Blog

Rand Park High School se eerste netbalspan het vanjaar bewys dat deursettingsvermoë, samehorigheid en ‘n onwrikbare vasberadenheid die sleutel tot sukses bied.

Die span het nie net hul merk gemaak op provinsiale vlak nie, maar het ook landswyd aandag getrek met hul prestasies by die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolekampioenskappe, waar hulle 16de geëindig het — ’n uitsonderlike prestasie wat hulle gevestig het as die beste Engelsmedium-netbalskool in Suid-Afrika.

Vir Rand Park was die hoogtepunt van die jaar ongetwyfeld hul onvergeetlike oorwinning oor Garsfontein, ’n kragmeting wat in bykomende tyd beslis moes word. Met die druk van ’n ganse arena wat asem ophou, het Rand Park met ‘n enkele punt (29-28) se verskil die oorwinning behaal, ’n oomblik wat vir altyd in die geheue van elke speler sal voortleef.

“Toe ek na die eindfluitjie opkyk en die telbord sien, was die verligting ongelooflik. Dit was die dag toe ons waarlik geleer het hoe om ’n groot wedstryd te wen,” vertel die afrigter, Kayleigh Bendall.

By die Menlopark-toernooi het Rand Park aanvanklik gesukkel om ritme te vind teen taai opposisie, maar toe hulle teen Oranje te staan gekom het, het alles begin klik.

“Ons spel het gevloei, en die energie van ons ondersteuners was aansteeklik.”

Wat Rand Park se seisoen besonders maak, is dat hul eerste span uit slegs drie matrieks en ses graad 10-leerders bestaan het, meisies van slegs 16 jaar oud wat teen van die sterkste skole in die land moes meeding. Tóg het hulle die uitdaging met ongelooflike volwassenheid, vasberadenheid en kalmte onder druk aangedurf.

“Geestelike groei was vanjaar een van ons grootste oorwinnings. Om só jonk te wees en in ’n eerste span te speel, is nie maklik nie; dit verg emosionele intelligensie en senuweesterkte. Hierdie groep het my werklik in verwondering gelaat,” het die Bendall bygevoeg.

Hoewel elke speler bygedra het tot Rand Park se sukses, het vier spelers in besonder uitgestaan:

• Georgia Leppan (medekaptein) is vir die Gauteng o.18-span gekies en is deur die SASN Talent-ID-program as ’n uitsonderlike speler geïdentifiseer.

• Oluchi Ndubueze het vir die vyfde agtereenvolgende jaar vir Gauteng verteenwoordig en ook ‘n plek in die SASN o.16-span verwerf — ’n bewys van haar konsekwente uitnemendheid.

• Hayley Jose (medekaptein) het vir die Johannesburg Netball Association o.19A-span uitgedraf en ’n indrukwekkende vertoning gelewer by die Telkom Nasionale Kampioenskappe, wat aan haar ‘n plek in die Netball SA o.19-ontwikkelingspan besorg het.

• Tiyani Khuvutlu het die seisoen begin as ’n skaam, onsekere speler, maar spoedig ontwikkel in ’n selfversekerde, dominante doel wat selfs die afrigter “van trots laat op en af spring het langs die baan”.

Wat hierdie groep besonders maak, is hul vermoë om as span saam te groei. Aan die begin van die seisoen het die spelers gereeld hul kapteine met vrae oor tegniek en strategie genader, maar teen die einde het hulle ontwikkel in selfversekerde leiers wat self jonger spelers begin touwys maak het.

“Met die meerderheid van die span wat volgende jaar terugkeer, is ek ongelooflik opgewonde om te sien hoe hulle op hierdie soliede grondslag kan voortbou,” sê Bendall.

Geoordeel aan die afgelope seisoen van groei, durf en vasberadenheid, is hierdie jong span Rand Park beslis nog lank nie klaar om hul merk in Suid-Afrikaanse skolenetbal te maak nie.

2025-uitslae

Ligawedstryde:
Trinity House 32–22
Hoërskool Monument 25–24
Bryanston High School 35–9
Hoërskool Florida 32–16
Northcliff High School 30–14
Hoërskool Linden 31–9
Hoërskool Randburg 38–15
Krugersdorp High School 37–17
Hoërskool Noordheuwel 25–26
Helpmekaar Kollege 17–32

Gauteng Kampioenskappe

Marais Viljoen 25-21

Montana 21-20

Soshanguve 43-3

Monument 24-17

Garsfontein 29-28

Affies 13-30

Nasionale Kampioenskappe:
Veritas 54–2
Tshiawelo 33–5
Oranje 12–27
Paarl Girls 12–25
Bukit Jalil 29–11
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 23–17
Voortrekker 22–16

Die jaarlikse ontmoeting tussen Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool en Grey-kollege se “Stayers”, oftewel o.17-spanne, het Saterdag in Pretoria oudergewoonte vir ‘n naelbyt-affêre gesorg.

