line for the hosts.

The boys currently in their 1^st XV have never lost on Van Heerden Field, right through all the age groups. They’ll be highly motivated to keep that record clean.

In addition, they’ll be keen to avenge a loss on Collard Field last year, where Jeppe won a memorable and thrilling contest 39-36.

Catch this enthralling clash on SuperSport Schools!

Both schools have produced outstanding seasons. Jeppe is on a run of eight wins in succession, and one of those was a recent reversal of a loss to KES earlier in the season. Rugby lovers, of course, remember their stunning upset of Grey College at the NMI Toyota North-South tournament at the end of March.

They’ve lost four times along the way – going down to Garsfontein in their season-opener, and falling to Affies, Paarl Boys’ High and KES – but their current form is strong. Their last loss was in April.

DHS has lost only twice all season, and they will feel they should have won those games. Early on, they went down 7-12 against Rondebosch and then lost 13-15 to Paarl Boys’ High. Northwood, also, held them to a 7-7 draw. In their most recent match, though, they beat the Knights 18-11 to lay claim to being KZN’s best in 2024. They’ve recorded 11 wins.

Look at the aforementioned scores, though, and something stands out. Those were all low-scoring matches. That’s been a hallmark of the Horseflies‘ games. Many of them have not featured many points, and DHS hasn’t needed many because they boast one of the best defensive records in the country.

The most points they’ve conceded in 2024 has been 18 in a win against Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s, and winning there is no mean feat; College is a different animal when playing at home.

DHS has given up only 113 points in 14 matches. That’s an average of only eight a game!

Therein, though, lies the rub and the reason their match against Jeppe promises so much excitement. The Kensington boys have had no difficulty scoring points. In fact, the least they have scored all season, 19 in their loss to Paarl Boys’ High, is one more than the most that DHS has conceded in a game.

Jeppe has tallied 573 points in 18 matches, which averages out at 32 a match. Something has to give!

Jeppe has also conceded 358 points – 20 a game – but that higher number should be expected because of their more attacking approach.

For the record, DHS has scored 372 points this season, an average of 27 a game. That, too, is very solid production.

The visitors will hope to emulate the form they showed when they last visited KwaZulu-Natal for a match against Northwood in May.

After withstanding a fierce onslaught from the Knights in the first half, they struck numerous times from long range to turn the contest on its head and score an eye-opening 40-8 victory. It was the only time in the season that any team managed to truly get on top of Northwood.

The battle in the midfield should be very interesting. Jeppe has an outstanding attacking combination in their captain Kuthhadzo Rasivhaga and McMillen Mongwana, while the DHS duo of Zingce Simka and Duncan Basson is very physical and stout on defence.

The flyhalves, Matthew Coetzee (Jeppe) and Allston Cedras (DHS) are both capable of unlocking the best of defences with their vision and deft skills.

Up front, it should be a brutal battle. These are two teams that understand only one setting and that is all out. The visitors boast a sturdy and mobile pack, but that description could be applied to DHS, too. Those battles within the war should be fascinating and decisive.

Jeppe boasts three players who earned national selections after the Stadio Craven Week, with the captain Rasivhaga being named in the SA Schools squad, while prop André Poulton and 8^th-man Risima Khosa were selected for the SA Schools A lineup.

DHS had fullback Aka Boqwana and hooker Mahle Sithole picked for SA Schools and centre Zingce Simka chosen for SA Schools.

Both teams are very well coached and well drilled. Again, though, something has to give. The question is who and what will give? Lock and load and get ready for a thriller!

