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Hilton College hosts the Primo Big 10 on Saturday, 27 July, and Sunday, 28 July, with 10 of KZN’s top football-playing schools in action.

Maritzburg College, who won Primo Big 10 last year, will have a serious challenge on their hands in their title defence. Coach Chemon Petersen’s team is also chasing a first title of the 2024 football season.

In early May, they finished in the top six of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament after falling to the eventual champions, Clapham High School, in the quarterfinals. That high finish, though, secured College a place in next year’s Absa Wildeklawer tournament.

More recently, they went down to their Pietermaritzburg rivals, Carter High School, in the final of the KZN High Schools Football Association’s Inland 2nd Term League, with Nthuthuko Mnguni’s goal securing the silverware for Carter for a first time since 2014.

In 2023, in an exceptional season, College claimed three titles. That side was led by the outstanding midfielder Mateo Horstead, who excelled both in attack and defence.

College still boasts plenty of talent. Mazithi Qasha is prolific in front of goal and able to strike with either foot. Zipho Makangela is a rock in defence, and CJ Sukraj, in goal, is a formidable final barrier for opposing attackers.

The Red, Black and White has been drawn in a challenging Group B, alongside Glenwood High and Clifton College.

Glenwood was their opposition in last year’s final and, at the end of May, the Durban school also won the KZN High Schools Football Association’s Coastal League title for a second season in succession. They’re tough.

Clifton was somewhat inconsistent at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament two weeks ago, but they bagged a couple of notable victories, defeating the eventual runners-up Siyajabula 2-1, and thumping TuksSport High School 4-0.

Group A features Hilton College, St Charles College, and Durban High School (DHS), while Group C is four-strong and includes Northwood School, Kearsney College, Westville Boys’ High School, and Michaelhouse.

Tournament Format

The 10 teams are placed in three groups: two groups of three teams each and one group of four teams. The teams in the groups of three will play cross-group games for their 3^rd group match and that match will count for points.

Teams have been placed in the groups according to who they were fixtured against in the main schedule and in the cross-group matches. The schedulers have tried to provide matches between teams that were not scheduled to play one other.

The top two teams in each group and the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. The remaining two teams will play off for the ninth and 10th places.

GROUPS

Group A: Hilton College, St Charles College, Durban High School
Group B: Maritzburg College, Glenwood High School, Clifton College
Group C: Northwood School, Kearsney College, Westville Boys’ High School, Michaelhouse

FIXTURES

Saturday, 27 July 

Group A (Field 1 – Zungu)

09:00 – Hilton College vs St Charles
11:00 – St Charles vs Durban High School
13:00 – Hilton College vs Durban High School

Group B (Field 2 – Etheridge)

09:00 – Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School
11:00 – Glenwood High School vs Clifton College
13:00 – Clifton College vs Maritzburg College

Cross-Group Matches (A and B)

15:00 – Zungu Field: Durban High School vs Glenwood High School
15:00 – Etheridge Field: Maritzburg College vs St Charles
16:00 – Zungu Field: Hilton College vs Clifton College

Group C: (Field 3 – New Field, and Field 4 – Lombard)

10:00 – Michaelhouse vs Westville
11:00 – Northwood vs Kearsney
13:00 – Lombard Field: Kearney vs Michaelhouse
13:00 – Westville vs Northwood
15:00 – Michaelhouse vs Northwood
16:00 – Kearsney vs Westville

Playoffs: Sunday 28 July 

Quarterfinals

QF1, 09:00 – Zungu Field: A1 vs 2nd Best 3rd
QF2, 09:00 – Etheridge Field: B1 vs Best 3rd
QF3, 10:00 – Zungu Field: C1 vs B2
QF4, 10:00 – Etheridge Field: A2 vs C2

*If the 2nd Best 3rd team is from Group A, they will change with the Best 3rd Place team.

9th & 10th Play-Off

9th/10th, 11:00 – Zungu Field: C4 vs 3rd-Best 3rd

Semi-finals 

SF1, 12:00 – Zungu Field: W QF1 vs W QF4
SF2: 12:00 – Etheridge Field: W QF3 vs W QF2

Final

14:30: Zungu Field – W SF1 vs W SF2

Luann Olivier en die Bere-span trek op na Krugersdorp met een doelwit voor oë, en dit is om vir die eerste keer in ses jaar daar oorwinning te proe.

Beleef al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com) of Kanaal 216

Hoërskool Garsfontein meet Saterdag op die Ras van Rooyen in Krugersdorp kragte met Hoërskool Monument se Wit Bulle in ‘n belangrike bepaling van die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling.

Hierdie tradisionele derby het oor die jare gesorg vir uitstekende rugby en naelbyt-stryde, met die slag van 2015, in Pretoria, sekerlik die beste. In daardie kragmeting het die Garsies ‘n  agterstand van 26 punte in die laaste 10 minute uitgewis om die Monumentare te troef.

Toe was Monnas se huidige direkteur van rugby, Tjaart van der Walt, nog aan die stuur van Garsfontein se rugbyprogram.

Vanjaar is die Garsies se beste kans in ses jaar om die Krugersdorpers wéér op hul tuisveld te verslaan. In 2018 het dié spanne drie keer kragte gemeet, met Monnas se Wit Bulle wat twee keer, met 68-31 en 45-14, koning gekraai het, en die Bere wat met 49-39 die pyp gerook het in Krugersdorp.

Daarna kon die Bere eers vyf jaar later, in 2023, vir die Wit Bulle onderkry, toe hulle met 39-31 tuis geseëvier het.