Dié kragmeting, met die matrieks afwesig weens die eindeksamen, word gesien as ‘n gulde geleentheid om die volgende generasie talent die nodige blootstelling te gee alvorens hulle die 2026-seisoen moet aanpak.

Albei spanne beskik egter reeds oor ‘n groot gros jongelinge wat die afgelope jaar of twee deel uitgemaak het van hul onderskeie eerste spanne.

Belowende nuwe name soos Christian Kind, Vihan Pretorius, Zian Labuschagne en Daniel Hattingh het mekaar die afgelope naweek dus die stryd aangesê in Affies se sege met vier paaltjies oor hul tradisionele  aartsvyande.

Dit was juis Pretorius en Labuschagne wat voor in die koor was om vir die tuisspan die oorhand te bewerkstellig. Pretorius was, soos deur die loop van 2025, ‘n uitblinker met die nuwe bal en sy vyf beurte het twee paaltjies vir slegs 18 lopies opgelewer, wat die skroewe styf gedraai het.

Labuschagne was self ‘n doring met die bal. Hoewel effens duurder, het sy volle kwota van 10 beurte ook twee paaltjies laat kantel vir 63 lopies, waarvan een dié was van die groot vis, Aiden Dodd, in slegs die tweede beurt. Dit het vir Grey op 4/2, en onder hewige druk, geplaas.

Die herstelwerk is deur Daniel Hattingh (23) en Peter Le Roux gedoen. Le Roux se beurt is uiteindelik beëindig deur ‘n stukkie netjiese veldwerk deur Nico Loggenberg, maar nie voordat hy ‘n geduldige 66 lopies van 115 aflewerings kon aanteken nie.

River Scott en Bergh Vorster het verdere herstelwerk verrig, met Scott (47) wat sy span se tweede hoogste telling aangeteken het, terwyl Vorster se bydra van 38, nie uit nie, gehelp het om die Bloemfonteiners tot 227/8 in die toegelate 50 beurte te neem.

Die Affie-kolfbeurt het op dieselfde trant begin met die besoekers wat self reeds twee vroeë paaltjies kwyt was, te danke aan Bernard Saaiman (2/55). AJ Morkel het egter deur die druk gekolf en vroeë weerstand gebied, met sy 31 lopies wat die grondslag vir die jaagtog gelê het. Paaltjiewagter, Daniel Murray, was ook weer goed op dreef, met sy uitstekende voetwerk en energie in die kolfkampie wat 43 lopies aan hom besorg het.

Uiteindelik was dit weer Labuschagne wat homself midde in die aksie bevind het. Murray se vertrek het vir hom en Jacques Swart byeengebring in die middel. Labuschagne het die aanvallende rol gespeel, om van slegs 67 balle vyf viere en twee sesse te mokker vir ‘n onoorwonne 65, albei is ook steeds o.16, iets wat net bewys hoe blink die toekoms by die Pretoria reus is.

Swart was geduldig en het die beurt aanmekaar gehou. Hy het 51 lopies behaal en was saam met Labuschagne onoorwonne toe die teiken bereik is. Hul vennootskap van 112 lopies het die deurslag gegee, hoewel Daniel Hayidakis, Grey se beste bouler op die dag, moedig probeer het. Hayidakis is aan die einde van sy 10 beurte met syfers van 2/37 beloon.

Beknopte telkaart 

Grey-kollege 227/8 (Peter le Roux 66, River Scott 47, Bergh Vorster 38*, Daniel Hattingh 23, Divan Bezuidenhout 23; Vihan Pretorius 2/18, Zian Labuschagne 2/63); Affies 229/6 (Zian Labuschagne 65*, Jacques Swart 51*, Daniel Murray 43, AJ Morkel 31; Daniel Hayidakis 2/37, Bernard Saaiman 2/55). Affies wen met vier paaltjies.

Big players are expected to step up when the occasion demands it, and that is exactly what Reuben van Zyl did on Saturday in Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s four-wicket victory over Hoërskool Waterkloof in the quarter-final round of the Fain Noordvaal Series.

Van Zyl delivered a match-winning knock of 58 runs, a bona fide masterclass against the Klofie spinners, as the Ysbere advanced to the semi-finals. It was, however, Wikus du Preez‘s all-round performance that stole the show on the day.

Du Preez’s heroics kicked off with the ball, after the visiting Waterkloof had won the toss and elected to bat first. The Waterkloof top order, led by Wian du Plessis (34), got off to a good start. However, the wickets continued to fall just as partnerships started to develop, largely due to Du Preez’s right-arm medium bowling.

Du Preez’s 4/26 in just 7.2 overs proved to be the biggest pebble in the visitors’ shoe. Jared Carr, as reliable as ever, supported well with his 10 overs going for an economical 36 runs, while Nathan Ferreira chipped in with 2/31. The collective effort saw Waterkloof reach only 188 before the last wicket fell.

