Somerset College captain Julia Brown in action for her side during the Spar Hockey Challenge in Cape Town. Photo: Khulani Media
After the heavy workload of the All Girls Hockey festival, which was held in Potchefstroom last weekend, it will be business as usual for Western Cape sides when they return to the turf this weekend.
The action commences on Friday night with a gripping encounter between two dangerous sides in Somerset West, where Somerset College hosts Paarl Girls’ High.
At the beginning of the season, Somerset looked deadly in front of goal, and they made scoring look easy, opening their campaign with wins over Fairmont High (2-0), Herschel Girls School (1-0), St Cyprian’s (4-1), and DF Malan (2-0) at the Spar Hockey Challenge pre-season tournament.
Then, at the St Mary’s Festival, in Johannesburg, against the highest quality field in the country, they lost their form a little and placed 23rd out of 32 teams.
This coming Friday, they come up against a good Paarl Girls’ High side, which has made strides this season.
Despite going down 0-1 against Oranje and 1-3 against HMS Bloemhof last month, coach Anri Keevy’s side has shown signs of improvement. Playing an exciting brand of hockey, they finished fourth at the All Girls Festival.
They will challenge Somerset, with players like Rouxné Pentz and Nina Cilliers likely to lead their goal scoring efforts.
Another clash to look forward to on Friday is the showdown between Springfield Convent School and HMS Bloemhof. Bloemhof was also in Potchefstroom for the All Girls Festival and performed well to finish in an impressive fifth place. Also on Friday, Paarl Gimnasium will tackle St Cyprian’s.
Saturday promises to deliver some exciting action with Rhenish, Herschel, and Fairmont High, among the teams in action.
Rhenish will aim to quickly get over the disappointment of a penalty shootout loss in the final of the All Girls Festival when they welcome La Rochelle to Stellenbosch.
Stellenberg High plays Westerford, and Durbanville takes on HTS Drostdy in a highly anticipated derby clash.
The action wraps up with Herschel Girls School facing Reddam Constantia and Fairmont hosting Wynberg Girls’ High.
Fixtures
Friday, 10 May
18:30 – Somerset College vs Paarl Girls’ High
19:00 – Curro Durbanville vs Milnerton
19:15 – St Cyprian’s vs Paarl Gimnasium
19:25 – Springfield vs HMS Bloemhof
Saturday, 11 May
09:00 – Stellenberg vs Westerford
10:00 – Durbanville vs HTS Drostdy
11:00 – Rhenish vs La Rochelle
11:00 – Herschel vs Reddam Constantia
10:00 – Fairmont vs Wynberg Girls’ High
Luan Giliomee has been earning new fans with every game he plays this season, impressing week after week at the heart of the Charlie Hofmeyr 1st XV.
Just last Saturday, he took centre stage again in Oudtshoorn, with a 21-point haul, as Charlies extended their unbeaten run for the season by beating Langenhoven Gimnasium away from home.
Always humble in victory, Luan credited their success so far this year to their adaptability as a team.
“I think what’s working for us this season is our ability to play the game in front of us,” he said.
“We believe that if we can play to the best of our abilities, we can overcome any challenge.” They have done just that so far this year, maintaining a 100 percent record after some thrilling matchups.
Luan recalled the Oakdale Rugby Week as one of the highlights of Charlies’ already impressive season. “The competition was really tough, and it brought us a lot closer as a team,” he said.
Not only did he and his team keep an unblemished record on the farm in Riversdal, but Luan was selected as the best backline player of the tournament.
Despite their success, Luan says that it is extremely important to them that they keep their feet planted firmly on the ground. He recalled the first Friday the rookies in the 1st XV were allowed to attend school wearing their team kit and how unsure the younger guys were about whether they had earned the privilege yet.
“That really made me realize how humble the guys all are, and we’ll make sure to keep that attitude, even when it’s going well,” he said.
Born and raised in Ceres, he grew up with an older sister, Lané, and younger brother, Ruben, who are just as passionate about sport as he is.
Lané has earned provincial colours for netball and track and was crowned the Western Cape 400m hurdles champion in 2023.
Young Ruben is also an accomplished track athlete and provincial cricketer. He grabbed the imagination of schoolboy rugby fans last year when he scored a sensational try to help Gericke Primary School claim the Marius Schoeman u12 Sevens crown in Paarl.
“They keep me on my toes,” laughed Luan. “We have a healthy competition between us and while we’re always there to support each other, we also try to push one another to the next level.”
Their unbridled love of sport stems from their parents. Dad, Louis, was an accomplished rugby player and still coaches, and mom, Aldihette, excelled in athletics.
