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“Ons is waar ons verlede week was, behalwe dat ons die intensiteit nóg gaan lig”

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

Dit is die waarskuwing wat uit Hoërskool Nelspruit se kamp kom in die aanloop tot sy stryd, in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling, teen Hoërskool Monument Saterdag in Mbombela.

Dit is die Nellie Rhinos se tweede agtereenvolgende tuiswedstryd en dit behoort weer in hul guns te kan tel. Die Rhinos het verlede week gewys dat dit ‘n uitdagende taak is om hulle op hul tuisveld aan te durf, toe hulle vir Hoërskool Garsfontein, teen verwagtinge in, vir die eerste keer sedert 2014 se eindstryd vir die Beeld-trofee, met 30-29 getroef het.

Hoofbreier, Hennie Skorbinski, en die res van sy afrigtingspan het, soos verwag, besluit om die Wit Bulle van Krugersdorp met ‘n onveranderde span aan te pak.

Die indrukwekkende Ian Wood voer weer die span vanaf binnesenter aan, terwyl losskakel, Theuns Meyer, waarskynlik oorloop van die selfvertroue na sy 15 punte in verlede naweek se kragmeting.

Agsteman, Vaughn van Zyl, sal weer oorgehaal wees om, nes verlede naweek, sy tuisveld op horings te neem. Van Zyl lewer van sy beste rugby sedert hy vir die eerste keer vir die Pumas by vanjaar se Cravenweek uitgedraf het, en sy fisiekheid en vreeslose verdediging sal weer ‘n reuse faktor in Mbombela wees.

Die tuisspan besef nietemin dat ‘n gewonde Monument ‘n perd van ‘n ander kleur is. Die Wit Bulle het verlede naweek hul rieme met 31-47 styfgeloop teen ‘n uitstekende Jeppe High School for Boys. Breier, Tjaart van der Walt, sou vandeesweek egter hard aan sy span se tekorkomings gewerk het.

Dit was vernaam op die verdediging agterlangs waar die manne van die Wesrand gefaal het. In teenstelling daarmee was hulle uitstekend op die aanval en dis verál wanneer die veelsydige vleuel, Kealan Milton, die nodige spasie gegun word om sy flink voetwerk en groot vaart ten toon te stel, dat die Krugersdorpers giftig is.

Met groot en sterk baldraers soos slot en kaptein, Jacques Botha, sal dit geensins as ‘n verrassing kom as die Monnas-agttal besluit om ‘n meer direkte roete op die aanval te volg nie. Botha het met sy barslopies keer op keer vir die Jeppe verdedigers laat spartel en hy sal hierdie week dieselfde wil tafel toe bring.

In Alberton kruis Hoërskool Marais Viljoen en Hoërskool Menlopark ook swaarde. Die wedstryd word regstreeks op SuperSport Schools, Kanaal 216, uitgesaai.

Albei hierdie spanne is steeds op soek na ‘n eerste oorwinning in vanjaar se kompetisie en oorgehaal vir ‘n sege. Marais Viljoen het verlede naweek teen Hoërskool Noorheuwel, in Krugersdorp, beïndruk maar moes steeds met 24-31 die knie buig.

Dit blyk asof albei spanne se leemtes in die tweede helfte lê. Altwee was heel seisoen deurgaans in die wedloop tydens die eerste 35 minute, maar kon na rustyd eenvoudig nie die nodige tempo handhaaf nie.

Dit tel in die tuisspan se guns dat hulle relatief ongedeerd uit die kragmeting met die Nories gekom het. Slegs haker, Nathan Bailey, sal die wedstryd weens harsingskudding misloop. Liam Catlow sal hom waarskynlik in die voorry vervang.

Die beseringspook het vir die soveelste keer vanjaar by die Pretorianers kom draai, met haker en staatmaker, Declan Pelser, wat vir ‘n onbepaalde tyd op die krukkelys is. Pelser het die veld met ‘n ontwrigte skouer in die kragmeting met Hoërskool Dr. EG Jansen verlaat.

Nes Bailey, sal die Cravenweek-senter, Leskin Samuels, ook hierdie week buite aksie wees weens ‘n hou teen die kop. Ruben Fourie skuif van regtervleuel na buitesenter om hom te vervang, terwyl Anwill Prins Fourie se plek op regtervleuel inneem.

Die spanne: 

Hoërskool Nelspruit t. Hoërskool Monument om 12:40 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.

Monument (moontlik): 15 Hanu Fourie, 14 Kealan Milton, 13 Jason Joubert, 12 Theuns du Plooy, 11 Ernesto Oersen, 10 Justin Viljoen, 9 Hanno du Toit, 8 Vincent Roberts, 7 RJ Barnard, 6 Jamaal Feldman, 5 Luhan Swart, 4 Jacques Botha, 3 JC Oosthuizen, 2 Keenan Myners, 1 Wikus Meyer.

