Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof het verlede Vrydag drie uit vier van hul kragmetings met Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle gewen.
Bloemhof se o.18-span het in die hoofwedstryd van die Boland-derby naelskraaps met 31-30 die pyp gerook.
Dit is ‘n grootse prestasie vir Bloemhof nadat die spanne mekaar reeds drie keer vanjaar ontmoet het en La Rochelle ál drie vorige kere as wenners uit die stryd getree het.
Die onlangse kragmeting tussen die eerste spanne het ‘n titaniese stryd afgegee, met die spanne wat kop aan kop was in elke kwart.
In die eerste en tweede kwart was die telling gelykop met onderskeidelik 9-9 en 16-16. Na die derde kwart het Bloemhof met slegs een doel voorgeloop (24-23).
Die spanne het selfs in die laaste kwart nie hul voet van die pedaal afgehaal nie, maar dit was uiteindelik Bloemhof wat met 31-30 kon seëvier.
Maroné Uys is aangewys as die speler van die wedstryd in die o.18-kragmeting.
Slegs die o.15-span van La Rochelle kon ‘n oorwinning behaal.
Uitslae:
o.14A LaR 13-22 BH
o.15A LaR 18-16 BH
o 17A: LaR 22-25 BH
o 18: LaR 30-31 BH.
Die ander wedstryde is uitgestel as gevolg van ongure weer en vind Woensdag, 24 Julie, plaas.
SACS’s Reece Theunis in action for his side against Wynberg Boys High earlier this season. SACS won that clash 1-0 away from home. Photo: Oliver van Schalkwyk
South African College High School (SACS) dangerman, Reece Theunis, is aiming to play a pivotal role for his side during the remainder of the hockey season, which concludes next month.
Theunis has been a key contributor in this year’s SACS side, thanks to his goalscoring prowess and his work off the ball.
After the tournament, the 17-year-old was named in the SA Schools u18Aside and has recently been included for a second year running in the SA u17 team, which will contest the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia later this year.
Ahead of his side’s big showdown clash with Paul Roos Gimnasium on Wednesday, SuperSport Schools Plushockey writer, Avuyile Sawula, interviewed the striker.
Their conversation centred around the current season, the step up from junior to senior hockey, and representing South Africa.
You’ve been at SACS from an early age. How would you say life has been at the primary and high schools?
It’s been quite special, especially on the hockey front. I came here wanting to play hockey, and since junior school it’s been a dream of mine to play for the first team.
I’m currently in that position now, and I’m just grateful to be representing the school.
How would you describe the current 2024 season so far?
Yeah, this season, so far, has been quite great, I won’t lie.
We’ve had our ups and downs, but that’s always going to happen. We lost once against Paul Roos Gimnasium in the final of the Hibbert Shieldbut, other than that, we’ve done well.
We’ve practiced for months and months doing the small things right and coming into the final stretch of the season, we’re looking to finish strong.
You played in the u16 team last year. How has the step up been from junior hockey to first team level?
Yeah, the move up from u16 to the first team has forced me to mature a lot on and off the field. I’ve been training much better, and the level is just different. I think I’ve managed to get used to the tempo of the game, but I’m still a work in progress.
You represented Western Province at the u16 SASHOC National Week last year, winning that title, and then went on to represent SA at the u17 Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia. How were those experiences for you?
It was amazing, you know. We went into that IPT tournament looking to do something different after we finished in third place two years ago, and to go and win it was something special.
And then going on to make the South African team was a privilege from day one. And when I got selected to play for the SA u17s in Malaysia, that was special, and I made some memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Reece Theunis represented Western Province at this year’s SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
Who would you say inspires you to be a better player?
I think the obvious answer would be my dad.
In junior school, I wasn’t a massive hockey fan, and he insisted I play all the time.
He pushed me to train, invested in my hockey, and allowed me to go on all these tours around the country and to Malaysia, of course.
What sort of influence have your coaches had on you over the years?
Yeah, you know guys like Coach Sam [Holmes], Mr. Stu Barnard, and Mr Pevs [James Peverley] have been a big influence on how I’ve matured as a player.
They’ve pushed me since day one to always take my chances, and they’ve instilled this belief that I shouldn’t fear not scoring. They’ve also motivated me to do better because they know I’m far from reaching my full potential.
How do you feel about the second half of the season, and what do you think will be key for SACS to finish on a high?
I think the approach will be the same as last year.
After the IPTs, you sort of come back stronger because of the break, especially if it was a good break. When you get back, you’re hungrier to get on the pitch and play again.
This term we’ll face teams like Paul Roos, Wynberg, and Bishops, and all of those are top-quality teams that will give us a run for our money.
We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. It will be tough, but we are ready.
In a gruelling, physical battle, DHS fought their way to a seven-point win over Northwood in a showdown between the best teams in KZN in 2024.
Durban High School (DHS) withstood a stern challenge from Northwood on Saturday on Van Heerden Field, claiming a hard-fought 18-11 victory to confirm their status as KwaZulu-Natal’s top 1st XV of 2024, but they were pushed all the way.