“I’ve had a couple of great coaches and mentors over the years, and I am obviously biased, but my dad has played a huge role in my rugby career,” Luan said.
“He is currently our first team coach, along with two other great mentors, coaches Fanna du Toit and Dillan Demas.
“Another person who has taught me a lot, both on and off the field, is coach Mike Barnard, who is the first team cricket coach this year.”
Luan made waves last year when he represented the Boland region and his proud school with distinction at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, where he earned bronze as part of the SA u18 Sevens team.
“It’s a funny story. I almost didn’t go to the trials because I was still quite young, but my dad encouraged me to give it a shot and Mr JR Foreman made sure we got an invitation. I made the Boland team and by the time the tournament came around I had matured a lot physically and ended up making the SA squad.
“I think it just goes to show, you need to grab any opportunity you get with both hands. You never know what could be coming your way.
“It [the Commonwealth Youth Games] was an amazing experience and I made some friends for life and learned a lot.”
Backline player of the tournament at the Klein Karoo Saadproduksie Oakdale Rugby Week: Luan Giliomee, Charlie Hofmeyr
The work he put into sevens and the skills he picked up from top coaches, like Marius Schoeman and Philip Snyman, definitely took Luan’s game to the next level. The Charlie Hofmeyr first team has been unstoppable so far this season, and Luan Giliomee has been instrumental in his role as captain and flyhalf.
His responsibility as the captain is very important to him and it was foremost in his mind when he was asked about his goals for the year. He hoped to lead the team as best he could, Luan said.
“I know I’m not going to make the right decision every time, but I know the guys are always backing me, and I hope to look back at the end of the season and be able to say that I did my best both on and off the field.
“Charlie Hofmeyr is my home away from home, and the team is like a second family. I love them all very much, so I am driven to make them proud.”
While he’s not yet completely settled on where he will be next year, South African rugby fans will be happy to know they’ll still be able to see the exciting young flyer do his thing on the field.
“I’m still figuring it out, and we’re busy putting some plans into place, so I can’t say much, but I definitely want to be playing rugby, and I’ll probably also continue exploring the sevens’ route, wherever I end up going.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play rugby professionally and I’m a big believer in chasing your dreams.”
Luan’s love for the game became crystal clear when he talked about the players he looks up to.
“As a South African and a flyhalf, it’s probably a bit of a cliché, but Handré Pollard‘s got to be up there. The guy who can’t miss. His ability to influence a game from anywhere is amazing.”
He went on to mention others, like Damian McKenzie, Finn Russell and Manie Libbok, as players who are exciting to watch, have a feel for the game, and have the ability to make others look great. Anyone who’s seen Luan play would agree that he has already exhibited some of those traits he admires in the pros.
With a contagious energy and a deeply rooted love for the sport, the future is wide open for whatever the Boland’s budding young star chooses to do with it, but there’s a definite sense that it might involve the oval ball.
“I’m extremely privileged to be where I am, spending time with a group of people who mean a lot to me, doing the thing we all love doing most. I’m extremely appreciative and I try to always remember that, so there’s no stress or pressure. I’m just enjoying it,” he said
“I’ve heard from so many people say how they wish they could play one more game, or how it’s never the same after school. So, I’m really just taking in every moment and enjoying it as much as I can.”
Grey High’s captain Kian Cambier on the charge for his team during the semi-finals of the Hibbert Shield against SACS on 4 May. Photo: Grant Howard
After a stellar start to their 2024 hockey season, Grey High School will be aiming to add another notch to their belt when they host Komani’s Queen’s College in their annual reunion derby fixture in Gqeberha on Friday night.
The match will be played at the Collegiate Girls’ High Astroturf to coincide with the girls’ schools 150th reunion celebrations.
Grey has established itself as one of the country’s top teams in 2024, impressing with a strong all-round game against many of South Africa’s other leading sides.
Under the leadership of new head coach and Director of Hockey, Andrew Beynon, the Gqeberha-based side has only lost three times this season, against the current top two teams in the country, South African College High School (SACS) and Paul Roos Gimnasium, and one of those losses, to SACS, was in a penalty shootout.
Last weekend, Grey hosted an extremely competitive Hibbert Shield tournament, which brought together the strongest collection of boys’ teams to participate in a tournament in the country this year. They were drawn in Pool B, along with Paarl Gimnasium, and Clifton College.
Coach Beynon’s side breezed through the pool stages, beating both Clifton (8-1) and Gim (1-0), before dominating in a win over Westville Boys High (3-0) in the quarterfinals. That victory booked them a semifinal date with SACS.
Last month, Grey had suffered a first loss of the season against SACS, going down 2-5 in Cape Town. At home, they took the game to SACS. They looked like a different outfit, dangerous on attack and, defensively, they limited SACS’ goal-scoring opportunities.