Hoërskool Marais Viljoen t. Hoërskool Menlopark om 12:30 in Alberton

Marais Viljoen: 15 Tyron Bouw, 14 Devin Raubenheimer, 13 Tiaan Joubert, 12 Brandon Els, 11 Ethan Weideman, 10 Recce Gerber, 9 Weon van der Vyver, 8 Rio Tshimbalanga, 7 Dian Scheepers, 6 Lloyd Shoko-Schenk, 5 JD Labuschagne, 4 Bjorn Pieterse, 3 Sifiso Shongwe, 2 Laim Catlow, 1 Clayton Gagiano.

Menlopark: 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.

Alle paaie lei Saterdag na Hoërskool Waterkloof waar die titel as Pretoria se beste eerste span beslis sal word.

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

Die Klofies is vasberade om die Wit Bulle van die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Saterdagmiddag op hul tuisveld in die ooste van Pretoria die stryd aan te sê, al moet hulle sonder kookwater-agsteman, Marko Kok, klaarkom.

Die tuisspan kon die Wit Bulle laas in 2017 met ‘n telling van 24-15 troef. Wat dié sege nóg soeter gemaak het is die feit dat dit op Affies se tuisveld behaal was.

‘n Oorwinning vanjaar sal dus beteken dat die Blou Tornado ‘n wendroogte van sewe jaar kan beëindig.

Voor dit het die Klofies in 2014 ook met 38-21 koning gekraai. Dit is vanjaar straks die span in blou se beste kans om wéér hul Pretoriaanse eweknie te klop.

Albei spanne beleef tot dusver vanjaar ‘n goeie seisoen, met die Klofies wat op grond van wenpersentasie die botoon geniet. Hulle het nog slegs een keer vanjaar hul rieme styfgeloop, met 24-47 teen die voorste eerste span in Suid Afrika, Paul Roos Gimnasium, tydens die jaarlikse NMI Toyota Noord/Suid-toernooi.

“Ons fokus op dit wat ons wil doen,” het Cobus van Dyk, die Klofies se afrigter gesê. “Die doel is om meer klinies te wees en minder foute te maak.

“Affies is ‘n kwaliteitspan en ons weet wat ons van hulle te wagte kan wees. Ek dink die span wat dit die meeste wil hê op die dag sal seëvier.”

Dit neem egter niks weg van die Wit Bulle, wat vanjaar weer teen ietwat strawwer kompitiese te staan moes kom, nie.

Hul naelskraapse nederlae teen Paarl Gimnasium (19-20) en in die doodsnikke teen hul tradisionele aartsvyand van Bloemfontein, Grey Kollege (27-29), altwee in Pretoria, het gewys dat vanjaar se Affie-span oor meer as genoeg skietgoed beskik.

Die Wit Bulle se losskakel, Ruben Pienaar, is tot dusver uitstekend op dreef. Sy vermoë om die toutjies agterlangs te trek, asook sy bereidwilligheid om enige verdedigingslinie aan te vat, het ‘n groot aandeel gehad in sy span se sukses tot dusver.

Dit help natuurlik dat hy ‘n ervare Janco Purchase aan sy buitekant het. Die SA Skole-binnesenter het vanjaar van krag tot krag gegaan en sy intimiderende lopies in die middeveld en akkurate aangeewerk hou ‘n daadwerklike bedreiging in vir die Klofies.

Voorlangs kan ‘n titaniese stryd tussen die twee agttalle verwag word. Dit is immers hier waar meeste kenners voel ‘n kragmeting gewen of verloor word.

Die Wit Bulle se lostrio en spesifiek hul steelkantflank, Albert Smit, sal die Klofies behoorlik toets.

Die tuisspan moet daarenteen sonder hul staatmaker op agtsteman, Marko Kok, die stryd aandurf. Kok se seisoen is kortgeknip nadat hy ‘n ernstige kniebesering teen Helpmekaar Kollege opgedoen het.

Dawid Prinsloo, wat in dieselfde wedstryd op steelkantflank in aksie was, vervang vir Kok op agsteman.

Die goeie nuus vir die tuisspan is dat die hardwerkende steelkantflank, Lendrey Janse van Vuuren, sy terugkeer maak. Van Vuuren se tweestryd met Smit behoort verdere vet op die vuur te gooi.

Die spanne:

Hoërskool Waterkloof t. Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool om 13:30 in Pretoria

Waterkloof: 15 Llwelyn Steenberg, 14 Ronan Bastiaanse, 13 Malcolm George, 12 Riwan van Aswegen, 11 Jayden 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.

Affies: 15 Ruben Groenewald, 14 Nicolaas Grobler, 13 Hendre Schoeman, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Eagan Roux, 10 Ruben Pienaar, 9 Zirk Meyer, 8 Ruan Lippoldt, 7 Albert Smit, 6 Lohan Potgieter, 5 Christiaan de Wet, 4 Munting Hattingh, 3 Deon Botes, 2 Christiaan Potgieter, 1 Werner Vrey.