When they met on Reece-Edwards Field on 13 April, the teams played to a 7-7 draw. The Horseflies had been favoured in that game, but the Knights, in front of their home supporters, fought fire with fire and surprised DHS.
Commenting after Saturday’s bruising clash, DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldow, told SuperSport Schools Plus: “They had a really good game at home, and they caught us off guard. I don’t think we were mentally switched on. Today, the boys were up for the challenge. They knew what was coming. Northwood is a fantastic side this year. We knew it would be tough, especially up front.”
Northwood’s coach Jacques Deen, despite seeing his side come out on the wrong side of the result, took pride in his team’s performance. They knew what there was to play for, and we couldn’t have asked for a greater effort,” he said. “They had a good mindset. At the same time, small, crucial mistakes cost us.”
Mistakes almost cost DHS, too, as they butchered a couple of good scoring chances in the early going. Twice, they managed to get the ball out wide and create overlaps, including a three-on-one, but Northwood’s committed cover defence stopped School.
Left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane was put in the clear on the left flank just three minutes into the contest. He pinned his ears back and appeared on course to score in the corner, but four Knights were in full pursuit and a superb tackle took him out of play just a metre or two from the try line.
A brilliant covering tackle prevented Zenkosi Mthiyane from scoring an early try for DHS.
When DHS created the three-on-one, again down the left-hand touchline, a decision by the last Northwood defender to be proactive and not reactive, zeroing in on a tackle like a missile, caused the home side’s attacking trio to fluff their lines.
From there, the game became a lot tighter. “The plan, mostly, was to try and suffocate them, to put as much pressure as possible on them, cause them to make a mistake, and then try to play from there,” Northwood’s Jacques Deen said. It worked.
The rucks and mauls were areas of robust contestation, and Northwood did a fantastic job of challenging DHS at lineout time. While that approach worked for the Knights, it also worked for DHS. As Deen admitted: “We’ve both got a similar game plan.”
DHS, though, were first on the board, and it came from another wide attack, this time down the right flank. It began with a fantastic pass from flyhalf Allston Cedras, which put DHS captain Duncan Basson on the outside of his man. He then fed right wing Adriano Jackson, who spun his way across the try line in a tackle to give his side the edge.
DHS enjoyed an advantage in the set scrums, led by their loosehead prop and Head Boy Unaye Mndau. He’s not the biggest number one, but when former Springbok front-ranker and DHS old boy, BJ Botha, recently helped out with some coaching at the school, he was in no doubt that Mndau was the best scrummager at DHS and the best he had worked with in some time.
DHS enjoyed the better of the scrums, exerting heavy pressure on Northwood throughout the game.
The hosts, though, spurned an excellent opportunity to capitalise on their edge up front when they monstered the Knights in a set piece near the halfway line. A penalty was shown for the Horseflies, but some ill-discipline – a bit of pushing and shoving – led to a reversal of the call, and Northwood flyhalf Siya Nkosi kicked to the corner, putting School onto the defensive.
Northwood forced their way over the try line but were held up. Two five-metre scrums were awarded in succession to the visitors and from the second they beautifully executed a training ground move to open up space for Carlos Lovell to go over in the left-hand corner.
With half-time approaching fast, DHS won another scrum penalty. They made good use of it.
A kick to the corner set up a driving maul. Northwood’s tenacious defence stopped the home side, but the referee ruled they had dragged the maul to ground. Another lineout and drive and Daniel Ikotela was over for five. Allston Cedras converted, and the whistle sounded with DHS 12-5 ahead at the break.
In the second half, Northwood gained a stronger foothold in the contest, which forced the outstanding DHS defence to dig deep.
Behind the pack, flyhalf Siya Nkosi masterfully controlled the game. His decision making and tactical kicking was on point, and he seemed to always be in the right place to receive the kick when DHS tried to pressure the Knights with the boot.
“He is a very talented player,” Northwood coach Deen said. “His understanding of the game and his rugby IQ is phenomenal. He is such a good player.”
At half-time, Deen said he had focussed on getting his players to understand what needed to be done and what needed to be fixed. They reacted to that, and it bore dividends.
Saturday’s showdown was a fiercely physical contest between two teams which have excelled on defence.
DHS, though, was able to extend their lead to 10 points after a quarter-of-an-hour of the second stanza, with Cedras slotting a penalty kick from the 22, almost directly in front.
Northwood responded almost immediately when the Horseflies were pinged for obstruction from the kick-off. The penalty, wide on the left, just outside the DHS 22, was struck sweetly by Ramatuku Sikhakane and the gap was, once more, just seven points.
A powerful driving maul, covering 20 metres, which took the Knights midway into the DHS 22, resulted in another penalty to the visitors when it was brought to ground. A kick at goal, unfortunately for Northwood, was wide of the mark.
Then, a good bounce of the ball for DHS and a strong line chase put the visitors under pressure inside their own half and they conceded a penalty. Cedras sent the 33-metre kick between the uprights.