The clash ended 1-1, but Grey eventually succumbed 2-4 in the penalty shootout. A 4-1 win over Hoërskool Garsfontein in their last match clinched the bronze medal, however.
They face an unpredictable side in Queen’s, who will be eager to pull off an upset.
Coach Michael Baiden’s team last played in April when they went down 2-3 to Dale College in their 166th reunion derby in Komani.
In that clash, Queen’s trailed 0-2 going into the fourth chukka, but they equalised through Bevaneo Maytham, and Aiden van Jaarsveld, only for Sibongisile Nzima to find a late winner for the visitors.
To bag a win in front of their home supporters, Grey will rely on their star-studded attack, under the leadership of Kian Cambier, to come alive against the Komani outfit.
Ben Ristow will be crucial in defence, while Blake Muller, alongside his skipper, will be entrusted to deliver quality balls from the midfield.
Grey has been in good goal scoring form in recent matches, and strikers Luke Tait and Caleb Humphreys will aim to keep that ball rolling.
In other matches around the province, Graeme College will take on Westering High School in an early game on Friday.
Kingswood College goes up against the tough Pearson High School in Makhanda. Stirling, who had a bye weekend last week, returns to action against Merrifield College in East London.
Woodridge College will host George’s York High School.
Meanwhile, preparations for the forthcoming K-Day festivities will begin at St Andrew’s College when they host Cambridge High School at the Webster Astroturf on Friday.
Fixtures
15:30 – Westering vs Graeme College
15:45 – Kingswood College vs Pearson
16:00 – Stirling High vs Merrifield College
16:00 – Woodridge College vs York High
16:30 – St Andrew’s College vs Cambridge High
19:30 – Grey High vs Queen’s College
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know something good is brewing in the rugby programme at St Charles College. Most recently, at the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, the school’s strong results through the age groups reflected this.
The 1st XV comfortably beat Ithembelihle 52-10 and Hudson Park 26-5. The u16A side narrowly lost 8-13 to Queen’s College but then beat Hudson Park 24-0. The u15A team went down 10-17 to Framesby, then won 14-7 against St Andrew’s College. The u14A side drew 7-7 with Queen’s College and overran St Andrew’s College 56-0.
Clearly, Saints are seriously competitive against established rugby-playing schools. But the focus at the Pietermaritzburg school is about more than the results, it’s about the rugby culture that has been growing there, about a process to develop a love for the game, and to promote the skills to enjoy it to its fullest.
To imbue that culture into the school, St Charles has turned to Glenwood old boy Craig Dwyer, who took over as the Director of Rugby this season, after having spent over a decade coaching the game in New Zealand and Chile.
Naturally, the very first question, when SuperSport Schools Plus sat down with Dwyer, was how does the schoolboy rugby scene in the Land of the Long White Cloud differs from the scene in South Africa?
“There, it’s running rugby that they pride themselves on and playing an attractive brand. So, it’s really just the micro details in and around how they coach it,” he said.
So, what exactly, after his experiences abroad, which also included coaching a multi-cultural team of many different nationalities and languages at Ponsonby, in Auckland, is Dwyer bringing to St Charles College?
“Just trying to bring a bit of my flavour in,” he said. “Obviously not take away from the South African way of playing, but also share what I’ve learned from the last 12 years in terms of trying to play running rugby and how to coach that.
Creative running rugby, with room for flair, is the name of the game for the St Charles 1st XV.
“So, the question for me was always what is running rugby? We want to use the ball, we want to play to the edges, we want to play attractive rugby. But then, it becomes the how? Are we preparing our boys adequately to play that style of rugby?”
The focus, Dwyer said, is on the micro details. “How we coach it, so our run, catch, pass, for example.”
He explained: “One clear example is where we catch the ball. Here in South Africa, we tend to catch the ball to our chest. So, we’re not really focused on the detail. Let’s get the ball out here,” he said, extending his hands out in front, “so we can utilise it and play.”
It’s about creating options, Dwyer said, and having the ball in the right position opens up more possibilities and many bodies in motion confuse and open up defences.
“The second part of it is our fitness and conditioning,” Dwyer added. “We want to play running rugby and to play effective running rugby we need to be the fittest team on the field. Credit to our strength and conditioning coach, Jason Greeff. He’s done an incredible job with the boys this year in the preseason and getting them to that level.”
The goal, Dwyer said, is for the players to be able to play a 100-minute game. They need to be fit enough not just for a 70-minute contest, but they need to have enough in reserve to handle it comfortably.
“For us, it’s sort of that Sharks’ team of the ’90s. We come alive in the last quarter of the game, last 20 minutes or so.”