TEAMS

DHS – 15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Adriano Jackson, 13 Zingce Simka, 12 Duncan Basson (c), 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Allston Cedras, 9 Marwin Nero, 8 Khanyisa Stamper, 7 Sibusiso Mahlangu, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Thando Luthuli, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Bongani Dlamini 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Unaye Mndau

Jeppe – 15 Sanele Simelane, 14 Nkambule Lindelani, 13 Kuthhadzo Rasivhaga (c), 12 McMillen Mongwana, 11 Leruo Dithagiso, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Risima Khosa (vc), 7 Owaka Manaka, 6 Grady Ngui, 5 Luke Cannon, 4 Lagan Leisher, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Joseph Zulu, 1 André Poulton

When St Anne’s Diocesan College arrives at C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje to compete in the ninth edition of the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, it won’t be to make up the numbers. They will be there to compete. Woe betide any side that takes them lightly.

St Anne’s is in Pool B, along with Rhenish, Durban Girls’ College, St Stithians, Eunice, and Menlopark.

The tournament runs from 8 to 10 August.

“I am proud of this group of players. They have worked hard to earn this recognition to be invited to a tournament where the best teams in the country will compete for the top spot,” said Morné Odendaal, the St Anne’s coach.

The Hilton school returns to the prestigious event after an absence of five years. They last competed in it in 2019. After not being in the conversation as potential participants over the last two years, they’ve done an excellent job of turning around their fortunes

The hard work Odendaal referred to is best expressed in numbers. Over the past 17 months, the team has transformed under his leadership, playing 44 matches, winning 32 of them, drawing six and losing only six.

Unsurprisingly, when Odendaal saw the email that extended an invitation to the Fairtree Super 12, his first thought was the players, and they were the first to hear the news. It was also a moment for them to look back and appreciate how far they had come.

Before taking up his post at St Anne’s, Odendaal enjoyed a very successful nine-year run at Oranje. The Bloemfontein school was the standard setter during his time there, from 2013 to 2022. Under his guidance, they lifted six Fairtree Super 12 titles.

When he took the reins at St Anne’s, he needed to undertake a rebuild to turn them into a competitive outfit.

One of the first things he addressed when he took charge was the team’s culture.

“It was no small feat, but our journey from a struggling team to a successful one demonstrates the power of a well-structured approach.” he said. “To change the culture effectively, we had to set goals and determine how to reach them.”

The first step was to emphasise hard work and to establish a comprehensive, year-round hockey programme. This approach provided the players with more opportunities to enhance their skills and reach their full potential. Odendaal and his coaching team implemented a five-day-a-week, year-round hockey programme.

“We introduced a coaching style rooted in values and principles to align the squad with a unified vision,” Odendaal explained.

He and his staff invited the players to take part in formulating the transformation and asked them to select the core values they felt were important. The students selected five: Discipline: ensuring consistent effort and adherence to training routines; Passion: fostering a love for the game and a desire to improve; Professionalism: maintaining a high standard of conduct both on and off the field; Grit: encouraging resilience and perseverance through challenges; Belonging: creating a supportive and inclusive team environment.

“This combination of structured training and value-driven coaching has been instrumental in our transformation. By setting clear goals and establishing a pathway to achieve them, we were able to shift the team’s culture and drive significant improvement,” Odendaal reckoned.

“The commitment to hard work, continuous development, and a shared vision has made all the difference, turning our team from one that struggled into one that thrives.”

Odendaal and his charges will have their eyes set on bettering St Anne’s results at their two previous appearances in the Fairtree Super 12, in 2017 and 2019. They finished seventh in their most recent appearance in 2019 and had their best run in 2017, when they finished joint-third with Menlopark after a 1-1 draw in the third-place playoff.

The KZN High Schools Football Association Inter-District tournament, featuring u16 and u19 teams, takes place at Thomas More College, in Kloof, on 4 August. A week later, on 11 August, it will be the turn of the u14 and u15 sides.

Recently, the Pietermaritzburg trials to choose the squads that will represent the district were held. Out of the 64 boys who cracked the nod, 31 were from Maritzburg College, while Carter High School, the champion of the KZN High Schools Football Inland 2nd Term League, was also strongly represented.

Maritzburg College’s strength in depth and across the four age groups was reflected in the selections and reflected well, too, on the school’s strong structure and football programme.