Skeidsregter: Reghardt O’Neill.

Ten of KwaZulu-Natal’s top hockey-playing girls’ schools are set to converge on St Mary’s DSG, in Kloof, for the 14^th edition of the annual SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge. The action takes place on Saturday, 20, and Sunday, 21 July.

The sides are divided into two pools. Pool A features Durban Girls’ College (DGC), St John’s DSG, Our Lady of Fatima, Grantleigh High School, and Amanzimtoti High School. Pool B’s lineup includes St Mary’s DSG, The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC), Ferrum High School, Ladysmith High School, and St Patrick’s College.

The hosts, St Mary’s, have had the tournament on their radar since the beginning of the year and will be looking to go all the way.

Coach Carla Ann Mackay’s team is on the hunt for a second title of the season after lifting the inaugural St Anne’s Cup. The Georgia Pollock-captained side has been in fine form and will be hoping to continue on their winning run.

It’s an 11th appearance in the Grand Final for St Mary’s, who have dominated the Highway Regional district. They have collected nine medals in their previous appearances.

They were the bronze medallists in their debut year, 2011, and in 2013. They finished as the runners-up in 2022 and 2023. Their target this year will be to win the gold, as they did in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Saints, along with Durban Girls’ College, will be the teams favoured to lift the silverware.  Chardinay Penniston’s charges are making a 12^th appearance in the provincial tournament finals. No other team has appeared in the KZN event as often as they have, and they are also the defending champions.

Like the hosts, DGC has medalled nine times. They won bronze in 2019 and silver in 2012, 2016, and 2017. Like St Mary’s, they have lifted the title five times, in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, and 2023.

The Durban Central Regional league winners are also on the hunt for a second title of 2024, after winning the prestigious St Mary’s Waverley Festival earlier in the year.

St John’s DSG, who dominated the Pietermaritzburg Central region, is the only other competing side that has won a medal in their history. They took bronze in 2022 and will be looking for an equivalent or better result in their third appearance at the Grand Final.

Ferrum High School, from the Northern KZN region, returns after a four-year absence, and makes a ninth appearance. They finished eighth in their last showing in 2019 and will want to improve on that.

Two teams, Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South region) and Grantleigh College (North Coastal region) are back and contesting the finals for a sixth time.

Our Lady of Fatima, representing the Durban North region, returns to the Grand Final for a fifth time after missing out in 2023. Their best position in those five appearances has been a fifth-place finish, but Jacinta Wedderburn‘s team has its sights set higher this time around.

The Wykeham Collegiate will be flying the flag for the Pietermaritzburg North region and like their Pietermaritzburg neighbours, St John’s DSG, they have featured in the semi-finals in their previous Grand Final appearances. TWC has twice finished fourth, while the St John’s record includes a third place and a fourth-place finish.

Ladysmith High School will step onto the turf as the representatives of the uMvoti and oThukela Region. It will be their third appearance at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge Grand Final.

The event has a single newcomer, St Patrick’s College, who will be representing the Ugu and Sisonke region.

FIXTURES

Saturday

08:00 – Durban Girls’ College vs Amanzimtoti
08:25 – The Wykeham Collegiate vs Ladysmith High
08:50 – St John’s DSG vs Our Lady of Fatima
09:15 – St Mary’s DSG vs Ferrum High
09:40 – Grantleigh vs Amanzimtoti
10:05 – St Patrick’s College vs Ladysmith High
10:30 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Durban Girls’ College
11:05 – The Wykeham Collegiate vs Ferrum High
11:30 – St John’s DSG vs Grantleigh
11:55 – St Mary’s DSG vs St Patrick’s College
12:20 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Amanzimtoti
12:45 – Ferrum High vs Ladysmith High
13:10 – Durban Girls’ College vs Grantleigh
13:35 – St Mary’s DSG vs The Wykeham Collegiate
14:10 – St John’s DSG vs Amanzimtoti
14:35 – Ferrum High vs St Patrick’s College
15:00 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Grantleigh
15:25 – St Mary’s DSG vs Ladysmith High
15:50 – Durban Girls’ College vs St John’s DSG
16:15 – The Wykeham Collegiate vs St Patrick’s College

The final pool positions will determine Sunday’s fixtures.

Wynberg Boys’ High, after the mid-year break, will get their season up and running again this weekend when they welcome the dangerous Paarl Gimnasium to the southern suburbs of Cape Town for one of the biggest matches of the weekend on Friday evening.

The clash, which takes place on Wynberg’s “Astro of Dreams,” starts at 18:30.

Meanwhile, Rondebosch Boys’ High, after losing 2-3 against Fairmont High School last week, will host Parel Vallei at the WPCC Sports Centre. That game is schedule for 19:20.