The third thing Dwyer mentioned, was certainly a step away from the South African norm. “We don’t over-coach structure and systems.” At schoolboy level, he opined, there is too much focus on them, but not enough on the details.
“It’s really just working a lot on their decision-making, support play, making sure that we have two, three, or four options, off of every carry. It’s not just one, we’re tucking and we’re going. To effectively play running rugby, we need those three elements, week in and week out.”
The Saints’ boys were surprised early on that they weren’t investing as much time as they were used to on shape and systems. Rather, the focus was on fundamentals and earning the right to play in a good system. It’s a layer-by- layer approach, Dwyer explained.
In a nutshell, he said: “It’s not so much about systems and structure. It’s what they do within them that makes them effective.”
That approach, he argued, imposes fewer limits on forwards and ensures more of a 15-man game, with the forwards also featuring as ball players.
Dwyer has an affinity for the NFL and said he has shared a quote from the New England Patriots’ six-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick with his players. It’s simple – four words – but it compasses what is needed: “Just do your job“.
With Saints’ rugby on an upward trajectory, support for the team is enthusiastic and optimistic.
He is not trying to reinvent the wheel, Dwyer clarified. St Charles will still try to dominate the collisions, but they also want to play with soft touches, which is the flavour of New Zealand rugby that he wants to share with his charges.
Last season, St Charles was one of the best teams to be seen during the KZN Sevens season, with their swift ball movement, the way they used the width of the field, and the confidence their players showed with the ball in hand impressing. Now, under Dwyer, those qualities are being seen to a greater extent in the 15-man game.
They brought Saints a win over Milnerton in their season-opener, down in the Cape. That win has looked better week by week. Milnerton has since beaten, among others, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Bishops, Hugenote and Bellville. Interestingly, if there is another team that reflects a ball-in-hand, running approach, it is Milnerton.
Thus far this season, St Charles has won six and lost three games. There was a heavy defeat against an excellent DHS team at the Sharks High Schools Rugby Day, a four-point defeat against Bishops – a game that they would have loved to play again – but the other was literally a last-second loss against Secunda.
But, as was said earlier, it’s more about the process and how the players play the game. It’s not only about the results while they’re in school, but also about equipping them to succeed on the rugby field after their school days are done.
Having heard Dwyer’s philosophy about the game, check out a Saints’ match, see how they create multiple options, how they let the ball do the work. They’re a fun watch. So often, attractive rugby is winning rugby, and the Pietermaritzburg school continues to develop an attractive and effective game. And the wins’ column is growing.
Saints is blessed with exciting ball players in the 1st XV, including, among others, fullback Salmaan Mohammed, flyhalf Ukhanyo Ntsangani, scrumhalf Matthew Fick, 8th-man Stefan Veldsman, and their big lock Raphael Ajibade, who is a highlight reel waiting to happen. He’s a serious problem for the opposition in the Sevens’ game, which also speaks volumes about his athleticism, fitness and skills.
Fick is the player around whom the team is built. A Sharks’ Craven Week selection in 2023, he delivers a crisp service from the base of the scrum, has an eye for a gap, and is a force on defence. One of the highlights of the KZN High Schools Rugby Day was a try-saving tackle he pulled off against DHS. In the same match, he also scored from 60 metres out, utilising a goose step and a dummy.
Saints’ scrumhalf Matthew Fick owns an outstanding all-round game, which is ideally suited to the attacking identity of the team. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography.
But, as should be clear from Craig Dwyer’s thoughts about how to play the game, Saints are about more than talented individuals. They’re all about the team, which, in a smaller school, is critically important. It’s what enables them to compete with bigger schools, and it fosters a spirit that permeates through the ranks and grows the game and the brotherhood.
Dwyer is a not just the St Charles College Director of Rugby, he is also a fan of the game and, when discussing the great Gary Teichmann-led Sharks’ teams of the 1990s, his face lights up. Highlights of games past are shared, and the skills of the players are relived.
If you didn’t quite get what Dwyer had to say about how he wants to see Saints play the game, maybe an easier way to look at it might be to remember those great Sharks teams: the flair, the flowing, confident game, the entertainment, the micro-details.
There, you have the blueprint for success for St Charles College rugby. The question is whether or not you can stop it.
The Collegiate Girls High team in action at the National All Girls Hockey Festival in Potchefstroom over the past weekend. Photo credits: Munyai Terence ( Thongo_015)
Collegiate Girls High School, fresh off a strong showing at the National All Girls Festivalin Potchefstroom, will return to action this week when they host their arch-rivals, Pearson High School, at their 150th reunion celebration in Gqeberha on Friday.