Nic Haswell, the Director of Soccer at Maritzburg College, expressed immense pride in the school’s ongoing success and progression. “Of course, I am extremely proud of our players and coaches and the selections reflect the passion and hard work we put into our football programme,” he said.

Luzuko Ndiko, the coach of Carter High School, who is also the coach of the Pietermaritzburg u19 squad for the inter-district tournament, said there is significant depth in the lineup, with a handful of boys who have represented the district together from u14 to u19 level being bolstered by talented new players, who have further strengthened the team.

The lineup includes Carter High’s impressive captain Nthuthuko Mnguni, who has been joined by some of his teammates, as well as top performers from Maritzburg College, ML Sultan Secondary School, Riverwood, Alexandra High School, and Heritage Academy.

“We choose the best amongst the players, from the top schools from around Pietermaritzburg, so we do have quite strong depth”, Ndiko said.

Commenting on his own charges, Ndiko said: “Four players from Carter High School have made the cut – Amukelwa Khuzwayo, Nthuthuko Mnguni, Lumka Nzimande, and Ntakaso Dlamini -which is 25 percent of the u19 squad, which quite a good number, especially since it represents the fact that we are the champions, the best team in Pietermaritzburg.

“Yes, we lost out friendly match on 20 July against Maritzburg College, but that doesn’t change the fact that we beat College twice this year, and we are still the reigning champions.”

Ndiko said this was testament to the effectiveness of the coaching staff and the dedication of the players at Carter High School. Playing against strong opposition has also helped his teams improve, Ndiko added, which is a source of pride for the school. This past weekend, they were crowned the champions of the inaugural Carter High Super Cup.

“I think some of the reasons for our success is the fact that we had an extensive pre-season. We started our first training session with the first team in January, when the school opened. Now they are in form, fitness is not an issue, and combinations are sorted by the coaches as they’ve had an extensive period to look at players and combinations.”

Ndiko further lauded the coaching staff for its significant contributions to the football programme. He specifically mentioned the outstanding work of Mduduzi Ngubane, the head coach at the school, Samkelo Zondo who is their conditioning coach, Lindokuhle Ntuli, the goalkeeper coach, and the dedication and passion of Soccer Manager, Andise Maphumulo. “He’s been an absolute superstar. He’s managed our soccer programme for years at our school, and now we see the fruits of that continuity,” Ndiko declared.

The school’s sponsors, particularly the Ilawu Hospitality Group, had contributed greatly to Carter’s success, he added.

“It is evident that the collective efforts of the coaching staff, and external stakeholders have played a crucial role in the success of the team,” he said.

When Kian Cambier leads his team into battle against Selborne College on Friday night at the Rectory Astroturf, it will be the captain’s final match for Grey High School, and it will bring to an end an illustrious schoolboy hockey career.

Cambier, who joined Grey in grade four, has been one of the most impressive players at the school, which boasts a rich hockey pedigree, in recent years.

He made his first team debut in 2022, in grade nine, and since then has played a pivotal role for the side on and off the turf.

His outstanding performances this season, both from a playing and leadership perspective, have helped Grey lay claim to being among the top handful of teams in the country in 2024.

Under the leadership of head coach and Director of Hockey, Andrew Beynon, Cambier has led Grey to some memorable achievements.

They began their campaign emphatically, including going unbeaten at the Nomads Festival, which was, ironically, matched by Selborne, their opponents on Friday night. To date, despite playing a tough and busy schedule, they have lost only four matches the whole year.

Those defeats came against the top two teams in the country, Paul Roos Gimnasium and South African College High School (SACS) twice (one of those was in a penalty shootout in the Hibbert Shield semi-finals), before they were edged 0-1 by Grey College in their annual interschools clash last month in Bloemfontein.

Apart from those defeats, Beynon’s boys, with Cambier to the fore, have been a force to be reckoned with.