Come his turn with the bat, Du Preez delivered alongside Van Zyl. He was the cornerstone of a nail-biting run chase with a patient 45 from 109 deliveries, also playing his part in the 114-run opening stand.

The innings went without a hitch until a piece of one-handed brilliance by Darius Maritz in the field sent Charl van Staden (33) packing. Du Preez followed just seven balls later, which sparked a certain amount of panic in the Garsfontein middle order.

Captain Xander Venter, however, pulled the chestnuts out of the fire. Although he only contributed 18 not out, his presence and calmness under pressure eventually saw the Ysbere home in the 38th over.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium were equally impressive in their comprehensive 107-run victory over last year’s runners-up, Hoërskool Middelburg, in Middelburg. Henré Cronje was the knight in shining armour, capitalising on the back of a good batting performance led by the ever-present Caiden Seleka (74) and aggressive Christivan Coetzer (65) at the top of the order. A cameo of 39* by Ruhann Steenkamp also deserves a special mention after it helped Gimmies to a competitive 269/9 in the allotted 50 overs.

Cronje’s spectacular spell with the ball then made it a bridge too far for the Middies. Completing his allotted 10 overs, which cost only 25 runs, Cronje ripped the heart from the home side’s batting lineup with five wickets to add to his economy rate of 2.5 to the over.

Seleka (2/34) and Damian Kruger (2/22) were in on the action again, to ultimately help restrict the chase by Middies to only 162.

Stian van Breda delivered the best bowling performance of the quarter-final round to see Hoërskool Kempton Park soar to a six-wicket victory over Hoërskool Monument. What made it more impressive is that the Kempies’ opening bowler needed only six overs to inflict maximum damage. His 6/25 will long be remembered as one of the great spells for the side from the East Rand.

Monnas’ André van Niekerk stood tall amid the destruction of the batting lineup around him. His run-a-ball 50, however, was his side’s only noteworthy contribution in a disappointing 100 all out.

Sheldon Kruger handled most of the heavy lifting in the home side’s run chase, scoring 44, which enabled his side to reach the target in the 21st over.

Dewald Erasmus of Hoërskool Dr Malan also delivered a top-class performance in the quarter-finals, with the willow, leading the side from Meyerton to a profound eight-wicket victory over Merensky Landbou Akademie, in Meyerton. Erasmus top-scored across the four quarters, boasting a 68-ball 97, just three runs short of what would’ve been a memorable century. As a consolation, though, his innings, which included 11 fours and four sixes, ended unbeaten.

Jacques Nel supported Erasmus with an unbeaten 61 (75b), as the pair’s unbeaten 161 partnership for the third wicket saw the Dokkies chase down Merensky’s 196 with ease. The Plasies’ opening batsman, James Durant, was the visitors’ best on the day, scoring 74 (94b). Xander Schoeman, in his last outing for the outfit from Tzaneen, made 41.

Hoërskool Kempton Park now hosts Dr Malan in Kempton Park, while Garsfontein welcomes the dangerous Potchefstroom Gimnasiun in Pretoria for what promises to be two tightly contested semi-finals come Saturday.

Summarised scorecards

Waterkloof 188 (Wian du Plessis 34, Riley Miller 28, Franco Schmidt 22, Rico van der Walt 22; Wikus du Preez 4/26, Jared Carr 3/36, Nathan Ferreira 2/31); Garsfontein 192/6 (Reuben van Zyl 58, Wikus du Preez 45, Charl van Staden 33; AJ de Villiers 2/38, Ricardo Crous 2/38). Garsfontein won by four wickets. 

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 269/9 (Caiden Seleka 74, Christivan Coetzer 65, Ruhann Steenkamp 39*, Extras 38, Henré Cronje 23; Ricardo Ras 2/33, Hendré Nel 2/43, Eduan Strydom 2/47, Herman Potgieter 2/53); Hoërskool Middelburg 162 (Extras 26, Herman Potgieter 21, Lohan Botha 20; Henré Cronje 5/25, Damian Kruger 2/22, Caiden Seleka 2/34). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 107 runs. 

Monument 100 (André van Niekerk 50; Stian van Breda 6/25, Shaun Nash 2/21); Hoërskool Kempton Park 102/4 (Sheldon Kruger 44; Lejean Banks 2/30). Hoërskool Kempton Park won by eight wickets. 

Merensky Landbou Akademie 196 (James Durant 74, Xander Venter 41, Extras 24; Dewald Erasmus 3/33, Damian du Plessis 3/35, Hendrich Jansen van Rensburg 3/49); Dr Malan 199/2 (Dewald Erasmus 97*, Jacques Nel 61*; Rinaldo Bornman 2/25). Dr Malan won by eight wickets. 

When Siphiwe Thwala arrived at the SASHOC National Week in July with Mpumalanga‘s u18A girls’ squad, being selected for the SA Schools team was the furthest thing from her mind.