The hosts impressed in Potch, finishing seventh, just behind Bloemfontein’s Eunice High School.
At the tournament, coach Michael Abraham’s side was drawn in Pool C, which also included Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, Eunice, St Michael’s, and Potchefstroom Girls.
The Eastern Cape team sparkled, winning all of their group matches, which included a shock 1-0 win over Eunice in a tightly contested affair.
Adding to their impressive pool results was the fact that they didn’t concede a single goal in those four outings while scoring nine of their own.
In the quarterfinals, Collegiate were finally stopped, but not before they had given Affies, the eventual winners, all they could handle. It came down to a penalty shootout and Affies advanced 2-1 from the spot.
After that, Collegiate suffered a 0-2 loss to HMS Bloemhof, but they finished their tournament on a high, beating Cape Town’s Wynberg Girls’ High by a solitary goal to secure seventh place.
Collegiate will be eager to celebrate their 150th reunion in appropriate style by putting together a winning performance on their home turf. It’s going to require good execution to beat a dangerous Pearson side.
In their last meeting, in March, in the final of the Spar Hockey Challenge, Pearson, under the guidance of coach Ignatius Malgraff, pulled off a 1-0 win to lay their hands on the silverware.
However, past results have favoured Collegiate.
In last year’s derby, Collegiate won 3-2, and the sides played out a 2-2 draw the year before, while it was the Collegiate who picked up a 2-0 win in 2021.
Past results will mean very little, though, when the whistle for the first chukka blows on Friday night.
Both sides have players who have been selected to represent Eastern Province at this year’s SASHOC u18 Inter-provincial tournament in Bloemfontein in their ranks.
Collegiate will look to their provincial reps, Alulutho Adams, Tiara Finnis, and Gemma Bouwer, to lead their challenge.
Meanwhile, coach Malgraff will look to Annemi De Villiers, Jody Van Aardt, and Zoey Mostert to fire on all cylinders if his side is to cause an upset away from home.
The clash starts at 19:45 at the Collegiate Astroturf and will be streamed LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
In other matches around the province, Stirling High School, after suffering a hefty 0-7 defeat at the hands of DSG Makhanda, will try to reverse their fortunes when they take on Merrifield College in East London.
Cambridge High School, after a bye last week, is back in action and will travel to Makhanda to face DSG.
Woodridge College takes on York High School, Kingswood College plays Alexander Road, and Die Brandwag will be in action against Victoria Girls’ High.
FIXTURES
Friday, 10 May
16:00 – Alexander Road vs Kingswood College
19:45 – Collegiate Girls High vs Pearson High
Saturday, 11 May 2024
10:00 – Stirling High vs Merrifield College
10:20- Woodridge College vs York High
12:30 – DSG Makhanda vs Cambridge High
13:00 – Die Brandwag vs Victoria Girls’ High
Oranje laid claim to bragging rights as the top team in the Free State after they breezed to a 5-1 win over their perennial rivals, Eunice, in an entertaining encounter on Tuesday night.
While the visitors needed time to settle down and find their feet, Oranje was on the button from the first minute.
Gyster vanSchalkwyk’s charges took advantage of Eunice’s nerves and imposed themselves on their opposition, forcing coach Nika Coertzen‘s side onto the defensive.
Oranje’s dominance was such that seven minutes into the match, they had made several circle entries and attempts on goal, while Eunice had not yet entered the Oranje D.
The unrelenting pressure from Oranje resulted in a goal for the home side 14 minutes into the contest when Xylia Choene capitalised on a mistake in defence close to the goal, which left her simply needing to tap the ball past the goalkeeper for the opener.
In the lead-up to the match, coach Van Schalkwyk had told SuperSport Schools Plus: “We play well on and off the ball, and that makes us dangerous approaching and entering the circle.” That was apparent as they took a firm grip on the match after that first goal.
Eunice was pushed onto the backfoot, with Oranje owning the penalty corner count and also controlling possession and territory. That led to the visitors sitting deep in defence.
As a result, more space opened up in front of the Oranje midfielders and Marlene du Plessis benefitted when she was able to tee up a shot from the edge of the circle. The ball was headed for a post, but Carli Oosthuizen got a stick on it and redirected it between the goalkeeper’s pads.
Oranje made it 3-0 four minutes later through Chanette Jansen van Vuuren, who made a circle entry after exhibiting some fine skills, before firing off a shot that was deflected by a defender past the goalie and into the box.
After a fifth-place finish at the All Girls Festival, where their form was a little patchy, Eunice sought a bounce-back performance. Oranje, meanwhile, finished third at the same event, which was played in Potchefstroom.
