Die jaarlikse interskole tussen C&N Meisieskool Oranje en HMS Bloemhof het oudergewoonte heelwat opwinding opgelewer, met kragmetings in die onderskeie ouderdomsgroepe wat ’n netjiese balans van oorwinnings en nederlae vir beide skole gebied het.
Dit was egter Bloemhof wat uiteindelik in die eerstespan-wedstryd die septer geswaai het om die kroon te span op die dag se aksie.
Die dag het afgeskop met die o.14A-spanne, waar Oranje ’n kragtige vertoning gelewer het om oortuigend met 25-13 oor Bloemhof te seëvier.
Bloemhof het egter met menig teruggeslaan in die o.15A-afdeling om met 23-15 die oorhand te geniet. In die o.16A-kragmeting het Oranje weereens hul slag gewys deur vir Bloemhof met 21-17 te verslaan.
Die eerstespan-stryd het die tuisskare in vervoering gehad, met Bloemhof se meisies wat daarin kon slaag om met 31-23 die pyp te rook en só die dag op ’n hoë noot af te sluit.
Milnerton made it two wins in a row with an emphatic 41-18 home victory over Strand on Saturday.
Did Millies‘ dangermen Morgan Lodewyk and Chadlin Sellidon score? That’s pretty much a rhetorical question.
Captain, Lodewyk, was ruthless in contact on his 60th and final cap for his school. At times it appeared as if the big centre was a loose forward with the speed of a back. Sellidon brought the flair at fullback, scoring a try and two conversions.
His twin brother, Chadwin Sellidon, missed out on Craven Week selection due to a broken collar bone. For the final game of the season, he returned from injury. He aided his brother with two conversions and scored a cheeky drop goal, showing that flair runs in the family.
It was far from a three-man production, however. Milnerton delivered a fine team performance.
Strand will feel disappointed. Their three tries were well worked and hard-earned; Millies, though, had an extra gear that the visitors did not.
In Ceres, Charlie Hofmeyr claimed a sweet one-point win over Montagu, with flyhalf Jay Jay Janse’s successful conversion swinging the match in his side’s favour, just. They won 20-19.
Montagu fullback, Eldrin de Koker, challenged Charlies’ throughout the contest. He looked like he was speeding on roller skates, slicing his way through opposition defenders and linking up with his wings out wide. Despite being on the losing side, De Koker’s brace of tries were two of the game’s highlights.
Charlie Hofmeyr put forth a wonderfully cohesive team effort, and they were unbowed by the pressure they faced. Their lineouts and scrums were secure, while their backs stuck to what they had practiced in the week. There were no cracks to be exploited.
In a game of fine margins, Montagu will rue a missed conversion. There were moments where it appeared as if they would get one over the Ceres outfit. They came close but didn’t have quite enough to steal the win.
Charlie Hofmeyr 20 – Tries: Jean Neethling, Ivan Hanekom, Shandley Burrows. Conversion: Jay Jay Janse. Penalty: Keenan Nathan; Montagu 19 – Tries: Eldrin de Koker (2), Geraldo Andries. Conversions: Jordan McGregor (2).
Other Results
U19 – Milnerton II 0 Strand II 0, Milnerton III 0 Strand III 14; Charlies II 12 Montagu II 10, Charlies III 19 Montagu III 31.
U16 – Milnerton A 28 Strand A 24, Milnerton B 5 Strand B 12; Charlies A 21 Montagu A 10.
U15 – Milnerton A 7 Strand A 5, Milnerton B 11 Strand B 12, Milnerton C 3 Strand C 10; Charlies A 15 Montagu A 28, Charlies B 31 Montagu B 26.
U14 – Milnerton A 7 Strand A 0, Milnerton B 7 Strand B 19, Milnerton C 15 Strand C 7; Charlies A 28 Montagu A 10.
Hoërskool Pietersburg het, soos in die fabel van “Die skilpad en die haas”, met onverbiddelike deursettingvermoë sy pad na die halfeindronde van die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Skild-afdeling oopgespeel.