Instead, the 17-year-old was laser-focused on giving her all for her team in her first senior inter-provincial tournament.

The Middelburg High School pupil excelled and impressed for her side, even though they were playing in the B-section of the tournament.

At the end of their campaign, Mpumalanga finished in fourth place after going down 3-4 against Boland B on penalties in the bronze medal showdown.

Thwala thought that was it, done and dusted, but she received the shock of her life during the closing ceremony.

“I remember sitting on the Astro during the prize-giving, and I heard my name being called out for the SA team, and I was shocked,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“It was totally unexpected because I thought they [the selectors] didn’t pay much attention to the B-Section, and they only selected from the A-Section.

“It was the last thing on my mind, although I had the dream of playing for South Africa one day, but because we were in the B-section, that dream kind of faded.

“When I was called out, I was surprised and thought: [Are they really talking about me?] I didn’t see it coming, to be honest.”

The selection was a reward for all the hard work she had put in on the turf, working on her game and fine-tuning her skills as a left link.

Thwala wasn’t born into a hockey family but first picked up a stick in grade one and never looked back.

“My family is absolutely not big on hockey,” she laughed.

“I’m the only person who plays hockey at home, and I think I’m the first. I started in primary school at Laerskool Middelburg in grade one.

“I decided to try different sporting codes, like tennis and netball, but I loved hockey more than anything else and fell in love with the sport instantly.”

That love for hockey grew immensely as she went through the primary school ranks and into high school.

In grades eight, nine, and 10, the bubbly, energetic youngster played for the u14 and u16 Middelburg teams before making the jump to first team hockey in 2025.

She explained the challenges and difficulties she faced with adapting to a more structured and high-tempo level. “The journey has been tough, but it’s had its good moments,” she said.

“From playing u14 to u16, it was nice because I was playing with my age mates and still learning high school hockey and adjusting.

“However, the jump from junior hockey to the first team is massive. That’s because you literally go from playing normal, basic hockey to a different and more intense game.

“It was tough to adjust, but with the support I got from my hockey friends, my parents, and coaches Ma’am Charlé Albert and Alti Nel, I managed to pull through.”

Throughout her hockey-playing career, Thwala has represented Mpumalanga at the national level.

Now, she has taken it a step further and will don the green and gold for the first time when South Africa goes in search of their maiden u17 Dato Mirnawan Cup title in Malaysia.

The prestigious tournament runs from 1 to 10 November in Kuala Lumpur, and it’s an opportunity of a lifetime that Thwala cannot wait to experience.

“I’m very excited, but I’m also nervous,” she said.

“The preparations have been a bit tough. We were given a schedule on what to do and what we should eat, and I’ve had to prepare it individually.

““It has been good. There have been ups and downs, but I’ve managed to stay disciplined. I’m looking forward to playing with my new teammates, learning, and growing as a player.

“From me, you can expect good vibes and playing good hockey and, hopefully, I can score a goal in some of the games we’re going to play,” she concluded.

South Africa’s first match of the tournament is on Sunday, 2 November, Australian state side, Queensland, at 12:00 SAST.

Follow SuperSport Schools Hockey for all the updates and results.

SOUTH AFRICA U17 SQUAD

Annika Kloppers (Die Hoërskool Menlopark, Northern Gauteng), Peyton Marais (Curro Durbanville, Western Province), Timari Jonker (Potchefstroom Gimnasium, North West), Jamie da Silva, Ella Bowyer (both St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, KZN Coastal), Zezethu Kunene (Maris Stella, KZN Coastal), Raffael Abrahams (Steyn City School, Southern Gauteng), Holly Hofmeyr (St Anne’s Diocesan College, KZN Inland), Xylia Choene (Oranje, Southern Free State), Claire Volschenk (Eunice, Southern Free State), Azania Petersen (St Andrew’s School For Girls, Southern Gauteng), Siphiwe Thwala (Middelburg High School, Mpumalanga), Busiwe Mayekiso (Hudson Park High, Border), Katherine Sickle (Rhenish Girls’ High, Boland), Emihle Wulana (Parel Vallei, Boland), Jemma Ferreira (St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, Eastern Gauteng), Anjun Kazie (Milnerton High, Western Province), Amogelang Motlatle (Curro Hazeldean, Northern Gauteng).

FIXTURES

2 November
12:00 – South Africa vs Queensland (Australia)

3 November
10:00 – South Africa vs Australia Crocs

6 November
12:00 – South Africa vs Malaysia Tigers

8 November
10:00 – South Africa vs Japan

Rondebosch Boys’ High vs SACS (50-over)

Playing away, on Sunday, SACS won the toss and opted to bat first in a limited overs clash with Rondebosch Boys’ High.

They fared well, but some brilliant batting from the home side lifted them to a seven-wicket victory on the ‘Bosch A Oval.

SACS opener Litha Kraai was in a belligerent mood, smashing 10 fours and three sixes while making 74 off 70 balls.