Eunice didn’t get the bounce-back they were after, and neither were they able to celebrate coach Nika Coertzen‘s 150th match in charge of the 1st XI, and captain Trusten Barnard‘s remarkable 150th game for the side in fitting fashion. They trailed 0-3 at half-time.
After the break, Eunice was revitalised. They played with greater urgency and made a strong effort to gain a foothold in the contest. Anriette Otto and her fellow defenders, however, dealt with the Eunice attacking forays comfortably. Otto has been a wall in defence all season long, and it was no different against Eunice.
Any hopes of a Eunice comeback were dashed when Oranje struck twice with the space of two minutes, to lead 5-0 with less than eight minutes to go.
Eunice mustered a late strike, but only four minutes remained by then. It was too little, too late.
Into its second season, the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), which now sports u14 and u16 divisions, is going from strength to strength, with strong backing from dedicated supporters, who come out of in full force on Sundays to cheer on the girls as they show off their skills on the field.
Whether in Roodepoort or Vereeniging or in the heart of Johannesburg, the league is pulling in supporters.
Now, heading into week four of the 2024 season, Mamelodi Sundowns top the u14 league table while JVW tops the u16 table, followed by Sundowns, a point behind but with a game in hand. Sundowns have stolen the show week in and week out and have been in dominant form in the league. However, they are not without competition, with the GWDL having started to reveal its potential for surprising upsets.
In the u14 division, the pacesetting Sundowns are being chased by Refilwe FC,JVW and Origin FC, with those three clubs having all accumulated 13 points so far. That leaves them two points adrift of the log leaders, who also have the advantage of a game in hand.
Meanwhile, in the u16 division, an intense battle for the title is unfolding. Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) has 15 points, the same as Mamelodi Sundowns, with JVW, at the top, one point ahead of them. Highlands Park, the runners-up of the 2023 GWDL, are also in the mix, on 13 points, in fourth position.
More than 100 goals have been scored in both divisions, which reflects kindly on the sharp shooting abilities of the teams. Some clubs, though, are finding it tough sledding. West Youth Academy and Edenvale have yet to secure a win in the u16 division, while Highlands Park and West Youth Academy, in the u14 division, will need to focus on improvements at both ends of the field.
The abundance of goals being scored, highlights the attacking nature of the football being played, which delivers entertainment for spectators. That, however, should also serve as a warning to defenders and coaches that more work is needed on defensive strategies.
Winning, thankfully, is not the sole focus of many coaches, who have emphasised the importance of nurturing young players towards excellence, on and off the field, regardless of whether they wish to pursue a professional career in football or not.
U14 Gauteng Women’s Development League: Log Standings
Club
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
PTS
1
Mamelodi Sundowns
5
5
0
0
21
1
20
15
2
Refilwe FC
6
4
1
1
19
6
13
13
3
JVW FC
6
4
1
1
9
5
3
13
4
Origin FC
6
4
1
1
9
8
1
13
5
RESA
5
3
0
2
10
5
5
9
6
TUKS
5
2
1
2
8
6
2
7
7
Tornado Academy Ladies
6
2
1
3
6
6
0
7
8
Kempton Park FC
6
2
1
3
4
7
-3
7
9
Panorama FC
5
1
3
1
7
4
-3
6
10
Kenneth FC
5
1
2
2
3
5
-2
5
11
Edenvale FC
5
1
0
4
2
25
-23
3
12
Highlands Park
6
0
2
4
0
8
-8
2
13
West Youth Academy
6
0
1
5
0
11
-11
1
U16 Gauteng Women’s Development League: Log Standings
Club
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
PTS
1
JVW
6
5
1
0
23
4
19
16
2
Mamelodi Sundowns
5
5
0
0
26
2
24
15
3
RESA
5
4
1
1
17
1
16
15
4
Highlands Park
5
4
1
0
17
3
14
13
5
TUKS
5
3
1
1
11
3
8
10
6
Panorama FC
6
2
1
3
12
10
2
7
7
Tornado FC
6
2
1
3
5
13
2
7
8
Kempton Park FC
6
2
0
4
14
12
-8
6
9
Kenneth FC
6
1
2
3
10
13
-3
5
10
Football Origin
6
1
2
3
5
10
-5
5
11
Refilwe FC
5
1
1
3
6
12
-6
4
12
Edenvale FC
5
0
0
5
2
30
-28
0
13
West Youth Academy
6
0
0
6
3
38
-35
0
Fixtures: u14 GWDL at Panorama FC, 12 May
09:00 – Field 1 – Edenvale FC vs Panorama FC
09:00 – Field 2 – Refilwe FC vs Origin FC
10:30 – Field 1 – RESA vs Mamelodi Sundowns
10:30 – Field 2 – Tornado Ladies vs Kempton Park
11:45 – Field 1 – TUKS vs Kenneth FC
11:45 – Field 2 – West Youth Academy vs JVW FC
12:45 – Field 1 – Origin FC vs Edenvale FC
12:45 – Field 2 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama FC
13:45 – Field 1 – Kempton Park vs Refilwe FC
13:45 – Field 2 – Kenneth FC vs RESA
15:00 – Field 1 – JVW FC vs Tornado FC
15:00 – Field 2 – Highlands Park vs TUKS
Die span van Mpumalanga het in ‘n naelbytstryd, met ‘n telling van 21-20 oor Hoërskool Eldoraigne se Drake geseëvier.