They’ve been fierce on attack, scoring bucketloads of goals, while they’ve been rock solid on defence, with SA Schools u17 goalkeeper Kaino Broadhurst securing numerous clean sheets.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of his last match for Grey, Cambier reflected on an impressive season.

“I would say it has been a successful year,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “The team has played a great brand of hockey and has come away with some awesome results.

“Entering this final match, I don’t think we need to do anything differently from what we’ve been doing this whole year.

“Selborne is a good side, but so are we. We will just play our game and back our boys.”

During the course of the season, Cambier has achieved a number of personal goals, making 2024 a year to remember.

Apart from representing and captaining Grey, he also captained Eastern Province u18A at the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein.

There, despite EP falling short of the semi-finals, the skipper was in top form, and his performances were rewarded when he was named in the SA Schools u18A team, the only player from the Eastern Cape to achieve that honour.

Soon after the tournament, he was called up to the SA u21 camp in Pretoria. Clearly, head coach Guy Elliot saw something he likes in the midfielder.

“Captaining EP was a dream of mine,” Cambier said. “Unfortunately, we did not get the results we wanted but still played some good hockey.

“I was stoked to make the SA Schools side, and to play alongside the best in the country was a childhood dream of mine that came true.

“I must say, being called up and playing at the SA u21 selection camp was eye-opening to me because of the level of players in that age group. It made me see the game differently but also helped me improve on my own game.”

Cambier, who has earned just shy of a century of caps for Grey, also gave credit to his school, coaches, and his parents for sticking with him throughout his career.

“It has been a great journey; I am a very proud Grey boy.

“I’ve also been fortunate to play under captains like Casey Keevy and Matt Kingston, and coaches like Mazan dos Santos and Andrew Beynon. I have learned so much and improved as a hockey player.

“I’m also excited to end it with a hard-fought battle against our East London rivals, having played against many of them for the past 10 years.

“I would just like to thank my family, especially my dad, for helping me pursue my passion, and also to Grey High for giving me a platform to showcase my talent,” he concluded.

The skipper won’t be the only player bidding farewell to the Grey faithful on Friday night.

Seven of his teammates – Caden Skinette, Xander Elkington, Marco Giaconi, Ben Ristow, Blake Muller, Robbie Stow, and Caleb Humphreys – will also play their final matches before matriculating later this year.

The clash against Selborne College kicks off at 19:15. Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Other matches

In other Eastern Cape matches, Hudson Park and Dale College will aim to get back to winning ways.

Last weekend, Hudson hosted Framesby and won 3-0 but on the following day they were hammered 5-2 by Woodridge College. As for Dale, they’ll look to recover from a heavy 0-7 defeat against Selborne.

Meanwhile, Cambridge High School hosts Queen’s College, and Stirling will target a winning finish to the season when they take on Merrifield College.

FIXTURES

16:00 – Hudson Park vs Dale
17:00 – Cambridge High vs Queen’s College
18:15 – Stirling High vs Merrifield College
19:15 – Grey High vs Selborne College

The annual interschools match between Paarl Girls’ High, and Paarl Gimnasium is one of the biggest schoolgirls’ hockey games on the annual calendar, and this weekend the giants reignite their rivalry.

Girls’ High host their arch-rivals on their main Astro on Friday night, aiming for a major boost before they shift their attention to next week’s Challengers Cup, which also takes place in Paarl.

The home side has put together a commendable season, albeit that some results haven’t gone their way.

After starting brightly during the pre-season, coach Anri Keevy‘s side carried impressive form into April’s annual St Mary’s Waverley Festival.

There, against some of the country’s best teams, the Western Cape side finished in 19^th place out of the 32 teams.

Later, at the All Girls Festival in Potchefstroom, Keevy’s charges shone and showed off the winning hockey they’re capable of playing.

Facing Wynberg Girls’ High, Parktown High School for Girls, and Clarendon in Pool C, Girls’ High topped the table and made it all the way through to the semi-finals where they suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to the eventual champions, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria.