Meanwhile, Abhay Kalan produced a knock of 36 off 47, while Jordan Berry hit 30 off 44, and together they shared a 77-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Daniel Cooke, Raa’id Davids and Schalk Fourie all put pressure on the visitors, picking up two wickets each, but SACS finished with a healthy 239/8 after 50 overs at the crease.

When ‘Bosch batted, all five of their batsmen scored 28 or more runs.

Janko Webb came in at four and impressed the most, bashing 11 fours and three sixes in an audacious 83 off 64.

Daniel Bosman, who headed out to the middle after the fall of the first wicket, tallied 40 off 42 and shared a 66-run second wicket partnership with Eli Aufrichtig.

There was little joy for the SACS bowlers as Rondebosch raced to 240/3 after 38.5 overs, winning the match with 67 balls to spare.

Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool vs Welkom Gimnasium (50-over)

In a Free State showdown, Welkom Gimnasium won the toss at home and opted to bowl first against Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool. It was a good call as the home side’s bowlers dominated, sending Voortrekker packing for only 115.

Number three batsman, Ruan Heunis made a decent 23 off 30 balls, while Jayden Strydom, batting eighth in the order, resisted with a patient and unbeaten 26 off 62.

Henru Heiberg caused the visitors problems, however, capturing 3/21 in 8.3 overs, while Aiden Hewitt knocked over 3/31 as the Bethlehem boys found the going tough.

Heiberg, then, opened the batting and delivered a 104-run first-wicket stand with Jedwin Booysen. Heiberg’s contribution was 53 off 67, while Booysen struck an unbeaten 38 off 75.

It took Welkom Gimnasium only half the allotted 50 overs to record a nine-wicket victory, cruising to the win with 150 balls to spare.

Summarised Scorecards

SACS 239/8 (Lithe Kraai 74, Abhay Kalan 36, Jordan Berry 30, Extras 30; Daniel Cooke 2/40, Raa’id Davids 2/42, Schalk Fourie 2/51); Rondebosch Boys’ High 240/3 (Janko Webb 83*, Daniel Bosman 40, Eli Aufrichtig 35, Adeeb Levy 32*, Daniel Cooke 28, Extras 22). Rondebosch won by seven wickets.

Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool 115/10 (Jayden Strydom 26, Ruan Harris 23; Henru Heiberg 3/21, Aiden Hewitt 3/31); Welkom Gimnasium 116/1 (Munro Heiberg 53, Jedwin Booysen 38, Extras 22). Welkom won by nine wickets. 

Dit is vanjaar weer ‘n verkiesingsjaar in SA Skole-rugby.

Daar sal na vandag se verkiesing tydens die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolerugby-vereniging (SASRV) se jaarvergadering in Kaapstad ‘n nuwe voorsitter aan stuur van die vereniging staan.

Die huidige voorsitter, Noel Ingle (Glenwood Preparatory) tree af na hy aan die einde van 2015 leiding van die SASRV oorgeneem het. Tinus Diedericks (Northcliff High, Leeus) en Kervin Grove (Kraaifontein High School, Western Province) is die twee nominasies wat dit om die postitel sal uitspook.

Dit sal ook die eerste keer in meer as ‘n dekade wees wat die SASRV deur ‘n voorsitter vanuit die hoërskole gely word. Voor Ingle het Thys Bezuidenhout (Laerskool Bekker) en Lindsay Mould (Grey Kollege Primër) die organisasie gelei. Skolerugby op hoërskoolvlak het sedertdien ‘n gedaantewisseling ondergaan.

Diedericks is tans die tesourier van die SASRV asook voorsitter van die Goue Leeus Skolerugby-vereniging asook die Noordvaal skolerugby-vereniging. Laasgenoemde het onder die leierskap van Diedericks die afgelope drie jaar van krag-tot-krag gegaan.

Grove beklee tans die pos as sekretaris van die SASRV.

Albei die ondervoorsitters, Katiso Mosioua (hoërskole) en Granville Joseph (laerskole), sal onbestrede herkies word.

In die pos vir sekretaris sal Shirese Jordaan (Oostelike Provinsie) en Francin September (Boland) saam met Grove staan indien hy nie as voorsitter verkies word nie.

Diedericks is ook steeds beskikbaar as tesourier indien hy nie die voorsitterstoel inneem nie. Dean Moodley (Kearsney College) is die enigste ander nominasie vir dié pos.

Moodley is tans ‘n addisionele lid saam met Ofentse Moeng (St Alban’s College). Rodney Thomas (Suidwestelike Distrikte) is ook genomineer om een van die twee poste te beklee.

Die ses SA Skole-keurders sal ook natuurlik tydens die vergadering verkies word. Vier van die huidige keurders Henkie Green (Boland), Gerald Pyoos (Glenwood Prep), Janse van der Ryst (Queen’s College) en Ruan Jacobs (Affies) het hulself weer verkiesbaar gestel.