‘n Sege hierdie Saterdag sal ook super spesiaal wees vir Bere-breier, Johan du Plessis, wat Saterdag vir die 102de keer die leisels as afrigter opneem.

Albei spanne beleef tot dusver vanjaar ‘n strawwe seisoen, met die Pretorianers wat nog slegs vyf van hul 12 wedstryde kon wen en die span van Krugersdorp wat die wa agt uit 14 keer deur die drif kon trek. Hulle is albei ook Hoërskool Nelspruit se mees onlangse slagoffers.

Met die Monumentare se verdediging wat tot dusver ietwat tekort geskiet het en die Bere se agterhoede wat hul ritme begin herwin, beloof Saterdag se stryd om een vir die boeke te wees.

Die Bere se losskakel, Junade Pasensie, is ‘n sleutelfiguur met sy vermoë om die spel te dikteer en die gevaarmanne op linkervleuel, Junaide Stuart, en buitesenter, Ruan Enslin, weg te stuur. Stuart sal in ‘n taai tweestryd met die Wit Bulle se puntemasjien, Ernesto Oersen, gewikkel wees.

Voorlangs kan daar uitgesien word na ‘n armdrukstryd tussen die oopkantflanke. Die tuisspan se Jamaal Feldman is bekend is vir sy  begeesterde barslopies, terwyl die besoekers se Stephan Pretorius, nes Feldman, ‘n bedreiging inhou met die bal in hand, veral in gebroke spel.

Die tuispan sal ook hul keer moet ken wanneer die besoekers se agttal hul dryfmale aan die gang kry. Dit is waar Garsies se krag lê en waarmee hulle menige teenstander al gekasty het.

Die spanne:

Hoërskool Monument t. Hoërskool Garsfontein om 13:45 in Krugersdorp

Monument (moontlik): 15 Caylum Schooney, 14 Kealan Milton, 13 Jason Joubert, 12 Theuns du Plooy, 11 Ernesto Oersen, 10 Cruz La Moer, 9 Hanno du Toit, 8 Vincent Roberts, 7 RJ Barnard, 6 Jamaal Feldman, 5 Luhan Swart, 4 Jacques Botha, 3 Jeandre Marais, 2 Keenan Myners, 1 Wikus Meyer.

Garsfontein: 15 Handre Maree, 14 Brooklyn Newman, 13 Ruan Enslin, 12 Luann Olivier, 11 Junaide Stuart, 10 Junade Pasensie, 9 Luan Ferreira, 8 Aiden King, 7 Thinus Oosthuizen, 6 Stephan Pretorius, 5 Jacques Swarts, 4 James Schnetler, 3 Luan van der Berg, 2 Justin Blom, 1 Ethan van Wyk.

Skeidsregter: Hernus Coetzee

The last time Pretoria Boys High won against Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) was in 2019, before the arrival of Covid-19. That year, they scored a dramatic 38-21 victory on Brooks Field.

They head into another Pretoria derby against Affies on Saturday as the underdogs, but it’s that status that gives fans, pundits and critics something to talk about in the build-up to the match.

Think about Japan beating the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup or Buster Douglas beating the feared heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Mike Tyson, in an upset for the ages in 1990. What about Leicester City winning the English Premier League in the 2015/2016 season? Sport is filled with such achievements, which prove that anything is possible on the day.

If Boys High is to add another chapter to an inspiring list of underdog victories, it’s going to take a similarly big upset.

At 13:30 on Saturday, the Candies will try to upset the odds when they face the Wit Bulle on Brooks Field, in front of their home supporters.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools and SuperSport Schools on DStv Channel 216.

Boys High enters the contest off the back of a one-point loss against Maritzburg College (18-19), which College might have felt somewhat fortunate to snatch.

Affies, meanwhile, have enjoyed a strong season. A week before the PBHS vs College game, they grabbed a nail-biting win over the Pietermaritzburg school, with their Craven Week flyhalf Reuben Pienaar landing a penalty 30 seconds from time to seal a 39-37 victory on Goldstone’s.

The Wit Bulle stampeded to a 43-28 win over Hoërskool Waterkloof last weekend, adding another big win to a season that has included a good number of them. That victory followed a 52-26 defeat of a strong King Edward VII side just before the winter holidays.

The historical record and the team’s respective 2024 records favour Affies but, with the grit and fight Boys High showed in narrow losses to Maritzburg College and Jeppe, one cannot rule out an upset. The Candies’ performances have tended upwards during the course of the season, and they have become a far tougher out than they were in its early going.

Before their narrow defeat against Maritzburg College, Boys High staged a second half comeback to beat St John’s College 36-24.

To date, Affies have scored 67 wins to the 42 of Boys High. During this time there have been 9 draws between the two sides. The last time it happened was in 2007, when the contest ended 20-20.

Last year, Affies powered their way to a 76-24 victory at home, despite being reduced to 13 men at one stage of the second half. Up to 13 players who will be in action on Saturday were part of last season’s match.

While Affies is renowned for its potent pack, they also have a formidable backline this year. Everything, though, stems from the quality ball that is provided by the forwards.

Last year, SA Schools A scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman enjoyed himself against Boys High, crossing for a hattrick of tries, while captain and SA Schools’ centre Janco Purchase also starred.

On the other side of the railway line, the Candies have struggled to reach their full potential given the quality of the players in their squad. They’ve played a particularly tough schedule, which has seen a number of results tilt the opposition’s way. There have, though, been moments of brilliance. They’re especially dynamic and exciting in space.

