STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 06: Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko during the South Africa U20 men’s training session at Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on February 06, 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
The Junior Springboks have called up outside back Wandile Mlaba as a replacement for Likhona Finca, who sustained a hand injury and will not be in contention for Friday’s clash with Wales in Cape Town.
The match at DHL Stadium kicks off at 14h00 and is the SA U20s’ last World Rugby Under-20 Championship fixture.
Apart from Finca, three more players were also ruled out of selection for Friday’s clash with Wales in Cape Town: Tiaan Jacobs (ankle), Michail Damon (groin) and Thabang Mahashe (concussion).
According to team physician, Dr Clement Plaatjies, the short turnaround time between matches means it’s a challenge for injured players to recover in time for the next game.
“Minor injuries take about a week to recover from, but the time frame of this competition means it is a challenge to do that,” said Dr Plaatjies.
“I think it’s a testament to our conditioning that, up to now, we’ve been able to cope well with getting the majority of players to be in contention for selection.”
Junior Bok coach Bafana Nhleko will announce the team for Friday’s seventh-place playoff against Wales at 15h00 on Wednesday.
St Charles College will be defending the Clifton Sevens title at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday, 20 July.
The Clifton Sevens, to be played on Friday, 19 July, and Saturday, 20 July, mark the start of the sevens rugby season in KwaZulu-Natal. While a number of schools have not yet completed their 15-man rugby schedules, the event brings together some outstanding exponents of the seven-a-side game.
Friday’s action features u15 sides, while the u18 teams take to the field on Saturday.
St Charles College, fresh off of an impressive season for their 1st XV, will be out to defend the title they won last year, when a late try in the corner gave them a 17-14 victory over Westville Boys’ High.
The Griffin, who also played some outstanding rugby during the 15-man season and delighted with their running game, will seek to transfer those skills to sevens and continue on with their enterprising play.
Hilton College, who beat St Charles during the pool stage at last year’s Clifton Sevens, but were then ousted by Westville, will be in action, too, as will their great rivals, Michaelhouse.
‘House, in March 2023, achieved a very big Sevens result in the UK, where they won the Rugby School International Sevens, which featured teams from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Wales, New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Chile, and Australia. In a very tight final, they saw off Ireland’s Blackrock College 21-19.
Sharks’ Craven Week flyhalf Luke Davidson was a key player in the Michaelhouse Sevens team in 2023.
One of the stars of that Michaelhouse side was Sharks’ Craven Week centre Campbell Ridl. Now in the UK, Ridl is on the books of the Exeter Chiefs and has featured for the England u19 team.
Clifton College will face a stiff challenge in their own tournament. Sevens, though, with fewer players required, tends to see teams close the gap on sides that might have their number in the 15-man game. The hosts will be keen to put on a good show on their home ground.
The last of the sides competing in the u18A division is Amanzimtoti. They’re a bit of an unknown and would do well to challenge the other A teams.
Pool B features St Charles B, Michaelhouse B and Michaelhouse C, Clifton B, Westville B and Hilton B.
The u15 age group features just five teams in Pool A – St Charles A, Clifton A, Hilton A, Michaelhouse A and Westville A – while Pool B includes those schools’ B sides and Toti.
Clifton vs Michaelhouse in the u15 age group of the 2023 Clifton Sevens. The u15 format is a round robin. No winner is declared.
The u15 format is that of a round robin, with no points’ allocations or playoffs.
A win in the u18 games is worth two points and a draw worth one. After the completion of the round robin matches, teams will be ranked from one to six.
If any sides have an equal number of log points, points’ difference will be used to separate them. If that doesn’t work, then the team that scored the greater number of tries will finish higher.