In the playoff for third place, they faced the perennial powerhouse, Oranje, but were beaten 3-0. Still, Paarl Girls’ High finished as the second-best Western Cape side at the tournament, trailing only Rhenish, who finished as the runners-up.

“We’ve had some incredible results this season,” coach Keevy told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the Paarl derby.

“We did extremely well at All Girls, finishing in fourth, and had some close misses. However, it’s all part of the learning process.

“The team plays a high standard of hockey, and we are always competitive.”

In the Western Cape, coach Keevy’s side has impressed against some of the top teams, holding their own and producing solid and consistent performances week in and out.

They’ve recorded some eye-catching wins, too, including beating Parel Vallei 2-1, Springfield Convent School 4-1, HMS La Rochelle 10-0 and, in their most recent outing, Durbanville 3-0.

Keevy said being part of a very competitive environment in the Western Cape has helped her side’s growth during the season.

“We are fortunate to play against some of the best schools in South Africa, and here in the Western Cape,” she said.

“Of course, it helps to be ‘in it’ when we play these teams. We seem to always be the underdog in these situations, but we prefer it that way.

“We can almost play with a sense of nothing to lose and everything to gain. Learning opportunities are plenty and when it goes well it is a massive confidence boost.

“The growth has been tremendous from the beginning of the season, not only in the way we train, but in all aspects of how we play.

“It seems that the stronger the competition, the better we play. The girls love the fight and to play to the very end.”

They’ll need to take that attitude into the contest when they tackle their biggest rival on Friday night. In Gim, they come up against a team that is brimming with confidence after a run of dominant results, which has seen them bolster an already stellar record.

They are beatable, however, and coach Keevy said her players will have to take care of every little detail to put themselves in the best possible position to cause an upset.

“The team cannot wait to play. We have trained well, and we are ready,” she said.

“The small things will be important. Discipline, keeping possession, and making the most of any opportunities in the D will be vital.

“It will be incredibly tough, but most definitely not impossible. We will come off the field with no regrets, making the most of the opportunity and taking it all in.

“History counts against us. We haven’t won the hockey in many years, although we drew last year, but that would make a win so much sweeter. The girls deserve a win,” she concluded.

Girls’ High will also bid farewell to seven of their senior players who will be taking part in their final interschools match.

They include the skipper Heyke Lombard, Rouxnè Pentz, Jana Joubert, Elize Janse van Vuuren, Nina Cilliers, Letsie de Beer, and Mikayla Tauber.

Push-back for the encounter is at 18:30.

You can catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The Motsepe Foundation, in partnership with Sanlam, is entering its 20th year of partnership as the backers of the Kay Motsepe Schools Championship and the massive event continues to grow.

The competition is the biggest of its kind in South Africa with over 11 000 schools participating annually and prize money totalling R11 750 000.

Speaking at the launch of Kay Motsepe Schools Championship at Sanlam’s offices in Sandton this week, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the co-founder of the Motsepe Foundation, said: “When we started, we never saw that it would grow to this level, where more than 11 000 schools would be participating in football, and more and more schools want to be a part of it.”

Moloi-Motsepe said that when the event began the plan was to bring sport to schools and also bring down the level of poverty in the country.

“We did sport at the grassroots level because we realised that a lot of young people do not have opportunities,” she explained.

Moloi-Motsepe said there is a lot of talent in South Africa, but there are relatively few opportunities created for rural communities, villages, and townships.

“We partnered with the Department of Education, and we now have partnerships with Sanlam, as well, and we not only look at prize money for these young people, but we also do things like provide playing kits, transport and food.”

Some high-profile talents have been discovered by the Kay Motsepe Schools Championship, including Percy Tau, a three-time winner of the CAF Champions League – once with Mamelodi Sundowns and twice with Egypt’s Al Ahly.

His former team-mate and Bafana Bafana midfielder, Hlompo Kekana, participated in the very first Kay Motsepe Schools Championship and he was at the launch to show his support. During a decade representing Sundowns, he won six Premier League titles, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Super Cup.