Lineouts will be a crucial area of contestation and Boys High will look to their captain and lock Tshepiso Shikhibana to stand tall in the set piece. Throughout the season, the Candies have enjoyed success with their driving mauls off of lineouts, and they’ll need more of the same to challenge Affies.

Fullback Itu Baloyi is one of a number of speedy, exciting runners in the host’s backline. He showed his flair last weekend, using lightning-fast footwork to dance through the Maritzbrug College defence.

The match will also bring together recent teammates, who represented the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week in July. Affies had seven players included in the squad, while Boys High contributed five. That creates additional challenges for both sides, given the knowledge the players have of one another.

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FIXTURES

u14A: 9:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs Affies (Dorey Near)
u15A: 10:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs Affies (Oehley Far Field)
u16A: 11:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs Affies (Oehley Near Field)
u19B: 12:15 – Pretoria Boys High vs Affies (Brooks Field)
u19A: 13:30 – Pretoria Boys High vs Affies (Brooks Field)

 TEAMS

Pretoria Boys High School: 15 Itu Baloyi, 14 Ntsako Ndlovu, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Tyler Mason, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Kwanda Mabuza, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Akin Akingbola, 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Stephen Adams, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Jeffery Singo.

Affies: 15 Ruben Groenewald, 14 Nico Grobler, 13 Theuns Maritz, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Eagan Roux, 10 Ruben Pienaar, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Ruan Lippold, 7 Albert Smit, 6 Luhan Potgieter, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Munting Hamman, 3 Deon Botes, 2 Ethan Van Dyk, 1 Werner Vrey.

With the hockey season nearing its conclusion, King Edward VII School (KES) scored a significant win when they beat Jeppe High School for Boys last weekend.

A come-from-behind 3-2 victory for KES was their first over Jeppe in 13 years.

However, it looked as if it would be business as usual when Jeppe struck from a penalty corner to take the lead. KES, though, responded with a field goal from Tiago Diaz.

Coach Siya Sityana‘s Jeppe side snatched the lead once more, with a brilliant counterattack breaking the tie. Their celebrations were short-lived, however, with the Red Sticks’ captain Fynn Campbell equalising for the hosts.

Then, with only three minutes left on the clock, Ben Simon fired a drag flick into the back of the Jeppe goalbox to secure a morale-boosting over the Aitken Cup champions.

“Jeppe has been the benchmark for boys’ field hockey in Johannesburg for several years and the boys from both schools love the match-up. It’s an opportunity to measure themselves against the best Johannesburg has to offer,” said KES coach Shamin Naidoo.

“I have my performance measures as a coach. It’s a bit early to worry too much about results at this stage in our programme, but winning a Saturday schoolboy derby always brings a special feeling, no matter who you play.”

Naidoo said a tough 2-3 loss to Jeppe in the first meeting between the teams earlier in the season delivered important lessons, which helped them to victory the second time around.

“We did pick up a few tactical opportunities from our fixture at Jeppe earlier in the year. We have also explored a few different shapes of our own and we looked to focus more on our game rather than trying to outwit them this time.

“We wanted to make sure our PC defence was rock solid, and we wanted to win as many PCs as possible to give our flickers a chance.

“The game was superb overall and a top-class advertisement for boys’ school sport. Either team could have won it. We just got the luck of the roll this time,” he said.

KES hosts Maritzburg College this weekend, 27 July, in the last of their annual winter fixtures. College heads into the match having beaten Pretoria Boys High 2-1 in Pretoria last week, which was preceded by a 1-1 draw with Affies in Pietermaritzburg a week earlier.

“The boys are looking forward to another good contest,” Naidoo said.

“We had a good week of training ahead of the College fixture. College has been a top hockey school in SA for the last two decades, so we are looking forward to ending our season against another top boys’ school.

“The win against Jeppe has certainly brought some belief and confidence to the boys. They just need to stay grounded and enjoy their last fixture of the season,” Naidoo told SuperSport Schools Plus.

‘n Sege in die Moot sal Hoërskool Klerksdorp se kanse om die halfeindstryd van die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Plaat-afdeling te haal ‘n beduidende hupstoot gee.

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

Die span van Klerksdorp kruis Saterdagmiddag swaarde met Hoërskool Oos-Moot in hul agterplaas, met ‘n sege vir die besoekers wat vir hulle ‘n plek in die halfeindstryd kan verseker.

Vir die Oosies is dit ook steeds moontlik, maar hulle sal ál drie hul oorblywende rondomtalie-wedstryde moet wen.

Die Klerksdorpers is netjies op dreef, verál na die skoolvakansie. Hulle het onlangs twee reuse tuisseges oor Hoër Tegniese Skool (23-14) en Ligbron Akdemie (38-31) behaal, maar die Noordvaal-kompetisie het gewys dat dit uiters moeilik is om wegwedstryde te wen, dus bied die Oosies ‘n groot uitdaging vir die span van Noordwes.

Oos-Moot moes weens die beseringspook ‘n aantal veranderinge aan die span, wat teen Ligbron Akademie (41-50) vasgeval het, maak. Losskakel, Ruwan Allen, skuif na heelagter met die nr. 10-trui wat aan die gevaarlike Dewron Aford oorgegee word.

Die Oosies se breier het ook besluit op ‘n groter pak vir Saterdag se stryd, met haker Brydon Jordaan wat kans kry in die voorry met sy fisieke teenwoordigheid en hoë werkverrigting.