FIXTURES
u18, Saturday, 20 July
Field A, Pool A
08:00 – Westville A vs Michaelhouse A
08:15 – St Charles A vs Clifton A
08:30 – Hilton A vs Toti
08:45 – Michaelhouse A vs Clifton A
09:00 – St Charles A vs Hilton A
09:15 – Westville A vs Toti
09:30 – St Charles A vs Michaelhouse A
10:15 – Clifton A vs Toti
10:30 – Westville A vs Hilton A
10:45 – St Charles A vs Toti
11:00 – Westville A vs Clifton A
11:15 – Michaelhouse A vs Hilton A
11:30 – Westville A vs St Charles A
11:45 – Michaelhouse A vs Toti
12:00 – Clifton A vs Hilton A
12:45 – 3rd vs 4th (Plate)
13:10 – 1st vs 2nd (Cup)
u18, Field B, Pool B
08:00 – St Charles B vs Michaelhouse B
08:15 – Clifton B vs Westville B
08:30 – Hilton B vs Michaelhouse C
08:45 – Michaelhouse B vs Westville N
09:00 – Clifton B vs Hilton B
09:15 – St Charles V vs Michaelhouse C
09:30 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse B
10:15 – Westville B vs Michaelhouse C
10:30 – St Charles B vs Hilton B
10:45 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse C
11:00 – St Charles B vs Westville B
11:15 – Michaelhouse B vs Hilton B
11:30 – St Charles B vs Clifton B
11:45 – Michaelhouse B vs Michaelhouse C
12:00 – Westville B vs Hilton B
12:45 – 3rd vs 4th (Bowl)
13:10 – 1st vs 2nd (Shield)
u15, Friday, 19 July
Field A, Pool A
14:00 – St Charles A vs Clifton A
14:12 – Hilton A vs Michaelhouse A
14:24
14:46 – Clifton A vs Michaelhouse A
14:58 – Hilton A vs Westville A
15:10
15:22 – Hilton A vs Clifton A
15:34
15:46 – St Charles A vs Westville A
15:58
16:10 – St Charles A vs Michaelhouse A
16:22 – Clifton A vs Westville A
16:34 – St Charles vs Hilton A
16:46
16:58 – Michaelhouse A vs Westville A
Field B, Pool B
14:00 – Westville B vs St Charles B
14:12 – Clifton B vs Michaelhouse B
14:24 – Hilton B vs Toti
14:46 – St Charles B vs Michaelhouse B
14:58 – Clifton B vs Hilton B
15:10 – Westville B vs Toti
15:22 – Clifton B vs St Charles B
15:34 – Michaelhouse B vs Toti
15:46 – Westville B vs Hilton B
15:58 – Clifton B vs Toti
16:10 – Westville B vs Michaelhouse B
16:22 – St Charles B vs Hilton B
16:34 – Westville B vs Clifton B
16:46 – St Charles B vs Toti
16:58 – Michaelhouse B vs Hilton B
Helpmekaar Kollege het vir Klofies met mag en mening aangeval in die doodsnikke, maar ‘n onderskepdrie deur die tuisspan se Malcolm George het ‘n naelbytsege beklink.
Die besoekers van Johannesburg het alles in die stryd gewerp om die onoorwonne Hoërskool Waterkloof op sy tuisveld in Pretoria te klop, maar die Klofies het koel en kalm gebly om by die agterdeur in te glip met ‘n telling van 31-29.
Dit nadat die voorsprong nie minder nie as drie keer in die laaste kwart verwissel het nie.
Helpmekaar het teen rustyd hul neuse met 10-6 voorgehad, grootliks danksy kaptein, JP Lombaard, se uitstekende spel. Die Goue Leeus se Cravenweek-slot het beïndruk met sy barslopies, wat herinner het aan ‘n jong Eben Etzebeth, en dit het aan sy span ‘n effense oorhand voorlangs verleen.
Die Klofies moes boonop na 20 minute ook sonder twee sleutelspelers, agtsteman, Marko Kok, en buitesenter en kaptein, Riwan van Aswegen, klaarkom, nadat hulle die veld met beserings verlaat het.
Die Pretorianers het hulle egter nie daardeur laat onderkry nie, met een van hul ander groot staatmakers, binnesenter, Happy Makate, wat hand opgesteek het. Makate het soos ‘n tier verdedig en ‘n paar reuse duikslae uitgevoer.
Heelagter, Ronan Bastiaanse, het self gewys dat hy ‘n man vir die groot oomblik is en waarskynlik sy beste aanvallende wedstryd tot op hede beleef. Bastiaanse se tweestryd met sy Helpmekaar-eweknie, Tiaan le Roux, was iets om te aanskou soos hulle mekaar se verdediging op die proef gestel het.
Die Klofies se oopkantflank, Divan Botha, het byna ongemerk sy stempel afgedruk en gewoeker in die vaste los om dikwels Helpies se balbesit te ontwrig. Teenoor hom het Helpie-agsteman, Motlatsi Moloi, sy ritme in die tweede helfte gevind om, nes Lombaard, gereeld oor die voordeellyn te storm.
In Krugersdorp het die uitgedunde Norie Blues, Hoërskool Noordheuwel se eerste span, ‘n belangrike sege van 31-24 oor Hoërskool Marais Viljoen behaal. Die Blues is deur die beseringspook geteister na die skoolvakansie, en moes staatmaak op heelparty van hul jong manne om die wa deur die drif te trek.
Die tuisspan se heelagter, Francois Venter, het ‘n goeie dag op kantoor beleef en sy twee drieë was waarskynlik die deurslagewende faktor. Linkervleuel en drieëvraat, Lindsey Jansen, het ook vir die soveelste keer agter die opposisie se doellyn gaan kuier en is loshande vanjaar die Nories se voorste driedrukker.