‘n Derde agtereenvolgende bonuspuntsege, die keer oor Hoërskool Die Anker (24-21), het nie alleen vir hom ‘n plek in die uitspeelronde verseker nie, maar beteken voorts dat hy eerskomende naweek tuisveldvoordeel in sy halfeindstryd sal geniet.
Hoërskool Montana se naelskraapse sege van 22-20 oor Hoërskool Lichtenburg het veroorsaak dat die Pieties, vanaf vyfde plek, verby die Liggies kon skuif om nou die tweede posisie te beklee.
Dit was vir die soveelste keer vanjaar die Pieties se dieselenjin wat die grondslag vir ‘n sege gelê het. Dit het nietemin ‘n reusestryd afgegee met Die Anker se groot pak, wat self nie geskroom het om die skote te laat klap nie. Al drie die Pietersburgers se drieë, buiten ‘n strafdrie, is deur lede van die agttal gedruk, met haker, Ziahn Lombaard, wat sy seisoen se drieëtotaal verder verhoog het met nóg ‘n kuier agter die doellyn.
Vir Die Anker het sy voorhoede genoegsame spasie aan die buitekant geskep vir vleuel, Jonathan Jordaan, en buitesenter, Arno Krugel, om netjies af te rond, maar was dit oplaas nie goed genoeg nie, met die Pieties wat teen rustyd reeds met 19-7 voorgeloop het.
Die Monties se tweede sege in Lichtenburg vanjaar beteken dat hulle hul plek bo aan die puntelys behou. Indien hulle eerskomende naweek se halfeindstryd ook kan wen, sal die eindstryd dus tuis in Pretoria plaasvind.
Monties kom in die halfeindronde te staan teen Hoërskool Secunda, wat danksy ‘n bonuspunt, behaal met slegs ‘n minuut oor op die horlosie, in sy nederlaag van 12-17 teen Hoërskool Ben Vorster, verby Heidelberg Volkskool kon skuif op die puntelys.
Vir die Buffels was die oorwinning ‘n gepaste afskeid vir vernaam heelagter, Freddie Pinto, en staatmaker-agsteman, Tumi Ramohlale, wat die Tzaneeners se twee drieë gedruk het. Ramohlale was ongetwyfeld een van die span van Tzaneen se grootste uitblinkers deur die loop van die seisoen.
Puntemakers:
Hoërskool Pietersburg 24 (19) – Drieë: Ziahn Lombaard, Brent Vorster, FC Smith, Strafdrie. Doelskop: Ryno Mienie. Die Anker 21 (7) – Drieë: Branden Sauerman, Jonathan Jordaan, Arno Krugel. Doelskoppe: Edrick Pienaar (3).
Die Pretorianers het die nodige verrig deur vir Hoërskool Rustenburg met 30-26 te troef en sodoende ‘n derde agtereenvolgende bonuspuntsege te behaal.
Nie alleen het die eerste span ‘n plek in die halfeindronde bespreek nie, maar die oorwinning het ook die relegasiespook suksesvol afgeweer.
Hoewel Parkies ná die afgelope naweek se aksie steeds 0.5 punte agter Hoërskool Transvalia lê, het hulle twee spanne in die halfeindronde, in vergeleke met die geen van Valia, wat verseker dat hulle volgende naweek die nodige punte kan behaal om verby die manne van Vanderbijlpark te skuif.
Die sege oor die Rusties was egter allermins maklik. Die besoekers het die pap dik aangemaak en, deur middel van uitstekende aanvallende rugby en rotsvaste verdediging, die lewe moeilik gemaak vir die Pretorianers.
Nadat buitesenter, Jon-ré Jefthas, en regtervleuel, Henré Robinson, deurgebreek het vir drieë, was die Parkies op 20-26 in die moeilikheid in die tweede halfte. Die wortel van ‘n halfeindstryd, asook die bedreiging van relegasie, het hulle egter tot hoër hoogtes aangevuur.