Klerksdorp behou die volsterkte span wat oor die afgelope paar rondes sukses behaal het. Agsteman en kaptein, GJ Steenberg, het regdeur die seisoen van voor gelei en ook ‘n susksesvolle Cravenweek in Krugersdorp geniet.

Heelagter, Winton Abrahams, moet ook fyn dopgehou word, aangesien sy vaart en dartellopies heelwat kopsere vir die tuisspan kan besorg. Losskakel, Cohan Witbooi, se stewel is ook iets waarvoor die Oosies moet ligloop.

Ligbron Akademie het self ‘n belangrike wedstryd wat op hom wag wanneer hy Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg se Rooi Bulle in Ermelo verwelkom. Die Liggies is slegs een punt agter die Klerksdorpers op die puntelys en ‘n goeie sege op tuisbodem kan hulle weer stewig in die wedloop plaas.

Die Liggies het egter ‘n wisselvallige seisoen beleef. Hul vertoning in die eerste helfte van die seisoen teen die einste Klerksdorp was buite karakter en afrigter, Herman Schlebusch, sal hoop vir meer konsekwentheid hierdie slag.

Hulle betree wel die stryd sonder enige beserings, wat beteken dat die gevaarmanne, Anele Ngwenya (heelagter) en Bandile Thanjekwayo (linkervleuel), weer in aksie is.

Die Rooi Bulle het slegs een verandering aangebring aan die span wat vir Hoërskool Kempton Park met 42-12 omgedop het. Staatmaker, Jaque Stassen, maak sy terugkeer nadat hy teen die Kempies, van die reserwebank af gespeel het, maar wél op regtervleuel in plaas van heelagter, met WJ Enslin wat, nes verlede week, in die nr. 15-trui uitdraf.

Die voorloper in vanjaar se reeks, Hoërskool Transvalia, wil sy greep op die kompetisie verder versterk. Die span van Vanderbijlpark verwelkom die gewonde Hoërskool Zwartkop in hul agterplaas, nadat hulle verlede naweek hul veldtog met ‘n kragtige vertoning teen Hoërskool Montana (45-24) hervat het.

Die terugkeer van vaskopstut, Stiaan Breedt, met sy stewige skrumwerk en fisieke teenwoordigheid in die vastelos, versterk die Valia-pak en dus kan die Zwarries ‘n klipharde stryd voorlangs verwag.

Vir Hoërskool Montana raak die pad vorentoe nie makliker nie met Hoërskool Middelburg wat in Pretoria besoek aflé.

Die Middelburgers is, nes Transvalia, mooi op dreef en sal nie maklik gestuit word nie. Die Monties sal hul keer verál moet ken wanneer regtervleuel, Kefilwe Photmse, aan die buitekant geleentheid gebied word om aan te val, aangesien hy oor hope vaart en flink voetwerk beskik.

Die spanne: 

Hoërskool Oos-Moot t. Hoërskool Klerksdorp on 12:30 in Pretoria

Oos-Moot: 15 Ruwan Allen, 14 Nick Venter, 13 Ivan van Wyk, 12 Jeandre Venter, 11 Tapiwa Rwafa, 10 Dewron Aford, 9 David Joubert, 8 Clayton de Bruyn, 7 Wade Williams, 6 Bertus van Dyk, 5 Jaydon Botha, 4 Connor de Jager, 3 Christian Smith, 2 Brydon Jordaan, 1 Mike Notnagel.

Hoërskool Klerksdorp: 15 Winton Abrahams, 14 Tyron Masasngo, 13 Asif Sumara, 12 Diwan Labuschagne, 11 Louis Vorster, 10 Cohan Witbooi, 9 Jared van Staden, 8 GJ Steenberg, 7 Bokamoso Mabeleng, 6 Tiaan Koen, 5 Heinrich Hovener, 4 Abrie Esterhuizen, 3 Liam Pretorius, 2 Janu du Wet, 1 De Wet le Roux.

Ligbron Akademie t. Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg om 12:00 in Ermelo

Ligbron Akademie: 15 Anele Ngwenya, 14 Neo Zwane, 13 Siyanda Dennison, 12 Lethi Ngwenya, 11 Bandile Thanjekwayo, 10 Divan van Jaarsveld, 9 Renier van Staden, 8 Janco Claasen, 7 Jurgens Bezuidenhout, 6 Tiaan Botha, 5 Jaco van Wyk, 4 Thamisanqa Lamula, 3 Devan Scheepers, 2 Marnus Marx, 1 Sabelo Nhlapo.

HTS Middelburg: 15 Jaque Stassen, 14 WJ Enslin, 13 Luhan Graaf, 12 Johnny dos Santos, 11 CJ Muller, 10 Gerry Gendall, 9 Ruben Erasmus, 8 Tertius Bezuidenhout, 7 Kayden Wessels, 6 Toy Engelbrecht, 5 Sam Ndwandwe, 4 Janco Aucamp, 3 Kagiso Gumbi, 2 Hanru Terblanche, 1 Dirk du Plooy.

Transvalia t. Zwartkop om 13:45 in Vanderbijl Park

Transvalia: 15 Siyabonga Khambule, 14 Dihan Crause, 13 Tshepo Molakeng, 12 Brandonlee Smit, 11 Tumi Moloi, 10 Dylan Steynman, 9 Anro Nagel, 8 Wynand Stols, 7 Daniel Kazambu, 6 Juan Bishoff, 5 Breyton Kruger, 4 Vincent Brits, 3 Arne Botes, 2 Jayden McPearson, 1 Dylan Booth.