Pinetown Boys’ High held off a strong challenge from their neighbours, Siyajabula, to win the High Schools’ title in the second edition of the Kearsney Soccer Tournament.
Pinetown Boys’ High captured the Boys’ High Schools’ title in style, St Mary’s DSG was crowned the Girls’ champion in a penalty shootout, and Merchiston Prep edged out Highbury Prep for the Primary Schools’ honours at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Sunday.
The organisers were thrilled with an outstanding turnout of supporters and spectators, who gathered around the fields on a warm winter’s day, in a light breeze, which made for ideal playing conditions.
In a hotly contested final, Pinetown Boys’ High was pushed hard by Siyajabula High, but Pinetown controlled possession and territory for most of the contest to grab a 1-0 victory and with it the title.
Pinetown was good value for their win. They were, from their first game of the tournament to their last, the class of the field. In fact, they didn’t concede a single goal, although Siyajabula missed a gilt-edged opportunity to end that record in the final. It might have been somewhat unfair on Pinetown if that chance had been converted.
Their control of the ball, their movement off of it, and the manner in which they moved the play from side to side caught the eye. They delivered attractive and winning performances.
Their coach, Siya Mnganga, was smiling from ear to ear after the final. “I’m very proud. I thought we were very confident. We worked hard as a team. Winning was the fruit of the work we have been putting into our training.
“It was really good to see the boys stick together, play as a team, and work hard for each other,” he said.
Talking about his team’s composure when in possession and on how they moved the ball, Mnganga said: “Everything starts from having possession. We build up from the back and we try to move the opposition into certain areas, then we take the ball in a different direction.”
Another part of the secret to Pinetown’s success, the coach added, was that even when in possession his side organises itself defensively.
Siyajabula gave it their all and came extremely close to unlocking Pinetown’s ironclad defence in the final, but it was not to be.
Pinetown finished top of Group B, beating Northwood 2-0, Maqhutshana 1 3-0, and Tuks 1-0. Then, in the playoffs, they ran roughshod over Lebone II College, cruising to a 6-0 win.
In the semi-finals, up against the hosts, Kearsney College, who hadn’t lost until then, winning all of their games, except for a 1-1 draw with Paul Roos in the tournament’s opening match, they rolled to a 3-0 victory.
It was clinical dominance and it brought Pinetown six wins, with 16 goals scored and none conceded.
Siyajabula emerged as the winners of a tight Group D after three schools tied with six points each. Also from the Pinetown area, Siyajabula, beat Ashton International 4-0 in their first game and then took down Lebone II College 2-0. In their last pool outing, though, they were shocked by Clifton College, who won 2-1.
It wasn’t quite enough for the Durban school to reach the last eight. Siyajabula had a plus-five goal difference, Lebone II College was plus-two, and Clifton plus-one.
Kearsney College enjoyed a good run and finished in third place, edging out Paul Roos, in a second meeting of the sides, from the penalty spot. They took it 3-2 after the teams had again finished regulation time level at 1-1.
Stifling defence from both sides led to a penalty shootout between Paul Roos Gimnasium and Kearsney College in the battle for third place.
There was a similar score in the Plate Final, with Gqeberha’s Urban Academy winning 3-2 from the spot after a 1-1 draw with Maqhutshana 2.
St Mary’s DSG and Kloof High, who both produced unbeaten records in their pool matches, met in the girls’ final.
Both had to overcome stiff challenges in the semi-finals, with St Mary’s reprising a playoffs’ shootout score which became familiar, winning 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Ashton International, while Kloof claimed a 1-0 win over Danville Park.
In the early going of the title-decider, St Mary’s appeared to be cruising to victory, scoring a goal and then benefitting from an own goal, but Kloof, with impressive character, fought their way back into the contest. They levelled at 2-2 to send it to the spot. From there, St Mary’s took the win by a 2-1 margin.
St Mary’s DSG joyously celebrates winning the Kearsney Soccer Tournament.
Saints’ coaches, Daniel Becker and Sanele Zondi, were relieved after their charges’ victory. “We struggled during this tournament. Every time we conceded, it was like we were losing,” Becker admitted. “We have been trying to break that mentality.
“We make it difficult,” he added, with a laugh.
Both coaches agreed, though, that beating Ashton International on penalties in the semi-finals helped them when the final went to the penalty spot.
“I’m very happy,” Zondi said. “It was a rocky road, but eventually we won.”
Commenting on the tournament, Becker said: “It’s a huge upliftment for the girls’ sport. It’s a great initiative. The facilities are amazing. It’s a great venue.”
Meanwhile, the boys’ Primary School title came down to a showdown between Highbury Prep and Merchiston Prep.
The u13 event was played on Silcock Field, a smaller ground, which was an excellent decision; it made for more exciting and entertaining football, and the picturesque venue was surrounded by supporters.