Kekana highlighted the obstacles faced by young boys and girls in townships and rural areas and emphasised the importance of the opportunities created for those children by the event.

He also encouraged other major corporations to increase their investments in schools’ competitions, highlighting the importance of nurturing young talent and providing children with positive outlets.

TV presenter Andile Ncube who served as the host of the launch, was joined in conversation by former Spar Proteas’ netball player, Tshina Mudau, who shared her insights on sport and its impact on the individual and on communal growth.

Sanlam CEO Bongani Madikiza commented: “At Sanlam, our purpose is to empower communities to be financially confident, secure and prosperous.

“Furthermore, we believe in the transformative power of sport. Our partnership with the Motsepe Foundation on these initiatives is testament to our commitment to making a positive impact by helping the youth to develop the necessary skills to set them up for success once they leave the sports field for good.

“Sports, arts, and cultural activities are profound socio-economic catalysts that bring people together and inspire our young people to dream and imagine a bigger life for themselves.”

Dr Patrice Motsepe weighed in: “We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our partners and stakeholders who share our vision of empowering the youth and transforming lives through these initiatives.

“Together, we are not only shaping the athletes and musicians of tomorrow, but we are also cultivating leaders who will drive positive change in their communities.”

Die vonke gaan behoorlik spat in die Griffon-eindstryd Saterdag op die Downtouch Investments-stadion in Welkom.

Welkom Gimnasium is die verdedigende kampioen, terwyl Voortrekker van Bethlehem sy derde agtereenvolgende verskyning in die eindstryd maak. Die eindstryd skop om 14:00 af.

Volg al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Daar was nie veel tussen die twee spanne in hul ligawedstryd vroeër vanjaar te kies nie. Die span van Welkom het die kragmeting in Bethlehem met 26-24 gewen.

Die Trekkers het sy plek in die eindstryd met ‘n klinkende sege van 37-3 oor Witteberg bespreek. Dit nadat die Trekkers met 23-25 vroeër vanjaar teen sy aartsvyande die knie gebuig het. Die Gimmies het vir die Hoërskool Trio van Kroonstad met 35-7 in die ander halfeindstryd afgestof.

Die Gimmies se senterpaar, Joshua Coertzen en Jayden Weideman, sal weer ‘n rotsvaste vertoning op verdediging moet lewer indien hul span weer vanjaar die trofee omhoog wil hou. Die span se losskakel, Ronaldo Kiewiet, sal natuurlik sake vergemaklik indien hy op sy stukke is.

Kiewiet was verlede jaar die voorste puntemaker op die Cravenweek in George.

Voorlangs sal die Trekkers se aanslag deur sy SA Skole-vaskopstut, Cecil Parsons, gelei word. Parsons hou boonop ook daarvan om die bal onder die arm vas te knyp en etlike meters met sy stormramlopies te wen. Gimmies se afrigter, Roean Bezuidenhout, was Parsons se afrigter by vanjaar asook verlede jaar se Cravenweek. Só hy sal presies weet wat vandag op sy span voorlangs wag.

Voorlangs sal Gimmies se Ethan Jones (agtsteman) en Jayden Auld (slot) sleutelspelers vir hul span wees.

Welkom Gimnasium en Voortrekker het reeds met hul seges in die halfeindstryde hul plek in vanjaar se Kovsiestreek-kompetisie se Shimla-liga bespreek. Duineveld van Upington is reeds Griekwas se verteenwoordiger in dié liga, terwyl die wenner van die Vrystaatse A-liga ook tot die kompetisie se halfeindronde sal deurdring.

In die Vrystaatse eindstryd pak Jim Fouché en Landboudal van Jacobsdal mekaar.