Northwood made it a one-score game six minutes from time, with Savio Stevens knocking over an easy penalty from deep inside the DHS 22.
At the final whistle, the DHS players celebrated, with a hint of relief, while a number of Northwood players stood with hands on hips, spent, having given it their all. It had been some contest.
Respect earned; respect shown.
It ended with the sides showing mutual respect and with both sets of supporters having good reason to be proud of the efforts of their teams.
All credit to the teams’ strength and conditioning specialists. Both sets of players went at it hammer and tongs for the full duration of the match, which underlined one of the primary reasons they are the best in KZN in 2024.
If school pride was being graded, both schools scored an A-plus.
St Mary’s DSG captain Georgia Pollock smashes a shot towards the St John’s DSG goal in the SPAR KZN Schools Hockey Challenge Grand Final title-decider.
Jamie da Silva was at her best as she bagged two goals to help the hosts, St Mary’s DSG (Kloof), record a 3-0 win over St John’s DSG to win the title at the SPARKZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge Grand Final on Sunday.
It was a sixth Grand Final victory for St Mary’s. No other team has won the trophy as many times as they have.
It was also their second trophy of the season, following the St Anne’s Cup, which they lifted in May.
St Mary’s was not only unbeaten in the tournament, they also didn’t concede a goal over the course of the two days while scoring 29 times.
“I am really proud of the girls. They really found a second gear,” Carla Ann Mackay, the St Mary’s coach, said after the final about her side’s intensity in their playoff matches.
“It’s testament to the girls’ [effort]. They’ve really just kept on growing every single game and haven’t let anything stop them.”
One of the most impressive aspects of the St Mary’s performances was that, despite playing seven games in two days, they still looked fresh and dialled in at the conclusion of the event. The matches were 30 minutes long with no halftime break.
“The girls have put in a huge shift this year with our high performance and our conditioning, which I think sometimes the girls’ schools ignore. We’ve got an amazing biokineticist at the school, Tanner Smith, who’s been pushing them.
“Fitness was never going to be negotiable. So, the girls have been constantly putting in the effort on the field with fitness and strength and conditioning,” Mackay explained.
Speaking of commitment, props to Mackay who oversaw her charges title-winning efforts despite being set to give birth on Monday!
Delight for St Mary’s DSG as a they celebrate winning the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge trophy for a record sixth time.
There was no reprieve for St John’s in the early going of the title-decider. St Mary’s set up camp in the opposition half and dialled up the pressure on the Pietermaritzburg girls from the opening whistle.
Their dominance won them two early penalty corners, one of which struck a post.
If there is any concern that coach Mackay might have ahead of the forthcoming Top 12 Tournament, it might be her team’s penalty corner conversion rate. Before the final, they had scored only once from 20 shorties.
However, while they found it a challenge to score from penalty corners, St Mary’s were full of goals from the field, which was testament to their ball movement, ball speed and composure in front of goal.
They breezed through the tournament on the strength of their ability to score those field goals, and it was no different in the final.
A team under siege can repel only so many attacks and after five minutes of intense pressure, the Georgia Pollock-captained side found a breakthrough. Jamie da Silva, who was outstanding all tournament long, received a pass deep inside the St John’s circle and kept her cool to find a gap between the goalkeeper and the right post.
Jamie da Silva is congratulated after scoring her first of two goals in the final.
Two minutes later, Saints strung a series of passes together before Elizabeth Andersonlaid off the ball to Alex Bowyer, who nutmegged the St John’s goalie to make it 2-0.
After defending for most of the chukka, PhillipSmerdon‘s came close to pulling a goal back.
They launched an attack into the St Mary’s D and won a penalty corner. In a chaotic passage of play, they hit a post and then, with the goalkeeper beaten, a St Mary’s defender pulled off a goal line save.
It had taken St John’s 13 minutes to create an opportunity, but they showed they had a cutting edge when it came their way.
Two minutes into the second chukka, St Mary’s administered the last rights on the contest. Jenna-Leigh Freese made a strong run down the right channel before she drilled a pass into the St John’s circle where da Silva executed an wicked deflection into the top left corner for a third Saints’ goal and her second of the match.
Despite trailing 0-3, St John’s kept pressing, hoping to muddy Saints’ outstanding defensive record. They dominated the last couple of minutes of play.
Smerdon’s charges won multiple penalty corners after the final hooter had sounded. The hosts, though, held firm and denied them a consolation goal.
It was, nonetheless, a best ever runners-up finish in the event for St John’s.
The title of champions and the trophy was a perfect gift for the St Mary’s captain, Pollock, who celebrated her 18th birthday on Sunday.
The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC) claimed third place with a closely contested 1-0 victory over Durban Girls’ College(DGC), who put up a good showing despite some of their top players being at an SA u21 camp.
The Wykeham Collegiate edged out Durban Girls’ College 1-0 to finish third, their highest ever finish in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge Grand Final.
In their stead, DGC played a number of young players who showed that there is more exciting quality coming through their ranks in the younger age groups.