Catch both matches LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

It’s a first meeting of Wynberg and Paarl Gim this season and both will be focussed on resuming their hockey schedule with a win.

Before the mid-year holidays, Wynberg took a dip in their final two matches, going down 1-7 against Paul Roos in Stellenbosch, before playing well but succumbing to a 0-1 defeat against South African College High School (SACS).

They will, however, draw inspiration from some of their outstanding performances this season. They include a 9-1 thumping of Stellenberg High School, a 1-0 win over Rondebosch, and, earlier in the year, a 2-2 draw against a strong Grey High side, which was followed by a comfortable 5-1 win over Paarl Boys’ High away from home.

Wiley will look to his returning players, who helped Western Province win a third straight SASHOC National Week title in Bloemfontein last month, to lead their challenge. Wynberg’s Head of Hockey, Devin Stanton, was also a member of the winning team, serving the side as the assistant coach.

The Western Province team included Wynberg captain Jordan Paulsen, Dayle Gertson, Ethan Lee and Zachary Gibbon, while Ethan Daniels represented the Western Province u18B team.

At the end of the tournament, Paulsen, who was immense for Province despite going under the radar, and Gertson, were named in the SA Schools u18A side, and Gibbon was included in the SA u17 side.

Meanwhile, their teammate, Lee, who was part of the Central Hockey Club side that recently won the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge, and who scored a cracker of a goal in the SASHOC National Week final against Boland in Bloemfontein, was named in the SA u18B side.

Wynberg should be confident after a mid-week fixture against the UK’s Repton, which they won 4-0.

Paarl Gim, also, will be high in confidence after winning last week’s Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.

There, coach Jacques Grobler‘s side played outstanding hockey and ended the tournament unbeaten, edging out SACS 2-1 in the final, courtesy of an LD Nel brace.

Before the holidays, they won two and lost one of their three matches.

Those wins came against Fairmont High School (3-0) and Parel Vallei (4-2), before they suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Paul Roos.

Paarl Gim has plenty of firepower in their contingent from Nel, Juan Swanepoel and John Coetzee, who all represented Boland at the inter-provincial tournament.

Grobler will also look to proven performers, Stefan Wiehahn, Stephan Pieterse, and his goalkeeper, Joe van Coller to inspire his team to victory.

Meanwhile, in the same southern suburbs, Rondebosch Boys’ High welcomes Parel Vallei for a Friday night showdown

‘Bosch, despite starting the Western Province League season like a house on fire, which included beating Paul Roos 1-0, has had a topsy-turvy season, and last week’s unexpected defeat against Fairmont would have stung.

Coach Waseem Domingo‘s side faces an unpredictable opponent in Parel Vallei, who are coached by Michael van Rensburg.

They’re a good team, which finished the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament in fourth place. Their key players include Matthew Temmis, Jared Jacobs, and Sibulele Makeleni.

SACS will be expected to get the job done against Boishaai at the Brewery, while Durbanville plays Belville before a late game between Stellenberg and Outeniqua.

FUXTURES

Friday, 19 July

18:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium
19:15 – SACS vs Paarl Boys’ High
19:20 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Parel Vallei
20:10 – Durbanville vs Belville
20:15 – Stellenberg vs Outeniqua

Saturday, 20 July

10:00 – DF Malan vs Reddam House Constantia
11:00 – Brackenfell vs Melkbosstrand
11:15 -HTS Drostyd vs HS Langenhoven Riversdal

Two goals, scored by Reuben Sendzul, and Barend Geldenhuys, secured a hard-fought 2-0 win for Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) over Bishops Diocesan College on Wednesday evening on the Maties AstroTurf in Stellenbosch.

The match was the first between the teams this year, and their first outings since the mid-year holidays.

It was also Bishops’ first defeat in the Western Cape. Previously, they had suffered only one loss, and that came back in May at the Hibbert Shield against Garsfontein.

Rewatch the action on SuperSport Schools

Heading into the eagerly anticipated clash, both teams sported impressive records, including convincing wins in their last games of the second term.

The hosts, in their last meeting before facing Bishops, put on a masterful display, back in May, to race to a 7-1 win over Wynberg Boys’ High in Stellenbosch.

In that clash, coach Michael Baker’s side was in sync, ruthless in attack, and, arguably, played their best hockey of the season.

Bishops, meanwhile, took on Rondebosch Boys’ High and dominated their southern suburbs neighbours to record an emphatic 5-1 win.

Bishops, for their recent matches, have also been without their head coach, Ryan Julius, who is on national duty for the SA Men’s team at the Paris Olympics. In his absence, Abdul Cassiem, the father of the renowned Cassiem brothers, has led the team. That mattered little to PRG on Wednesday evening as they started the brighter and attacked with intent.

In the second chukka, coach Baker’s side opened the scoring through Sendzul. After failing to execute two short corners, which were blocked by Joshua Mettler and ‘keeper, Mu’aath Ganief respectively, PRG made their third attempt count.