Merchiston launches an attack down the left flank in the final of the Primary Schools’ competition against Highbury Prep.
From the two pools of five teams, the sides qualified to face their direct opposites in the playoffs, which meant that the runners-up from the group stage, Thomas More and Hillcrest Primary met for third and fourth places.
Hillcrest, the top scorers in the pool matches, with 19 goals, won 3-1.
In a high-quality final, Highbury took the lead with a stunning shot curled across the goal and around the goalkeeper, but Merchiston kept banging away at their rivals’ defences. Their reward was a 2-1 victory and the title of Kearsney Soccer Tournament champions.
BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
Champs Quarterfinals
Durban High School 1-2 Kearsney College
Paul Roos 2-1 Sutherland
Siyajabula 2-1 Northwood
Pinetown 6-0 Lebone II College
Champs Semi-finals Siyajabula (3) 2-2 (2) Paul Roos
Pinetown 3-0 Kearsney College
Champs Final Pinetown 1-0 Siyajabula
3rd/4th Kearnsey College (3) 1-1 (2) Paul Roos Gimnasium
Champs Playoffs Northwood 6-0 Lebone II College
Durban High School 1-0 Sutherland
Plate Quarterfinals Maqhutshana 2 (3) 1-1 (2) Curro Hazeldean
Urban Academy 9-0 Thomas More
Maqhutshana 1 4-2 Ashton International
Clifton College 4-0 Tuks
Plate Semi-finals Maqhutshana 2 2-1 Clifton College
Urban Academy 2-0 Maqhutshana 1
Plate Final Urban Academy (3) 1-1 (1) Maqhutshana 2
Plate Playoffs Tuks 4-0 Thomas More College
Curro Hazeldean 4-1 Ashton International
Clifton College 1-3 Maqhutshana 1
GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
Champs Semi-finals St Mary’s DSG (3) 1-1 (2) Ashton International
Kloof High 1-0 Danville Park
3rd/4th Ashton International 0-1 Danville Park
Champs Final St Mary’s DSG (3) 1-1 (2) Kloof High
Plate Semi-finals Durban Girls’ High 8-0 Lebone II College
Thomas More College 1- Curro Hazeldean
Plate Playoffs
Lebone II College 3-1 Thomas More College (7th/8th)
Plate Final Durban Girl’ High (3) 2-2 (4) Curro Hazeldean
BOYS’ PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYOFFS
Winston Park 5-2 Highbury Prep B (9th/10th)
Kloof Senior Primary 3-1 Reddam House Ballito (7th/8th)
Ashton International 2-4 Atholl Heights (5th/6th)
Thomas More 1-3 Hillcrest Primary (3rd/4th)
Merchiston Prep 2-1 Highbury Prep A (Final)
Dié afdeling het vir ‘n paar naelbytstryde gesorg, met slegs één van die vier eerstespankragmetings wat met meer as vyf punte gewen is.
Hoërskool Lichtenburg het een van die afdeling se voorlopers, Hoërskool Hugenote van Springs, op tuisbodem met 27-12 verras.
Dit is die Hugies se tweede agtereenvolgende nederlaag nadat hulle voor die vakansie met 7-36 ook teen Hoërskool Wesvalia vasgeval het.
Die Liggies se buitesenter, Dundre Dempers, het nóg lekker momentum opgebou wat sy persoonlike spelpeil betref en die Hugie-verdedigers ‘n aantal keer gefnuik met sy bedrieglike lopies, wat op twee drieë uitgeloop het.
Voorlangs het die tuisspan se vaskopstut, JJ Jonker, ook gedruk en was sy skrumwerk ook uit die boonste rakke.
Die Hugie-pak het hard gespook om die besoekers op die voorvoet te probeer kry, met verál die twee voorrymanne, Franco Neuhoff (loskopstut) en Luan Pretorius (haker), wat hand opgesteek het. Albei was uiters fisies op sowel die aanval as verdediging en is elk met ‘n drie beloon.
In Secunda het die Buffels van Hoërskool Ben Vorster ook vir ‘n opskudding gesorg deur teen meeste verwagtinge in met ‘n sege van 25-20 oor Hoërskool Secunda huiswaardts te keer.
Die Vossies se voorspelers het vroeg reeds hul stempel afgedruk. Onder leiding van die veelsydige, Ewald Kirstein, het die Tzaneeners ‘n meedoënloos fisiese vertoning gelewer. Dit het die span van Secunda onkant betrap en hulle kon eenvoudig nie weer terugkom in die wedstryd nie.
Potsho Selowa, die Vossies se veelsydige Cravenweek-verteenwoordiger, het gefloreer danksy die momentum wat voorlangs bewerkstellig en die tuisspan deurgaans aan die raai gehou met sy flink voetwerk.