Zwartkop: 15 Justin Julies, 14 Milton Naude, 13 Kyle Blinaut, 12 Luan Williams, 11 Zulu Mona, 10 Luhardt Booyens, 9 Neil Gous, 8 Brian Smith, 7 Cj Barnard, 6 Adriaan Janse van Vuuren, 5 Bradley Cronje, 4 Ettiene van Niekerk, 3 Brogan Ackerman, 2 Migael Kindeque, 1 Julian Lubbe.

Montana t. Hoërskool Middelburg om 12:35 in Pretoria

Montana: 15 Marq de Villiers, 14 Ryan Nel, 13 Hendrew Schoeman, 12 JF Venter, 11 Dirk Coetzee, 10 Leon Deysel, 9 Daelin Ludick, 8 Devan van der Merwe, 7 Justin Herbst, 6 Dieter Scheepers, 5 Kyle Brokhorst, 4 Martin Venter, 3 Ruan Louw, 2 Luhan Theunissen, 1 Marinus Oberholzer.

Hoërskool Middelburg: 15 Andile Mahlangu, 14 Kefilwe Phamotse, 13 Eckard Marx, 12 Lungelo Maseko, 11 Sihle Mkhatshwa, 10 Matthew Abbey, 9 Keabetswe Nkgadema, 8 Jabu Mathebule, 7 Khensani Buthelezi, 6 CW Hanekom, 5 Enrico Thompsom, 4 Rogan van der Walt, 3 Wandisa Mthombeni, 2 Roux Grobler, 1 Wian Olwagen.

Beter uitvoering en kalmte sal aan die orde van die dag wees wanneer Klofies hul veldtog in SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling hervat.

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

Hoërskool Waterkloof wil terugkeer na dit wat hom só suksesvol vanjaar gemaak het wanneer hy Saterdag op tuisbodem teen Hoërskool Noordheuwel in die “Kloof” te staan kom.

Die Blou Tornado se nederlaag van 28-43 teen die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool was slegs sy tweede vir die seisoen en hy is steeds onoorwonne in die SDC Noordvaal Cup.

Die Pretorianers se fisiekheid teen Affies was uit die boonste rakke en afrigter, Cobus van Dyk, vereis meer van dieselfde hierdie Saterdag.

“Ons was tevrede met hoe fisiek ons teen Affies was,” het Van Dyk gesê. “Daar was heelwat dinge wat buite karakter was; die plan was reg, maar ons uitvoering daarvan nie op standaard nie.”

Die tuispan sou ook hard aan hul lynstane geskaaf het, aangesien dit hul grootste tekortkoming teen die Wit Bulle was, en ‘n area waar die Nories, danksy voorspelerafrigter, Ian Joubert, uiters gevaarlik is. Die span van Krugersdorp het in hul vorige rondomtalie-wedstryd teen Hoërskool Garsfontein se Bere puik vertoon, maar moes uiteindelik met 37-44 die knie buig.

Losskakel, Juandre Uithaler, het uitgestaan met sy korrelwerk pale toe om deurgaans sy span in die wedloop te hou. Hy het in besonder ‘n waarskuwing gerig met die aantal strafdoele wat hy vanuit uit sy eie helfte oorgeklits het, dus sal die Klofies moet let op hul dissipline.

Cheswill Jooste, wat vir die grootste gedeelte van die seisoen op buitensenter in aksie was, keer uiteindelik terug na sy gunstelingposisie op heelagter. Jooste, wat vanjaar weer vir die SA Skolespan verteenwoordig het, het verlede jaar sy merk in die nr. 15-trui gemaak.

Die tuisspan sal sonder hul harde man op slot, Stefan de Beer, wat ‘n ligte besering in die stryd teen Affies opgedoen, moet klaarkom. Hy sal deur Leander van der Westhuizen of Codi Binneman in die beginspan vervang word.

Die Nories moet die tuisspan se middeveld fyn dophou, met verál die binnesenter, Happy Makate, wat die besoekers se verdedigers sal besig hou. Makate het van krag tot krag gegaan vanjaar as een van sy span se grootste wapens op sowel die aanval as verdediging.

‘n Gekweste Helpmekaar Kollege wil sy laaste twee wedstryde op tuisbodem op ‘n hoë noot afsluit, met ‘n oorwinning Saterdag oor Hoërskool Marais Viljoen eerste op die agenda.

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

Die Helpies lek nog wonde na hul skoknederlaag teen Hoërskool Rustenburg verlede naweek. Om verdere sout in die Johannesburgers se wonde te vryf hang daar vraagtekens oor van hul groot name, soos binnesenter, Clinton Cloete, en vaskopstut, Ulrich van der Merwe, wat moontlik Saterdag se stryd kan misloop

Van der Merwe het verlede naweek sy terugkeer vanaf die bank gemaak, maar dit was dalk té gou.

In teenstelling hiermee sal die span van Marais Viljoen oorgehaal wees vir die stryd, na ‘n belowende vertoning teen Hoërskool Menlopark in die vorige ronde. Hulle is wel steeds op soek na ‘n eerste oorwinning in die reeks en sal wil jag maak op die gekweste Helpies.

Dit was verál buitesenter, Brandon Els, wat na hoogste versnelling oorgeskakel het, en met sy bedrieglike vaart en uitstekende voetwerk behoort hy die tuisspan vir die volle 70 minute besig te hou.