Hano Basson and Sendzul swapped castles to get Bishops guessing about who would drag. Then, a swift injection from Callum van Oudsthoorn went to SA Schools u17 player Christo Swanepoel on his right-hand side. He, in turn, laid off to Sendzul, who calmly slotted to make it 1-0.

Soon after, PRG was awarded another PC but, for a second third time, Mettler got in the way of the drag flick. It was 1-0 to the home team at half-time.

The third chukka was all Bishops as they attempted a comeback but PRG’s shot-stopper, Beor van Reenen was not having it in his 50^th appearance, and pulled off three acrobatic saves in the space of a minute.

Van Reenen came to his side’s rescue again in the fourth chukka, twice preventing the Cape Town school from scoring.

His teammate, Barend Geldenhuys, put the final nail in the Bishops’ coffin with an extraordinary solo goal. After working his way into the circle, he created space and fired a reverse stick shot that flew into the top-hand left corner to seal the win for his side.

“I’m very happy with the boys’ performance,” Baker told SuperSport Schools Plus after the encounter.

“I think Bishops has snuck under the radar this year. Ryan and the legend Mr. Cassiem have done an incredible job.

“Their half-court press is so tough to break. This meant, potentially, a slow game, and I’m proud of my boys for being patient and executing what we worked on.

“We set up nicely to try to stop their counter threat. [We had] a well-worked PC, which we only trained for them, and a clean sheet for Beor on his 50th, so I’m very happy,” he concluded.

Paul Roos will return to action in a week when they host South African College High School (SACS) on their home turf in a massive clash.

Meanwhile, Bishops will be tested in their attempt to get back to winning ways when they tackle Cape Town International Hockey Tournament champions, Paarl Gimnasium, next Monday.

RESULTS

Paul Roos Gimnasium 2-0 Bishops Diocesan College
Paarl Boys’ High 3-2 DF Malan

Influential Paul Roos Gimnasium goalkeeper Beor van Reenen will earn his 50th cap for the school this week when they host Bishops Diocesan College in Stellenbosch on the Maties AstroTurf on Wednesday.

The clash kicks off at 18:15. Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Ahead of the match, SuperSport Schools Plus hockey correspondent, Short Corner, had an exclusive interview with the ‘keeper.

Their conversation included talking about reaching 50 caps, cricket, and what the future holds.

You have a 50-cap double for Hockey and Cricket. How does that make you feel?

It is quite a big honour to represent a school like Paul Roos’s first team in two different sporting codes, and, especially, 50 caps for both is very special for me. I made my first team cricket debut against Bishops and then my 50th cap [for hockey] is also against Bishops.

My first team hockey debut was against SACS, and my 50th would have been last term against SACS, but l dislocated my kneecap, and missed two games against Rondebosch and Boishaai. Now, my 50th is against Bishops, which is also cool, because both my 50ths will be against them.

What are the highlights of your hockey and cricket careers thus far?

There have been a lot with both. For cricket, it probably is to have the two fastest fifties ever for my school, with one coming off 16 balls only. My hockey highlight must be winning the Hibbert Shield two years in a row. Oh, and the Boland silver at IPTs.

You are probably one of the better goalkeepers on the schoolboy circuit. Are you disappointed that you did not make any representative sides after the SASHOC IPTs in the last two years?

No, surprisingly, I was not disappointed.

I kind of expected not to be selected because of my unorthodox style of keeping, but I went to IPTs to go and enjoy myself and to give Boland the best possible chance to win. I had fun! And I came home with a medal.

Which people have played a big role in your hockey and cricket careers?

Coach Baker probably played the biggest role in my hockey career.

If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have played hockey this year, but rugby.

He convinced me to play and gave me the excitement to play the sport again. With cricket, probably me, as I taught myself how to play off YouTube videos.

Then Mnr Botes, Mnr Deneno, and Kei Norton put on the finer touches to make me better. Mr Raymer, our Strength and Conditioning coach, also helps me a lot, not only with conditioning but also with mental strength.

Anything you would have done differently in the past few years?

This is a funny question. Yes, I probably would have stopped playing hockey after u16 IPTs and played rugby in Gr 11 and 12. There may be a little regret that l did not give it my all at rugby.

PRG won two Hibbert Shields back-to-back, where you were pretty influential in both. 

Winning Hibbert, was amazing, but not to be too arrogant or anything, it is my job to keep the ball out of the box, and I am glad l could contribute – with a little skill or luck. The team fought back hard this year.

What advice do you have for young goalkeepers?

Just be the best ‘keeper you can be and make sure you are technically very good, because it helps a lot to get you into big sides. That was a bit of my problem. I keep unconventionally.

I do not keep according to the book but, at least, l keep most shots out. I reckon my soccer background helped a lot to allow me to read a game and wrestle with reflexes and be supple.

What are your plans for 2025?