Vir die span van Secunda het linkervleuel, Brink la Grange, vroeg toegeslaan en uiteindelik ‘n welverdiende tweekuns behaal.
In Heidelberg moes die besoekers van Brakpan, Hoërskool Die Anker, alles in die stryd werp om Heidelberg Volkskool met 32-29 te troef. Dit was grootliks danksy linkervleuel, Jonathan Jordaan, en voskopstut, Damian Boshoff, wat elk twee keer gaan druk het.
Die tuisspan se Cravenweek-losskakel, Kayle Venter, het oudergewoonte die toutjies agterlangs meesterlik getrek , terwyl agsteman, Joshua Munro, die vuur voorlangs aangesteek het met sy fisieke spel.
Hoërskool Jeugland het in ‘n wiplankstryd in Polokwane naelskraaps met 27-24 teen Hoërskool Pietersburg geseëvier. Die besoekers se heelagter, Thando Ngomane, wat regdeur die seisoen hand opsteek het, was weer uitstaande en het ‘n briljante driekuns behaal.
Selborne College were convincing 6-1 winners over Hudson Park in their first match of the third term. Photo: Alan Parsons
There was a healthy total of 43 goals scored in seven matches on the weekend as Eastern Cape hockey teams returned to turf action after the mid-year break.
The big winners were Selborne College, the Gqeberha duo of Grey High School and Pearson High, and Makhanda’s St Andrew’s College.
Selborne outplayed Hudson Park 6-1 at home, while coach Andrew Beynon’s high-flying Grey side beat York 7-0.
Meanwhile, Pearson had a double header weekend. On Friday, they began it with a 4-0 win over Victoria Park. The following day, they rattled the back of the net with 11 against Reddam House Waterfall.
The action began on Friday night in East London as Selborne, who have enjoyed an outstanding season, went in search of a first win of the third term. They were up against an unpredictable Hudson side.
The boys in black and white had rolled to 6-2 win last time out against Stirling High in June, while Hudson had shared a 2-2 draw with Queen’s College in their final term two encounter.
The visitors started the brighter of the sides, at least on defence, effectively handling Selborne’s offensive forays early in the first chukka.
However, with five minutes left in the first quarter, skipper Tre’ Gilbert struck to open the scoring for Selborne.
In the second quarter, they added two more goals through Thomas Caswell, while Hudson pulled one back to go into half-time trailing 1-3.
The hosts scored three more in the second half through Jaques van der Merwe to complete the drubbing and kick off their term on a positive note.
“I was extremely happy with our ability to move the throughout the field tonight and make Hudson work for the ball,” Selborne head coach, KJ Friend told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“Our rotations through the field were probably at the best they’ve been all season.
“Considering it’s our first game back since last term, I was happy, and I am looking forward to how we can build on the performance.”
Grey High School continued a very successful season by easily dealing with the challenge of York High and winning 7-0. Photo: Grant Howard.
In Gqeberha, Grey High defused a motivated York side to also get their third term up and running at a sprint. In their last match before the holidays, Grey had been made to work hard for a 2-1 win over St Andrew’s College in Makhanda.
Loaded with Eastern Province u18A players, Grey, as they have done for the majority of the season, comfortably controlled the game. They started a little slowly but soon kicked into a higher gear in front of a buzzing crowd at the Rectory AstroTurf.
Logan Goddard-Ford opened the scoring after smooth interlinking play, which gave the Gqeberha boys a 1-0 lead at halftime.
After the break, it rained goals, with Kian Cambier (2), Xander Elkington, Ben Ristow, Luke Tait, and Cayden Skinnette all getting onto the scoresheet.
“I thought we moved the ball the nicely as a team and worked hard out of possession,” coach Beynon said after the encounter. “However, we did not convert enough opportunities, so it was 1-0 at halftime.
“We dominated possession and territory once again [in the second half] but were a lot more clinical and scored some wonderful goals. Not our night in terms of penalty corners, but a good start after the mid-season break,” he added.
In Makhanda, coach Dean Ferriera’s St Andrew’s side got off to a flying start, thumping Woodridge College 5-0.
Goal scorers’ Samuel Scheckter, Connor McNamara, Jono Mackenzie, Jean de Villiers, and Laurie Apps ensured it was a good day for the home side.
Cambridge and Stirling were also on the winning side in their weekend outings.
Stirling edged out Dale 3-2 in Qonce, while Cambridge took home a 3-1 win against Merrifield College.
The action continues next weekend, with Selborne traveling to Komani to face Queen’s College, while Grey High prepares to take on Grey College in Bloemfontein, and St Andrew’s welcomes Dale College to Makhanda.