Die tuisspan was vinnig uit die blokke. Hy het reeds twee keer agter die besoekers se doellyn gaan kuier toe die Eldo’s kans kry om die stof uit sy oe te vee.
Agtsteman, Christiaan Pienaar, was die tuisspan se uitblinker op die dag. Pienaaar het ‘n woelwater wedstryd beleef en die besoekers van Centurion deurgangs op hul tone gehou.
Hy was met, sterk barslopies, uitstekend op die aanval en was dit ook hy wat vir sy span se eertse vyfpunter oorgebars het. Daarmee saam was hy ‘n doring in die vlees in gebroke spel. Die agtsteman het véral in die vastelos gewoeker.
Pienaar was egter nie alleenlik verantwoordelik vir die aanslag by die afbreekpunte nie. Sy kollega en oopkantflank, Melo Xulu, was nes Pienaar, deurgangs ‘n bedreiging vir die Eldo’s se losbal. Xulu het ook kort na sy spanmaat, suurlik onder die pale oorgeduik vir sy span se tweede vyfpunter, wat die besoekers onder baie druk geplaas het.
Die span van Centurion het egter goeie veggees gewys. Hy kon die momentum ietwat in sy guns swaai en het dié tot ‘n welverdiende kuiertjie agter die doellyn vir sy besige agtsteman, SW Liebenberg, gelei. Liebenberg se energieke spel op die aanvaal en werksetiek op verdiging het van hom een van die besoekers se groot uitblinkers gemaak.
Sy vasskopstut, Jaco Fourie, was ewe indrukwekkend. Hy het veral sy stempel in die skrums afgedruk wat verseker het dat die besoekers hier, die oorhand geniet. Fourie se harde werk is kort na rustyd, met ‘n baie sterk barslopie, met die Eldo’s se enigste ander vyfpunter beloon.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium het met ‘n uitstekende vertoning van hardloop rugby oor die besoekende Dr. Malan, met ‘n telling van 58-29, in Potchefstroom geseevier.
Die Potchefstroomers het nie minder as tien keer agter die besoekers se doellyn gaan kuier nie. Haker, Jaco Nel, agtsteman, Elrich Bosch, en linkervleuel, Toks Becker, het elk dubbelle driedruk genot beleef.
Dit was véral Nel en Bosch wat hand opgesteek het. Die duo het behoorlik in gebroke spel gewoeker. Albei was byna onkeerbaar op die aanval en het hulle gereeld hul goeie vaardighede in die middelveld vertoon.
Dit was duidelik dat die tuisspan se voorspelers die oorhand geniet in alle vassete van die wedstryd. Dit het ook die platform, vir Becker en die res van die Gimmie-agterlyn, gele om die hope spasie, na hartelus aan te val.
Die besoekers se losskakel, Luka Pretorius, het moedig probeer om sy span in die wedstryd te hou. Pretorius het gewys dat sy goeie visie en balverspreiding menigde hoofpyne vir sy toekomstige teenstanders kan veroorsaak. Daarmee saam het hy ook gewys dat sy geleerde skopstewel enige disipplinere blapse hewig kan straf.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 58 (36) – Drieë: Jaco Nel (2), Toks Becker (2), Elrich Bosch (2), Bart du Plooy, Dian Smith, Tiardt Vorster, Morné van Aswegen. Doelskoppe: Jean Groenewald (4). Dr Malan 29 (10) – Drieë: Bernard Benson (2), Anthony Botes, Luka Pretorius. Doelskoppe: Luka Pretorius (3). Strafdoel: Dian van den Berg.
Hoërskool Riebeeckstad in aksie, vroeër in die seisoen teen Hoërskool Bultfontein | FOTO: Katherine Roux
Wessel Maree het Saterdag hul 70ste bestaansjaar behoorlik gevier met ‘n dramatiese tuisoorwinning oor Hoërskool Bothaville.