I am looking to study education online while working as a class assistant and coach in a school. If the opportunity presents itself, l would like to play cricket overseas.

I have done all the World Rugby coaching and refereeing courses available until l turn 18. I have ICC Level 1 in umpiring and coaching. I would like to coach and referee, and maybe see if l can referee or umpire at a higher level. I am still young, but coaching would be the ultimate.

Favourite Meal?

Steak, egg and chips

Favorite Movie?

Coach Carter

Other Sports you do?

I am on the school’s athletics team, play rugby, action cricket, and fish.

Hobbies and Interests?

I enjoy hunting and playing darts

Coach’s comment

Michael Baker, Paul Roos’s Director of Hockey, said of Van Reenen, who is also the Deputy Head Boy of the Prima Hostel: “From my side, Beor is one of the most gifted sportsmen I’ve seen. He has an eye for the ball and incredible strength.

“He is often misunderstood and if you listen to the wrong people they jump to assumptions about him. I have seen a boy who truly loves his teammates and his school, and that plays sport because he enjoys it.

“He is not playing for selectors or anything. He just plays sport because he enjoys it. He is mostly always smiling, and isn’t that why we all started?

“This leads to the fearless style he has – you could say he is unorthodox. However, as a ‘keeper, his job is to stop the ball from going in the net and he does that pretty well.

“His teammates love him, and I want to say he has become a bit of an icon. Most people know Beor because of his style of keeping. I have loved working with him this year and we will definitely miss him in 2025.”

Wandile Mlaba, who was called up to the Junior Springbok squad earlier this week, is set to make his SA U20 debut off the bench in Friday’s final encounter of the World Rugby U20 Championship against Wales in Cape Town. 

The playoff game for seventh place will kick off at 14h00 at the DHL Stadium and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. 

Mlaba (loose forward) was drafted in as a replacement following a spate of injuries in the SA U20s camp, with four players – loose forwards Tiaan Jacobs (ankle) and Thabang Mahashe (concussion), as well as outside backs Michail Damon (groin) and Likhona Finca (hand) – ruled out. 

The quartet joined earlier casualties Reno Hirst, Adam de Waal and JC Mars on the injury list. As a result, Junior Bok coach Bafana Nhleko had to once more shuffle his match 23 for the encounter with Wales. 

Amongst the backs, Bruce Sherwood will run out at fullback due to Damon’s absence, while the versatile Ezekiel Ngobeni will start at right wing in Finca’s place, while he will also provide cover at scrumhalf. 

At inside centre, Joshua Boulle takes over from Phillip-Albert van Niekerk, who is on the bench for this game. 

Jacobs’s No. 8 jersey goes to Sibabalwe Mahashe in a rejigged loose trio featuring Bathobele Hlekani and Keanu Coetsee as starting flankers. JF van Heerden, who started in the No 7-jersey against Argentina, returns to his more familiar position of lock, where he will partner with Jaco Grobbelaar. 

Amongst the replacements, uncapped Mlaba will cover the loose forward positions, while flyhalf Liam Koen returns to the match-day squad having missed the Argentina match through injury. 

Nhleko said the SA U20s are determined to deliver a performance that will show they are much better than their recent results. 

“We have to live with the pain of a disappointing campaign and the frustration of small margins, it was not through a lack of effort or preparation, and we are not looking for excuses, but we have a responsibility to ourselves and the people who have supported us to finish well,” said Nhleko.

“We have one more match to have a go and try to live up to the standards we have set for ourselves. We’ve gone through our post-match processes and started with the Wales preparation. The nature of the competition is that we’ve had to put the disappointments behind us and focus on the next job.

Nhleko said they expected a stern challenge from the Welsh: “Wales will be equally motivated to end the tournament on a positive note, so we must be ready and focussed to meet their challenge. We hope to deliver a performance that reflects the group’s abilities and win back some pride.”

 

Junior Springbok team to face Wales in Cape Town:

15. Bruce Sherwood
16. Joel Leotlela
17. Jurenzo Julius
18. Joshua Boulle
19. Ezekiel Ngobeni
20. Tylor Sefoor
21. Asad Moos
22. Sibabalwe Mahashe
23. Bathobele Hlekani
24. Keanu Coetsee
25. JF van Heerden
26. Jaco Grobbelaar
27. Zachary Porthen (captain)
28. Luca Bakkes
29. Casper Badenhorst

Replacements:

16. Ethan Bester
17. Liyema Ntshanga
18. Herman Lubbe
19. Wandile Mlaba
20. Divan Fuller
21. Liam Koen
22. Phillip-Albert van Niekerk
23. Litelihle Bester

 

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The annual inter-schools meeting between Grey College and Grey High School is one of the most highly anticipated schoolboy hockey matches of the year, and this weekend the two giants will reignite their rivalry.

The action takes place in Bloemfontein, with College facing their counterparts from Gqeberha on the Grey Astro on Friday evening.