They were at their best when under heavy pressure from St Mary’s in the semi-finals, showing admirable grit before at last conceding in the second chukka.
In the third and fourth place playoff, however, TWC found the goal that counted
It was a fine tournament for TWC, who were beaten by St Mary’s DSG on the opening day but won their other three pool games.
In the cross-pool playoffs, they gave St John’s a tough game, dominating the first half. Their Pietermaritzburg rivals finished strongly, however, and mustered up a last-minute goal to book their spot in the final.
Fifth place went to Our Lady of Fatima, who sparkled on Sunday, winning both of their matches convincingly.
Our Lady of Fatima had too much firepower for Ferrum in their playoff contest.
They moved the ball constructively around Founders Field and opened with a 6-0 defeat of St Patrick’s College.
The Kokstad girls did themselves proud, however, finishing seventh in their first appearance in the Grand Final.
Later in the day, Our Lady of Fatima cruised to a second win, repeating that 6-0 victory margin in their last outing against Ferrum.
RESULTS
Cross-Pool Playoffs
Ferrum 2-0 Grantleigh
Our Lady of Fatima 6-0 St Patrick’s
St Mary’s DSG 2-0 DGC
St John’s DSG 1-0 TWC
Position Playoffs
Amanzimtoti (1) 0-0 (0) Ladysmith High (9th/10th)
St Patrick’s (2) 0-0 (0) Grantleigh (7th/8th)
Our Lady of Fatima 6-0 Ferrum (5th/6th)
TWC 1-0 DGC (3rd/4th)
St Mary’s DSG 3-0 St John’s DSG (1st/2nd)
Paarl Gimnasium continued their impressive run, beating Rhenish 3-2 at home to keep their unbeaten record in the Western Cape intact. Photo: Lookonimages
In a battle for supremacy between two fierce Western Cape rivals, Paarl Gimnasium and Rhenish Girls’ High, it was Paarl Gim who came out on top, claiming an impressive 3-2 win over their arch-rivals in Paarl on Saturday.
The victory means coach Ian Naudé‘s side remains unbeaten in the province, having suffered only two defeats all season long – against St Stithians and Eunice at the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Tournament in Johannesburg earlier in the year.
The fixture was the second time the teams met in 2024. In their first meeting, at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, Gim handed Rhenish a 1-0 defeat.
Heading into the match, both teams owned flawless records within the province. Rhenish, who finished as the runners-up at the All Girls Festivalin Potchefstroom, were not to be underestimated.
Gim, though, was on a superb run of form, scoring goals with ease against some of the Western Cape’s other top teams and sides from further afield, when they won the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament. They were rampant and dominated the event to win gold and finish the four-day competition unbeaten.
Chris Gerber’s Rhenish side has also enjoyed a solid season, however, and during the week, in the lead-up to the big showdown, they defeated Paarl Girls’ High 2-1. Before that, in their last outing of the second term, they beat Parel Vallei 2-0.
Friday’s clash got off to a fiery start, with the game being played at a high tempo and both teams having a good go at one another, which led to an eye-opening four goals being scored in the first chukka.
Rhenish was first onto the scoresheet, but Gimmies responded through a Marika Neethling penalty corner drag flick to make it 1-1.
Soon after, the hosts grabbed the lead after Anine Le Roux converted a penalty stroke, but, undaunted, Rhenish quickly replied to make it 2-2.
Paarl Gim enjoyed the better of the second and third chukkas, creating numerous goal scoring opportunities without finding a finish.
They had several penalty corners stopped, but they also remained strong and resolute at the back, stopping the Stellenbosch side from taking the lead.
Then, in a thrilling finish, with about a minute to play in the fourth chukka, Karea De Ridder broke the hearts of Rhenish by slotting a field goal to make it 3-2, which sealed the win for her team.
Paarl Gim’s Marli van Lierop earned her 75th cap for the first team in their match against Rhenish. Photo: Lookonimages
“The first 15 minutes, both teams were on fire, and it was end-to-end stuff,” Paarl Gim coach Ian Naudé told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“From there on, the game was played between the two halves, with both teams still being fresh and the legs keeping up.
“From the second half, we pressed a little bit more, and that seemed to work for us, as we managed to get counterattacks, and controlled the game.”
Gim was unable to capitalise on their opportunities, but they didn’t allow Rhenish many and kept the Stellenbosch girls from winning a penalty corner.
Naudé applauded his side’s defensive effort: “Rhenish played their socks off. It was a hard game, but I think our girls were better conditioned,” he said.
“We had some PCs that we didn’t convert, but I’m also happy that we didn’t concede any PCs and that just speaks to our discipline in defence.”
Minke Botha received the player of the match accolade, while it was a special occasion for Marli van Lierop, who played her 75th match for Paarl Gimnasium.
Other matches
It was a busy week and weekend around the Western Cape, which included a big derby between Herschel Girls School and Springfield Convent School.
The honours went the way of the hosts, with Herschel claiming a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Mia Andrews and Alexa Knott.