Onder die nuwe nominasies is Bobby Joubert (Grey College), Johan du Toit (Hoërskool Durbanville), Jaco Janse van Rensburg (Outeniqua) en Walt Bohme (Hoërskool Oudtshoorn).

Keurders wat reeds bereik het wat hul wou as afrigters op skoolvlak en nie meer met werwing van spelers vir hul onderskeie skole betrokke is nie, maak gewoonlik betroubare keurders wat die stelsel dien.

It seems there is a lesson to be learnt about the Hart-Davis Oval, at Hilton College, and that lesson, based on the evidence of the 2024/25 season, should be that the default position is to bowl first.

Durban High School (DHS) won the toss in their limited overs match against Hilton on Saturday and instead chose to bat first. Their innings lasted only 37 overs, and they were all out for just 131.

Had it not been for a dogged effort from Ismaeel Omar at the top of the order and 20 extras, matters could have looked far worse.

Omar stubbornly kept the home side at bay, facing 104 balls for his 58, which featured seven fours. Between them, the other 10 batsmen mustered only six boundaries.

DHS’s innings moved in fits and starts. Momentum was hard to come by, and Benoit Rey and Cameron Hargroves had plenty to do with that.

Rey kept School in check, picking up 3/21 in 10 overs, while Hargroves played his part by claiming 3/25 in six. Luke Wilson, also, kept the visitors under pressure, returning 1/8 from six overs.

The best partnership that DHS could muster was 36 between Omar and captain Bayanda Majola, whose 16 was the second highest score of their innings.

Hilton’s batting wasn’t that much sturdier than that of DHS, but there was one major difference, Ben Hockly.

All around him, others struggled – Robert Burman’s 15 was the next best score in Hilton’s innings – but Hockly rose to the challenge, striking nine fours and a six in an unbeaten match-winning knock of 68 not out from only 73 balls.

Hilton’s start was solid enough, with Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson putting on 32 for the first wicket, but both openers and Ben Erasmus departed for the addition of only a run as the home team slumped from 33 without loss to 33/3.

Hockly and Burman added 38, the best partnership of the innings for the fourth wicket. After Burman was caught off the bowling of Ethan Cooper, though, Hockly had to shepherd Hilton to victory with the highest score achieved by the next five batsmen being four by Cameron Hargroves.

In the 35th over, though, Hilton made it past DHS’s score, with eight wickets down.

Ethan Cooper caused the hosts some problems, capturing 2/2 in two overs, and left-arm spinner, Dhilan Naraidu, bowled immaculately to claim 2/18 from his 10.

The speedster, Bayanda Majola, also picked up two wickets, but Ben Hockly laid into him, with Majola’s eight overs going for 50 runs.

Summarised scorecard

Durban High School 131/10 (Ismaeel Omar 58, Extras 20; Benoit Rey 3/21, Cameron Hargroves 3/25); Hilton College 133/8 (Ben Hockly 68*; Ethan Cooper 2/2, Dhilan Naraidu 2/18, Bayanda Majola 2/50). Hilton College won by two wickets.

Wynberg Boys’ High won the toss and elected to bat first when they met Bishops on the Jacques Kallis Oval in a limited overs match on Saturday.

The home side put up a solid total of 229/9 after their 50 overs, but that wasn’t quite enough, with the visitors overhauling it with only one wicket to spare.

Wynberg opener Matthew Saunders tallied an impressive 73 runs off 109 balls, cracking three fours and two sixes. In the middle order, meanwhile, Joshua Prince kept the home side’s innings together, with 41 off 61, which included four fours and two sixes.

Alex Vintcent made life difficult for the hosts, knocking over 4/31 in 10 overs, while Luke de Klerk also ruffled some feathers, picking up two wickets, but they were rather costly as he conceded 61 runs.

Bishops’ successful run chase was a team effort. While they lacked the big innings that Matthew Saunders gave Wynberg, the visitors had five batsmen score between 27 and 37 and those runs eventually added up to a victory.

In at three, James Robb-Quinlan was their top scorer, bashing three fours and two maximums in his 37 off 38. Harry Morgan, with 34 off 47, contributed the second highest score.

Raa’id Arendse, batting eighth, then hit an unbeaten 27 off 30 to drag Bishops to victory with only five balls in hand.

Ihsan Khan snared 3/48 in nine overs to ensure the Bishops’ run chase was nerve-wracking, while Harbin Smith took 2/42 and Damien Harris returned 2/47, but it was the visiting team’s day by a slim margin.

Summarised Scorecards

Wynberg Boys’ High 229/9 (Matthew Saunders 73, Joshua Prince 41, Fawaaz Hendricks 25; Alex Vintcent 4/31, Luke de Klerk 2/61); Bishops Diocesan College 230/9 (James Robb-Quinlan 37, Harry Morgan 34, Alex Vintcent 29, Adnaan Lagadien 28, Raa’id Arendse 27*; Ihsan Khan 3/48, Harbin Smith 2/42, Damien Harris 2/47). Bishops won by one wicket.