The match starts at 18:15. Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Coach Andrew Beynon‘s Grey High side is, without a doubt, favoured heading into the clash. They have enjoyed a remarkable run this season.

Despite a heavy schedule, they have lost only three times, against the teams most consider to be the top two sides in the country, South African College High School (SACS), who beat them twice, and Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Against SACS, they went down 2-5 when they visited Cape Town earlier in the season, and they were then beaten by the Cape Town school again, but only after a penalty shootout in the semi-finals of the Hibbert Shield in May.

Since then, the side, captained by SA Schools u18A play-maker, Kian Cambier, has been on a roll, impressing week in and week out. Despite not yet playing to their full potential, according to coach Beynon, they have been prolific goal scorers.

In their first match of the third term, last Friday, they took on York High on the Rectory AstroTurf.

There were some signs of rust in the first half, but they went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a well-worked Logan Goddard-Ford goal.

They became their usual ruthless selves in the second half, however, scoring a whopping six times more through Cambier (2), Xander Elkington, Ben Ristow, Luke Tait, and Cayden Skinnette.

That performance was a continuation of the dominance they had displayed just before the winter holidays, in May, when they thumped Pearson 7-1, Woodridge College 6-1, and Queen’s College 6-0.

Their clash in Bloemfontein will, however, be a far stiffer test. Grey College will be fired up in front of their home supporters and out to prove a point after they went down 0-1 in Gqeberha last year.

Their task will be a mammoth one, with Grey High presenting significent challenges all over the field. Luke Tait and Cambier have been regulars on the score sheet also season long, while Ristow and Zac Thornton will also bear watching. Then, there’ll be the challenge of trying to beat SA u17 goalkeeper Kaino Broadhurst, who has put together an excellent season.

Grey College, also, has enjoyed a strong season and improved on their form of 2023.

Apart from good showings in the Belgotex Greg Beling, Nomads and KES Easter Hockey festivals, College has played five big derby matches, winning four and drawing one.

They beat Outeniqua 6-0, outplayed previously undefeated Selborne College 5-2, and won 3-0 against Paarl Boys’ High, and 2-1 against Affies. They drew 1-1 with Paarl Gimnasium.

Despite having not played in over two months in Grey College’s colours, many of coach Wayne Coetzee’s players did duty at the u18 SASHOC National Week, where they made up 90 percent of the Southern Free State team. Their match fitness will not be an issue.

They possess, in Matthias Visser, a dangerous drag flicker, who was at the centre of Southern Free State’s challenge.

Luke Mosala and Ayanda Ngxaki are also players to keep an eye on. They were both selected for the SA Schools u18B team after impressing at the inter-provincial week. Goalkeeper Wildré Lloyd also cracked an SA u18B nod.

Others who could cause Grey High some headaches include MJ Bam, Andrew Koupis and Jayden Leech.

In the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College will be back in action for a first time since June when they host Selborne College in Komani.

The fierce rivalry between the sides has been dominated by Selborne over recent seasons. However, Queen’s showed what they’re capable of earlier this season when they frustrated coach KJ Friend‘s Selborne side and claimed a 1-1 draw in East London.

In their most recent action, they went 1-2 down to a very good St Andrew’s College team. Selborne, meanwhile, will be brimming with confidence after they thumped Hudson Park 6-2 last weekend.

In Makhanda, coach Dean Ferreira‘s St Andrew’s side, after a dominant 5-0 defeat of Woodridge last week, will face Dale College.

Stirling and Hudson Park will face off, Kingswood tackles Graeme College, and Pearson hosts Woodridge College.

FIXTURES

Friday, 19 July

16:00 – St Andrew’s College vs Dale College
16:00 – Stirling vs Hudson Park
16:30 – Kingswood College vs Graeme College
18:15 – Queen’s College vs Selborne College
18:15 – Grey College vs Grey High School
TBC – Pearson High vs Woodridge College

Two of the best performing girls’ hockey teams in the Western Cape this year, Paarl Gimnasium, and Rhenish Girls’ High School, will battle it out for provincial supremacy and bragging rights when they lock horns in Paarl on Friday evening.

The match kicks off at 19:15 on Paarl Gim’s main AstroTurf.

Ahead of that big showdown, Rhenish will also face Paarl Girls’ High on Thursday at 16:30.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

This season, Rhenish and Gim have been a cut above the rest in the Western Cape, with both playing an exciting brand of hockey that’s seen them boss many of their opponents while scoring freely.

At the beginning of the season, coach Chris Gerber’s Rhenish side was dominant at the Belgotex Greg Beling Festival in East London, beating, among others, Eunice 5-1, DSG Makhanda 3-0, and Affies 4-0, to announce themselves as one of 2024’s top teams.

In April, both sides contested the prestigious St Mary’s Waverley Festival in Johannesburg.