Drieë deur die vleuels, Thato Lebitso en Tsebo Fako, asook haker, Kagiso Plaaitjie, was nét genoeg om vir die tuisspan met 15-12 te laat seëvier.
In Welkom het die buurskole, Hoërskool Riebeeckstad en HTS Welkom, kragte gemeet, met die Riebies wat ‘n wegholsege van 52-14 behaal het.
Binnesenter, Kannanelo Motshoaliba, het twee keer agter die doellyn gaan kuier om tot sy span se stewige totaal by te dra.
Die HTS Welkom-seuns het nietemin hard gewerk om self twee keer bresse in die tuisspan se verdediging te slaan. Hulle sal die lesse uit hierdie nederlaag gebruik om hulle te staal vir hul volgende groot uitdaging, wanneer hulle vir Hoërskool Hoopstad eerskomende Saterdag pak.
Hoopstad het verlede naweek se nederlaag teen Wilgerivier afgeskud om met ‘n sterk Hoërskool Bultfontein af te reken met 29-12. Hul opwindende senter, Hennie Barnard, het nog twee drieë tot sy naam gevoeg.
Wilgerivier het 24 punte sonder antwoord teen Hoërskool Henneman aangeteken, met die groot slot, Ewert Kleynhans, wat ook ‘n tweekuns behaal het. Hulle sal wil voortbou op hierdie momentum wanneer hulle Saterdag vir Wessel Maree in Frankfort welkom heet.
Die manne van SPS Brandfort is Saterdag in Bloemfontein beloon vir hul harde werk met ‘n puik sege van 19-15 oor President Steyn.
Dit het ‘n titaniese stryd afgegee, tussen twee trotse spanne, wat in goeie sportmanskap afgehandel is.
Die Steyners se Tiaan Saayman het die eerste slag geslaan toe hy die besoekers se verdeging oopgekloof het vir die eerste drie van die wedstryd, maar Brandfort het kort voor halftyd twee keer gedruk om die voortou te neem, en voor te bly tot die einde.
Hierdie Brandfort-span beleef ‘n skitterende seisoen, en die seuns van Winnie Mandela het die afgelope naweek weer hul talent duidelik tentoongestel.
Kaptein, Franco de Klerk, het sy span uitstekend gelei, terwyl die twee flanke, Pieter Bezuidenhout en Cecil Lee, die veld volgespeel het in die klipharde stryd. Haker, Xander van Heerden, het ‘n tweekuns behaal, met die ratse Altus Coetzee (skrumskakel) wat die derde drie gedruk het.
Die tuisspan se tweede drie het gekom na nóg ‘n indrukwekkende skrum deur hul groot pak voorspelers. Marco Fourie, Roedolf Erasmus en Divan Bekker het hul stempel deeglik afgedruk in die tweede helfte om ‘n paar skrumstrafskoppe af te dwing. Daardie soliede platform het buitesenter, Juanrich Swanepoel, in staat gestel om met ‘n skitterende agter-die-rug aangee vir Antonio Louw weg te stuur vir die drie.
SPS Brandfort is Dinsdag weer in aksie teen die sterk span van Landbouskool Hendrik Potgieter.
Die Reddersburg-seuns het Saterdag vir Zastron met 41-19 pak gegee. Senters, Boitshepo Nthipe en JW Morlock, asook vleuel, Tumi Pholoane, het elkeen vir die derde agtereenvolgende wedstryd daarin geslaag om die doellyn oor te steek.
Intussen het St. Andrews School vir die derde naweek in ‘n ry meer as 50 punte aangeteken, met ‘n wegholsege van 54-0 oor Bloemfontein-Suid. Saints se stewige voorryman, Kamo Leshupi, het ‘n driekuns behaal en lyk oorgehaal vir volgende Saterdag se groot kragmeting met St John’s College in Johannesburg.
Puntemakers:
SPS Brandfort 19 (12) – Xander van Heerden (2), Altus Coetzee. Doelskoppe: Franco de Klerk (2). President Steyn 15 (7) – Drieë: Tiaan Saayman, Antonio Louw. Doelskop: Louw. Strafdoel: Louw.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know something good is brewing in the rugby programme at St Charles College. Most recently, at the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, the school’s strong results through the age groups reflected this.
Oranje laid claim to bragging rights as the top team in the Free State after they breezed to a 5-1 win over their perennial rivals, Eunice, in an entertaining encounter on Tuesday night.
Into its second season, the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), which now sports u14 and u16 divisions, is going from strength to strength, with strong backing from dedicated supporters, who come out of in full force on Sundays to cheer on the girls as they show off their skills on the field.
Hoërskool Piet Retief het sy die eerste groot hond in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Bowl-afdeling raak gebyt.