Stirling High School 3-2 Dale College
Selborne College 6-1 Hudson Park
Grey High School 7-0 York High School
St Andrew’s College 5-0 Woodridge College
Cambridge High School 3-1 Merrifield
Pearson High 4-0 Victoria Park
Pearson High 11-0 Reddam House Waterfall
Despite their 3-0 victory over Northcliff High School on Saturday, Jeppe High School for Boys‘ head coach Siya Sityana walked away dissatisfied, believing that his side could have done better.
Jeppe Boys welcomed Northcliff to the Boden AstroTurf and showed up with a revamped squad full of youngsters. Sityana said it was an opportunity to give those younger players a chance to showcase their abilities and skills.
Their inclusion meant some of the side’s stars, including Boipelo Koloti (Southern Gauteng u18A) and Tumiso Kameel (Southern Gauteng u18B), were among the regulars who did not play.
In a tight clash, Jeppe claimed the win with a double from Ethan Kapanda and a further goal from Juan Martin. They were both members of the Southern Gauteng u18 A side at the SASHOC National Week, where Kapanda was named the Defender of the Tournament and Martin was named in the SA u18A side.
The Kensington boys broke open a deadlock in the second chukka, but their chances of blowing open the contest were undone by a number of unforced errors.
Sityana expressed disappointment with his charges’ lack of finishing. He said: “We played a lot of youngsters, and we missed quite a number of clear chances, and it was frustrating to watch.”
On Wednesday, Jeppe had been held to a goalless draw by Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria, and Sityana, despite the change in personnel, had been hoping for a turnaround. He didn’t mince his words.
“It is disappointing after the goalless draw against Pretoria Boys High School. I was expecting the strikers to score more goals but going onto next week…I believe they will be slightly more confident,” he concluded.
Paarl Gimnasium decimated seven teams on their way to being crowned the champions of the 2024 edition of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.
In the final, IanNaude‘s side crushed Somerset College 10-1 on the Maties AAstro at Stellenbosch University on Sunday.
“I am proud of the way the girls played. They displayed good professionalism. They did not take any team lightly and fought till the last minute,” said Naude, after the match.
While the scoreline showed a dominant performance from Paarl Gim, they had a subdued first two chukkas.
Knowing that they could not play to contain their opponents, coach KyranFortuin‘s Somerset College side tried to seize control of the contest by going on the attack from the first pass back. They played so well that they won the first penalty corner of the contest. It was, incredibly, the first short corner that Paarl Gim had conceded in the tournament.
“Going into any final, you always expect strong competition and pressure. Somerset was playing well. And I think the girls were also nervous, [with] it being a final,” Naude explained.
Paarl Gim scored only two goals in the first two chukkas. The other eight came in the second half of the game.
“At halftime, I encouraged them to settle down and remember what we had set out to do in the match,” Naude shared. Part of his brief was for his players to retain possession of the ball. That was the key to them controlling the contest. Once they took control, they played like the team that had scored 55 goals in the tournament.
Paarl Gim twice reached double digits during the event, firstly in an 11-0 win over Worcester Gymnasium, and then in the final.
To qualify for the title decider, they breezed past the UK-based Clifton College in the semifinals, romping to an 8-0 victory. Anya Swanepoel led the scoring, bagging a hat-trick, while Isabella Nel, Alanda Rademeyer, Karea de Ridder, Anine le Roux, and Tanya Pieterse also scored.
Swanepoel was on the scoresheet again in the final, this time with a brace. However, the star of the show was Pieterse, who bagged a hat-trick. Nel also scored twice, while Le Roux, Marika Neethling, and Lize Thomas added a goal each.
The tournament’s top goal scorers, Marika Neethling and Tanya Pieterse, celebrate their feats with the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament’s mascot, Charlie. Photo: Enhanced Sports & Cape Town International Hockey Tournament
Neethling and Pieterse finished the tournament as the joint top goal-scorers with 10 goals each.
Paarl Gim also converted the most penalty corners in the tournament, 22, which was more than double the total of the next-best team. In second place was Clifton College, with nine goals.
“We have put a lot of work into our short corners. One of the pillars for our short corners has been to get the first shot on target, which makes it easier for our girls to get the rebound,” Naude shared.
His side also scored 3.9 times as many field goals as the next-best team in that department. They finished the tournament with 39 field goals. Chisipite and Clifton College tied for second with 10 each.
The only area where Naude’s charges didn’t dominate was on the Player of the Match lists. Those determinations were made by each match’s two coaches and, because Naude’s side always played so well as a unit, he found it difficult to select only one of his girls. So, he asked the opposition coach to pick one of their outstanding players.
“For us, the result is what mattered. The result was for the team and the team pulled together to achieve it, and that’s what we focussed on,” Naude explained.