Die spanne: 

Hoërskool Waterkloof t. Hoërskool Noordheuwel om 12:30 in Pretoria

Waterkloof: 15 Ronan Bastiaanse, 14 Malcolm George, 13 Riwan van Aswegen, 12 Happy Makate, 11 Jaiden Badenhorst, 10 Dennis Obi, 9 Migael Prinsloo, 8 Dawid Prinsloo, 7 Lendrey Janse van Vuuren, 6 Divan Botha, 5 Alrich Uys, 4 Stephan de Beer, 3 Jedri Swart, 2 Ruan Jacobs, 1 Juan Gouws.

Noordheuwel: 15 Cheswill Jooste, 14 Jeremo Luiters, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Jared Coetzee, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Jeandre Uithaler, 9 Ignatius Jantjies, 8 Juandre de Villiers, 7 Andrew Lambert, 6 Meyer Opperman, 5 Xander Buitendag, 4 Alex Greeff, 3 Martin Nel, 2 Clinton Agu, 1 Ruben Botes.

Skeidsregter: Hanru van Rooyen

Helpmekaar Kollege t. Hoërskool Marais Viljoen om 12:30 in Johannesburg

Helpmekaar Kollege: 15 Tiaan le Roux, 14 Delano Maritz, 13 Ty Ax, 12 Clinton Cloete, 11 Pieter Moller, 10 Michael Benzien, 9 Tristan van Niekerk, 8 Motlatsi Moloi, 7 Darius Haasbroek, 6 Zaiden Krige, 5 JP Lombaard, 4 Christiaan Tonkin, 3 Ulrich van der Merwe, 2 Gustav Grotius, 1 Liam Devenier.

Marais Viljoen: 15 Tyron Bouw, 14 Tiaan Joubert, 13 Brandon Els, 12 Claude de Couto, 11 Ethan Weideman, 10 Recce Gerber, 9 Weon van der Vyver, 8 Rio Tshimalanga, 7 Dian Scheepers, 6 Bjorn Pieterse, 5 JD Labuschagne, 4 Beyers van Nieker, 3 Ruben Mans, 2 Sifiso Shongwe, 1 Clayton Gagiano.

Skeidsregter: Ruan Benadie

The spotlight in East London will focus on the best hockey team in town on Friday, Selborne College, who welcome Dale College to their fortress for an evening showdown.

The action, on Selborne’s main AstroTurf, takes place from 18:30.

Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Heading into the game, the home side is favoured, and if the Dale 1st XI is not on its game, it could be a long night for the visitors.

Coach KJ Friend’s Selborne side, after starting the season extremely well, which included winning their first 15 matches, hit a few bumps, but they have recently come on strongly.

In recent weeks, they have been among the goals, regularly capitalising on the opportunities they have created, and their defence has been sound.

When last they met Dale, in Qonce, Selborne ran rampant against coach Junior Mqingwana‘s side, scoring a mammoth 10 goals, while conceding one to record a one-sided 10-1 victory.

In that clash, it was one-way traffic, with Selborne in the ascendency from the get-go. Their skipper, Tre’ Gilbert scored four times, while Jaques van der Merwe racked up a pair. Kungothando Macanda, Daniel Conroy, Waeden Plaatjes, and Daniel Sirgel completed the drubbing.

Since then, Selborne has won every game they have played, barring a 1-1 draw with St Andrew’s College late in May.

In the third term alone, they have scored 26 goals in only three matches, with 14 of those coming against Cambridge High, while they also overran Hudson Park and Queen’s College by 6-1 margins.

Selborne possesses several goal-scoring threats, including Gilbert, who has been joined on the scoring sheet of late by Thomas Caswell, Jaques van der Merwe and Daniel Sirgel.

At stake for the East London school is its unbeaten status in the Border region this year.

Despite their big loss against Selborne, Dale’s season has raised optimism about the school’s hockey programme. The improvements over 2023 have been clear as day and they’ve employed a more attractive and effective style of play.

Under the leadership of coach Mqingwana, Dale has picked up some big wins, including beating Graeme College and handing their great rivals Queen’s a loss on the Komani school’s Reunion Day.

In recent weeks, however, they’ve found themselves on the wrong end of a number of one-goal losses. They went down 0-1 against Kingswood before losing 2-3 against Stirling and, last week, they let the game slip in the fourth chukka, losing 1-2 against St Andrew’s College in Makhanda.

The task of dethroning Selborne will be a mammoth one, but stranger things have happened in schoolboy hockey, and Dale will be upset-minded.

If they’re to pull off a shock result, they’ll need players like Sonwabiso Dyani, Gavin Walton, their skipper Sibongile Nzima, and their goalkeeper Libhongo Mgijima, to bring their A-game.

Meanwhile, Woodridge College visits East London for a weekend full of hockey, during which they will Hudson Park, Merrifield College, and Stirling High respectively.

They are scheduled to play Merrifield on Friday at 16:00 before facing Hudson Park the following day at 15:00. On Sunday, they tackle Stirling High at 10:00.

Stirling High, meanwhile, takes on Cambridge High on Friday, while Queen’s College plays Merrifield on Saturday.

FIXTURES

Friday, 26 July

15:30 – Hudson Park vs Framesby
16:00 – Merrifield vs Woodridge College
18:00 – Cambridge High vs Stirling High
18:30 – Selborne College vs Dale College

Saturday, 27 July

10:00 – Merrifield vs Queen’s College
15:00 – Hudson Park vs Woodridge College

A weekend of doubleheaders awaits in the Gauteng Development League, with 18 mouthwatering fixtures set to grace the SuperSport Schools app on mobile devices and SuperSport Schools’ DStv Channel 216.