Clifton College vs Northwood School

Clifton College hosted Northwood at the Riverside Sports Club Oval on Saturday. In a low-scoring clash, in which no other batsmen reached twenty, Northwood captain Kyle White delivered an unbeaten 47 to guide his side to victory.

Clifton won the toss and chose to bat, but they were two down before they’d reached double figures as the Knights‘ bowlers enjoyed early success.

Opener, Ryan van Zyl, accounted for the dangerous duo of Byron Ward and Tim Saulez, while Ross McGlashan trapped Yusuf Ahmed LBW as the home side slipped to 20/3. Then, when White caught Muhammed Malek off of left-arm spinner Jordan Matthews for 18, Clifton was in serious trouble on 35/4.

Hayden Drieselmann and Lawson Dinsdale added 20 runs but, once Drieselmann fell for 15, another three wickets followed for the addition of only five runs as Clifton slumped to 60/8, with Matthews to the fore for Northwood.

Gabriel Vermeulen and Caleb Naicker repaired the innings somewhat by adding 31 for the ninth wicket before Naicker was bowled by Ben Cilliers for 18, which matched Muhammed Malek for the innings’ highest score.

Clifton was able to add 14 more runs for the last wicket, which took them to 105 all out.

Jordan Matthews was the pick of the Knights’ attack, snaring 4/27 from 10 overs, while Keegan Reeves nabbed 2/10 in 5.1, and Ryan van Zyl returned 2/17 from seven.

Like Clifton, Northwood found the going tough at the crease, and Caleb Naicker did a fine job of inhibiting their run chase, removing the top three men in the order – David de Bruyn, Ross McGlashan, and Thomas Oosthuizen – with only 19 runs on the board.

That brought Kyle White and Jamie Wimble together and they shared a crucial 41-run stand to take the visitors to 60 before Wimble was caught by Lawson Dinsdale off Shiraz Perumal for 20. Josh Mills followed 10 runs later, leaving Northwood on 70/5.

White, though, patiently picked up runs and found a solid partner in Luc Boyall. They teamed up for an unbroken stand of 36, which took the Knights to a hard-fought five-wicket win after 32.1 overs.

White finished with 47 not out from 87 balls, with seven fours, while Boyall was unbeaten on 16 from 21.

Caleb Naicker claimed 3/21 in five overs, while Blake Johnson gave little away in picking up 1/18 in 10, but Clifton’s batsmen hadn’t done enough.

Glenwood High vs Kearsney College

At Glenwood, the home team’s fragile batting cost them victory after they had done well to bowl out Kearsney for only 128. The problem was that Glenwood mustered only 104 in response.

Kearsney opted to bat first and, while six of their batsmen made it into double figures, only one made it beyond the teens, with Cole Young hitting two fours and a six in his 31 from 53 balls.

Kreesan Pillai also did a number on Kearsney, destroying their lower order, taking the last four wickets to go down as the visitors went from 119/6 to 128 all out. It took Pillai only 2.4 overs, too, to snare 4/7.

Vincenzo Loutz picked up 2/18 with the new ball, while off-spinner, Kyle Bryan, kept Kearsney under pressure with a neat 2/26 from 10.

Replying, Glenwood lost their openers, Karabo Ntsieng and Kenzo Mchunu, cheaply, but Kreesan Pillai and Jonah Chaita held up Kearsney’s charge for 6.3 overs while adding 21 runs before Pillai was caught by Aaron Blackburn off Rivaan Moodley‘s bowling for the innings’ top score of 21.

Chaita went on to make 17 while, lower down the order, Akhil Maharaj chipped in with 20 off 25, striking a six and two fours, but Matthew Gorrie enjoyed success with the ball. He tied the Glenwood batsmen in knots, on his way to snapping up 4/16 from 9.2 overs.

Michael Groom, also, got on top of the home side’s batsmen, returning 2/13 from seven, and Rivaan Moodley finished with a tidy 2/27 from 10 as Glenwood’s run chase lost steam.

From 47/3, they crashed to 71/8 and were eventually all out for 104, leaving Kearsney the victors by 24 runs.

Summarised scorecards

Clifton College 105/10 (Muhammed Malek 18, Caleb Naicker 18; Jordan Matthews 4/27, Keegan Reeves 2/10, Ryan van Zyl 2/17); Northwood 106/5 (Kyle White 47*, Jamie Wimble 20; Caleb Naicker 3/21). Northwood won by five wickets.

Kearsney 128/10 (Cole Young 31; Kreesan Pillai 4/7, Vincenzo Loutz 2/18, Kyle Bryan 2/26); Glenwood 104/10 (Kreesan Pillai 21, Akhil Maharaj 20; Matthew Gorrie 4/16, Michael Groom 2/13, Rivaan Moodley 2/27). Kearsney won by 24 runs.