Stellenberg was also on the winning side, beating Outeniqua 4-2, while Fairmont defeated The Settlers 3-0.
Paarl Girls’ High, after a narrow 1-2 mid-week defeat against Rhenish, bounced back to beat Durbanville 3-0.
RESULTS
Herschel Girls School 2-0 Springfield
Paarl Gimnasium 3-2 Rhenish
Stellenberg 4-2 Outeniqua
Fairmont High 3-0 The Settlers
Paarl Girls High 3-0 Durbanville
La Rochelle vs HMS Bloemhof – Postponed
Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Parel Vallei – Called off (rain)
Die besoekers van Vanderbijlpark het hul veldtog in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Plaat-afdeling hervat met ‘n oortuigende oorwinning van 45-24 oor Hoërskool Montana.
Die span in die rooi- en ligbloutruie het ‘n verlengde blaaskans, danksy ‘n loslootjie, in die eerste ronde na die skoolvakansie geniet, maar dit het hul momentum duidelik nie veel geaffekteer nie.
Valia se gevaarlike agterlyn was weer hul sterkpunt, maar die oorwinning sou nie moontlik gewees het sonder ‘n dominerende vertoning deur die voorspelers nie.
Die besoekers het vanuit die staanspoor nie gehuiwer om die bal lug te gee nie, en sodoende kon hul sneller op linkervleuel, Tumi Moloi, vroeg reeds sy span se rekening met ‘n praglopie teen die kantlyn af oopmaak. Die Cravenweek-senters, Brandonlee Smit en Tshepo Molakeng, het ook uitgeblink aan die buitekant van losskakel, Dylan Steynman.
Vir die tuisspan het loskopstut, Marinus Oberholzer, hand opgesteek, met sy begeesterde barslopies waardevolle meters vir die Monties gewen en twee drieë gedruk. Hy het goeie ondersteuning ontvang van oopkantflank, Dieter Scheepers, wat verál in die vastelos uitgeblink het.
In Klerksdorp het Hoërskool Klerksdorp ‘n derde agtereenvolgende sege behaal deur vir Ligbron Akademie, van Ermelo, met 38-31 te troef.
Die tuisspan het reeds binne die eerste 10 minute drie keer agter Ligbron se doellyn gaan kuier. Agtsteman en kaptein, GJ Steenberg, gaan van krag tot krag en is met ‘n tweekuns beloon vir sy kragtige vertoning. Agterlangs het heelagter, Winton Abrahams, en binnesenter, Diwan Labuschagne, die besoekers se gevaarlike agterlyn grootliks in toom gehou.
Ligbron is egter ‘n span wat weier om weg te gaan en het, nes verlede naweek, ‘n verbete terugvegpoging geloods. Hul Cravenweek-heelagter, Anele Ngwenya, was aan die spits daarvan, maar skrumskakel, Renier van Staden, het uiteindelik die kollig gesteel deur 16 van sy span se 31 punte aan te teken.
Hoërskool Middelburg het nóg ‘n oortuigende sege op sy kerfskop geplaas. Die span van Mpumalanga het in Centurion vir Hoërskool Zwartkop oortuigend met 34-17 verslaan.
‘n Tweekuns deur vaskopstut en kaptein, Wandisa Mtombeni, het die grondslag vir die sege gelê en ook die vuur onder sy pak aangesteek. Mtombeni het goeie ondersteuning van slot, Enrico Thompson, ontvang.
Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg se kaptein, Toy Engelbrecht, was op sy beurt aan die voorpunt van HTS se oorwinning van 42-12 oor Hoërskool Kempton Park op die Oos-Rand, en het twee van sy span se vyf drieë gedruk.
Heelagter, WJ Enslin, wat gewoonlik op linkervleuel diens doen, het ‘n puik dag vanaf die skopkegel beleef. Enslin het ‘n 100% slaagsyfer met sy skopwerk pale toe behaal en ál vyf die Rooi Bulle se drieë verdoel.
Puntemakers:
Transvalia 45 (19) – Drieë: Dihan Crause (2), Arné Botes, Tumi Moloi, Brandonlee Smit, Tsepho Molakeng, Siya Khambule. Doelskoppe: Dylan Steynman (5). Montana 24 (3) – Drieë: Marinus Oberholzer (2), Dieter Scheepers. Doelskoppe: Devan van der Merwe (3). Strafdoel: Van der Merwe.
Hoërskool Klerksdorp 38 (28) – Drieë: GJ Steenberg (2), Diwan Labuschagne, Bokamoso Mabeleng, Louis Vorster, Tyran Masango. Doelskoppe: Cohan Witbooi (4). Ligbron Akademie 31 (17) – Drieë: Renier van Staden, Neo Zwane, Anele Ngwenya, Zakithi Zwane. Doelskoppe: Van Staden (4). Strafdoel: Van Staden.
Hoërskool Ben Vorster het in Pietersburg die bordjies verhang teen hul tradisionele aartsvyand, Hoërskool Pietersburg, in hul rondomtalie-stryd in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Skild-afdeling.