Somerset punched their ticket to the final with a 1-0 win over Parel Vallei, thanks to a Siena Kontopirakis strike. That win also helped them avenge a 0-1 defeat in a league match earlier in the year.
Kontopirakis also scored Somerset’s consolation goal in the final. It was the first and only goal Paar Gim conceded in the tournament.
Final standings, top 10
Paarl Gim
Somerset College
Clifton College
Parel Vallei
Uppingham
Hoërskool Kempton Park
Windhoek Gymnasium
Chisipite
St Paul’s College
Paarl Girls’ High
Results
Semifinals
Paarl Gim 8-0 Clifton College
Somerset College 1-0 Parel Vallei
Other matches
AKS Lytham 2-1 Worcester Gymnasium
Hoërskool Bellville 0 (3) – 0 (0) Hoërskool Outeniqua
St Paul’s 1-0 Windhoek High School
Paarl Girls’ High 2-0 Springfield Convent School
Uppingham 3-0 Chisipite
Hoërskool Kempton Park 3-2 Windhoek Gymnasium
Durbanville High School 4-0 Curro Durbanville
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 1-2 Rustenburg
AKS Lytham 3-1 Hoërskool Bellville
Worcester Gymnasium 0-1 Hoërskool Outeniqua
Chisipite 2 (2) – 2 (3) Windhoek Gymnasium
St Paul’s College 0 (3) – 0 (2) Paarl Girls’ High
Windhoek High 0–2 Springfield Convent School
Parel Vallei 1-2 Clifton College
Uppingham 1-0 Hoërskool Kempton Park
Rustenburg 0 (2) -0 (3) Durbanville High School
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 2-0 Curro Durbanville
Paarl Gimnasium took home the gold medal at the 2024 Cape Town International Hockey Tournament. Photo: Enhanced Sports (ES Media)
Paarl Gimnasium’s captain, LD Nel, netted twice to lead his side to a hard fought 2-1 victory over South African College High School (SACS) in the final of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament in Stellenbosch on Sunday evening.
That win means coach Jacques Grobler‘s team has now bagged two major trophies this year after they claimed the title at the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament in March.
This tournament was, however, different. After a break from interschools’ action because of the mid-year break, teams welcomed players from the various provincial teams back into their folds after the SASHOC National Weeks, but there were others who hadn’t played in a while.
Despite that, neither SACS nor Gim showed rust and dominated their opponents during the event to enter the Elite final as the only unbeaten sides in the tournament.
SACS, the defending champions, after finishing top of Pool C, thumped Durbanville High 7-2 in the quarterfinals before edging out Parel Vallei 3-2 in the semifinals.
Gim, meanwhile, topped Pool D, and downed the UK’s Repton B 5-1 in the last eight. Then, in their semi-final clash against their arch-rivals, Paul Roos Gimnasium, they fought their way back from 0-2 down to draw the game 2-2, before winning 2-1 in a penalty shootout.
There was no clear favourite heading into the final, with SACS, whom most would pick as the best team in South Africa this season, fielding a younger squad, while Gim opted for their strongest players out on the park. That worked in their favour.
The first chukka was end-to-end stuff, with possession changing hands, and both teams trying to get comfortable on the ball. Eventually, in the second chukka, the deadlock was broken by SACS.
Litha Kraai, after receiving a ball just outside his half from SACS’ skipper, Joe Le Roux, launched a dangerous run into Gim’s circle. He lost control of the ball, but it was picked up by Regan Wille, who found Kraai in space, and the SA Schools’ star tapped in for the game’s opening goal.
Soon after, Gim responded. Stefan Wiehahn dispossessed SACS in their half and quickly picked out LD Nel in space. The captain fired off a reverse stick shot into the net to level the scores at 1-1.
With 11 seconds left in the chukka, Nel made it a double after pouncing on a ball that landed in his path off a save of a shot from Ethan October.
At the halfway point, the side from Paarl led 2-1.
In the final two chukkas, SACS dominated as they fought to find an equaliser, but Gim’s defence was resolute, with Joe van Coller pulling off some impressive saves in the Gim goalbox.
In the latter stages of the encounter, coach Sam Holmes‘ SACS side seemed to be building momentum, but their discipline let them down, with both Kraai and Mohlodi Maseko being shown yellow cards, which led to them finishing the contest on the sidelines. Paarl Gim held on for the win.
“This weekend’s hockey was amazing. To see the group of players come together the way they did, and they only got better every game, was great to see,” coach Grobler told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“The players played a good brand of attacking hockey, with a good balance of defensive grit. Beating Paul Roos and SACS on a weekend is no mean feat and it’s because the boys committed to the process and played as a team.
“It was great leadership from LD Nel, as captain, and all our matric boys.
“This will give us great confidence for our last three games of the season, especially with interschools [versus Paarl Boys’ High] approaching three weeks away,” he concluded.