The weekend starts with a steep challenge for 13th-placed NWU Vaal, who will host log-leading Mamelodi Sundowns at the George Thabe Stadium on Saturday. The following day, they face an equally daunting outing against second placed Kaizer Chiefs at Naturena Village. 

It’s a tough task for coach Tebello Kheswa’s NWU Vaal, who head into their most challenging assignments yet after failing to win any of their last five fixtures.

During that time, Kheswa’s troops have lost to Tuks, SuperSport United, Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA), and Panorama, while they drew with RESA the first time the teams met.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns are unbeaten in the league, while Kaizer Chiefs have lost only once all season long.

Kheswa’s team is not the only one facing a difficult weekend. Kathorus Hyper Academy have their work cut out, too. They visit the Panorama Sports Club on Saturday to face a side that is coached by a tactical mastermind, Boy Gcabashe.

Gcabashe has been the driving force behind the success of the Panorama under-19 side, not only in the league but also in the Engen Knockout Challenge where he has directed them to qualify for three consecutive Engen tournaments, which takes some doing.

On Sunday, Kathorus Hyper welcomes Mamelodi Sundowns to the Huntersfield Stadium to conclude their double-header weekend.

High-flying TS Galaxy hosts the East Rand Athletic Club and Sevens Academy at George Lea Park on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

RESA faces Jomo Cosmos at President Park on Saturday before travelling to Balfour Park on Sunday to play the defending champions, Highlands Park.

Before hosting RESA on Sunday, Highlands Park will tackle the School of Excellence at Elandsfontein.

Tuks will remain in Pretoria for the weekend. They take on SuperSport United at Eskom Megawatt Park in a Pretoria derby on Saturday before welcoming the School of Excellence to the University of Pretoria Sports Complex on Sunday.

Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School is home to Joburg City on Saturday but away at Marks Park on Sunday, where they will match skills with Wits Junior.

Randburg AFC has home ground advantage against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday. On Sunday, they’re away at Joburg City.

Saturday Fixtures

TS Galaxy vs East Rand Athletic
SuperSport united vs Tuks
Sevens Academy vs Wits Junior
School of Excellence vs Highlands Park
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Schools vs Joburg City
RESA vs Jomo Cosmos
Randburg AFC vs Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC vs Kathorus Hyper Academy
NWU Vaal FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday Fixtures

East Rand Athletic Clubs vs SuperSport United
TS Galaxy vs Sevens Academy
Tuks vs School of Excellence
Wits Junior vs Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Highlands Park vs RESA
Joburg City vs Randburg AFC
Jomo Cosmos vs Panorama FC
Kaizer Chiefs vs NWU Vaal FC
Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Hoërskool Dr. EG Jansen se terugkeer gaan gepaard met ‘n gevaarlike uitdaging.

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

Die Arende, na verlede week se welverdiende loslootjie, hervat hul veldtog in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling met ‘n kragmeting teen die gevaarlike Hoërskool Rustenburg.

Die Rusties het verlede naweek gewys dat hulle nie te versmaai is in dié afdeling nie met ‘n uitmuntende tuissege van 31-19 oor Helpmekaar Kollege.

“Ons fokus bly dieselfde,” het Naas Olivier, Hoërskool Rustenburg se afrigter gesê.

“Verlede week was ‘n uiters fisieke stryd, dus het ons vandeesweek meer klem gelê op rus en herstel. Dit is vir ons belangrik, verál aangesien ons hierdie naweek teen een van Suid-Afrika se beste skolespanne te staan kom.”

Die Rustenburgers het ‘n paar taai weke agter die blad maar dit lyk asof hulle die stryd met hul eerstekeuse-vyftiental kan aanpak.

Dit is vernaam Lorenzo Snyers vir wie die Rusties se ondersteuners in watte sou wou toe draai. Snyers, die span van Rustenburg grootste uitblinker regdeur die huidige seisoen, hou groot gevaar vir die Arende in, verál wanneer hy homself in spasie bevind.

Voorlangs wag die ervare slot en kaptein, Pedrie Human, op die Jansies se agttal. Human is nie alleen ‘n voortreflike leier nie, maar ook ‘n klipharde werker in die vastelos  en behoort met slotmaat, Erich Potgieter, te verseker dat hul agterhoede goeie en vinnige balbesit geniet.

Die Arende behoort hul SA Skole “A”-flank, Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar, wat ‘n welverdiende blaaskans na ‘n bedrywige Junie en Julie geniet het, terug te verwelkom, wat beteken dat die Jansies se pak op volsterkte sal wees.

Dit is juis voorlangs waar die span van Boksburg meeste van hul teenstanders geknou het, en hul vaste fasette, waarskynlik die beste in die kompetisie, is ‘n aspek waarvoor Olivier en die res van die Rusties se afrigtingspan noukeurig sou beplan.

Dit maak van losskakel, Matthew Bergman, met sy vermoë om spel te lees, buitesenter, Jeandre Jacobs, en linkervleuel, Keanu van Loggerenberg, ‘n uiters gevaarlike proposisie agterlangs. Van Loggerenberg, wat selde die erkenning kry wat hy verdien, is een van die Arende se grootste aanvalswapens met sy bedrieglike vaart en venynige voetwerk.

Hoërskool Menlopark se moraal sou ietwat gelig het nadat hy verlede naweek die wa vir die eerste keer in vanjaar se reeks deur die drif kon trek. Die Parkies het in ‘n drieëfees in Alberton met 40-33 teen Hoërskool Marais Viljoen koning gekraai.

Hierdie naweek se nuwe uitdaging bied egter meer van ‘n opdraande stryd.