Die spanne is: 

Welkom Gimnasium: 15 Leano Williams, 14 Dyllan Kemp, 13 Jayden Weideman, 12 Joshua Coertsen, 11 Bokang Lesenyeho, 10 Ronaldo Kiewiet, 9 Rewaldo Farmer, 8 Ethan Jones, 7 Ayden Bezuidenhout, 6 Rovaun van Niekerk, 5 Jayden Auld, 4 Diederik Beuken, 3 Ryan Lemmer, 2 Kganya Molapo, 1 Buchle Ngxabayi-Mpaka.

Voortrekker: 15 Tumi Khoza, 14 Karabelo Chaka, 13 Frederik Fourie, 12 Craig Mann, 11 Kamohelo Moses, 10 Adriaan Bonthuys, 9 Edre Wille, 8 Dawie Fourie, 7 Jayden de Jesus, 6 Berto van Niekerk, 5 Tristan Meyer, 4 Luttig Roux, 3 Cecil Parsons, 2 Arnold Ras, 1 Francois Maree.

Skeidsregter:

Ander eindstryde:

14:00 – o.19A – Welkom Gimnasium vs Voortrekker
12:30 – o.16A – Welkom Gimnasium vs Voortrekker
11:20 – o.19B – Welkom Gimnasium vs Voortrekker
10:10 – o.15A – Hoërskool Trio vs Voortrekker
09:00 – o.14A – Welkom Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Trio

Griffion-liga Eindstryde 1996-2023: 

[ninja_tables id=”54046″]

The Eastern Province Rugby Referee’s Society (EPRRS) has decided to go on an extended strike for officiating school rugby matches in the union.

This follows after a couple of incidents at various school matches around the province over the last few weeks. The EPRRS won’t appoint any referees for any school matches for the remainder of the the season.

According to sources a referee was assaulted by a schools’ player during a match in Despatch last weekend.

The strike will also continue into 2025 until the schools can supply the society with the necessary steps taken by the schools to take action against perpetrators and keep referees safe while officiating at their schools.

An official letter about the strike was circulated to all schools within the union. It was signed by the referees’ manager, Dante Rademeyer, as well as the acting chairman, Fernando Uithaler.

“We have no other option but to request that all schools in Eastern Province give us an action plan as to what measures they will put in place to secure the safety of our match officials when doing duty at your institution (s). Numerous incidents of referee abuse, both verbally and physically have been reported to us in the last month, of which the most recent ones happened over the last weekend,” stated the letter.

The letter also appeal to the various schools’ principals and its governing bodies to act harshly against perpetrators that make themselves guilty by abusing referees.

“The action plan should clearly state what actions will be taken against anyone who makes themselves guilty of abuse towards match officials on match days.”

“It has come to light that all stakeholders (players, spectators and coaches/teachers) make themselves guilty of abusive actions. Therefore, referees have taken a strong stance that they will not officiate any further, meaning, NO REFEREE, NO MATCH.” states the letter to the schools.

All the schools in the region is looking for solutions so that their matches could go on this weekend. The EPRRS only provide matches for the first team matches of the interschools with school teachers officiating the other clashes during interschools.

Schools matches scheduled for this Saturday: 

13:45 – Marlow Landbou vs Framesby; 14:00 – Graeme College vs Muir College; 14:15 – HTS Daniël Pienaar vs Die Brandwag (Uitenhage); 15:00 – Grey High School vs Selborne College; Nico Malan vs Hoërskool Punt.

Captain Jordan Paulsen has signalled his intention to complete his Wynberg Boys’ High career on a high note as his side prepares to play its three southern suburb rivals in the coming weeks.

On Friday, Wynberg faces Bishops Diocesan College at the Astro of Dreams. Next week, they tackle Rondebosch Boys High. Then, in the third week of August, they’ll square up against South African College High School (SACS) at the Brewery in their season finale.

The Supera Moras boys, under the guidance of coaches Ben Wiley and Devin Stanton, and led by Paulsen, have produced some strong results this season.