Die Buffels het met ‘n strafdoel kort voor die eindfluitjie hul derde agtereenvolgende sege met 25-23 in die kompetisie beklink.
Die man van die oomblik was die Buffels se buitesenter, Tihandre Reyneke, wat koel en kalm die bal tussen die pale deur gestuur het vir die oorwinning. Dit was Reyneke se tweede strafdoel en, tesame met twee suksesvolle doelskoppe en ‘n uitstekende drie, het hy 15 van sy span se 25 punte aangeteken.
Die besoekers het dit egter geensins maklik gehad in Polokwane nie. Die Pieties was aanvanklik in beheer en het rustyd binnegegaan met ‘n gerieflike voorsprong van 12-3. Binnesenter, Siya Mahlangu, het verál beïndruk in die eerste helfte met sy bedrieglike dartellopies .
Die Cravenweek-skrumskakel, Divan Brown, het verseker dat Mahlangu en die res van die agterlyn uitstaande diens ontvang en op die voorvoet kon bly, terwyl agtsteman, Hardus Otto, se gewoel voorlangs die Buffels ook deurgaans aan die raai gehou het.
Die Buffels het eers met sowat 20 minute oor hul ritme begin vind en moes hard werk om ‘n agterstand van 12 punte uit te wis. Met die telling op 20-8 in die guns van die tuisspan, het Reyneke deurgebreek het om tussen die pale oor te duik en oopkantflank, Chifu Banda, het kort daarna dieselfde gedoen om sake gelyk te laat trek.
Met die voorsprong wat nog een keer weerskante toe gewissel het, was dit Reyeneke se stewel wat die Vossies se sege in Polokwane verseker het.
In Springs was daar ook naels gekou onder die ondersteuners en afrigters, totdat Heidelberg Volkskool se Janco Coetzer, nes Reyneke, sy teenstanders se harte in die doodsnikke gebreek het.
Die haker het, met drie minute speeltyd oor, die doellyn oorgesteek om te verseker dat die Volkies vir Hoërskool Hugenote van Springs met 30-29 troef in die eerste “Gatskop Derby” tussen die twee spanne. Dit was ook Coetzer se tweede drie.
Die sege het ook ‘n yslike terugvegpoging geverg, met die Volkies wat ‘n agterstand van 13 punte moes omswaai danksy die akkurate korrelwerk pale toe deur hul Cravenweek-losskakel, Kayle Venter, wat ‘n 100% treftempo gehandhaaf het op die dag.
Die tuisspan se losskakel, Corne Pretorius, was nie net op sy stukke met die stewel nie, om aan sy span die voortou te bied nie, maar het ook sake soos ‘n gesoute losskakel gedikteer om sy agterlyn op die voorvoet te plaas.
Hoërskool Lichtenburg was die enigste tuisspan wat in vandeesweek se rondomtalie-kragmetings as oorwinninaars uit die stryd kon tree, deur die besoekende Hoërskool Die Anker met 37-26 in Lichtenburg te klop.
Die Liggie-voorhoede het behoorlik baljaar, met ál ses die tuisspan se drieë wat deur voorspelers aangeteken is. Haker, Juan van Rhyn, en vaskopstut, JJ Jonker, het, vir die soveelste keer vanjaar die kollig gesteel en elk ‘n tweekuns behaal.
Vir die besoekers was dit agsteman en kaptein, Ruben Herbst, wat weer ‘n besielende vertoning gelewer het. Nie alleen het hy ook twee keer agter die Liggies se doellyn gaan kuier nie, maar hy het ook onophoudelik sy lyf op die spel gesit om die momentum in die guns van sy span te probeer swaai.
Puntemakers:
Ben Vorster 25 (3) – Drieë: Damian Bye, Tihandre Reyneke, Chifu Banda. Doelskoppe: Reyneke (2). Strafdoele: Reyneke (2). Hoërskool Pietersburg 23 (12) – Drieë: Dewald de Beer, Hardus Otto, Vincent Luckhoff. Doelskop: Hanno van Zyl. Strafdoele: Luckhoff (2).
Parktown Boys’ High School wrapped up their home fixtures for the 2024 season with an impressive victory over Northcliff High on Saturday.
Coach Kyle Reddy‘s side was cheered on by strong support from the stands and they responded with an entertaining and emphatic 6-1 win.
The Heart of the Lion sent a clear message to everyone watching that they were going to end their home fixtures on a positive note after an exciting and rewarding season. They dominated possession and turned that into goals and a convincing victory.
Parktown scored three times in the first half and three times in the second, working hard until the final whistle, to win by a five-goal margin.
Captain Ryan Venterscored a hattrick from penalty corners. “I think I played well. I did what I needed to do. I did my job, and I knew my job,” he said afterwards.
He also lauded his teammates for their smart game execution. “As a team, we executed the game plan well and it was a good game.