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

Die Pretorianers moet Saterdag na Nelspruit reis, waar hulle vir Hoërskool Nelspruit se Rhinos aandurf. Dit is hul tweede tog na Mbombela vanjaar, nadat hulle reeds vroeër in die seisoen, tydens die NWU Sportreeks, teen die Rhinos op hul tuisveld te staan gekom het. Menlopark het met 31-14 geseëvier, maar daar het sedertdien heelwat water in die see geloop.

Ian Wood en sy Rhinos het in die kwessie van twee weke as een van die grootste bedreigings in die reeks ontpop en sal slaggereed wees om die bordjies te verhang. Die Rhinos spog met seges oor Hoërskool Garsfontein (30-29) en Hoërskool Monument (21-12) in Mpumalanga se hoofstad.

Laim Pringle, die tuisspan se skrumskakel, was uitstaande in die laaste twee kragmetings en het ook ‘n sleutelrol in die Pumas se sukses by die Stadio Cravenweek gespeel, met sy flink diens en uitstekende taktiese skoppe.

Hy sal wel daarteen moet waak om té veel op die Parkies se Divan Nel te skop. Nel, wat die vorige keer die Rhinos se verdedigers onkant betrap het sal, saam met die woelwater-agsteman, Rocco Myburgh, vir die tuisspan taamlik besig hou.

Die spanne: 

Hoërskool Dr. EG Jansen t. Hoërskool Rustenburg om 12:25 in Boksburg

EG Jansen (moontlik): 15 Ntokozo Ngobese, 14 Jean-Dre Claasen, 13 Juandre Jacobs 12 Steven Williams, 11 Keanu van Loggerenberg, 10 Matthew Bergman, 9 Riekus van der Merwe, 8 Storm Labuschagne, 7 Divan Francis, 6 Zade-Leigh Rippenaar, 5 Zandre Naudé, 4 Gerhard van Aswegen, 3 Duwan Potgieter, 2 Danre Pike, 1 Zian Marais.

Hoërskool Rustenburg: 15 Lorenzo Snyers, 14 Christiaan van der Berg, 13 John-Re Jefthas, 12 Hendre Robinson, 11 Wesley van Loggerenberg, 10 Awie Engelbrecht, 9 Adriano George, 8 Coenraad Koetzer, 7 Dirk Huisamen, 6 Wickus Jacobs, 5 Pedrie Human, 4 Erich Potgieter, 3 Ockert Grobler, 2 Xavier Steenkamp, 1 Divan Welgemoed.

Hoërskool Nelspruit t. Hoërskool Menlopark om 13:20 in Mbombela

Hoërskool Nelspruit: 15 Jean Erasmus, 14 Jordan Pretorius, 13 Ruben Greeff, 12 Ian Wood, 11 Tinyiko Shilubane, 10 Theuns Meyer, 9 Liam Pringle, 8 Vaughn van Zyl, 7 Prosper Chillione, 6 Banele Ngwenya, 5 Ronaldo van Rensburg, 4 Ethan Esterhuizen, 3 Gert Cloete, 2 Regardt Vermaak, 1 Lindani Ndlela.

Menlopark (moontlik): 15 Divan Nel, 14 Anwill Prins, 13 Ruben Fourie, 12 Wynand van Wyk, 11 Handre Joubert, 10 Logan Botha, 9 Phillipus de Bruyn, 8 Rocco Myburg, 7 JN van Wyk, 6 Nathan du Plessis, 5 Xander Roets, 4 Hein Schoeman, 3 Ruwan van Aardt, 2 Huga Brand, 1 Mattheus Prinsloo.

Two South African Under-18 teams and their age-group counterparts from England, France, Ireland and Georgia will face off in Cape Town and Paarl next month, with the annual u18 International Series confirmed by SA Rugby on Thursday.

The SA Under-18 team and the next-best ‘A’ side, as well as the four visitors from Europe, will play in a three-round competition on 12, 16 and 20 August.

Similar to past editions, the matches will be hosted at school venues, with Stellenberg High School in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, as well as Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High School hosting the U18 teams on triple-header match days.

Dave Wessels, General Manager of High Performance at SA Rugby, described the forthcoming U18 series as a key component in the development of the country’s top age-group players.

“The international coaches I spoke to during the recent World Rugby U20 Championship all described the importance of coming over here to test their young players in a proper international competition,” said Wessels.

“The annual U18 series forms an integral part of our elite player development pipeline and is very important in the development and growth of our own young players.

“Apart from rewarding the current group of U18s with an incredible opportunity, it can be considered as the starting point for the new identification cycle of our next group of Junior Springboks and franchise players.

“The competition also gives an opportunity to a wide range of coaches and staff who get the opportunity to test themselves at a higher level. These staff have all made significant contributions to our EPD (Elite Player Development) programme through their unions, schools and clubs, and will be supported by experienced SA Rugby staff.”

The squads and management teams for the two SA U18 sides will be announced in due course.

u18 International Series fixtures:

Monday, 12 August (Stellenberg HS)

11:30 – South Africa ‘A’ vs Georgia

13:30 – England vs Ireland

15:30 – South Africa vs France

Friday, 16 August (Paarl Gimnasium)

11:30 – England vs France

13:30 – Georgia vs South Africa ‘A’

15:30 – South Africa vs Ireland

Tuesday, 20 August (Paarl Boys High)

11h30 – Ireland vs South Africa ‘A’

13:30 – South Africa vs England

15:30 – France vs Georgia

Issued by SA Rugby Communications