They began their campaign brightly, picking up some commendable wins during the pre-season before thrashing Curro Durbanville and Paarl Boys’ High. They also shared a 2-2 draw with high-flying Grey High School.

They started the Western Province league with an impressive run of victories but were then beaten by the top two teams in the country, Paul Roos and SACS, in the latter stages of term two.

Last month, though, they shocked Paarl Gimnasium 4-2 on their home turf with Paulsen, Seth Trantraal, Zach Gibbon, and Dayyaan Brown getting on the score sheet.

They’ll enter this week’s clash against Bishops with their sights set on avenging a 0-3 defeat when they met for a first time in April.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the clash, Paulsen said he and his team-mates will have to stick to their structures and operate as a unit if they are to get one over their rivals.

“Bishops have incredible players, some of which were my teammates for both Western Province and SA u18,” Paulsen told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Last time out, they were just better than us in all areas of the game and we could not adapt fast enough.

“To beat Bishops, we need to play as a team. I believe we are good enough to execute the gameplan the coach has laid out for us. We must trust and implement their plan on the field, and then I believe we can be the best version of our team.”

In June, Paulsen was part of the Western Province u18A team that retained the SASHOC National Week title in Bloemfontein.

He played a pivotal role for his provincial side, scoring at crucial times, with his outstanding performances earning him a place in the SA Schools U18A side.

“Personally, this has been one of the best seasons for me,” he said.

“I had set goals for myself at the start of this year, and I am ticking the boxes one by one. Being selected as the captain of Wynberg Boys’ High was an absolute honour and being a leader is something I always strive to be.

“On top of that, I got selected for WP u18A, which has been a long-term goal of mine. Being selected for the SA u18A team was just unbelievable.

“I worked incredibly hard to be there, even overcoming a serious injury in the build-up to the IPTs.

“So, without a doubt, my highlights this year are winning IPTs with Western Province, making SA U18A, and being selected as captain of Wynberg Boys’ High School.”

Paulsen, who started his hockey career as a nine-year-old, playing on grass at Wynberg Junior, said it’s been an honour to represent the school for practically his whole hockey-playing career.

After making his first team debut towards the end of the 2022 season against Worcester Gimnasium, he became a regular fixture in the team.

He’s been described as a hard worker, and as a humble lad, who is willing to go the extra mile for his team.

Ahead of his final games in Wynberg’s colours, he credited his family and coaches, who have guided him through many ups and downs on and off the turf.

“Off the turf, all credit goes to my mother and father,” Paulsen said.

“They have done more than I could even think of, from paying endless amounts of money to go to tournaments, to supporting me unconditionally through my hardships.

“All my achievements are their achievements as well because without them I would not be where I am today.

“On the field, Mr Devin Stanton has played a big role in me getting to where I am. I have learned so much from him, more than I could have ever imagined. He put his faith in me and believed in me and that has gone a long way. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, he reminded me why I play and love the game of hockey.

“Mr Ben Wiley has done just as much. Being coached by him has been transformative. I feel that both have improved my hockey so much and made me a better player. They have made me enjoy hockey more than I ever have before.”

Paulsen intends to continue playing hockey after he matriculates from Wynberg at the end of the year. All of his focus, though, is on the three massive matches that lie ahead.

“I’m looking forward to playing these derby games for the very last time.

“I have been playing these schools for more than 10 years, so to play them for the last time is very emotional, but exciting.

“I would like to end this season off by winning as many games as possible. Ending it off with wins would be the best way to complete my schoolboy career,” he concluded.

The push-back in the match between Wynberg Boys’ High and Bishops is at 18:30

Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The annual interschools derby between Paarl Boys’ High and Paarl Gimnasium is the biggest in the world.

More than 20 000 supporters will pack the Faure Street Stadium in Paarl to see these two schools’ rugby sides clash on Saturday.

The interschools derby is, however, bigger than just this one rugby match as the schools and their old boys face off in numerous sports and activities during the week leading up to the 1st XV rugby match.

Results down the years: 

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