“I think the score could have been a lot higher if we took our chances as they came but, other than that, it was a good way to finish off our last home game. It has been special; you need to be here to know how it feels,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
Parktown’s other goals were scored by Gomotsegang Molefe, Nicholas Townsendand Miles Makudo.
While it was a last home game for Parktown, it was a first appearance for the 1st XI for Hoosen Jabbar, who described it as a dream come true.
“I am happy to get my first game for Parktown and I hope to get even more,” he said. “It’s been a dream since I started school here. I have been waiting for this day and it finally came. I am so proud, and I am happy.
“It was a big game, big atmosphere. I hoped we showed everyone that Parktown Boys’ High never loses.”
In the lead-up to Saturday’s match, Parktown had grabbed a 3-2 win over a good Hoërskool Waterkloof team and had also seen off Krugersdorp High School.
Reddy said he couldn’t be prouder of his side: “The boys went out today and enjoyed themselves. It was a good scoreline and I’m glad everything clicked.
“Coming back from the holidays, we have been struggling in terms of form, pattern, and cohesion, but today all the puzzle pieces were there. The band was out, the support was good, and the boys enjoyed themselves.”
Parktown has two more matches remaining before they close the curtain on an outstanding season.
“From the holiday, we came back to training,” Reddy said. “This is our fourth game since we came back. We still have Garsfontein on Wednesday and Jeppe High School for Boys next week.
“We remain focussed, but, in our last home game, the parents made it very special, and the boys gave us a special performance,” he concluded.
Grey College’s Luke Mosala in action for his side during their 1-0 win against Grey High School in Bloemfontein. Photo: The Weekend Photography (Rikus van Wyk)
A first-half goal by Grey College’s Dayne Kitching secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for the Free State side against their arch-rivals, Grey High School, in their annual interschools derby clash on Friday night in Bloemfontein.
College, who entered the game intent on reversing last year’s 0-1 defeat in Gqeberha, needed only Kitching’s strike to claim the win.
Both teams have enjoyed strong seasons, and both would have been confident ahead of the match.
Coach Andrew Beynon’s Grey High team had only lost three times before their Friday night setback, going down to South African College High School (SACS) twice, and Paul Roos Gimnasium once.
In their other matches, they’ve been free-scoring and they travelled to Bloemfontein as the favourites.
The hosts, on the other hand, had also compiled an impressive record of their own during the second term. College, under the guidance of Wayne Coetzee, had won four of their past five matches. It was only Paarl Gimnasium who stopped their winning streak, holding the Bloemfontein boys to a 1-1 draw, with Matthias Visser scoring a late equaliser for Grey in Paarl in April.
Grey High was without their captain, Kian Cambier, who had been invited to join the SA u21 men’s training camp in Pretoria, so the skipper’s armband was entrusted to Xander Elkington.
The match started slowly, with possession regularly being turned over in the first chukka. Grey High was awarded a penalty corner but failed to convert it into a goal.
Matters livened up in the second chukka. The hosts launched an attack deep into the Grey High half, with good linking play creating a chance for Wian Du Plooy to enter the circle. With few options open around him, he spotted Kitching, who was storming up the pitch, and laid the ball back for him.
Kitching took a couple of steps to enter the circle, and then fired a sweet shot into the bottom right-hand corner, beating SA u17 goalkeeper Kaino Broadhurst, to give his side the lead.
Coach Coetzee’s side grew in confidence after that goal with Ayanda Ngxaki, MJ Bam, and Luke Mosala taking charge of the midfield battle.
Grey High, just before halftime, had another short corner opportunity. This time they went for a variation, with Ben Ristow feeding Elkington, but the skipper’s shot was wide of the mark.
Early in the third chukka, College had an opportunity to extend their lead after Danrich Hoffmann won his side their first penalty corner. Drag flicker Matthias Visser twice had his shots run down by Robbie Stow, which kept the score at 1-0.
The visitors were awarded two more penalty corners, but their execution let them down.
In the final chukka, all College had to do was hold on and keep play away from their circle. They succeeded until there were 36 seconds left to play. Then, Grey High’s Athi Voigt, who was one of the visitors’ standout players, won another PC for his side after a mazy run.
It wasn’t meant to be for the Gqeberha boys and their final attempt, which was another variation, was also wide, which summed up a frustrating day for Elkington and company. It was their first defeat since the Hibbert Shield semi-finals in May.
“I think both teams knew they had to play out of their skins if they wanted to win,” Grey College head coach, Wayne Coetzee, told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“I believe both sides rose to the occasion, but it was always going to come down to moments, because when a game is that close, it’s always about moments.
“Dayne Kitching rose to the occasion and took his moment.
“There was a real opportunity for them to score, and [goalkeeper] Wildré Lloyd was on top of his game, making a save with his stick.
“I’m extremely happy for the boys and super proud as an old boy to be part of Grey College hockey,” he concluded.
Other matches
In Komani, Selborne College picked up their second win of the term when they dismantled Queen’s College 6-1. In their first meeting in East London earlier in the season, Queen’s held Selborne to a 1-1 draw.