After starting brightly and performing strongly over the first two days, Rhenish’s form dipped, and they went down 0-1 to coach Ian Naudé’s Paarl Gim. In the end, Rhenish placed 11th in the 32-team field.

Gim impressed, but narrowly missed out on the bronze medal, going down 0-1 to St Stithians Girls College in the playoff for third and fourth.

Since then, both sides have been hard to beat. Rhenish has been in red hot form, with their results including a runners-up finish at the All Girls Festival in Potchefstroom, where they lost out to Affies in the final in a penalty shootout.

In their past six matches, Gerber’s charges have scored 28 goals without conceding, beating Parel Vallei 2-0, Fairmont 10-0, Herschel Girls School 2-0, Pearson High 4-0, Collegiate 4-0, and Woodridge College 6-0.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the clash, Gerber said his side is eager to take on Gim.

“The vibe in the team is incredible. The girls have been together for a few weeks to freshen up and be ready for the next few weeks,” he said.

“They are all excited and raring to get back onto the Astro.

“We’ve applied ourselves well during the season and we would like to keep that momentum going. The team has learned a lot, and the growth the players have shown is remarkable for such a young team.”

The Stellenbosch side had four players represent the school in the u18 section of the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein during the June holidays.

Martanique Petersen and Leah du Plessis were in action for the Boland u18A team. The Boland u18B team featured Shené du Plessis and Kaitlyn van Binsbergen, who distinguished herself by finishing as the B Section’s top goal scorer.

At the conclusion of the inter-provincial tournament, Du Plessis was included in SA Schools u17 side. She’ll be one of the key players for Rhenish against Gimmies.

Gerber said the result will be determined by which team finishes better. “Playing against Paarl Gim will be a nice challenge for the girls, and they are very excited about the game. We need to take our chances and put them under pressure.

“They are a strong, fit team, and we need to make sure we move the ball and play in the right areas to create opportunities and then take them.”

Paarl Gim will enter the clash high in confidence after putting some brilliant hockey on show at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.

There, Gimmies, captained by Tanya Pieterse, reminded everyone just how dangerous they could be when firing on all cylinders.

Playing like a well-oiled machine, they scored a whopping 63 goals in the three days of competition and conceded only once, in the final against Somerset College, whom they thumped 10-1.

Naudé and his players will feel there’s no better time to face Rhenish than the present and they will be keen to keep riding the momentum they built up during their sensational run to the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament title.

Gim is blessed with goal scoring threats; Marika Neethling, Tanya Pieterse, Anya Swanepoel, Annie le Roux, and Isabella Nel combined to fire in 45 of the 63 goals Naudé‘s girls scored on their way to annexing the title. The fact that another 18 goals were also scored shows the potential of the team to strike from anywhere.

In other matches around the province, Herschel Girls School hosts Springfield Convent School in another massive Cape Town derby.

Paarl Girls’ High will be expected to get the job done against Durbanville, while Rustenburg School for Girls welcomes a dangerous Parel Vallei side to their home turf.

HMS Bloemhof will renew their rivalry with La Rochelle, while Stellenberg takes on Outeniqua, and Fairmont faces The Settlers on Saturday.

FIXTURES

Friday, 19 June 2024

18:00 – La Rochelle vs HMS Bloemhof
18:35 – Rustenburg School for Girls vs Parel Vallei
18:40 – Herschel Girls School vs Springfield
19:15 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Rhenish
19:15 – Stellenberg vs Outeniqua

Saturday, 20 July 2024

10:00 – Fairmont High vs The Settlers
11:15 – Paarl Girls High vs Durbanville

For only the second time a former South African Schools captain will captain the Springboks when they take on Portugal in Bloemfontein this Saturday.

Salmaan Moerat will become the 66th Springbok captain since South Africa played their first test in 1891. Interestingly the only other SA Schools’ captain to also lead the Springboks onto the rugby field, Corné Krige, is like Moerat also a former pupil from Paarl Boys’ High.

Krige captained the South African School’s side in 1993. He captained the national side in 18 tests during his career which spanned between 1999 and 2003. 

Moerat captained the national schools’ side in 2016.

No less than another four Boishaaiers will also take the field on Saturday with Moerat on this special occasion. They are Evan Roos (2018), Thomas du Toit (2013), Ruan Venter (2021) and Quan Horn (2019).

Venter and Horn will make their Springbok debuts if they take the field against Portugal.

Bok coach, Rassie Erasmus, also named another five uncapped players in his team for Saturday. Johan Grobbelaar (Paarl Gimnasium), Phepsi Buthelezi (Durban High School), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Grey College), André-Hugo Venter (Grey College) and Morné van den Berg (Linden) are all set to make their debut in the City of Roses.

Wessels will become South Africa’s rugby factory’s first Springbok since Francois Venter made his debut back in 2016. Venter matriculated in 2009 which made this dry spell an unusual one for Grey College.

The Springbok side to face Portugal in Bloemfontein and their schools: 

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