Michaelhouse matched King Edward VII (KES) by winning all four of their matches at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week, but ‘House‘s fortunes have taken a down-turn in the past two weeks. Beaten by Kearsney last weekend, Michaelhouse went down to Westville Boys’ High by six wickets at Westville on Saturday.

The toss, at least, went the visitors’ way and they batted first. It was slow going, with Michaelhouse losing momentum the longer their innings progressed. In the end, it took them 47 overs to reach 155 all out.

Cody Sander top-scored with a painstaking and unbeaten 38 from 85 balls, with only one four. In the context of the match, though, it was a necessarily measured and defiant knock. Rex Wardlaw, with 23 from 65, was the only other batsman to make it to twenty.

The primary reason for ‘House’s struggles was left-arm spinner, Ewan du Toit, who turned the screws on the visitors, snaring 3/15 from 10 overs. Captain Seth Simpson picked up 2/28 with his leg spin, while the seamers, Dayalan Boyce and Lwandle Bulose, with 1/16 in seven and 1/11 in four respectively, kept Michaelhouse in check.

Westville made a steady if somewhat subdued start to their reply, with Aaron Rasmussen and Ewan du Toit sharing an opening stand of 53 in 15.3 overs before Rasmussen was LBW to Liam O’Dwyer for 23. The very next ball, O’Dwyer struck again, dismissing Kyle McGough.

Seth Simpson and Ewan du Toit then knuckled down and added 41 runs in 13 overs before Du Toit’s excellent all-round contribution came to an end when he was bowled by Radhesh Jhilmeet for 41.

Tristin Delvin replaced his fellow left-arm spinner and partnered Simpson in a fourth-wicket stand of 38 runs, which took Westville to 133/4 after 40.4 overs.

The winning runs eventually came up in the 45th over, with Simpson, having played a captain’s knock, which saw him finish unbeaten on 51 from 75 balls, which included only one four. Misbah Nair was on 16 not out.

Liam O’Dwyer was the best of the Michaelhouse bowlers, with 2/28 from 10 overs, while Radhesh Jhilmeet snagged 2/33 from eight.

Maritzburg College vs St Charles College

On Goldstone’s, in a battle of Pietermaritzburg rivals, Maritzburg College chased down a solid St Charles College total to win by six wickets with 13 balls to spare.

Saints took to the crease first and posted 245/7. Their innings was highlighted by a 100-run partnership for the third wicket between Caleb Sharp and Rico Honiball.

Sharp led the way with 69 from 103 balls, stroking nine fours, while Honiball tallied 63 from 79, which included three fours and two sixes.

Late in the visitors’ innings, AJ Bosman blasted three sixes and a four in a quickfire 43 not out from 28 balls and shared a 49-run sixth-wicket partnership with Connor Simpson, who made 22.

Captain Daniel Nadasan spun his way to 2/30 from seven overs for College, while Sam Hughes nabbed 2/39 in seven.

In reply, College lost Nadasan for 13 early, but Kyle de Bruyn and Akhil Bharath firmed up the hosts’ reply with a 72-run stand for the second wicket before De Bruyn was caught by Ryan Clarke off Keegan Vermaak‘s bowling for 35.

The opener’s exit brought Karl Dedekind to the wicket, and he and Bharath then proceeded to take the game away from Saints, advancing the score by 107 runs from 116 balls in a decisive third-wicket partnership.

Bharath was out with the total on 199 for 84, another victim of Vermaak, but he had done his job well, striking five fours and a six during his 112-ball stay.

Deolyn Naidoo didn’t stay long but, at the other end of the pitch, Dedekind had the bit between his teeth. He and Sphamandla Dzanibe saw College across the line, tacking on an unbroken 28 runs for the fifth wicket.

Dedekind’s contribution was an unbeaten 86 from only 81 deliveries, three of which he smashed for six and another three which he sent to the boundary.

Keegan Vermaak was the only St Charles bowler to pick up more than one wicket, but he was a touch expensive, going for 53 runs from his 10 overs.

Summarised scorecards

Michaelhouse 155/10 (Cody Sander 38*, Rex Wardlaw 23; Ewan du Toit 3/15, Seth Simpson 2/28); Westville Boys’ High 157/4 (Seth Simpson 51*, Ewan du Toit 44, Aaron Rasmussen 23; Liam O’Dwyer 2/28, Radhesh Jhilmeet 2/33). Westville Boys’ High won by six wickets.

St Charles College 245/7 (Caleb Sharp 69, Rico Honiball 63, AJ Bosman 43*, Connor Simpson 22; Daniel Nadasan 2/30, Sam Hughes 2/39); Maritzburg College 249/4 (Karl Dedekind 86*, Akhil Bharath 84, Kyle de Bruyn 35, Keegan Vermaak 2/53). Maritzburg College won by six wickets.