The visitors weren’t about to let history repeat itself and were ruthless from the onset.
Both Thomas Caswell and skipper Tre’ Gilbert scored twice, before Cade Kock and Daniel Sirgel hammered the final nails into the Queen’s College coffin to seal victory.
Selborne, next weekend will host Dale College, while Queen’s takes on Merrifield College.
In East London, Stirling continued on their impressive run this term, following up a win over Dale College last week with a 3-1 defeat of Hudson Park 3-1 on Friday.
Hisharm Pillay, who has been at the forefront of the green and white machine’s challenge, scored twice, with Keagan Mattheus netting Stirling’s third.
In Makhanda, both Kingswood College and St Andrew’s College recorded wins.
Kingswood, in their final match of the season, thumped Graeme College 5-0 to sign off in style, while St Andrew’s were made to work hard for a 2-1 win over Dale College.
Woodridge College held Pearson to a 2-2 draw, while during the week Cambridge High made light work of Port Rex Technical High School, beating them 8-0.
RESULTS
St Andrew’s College 2-1 Dale College
Stirling 3-1 Hudson Park
Kingswood College 5-0 Graeme College
Grey High 4-1 Kingswood College
Selborne College 6-1 Queen’s College
Grey College 1-0 Grey High School
Pearson High 2-2 Woodridge College
Cambridge High 8-0 Port Rex THS
Four goals, all scored in the second half, secured a tough and hard-fought 4-2 win for Wynberg Boys’ Highover Paarl Gimnasium in their first official Western Cape league match after the mid-year holidays in Cape Town on Friday night.
The action, which took place at the “Astro of Dreams”, kicked into life in the third chukka after not many goal scoring opportunities were produced in the first half.
Coach Jacques Grobler’s side was brutally efficient in that event and finished unbeaten, which set up an interesting clash with Wynberg, who had a number of players named in SA Schools team at the conclusion of the SASHOC Nationals Weeks.
The first two chukkas of the encounter were evenly contested with little to separate the sides. There were chances here and there, but nothing substantial.
In the third chukka, the tempo of the contest picked up. A dangerous run by Zac Gibbon was ended by a poor tackle, which resulted in a penalty stroke for the hosts. Up stepped Wynberg’s reliable skipper, Jordan Paulsen, and he converted to give his side the lead.
Soon after that goal, Gim responded through their skipper LD Nel, who received the ball in space and quickly fired off a shot to level the scores.
Seth Trantraal restored Wynberg’s lead with six minutes to go in the third quarter, putting them 2-1 in front ahead of the final chukka.
Gibbon, who won gold with the Western Province u18Aside at the SASHOC National Week, added his name to the score sheet in the final chukka before Dayyaan Brown netted to make it 4-1, which ensured the win would go Wynberg’s way.
Gim responded with a consolation second goal through a Stephan Pieterse drag flick in the match’s closing minutes.
Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plusafter the match, Wynberg coach Ben Wiley said he was pleased with his side’s performance and happy to start the second half of the season on a positive note.
“It’s a huge start to the second half of the season for us,” he reckoned.
“A 4-0 win against Repton (who played in the CTIHT) and this great win against a team who have had the better of us in the last few years is a huge win for us and sets the standard and tone for the rest of the season.”
After the goalless first half, Wiley said he encouraged his team to keep doing what they had been doing during his halftime talk.
“The halftime message was simple; I told the boys we have to be patient and stick to our structure and plan,” he explained.
“Chances were coming, and we knew once one went in, we would score more. We let ourselves down after so much work to concede after scoring but that lapse was temporary, and we were back to structure and composure.”
Other matches
Another southern suburbs’ side that was in action at the Brewery Astroturf in Newlands was SACS, who took on Paarl Boys’ High.
Coach Sam Holmes’ side, as expected by many, ran rampant against Boishaai scoring seven goals, while letting in only one.
Right-wing Matthew Jones scored a brace and further goals by Cohen Williams, Matthew Lassen, Jo Le Roux, and the energetic Zac Redfern sealed a comfortable win for the Cape Town school.
Their attention will sharpen up for their next outing. A scintillating showdown is expected when they do battle with Paul Roos Gimnasium on Wednesday, 24 July.
Meanwhile, Stellenberg handed Outeniqua a 3-1 defeat, Durbanville edged Belville 3-2, Fairmont thumped Settlers 7-0, and Rondebosch drew 1-1 against Parel Vallei at home.
RESULTS
Wynberg Boys’ High 4-2 Paarl Gimnasium
SACS 7-1 Paarl Boys’ High
Rondebosch Boys’ High 1-1 Parel Vallei
Durbanville 3-2 Belville
Stellenberg 3-1 Outeniqua
Reddam Constantia 3-1 DF Malan
Brackenfell 1-1 Melkbosstrand
HTS Drostyd vs HS Langenhoven Riversdal
Farimont 7-0 Settlers
Parktown Boys’ High School wrapped up their home fixtures for the 2024 season with an impressive victory over Northcliff High on Saturday.