Paul Roos Gimnasium took home the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament’s bronze medal. Photo: Enhanced Sports (ES Media)
In the bronze medal play-off match, Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG) claimed a 2-1 win over Parel Vallei.
PRG was one of the schools that brought a younger team to the tournament, focussing on building their depth for the years to come.
After a rocky start, in which they went 2-4 down to Repton A on the opening day, coach Michael Baker’s side bounced back nicely and topped Pool C.
In the quarterfinals, they annihilated Worcester Gymnasium 8-0, but, in the semis, they were eliminated by Paarl Gim.
In the bronze medal match, PRG skipper Christo Swanepoel scored both goals to cap off a promising tournament for the side.
“I’m super proud of my boys. There are three Grade 9s and nine Grade 10s in the team,” Baker told SuperSport Schools Plusafter the tournament.
“For them to be competing and getting results against some top teams gets me excited for the next few years.
“I keep hearing we’re in trouble next year as we’re losing big players, but I enjoyed working with my youngsters and setting standards for 2025.”
Meanwhile, Repton A finished in fifth place in their first appearance at the tournament.
Paarl Boys’ High, after placing second in 2023, will be disappointed after having to settle for 11th place this time around
Top goal scorers
Litha Kraai- SACS – 16 goals
Christo Swanepoel- Paul Roos – 11 goals
Luka Meets- Parel Vallei – 11 goals
Michael du Toit- Somerset College – 9 goals
LD Nel- Paarl Gimnasium – 8 goals
Final Standings
Paarl Gimnasium
SACS
Paul Roos Gimnasium
Parel Vallei
Repton A
Worcester Gymnasium
Durbanville High School
Repton B
Somerset College
Uppingham
Paarl Boys High
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool
Reddam Constantia
Western Province Invitational
Windhoek High School
Bridge House
Outeniqua
Curro Durbanville
Stewart’s Melville College
In their second match after returning from the mid-year break, the Hudson Park High School girls’ hockey team produced arguably their most impressive performance of the season when they defeated Clarendon High School for Girls 2-1 in East London on the weekend.
During the week, Hudson kicked off their term’s assignments with a 6-0 thumping of Lilyfontein.
Their last outing as a unit before that match was back in May against Queenstown Girls’ High in Komani. In that game, coach Jerry Snyman’s side played an attractive brand of hockey, which saw them score twice, through Busiwe Mayekiso and Mackenzie Goss, to seal a solid 2-0 win away from home.
Then, during the winter holidays, two Hudson Park stalwarts, Tarelle Jones and Melnique Langley, represented the Border u18A girls’ team at the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein.
At the conclusion of the event, Jones was named in the SA Schools u17 side after performing strongly throughout the inter-provincial event.
Earlier in the season, in April, Hudson Park and Clarendon met during the Eastern Cape Spar Hockey Challenge, with Clarendon claiming a narrow victoryin that clash.
Hudson wasn’t about to allow history to repeat itself, and they scored twice, through Jones and Inathi Lubelwana.
Jones had a cracker of a game against the Clarrie Bags, and despite the hosts pulling one back, she helped steer her side to victory. Langley, too, was one of the leading contributors.
Coach Snyman also introduced an u16 player to his setup, Asiphe Zitumane, and she came off the bench, stepped up, and made an impact on the big stage.
“To start the term off with a doubleheader, some injuries, and having come back from IPTs, this week’s matches were always going to be a lot [to ask of the girls],” coach Snyman told SuperSport Schools Plusafter the match.
“We took each game for what it was. I am very happy with the girls’ performances this week, despite the challenges we faced.”
Commenting on their last meeting with Clarendon, he said: “A game that ends on penalties doesn’t do the game justice.
“We went into this game knowing we had to rectify the loss, and the girls came to the table and gave it 200 percent. The girls’ mindsets this week were strong, settled, and determined. They were hungry for the game and worked as a team towards the goal.”
Hudson is left with a couple of big encounters before calling it a day on the 2024 season. This coming weekend, they take on Stirling High School and will be aiming to make it four wins on the trot.
They also have a match against Qonce’s Kingsridge High School for Girls on Hudson Park’s Founder’s weekend.
“It most certainly is a confidence boost,” he said after the win over Clarendon. “It was a really good game and to quote one of the players on the bench in the last two minutes of the game, ‘This is the best game I’ve ever played’.
“We have a few derbies left and we hope to finish the season off strongly,” Snyman concluded.
Helpmekaar Kollege het vir Klofies met mag en mening aangeval in die doodsnikke, maar ‘n onderskepdrie deur die tuisspan se Malcolm George het ‘n naelbytsege beklink.
Die senuwees is omtrent gaar na ál die aksie in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Skild-afdeling die afgelope naweek.