Parkies het uiteindelik die wipplankstryd gewen danksy laat drieë deur plaasvervanger-heelagter, Reinhard Herbst, en Andru Keun. Keun, die gereelde kaptein en generaal in die nr. 10-trui, het ook vanaf die bank vir die Parkies oor die doellyn gehelp.
Die streeptruie kom teen Hoërskool Garsfontein in eerskomende Saterdag se halfeindstryd op Berepark in Pretoria te staan.
Elders in die hoofstad het Hoërskool Waterkloof se Ronan Bastiaanse sy Klofie-loopbaan met ‘n strafdoel in die doodsnikke afgesluit om vir die Blou Tornado ‘n naelbytsege van 29-28 oor Hoërskool Monument te beklink. Daarmee het Klofies ‘n derde agtereenvolgende jaar vir die Wit Bulle van Krugersdorp gewys waar Dawid die wortels gegrawe het.
Bastiaanse, wat die tweede meeste punte aangeteken het by die onlangse Akademieweek, het dié einste week se voorste puntemaker, Jaydon Viljoen, in ‘n kritieke skopstryd uitoorlê. Bastiaanse het, benewens ‘n drie, ook drie doelskoppe en dié allerbelangrike strafdoel deur die mikke gejaag, terwyl Viljoen met ‘n doelskop, strafdoel en skepdoel geslaag het.
Die hoogtepunt van die kragmeting was egter die stoeigeveg tussen die twee agttalle, vernaam wat die dryfmaalbewegings betref. Dit het albei hakers in staat gestel om die kollig te steel, met die Monumentare se Regardt Ernst wat drie keer vanaf dryfmale oorgeduik vir drieë, terwyl die Klofies se Ruan Jacobs op dieselfde wyse ‘n belangrike tweekuns behaal het.
The KwaZulu-Natal rugby season concluded on 9 August, with Durban High School (DHS) overpowering King Edward VII (KES), and Glenwood coming up just short against Maritzburg College. On Saturday, though, it was back to the south of Durban for the Glenwood Sevens.
The hosts’ cross-city neighbours, Northwood, scored a stirring 19-17 victory over Westville Boys’ High in the u17 final, while DHS dominated the u15 competition, culminating in a 33-12 victory over Maritzburg College in the final.
In a key early u17 game, Northwood edged out Michaelhouse 17-14 in Group A. Both ran riot against the Midlands Marauders, which left Northwood top of the standings.
DHS ruled Group B, beating Hilton College 19-13 before overrunning Westville 2 56-0.
The home team, Glenwood, topped Pool C, downing Maritzburg College 42-24 in a high-scoring opener before handing Michaelhouse 2 a 31-5 loss.
Westville took the honours in Pool D, where they faced Glenwood 2 and Northwood 2. Given the fact that they were up against two second-string lineups, it was no surprise that the Griffinscored convincing victories in both of those games.
Northwood accounted for Hilton in the Cup quarterfinals, winning 31-21, while Glenwood had no trouble cruising to a 27-0 win over Northwood 2. There was a mild shock, however, when Michaelhouse won 22-12 against DHS. Westville nailed down the fourth semi-final spot, blanking Maritzburg College 22-0.
Northwood’s adventure continued when they held off Michaelhouse in the final four, winning 21-15, while Westville was too much for Glenwood, triumphing 34-12. Northwood, though, had the answers to Westville’s challenge in the title game.
Hilton lifted the Plate, beating Maritzburg College 20-14 in the final, while Michaelhouse 2 romped to a 38-5 win over Westville 2 in the Bowl final.
In the u15 competition, Pool A was decided on points’ difference after Michaelhouse and Glenwood drew 24-24. ‘House, though, beat Northwood 2 33-0, while Glenwood beat the same opposition 31-10, leaving the Balgowan boys on top of the standings.
DHS had far too much heat for Northwood and the Midlands Marauders in Pool B, thumping Northwood 47-0 and the Marauders 71-0.
Hilton College beat Maritzburg College 22-5 in Pool C’s key contest to secure first place, while Westville got by St Charles College 28-22 and cruised to a 36-0 win over Michaelhouse 2 in Pool D.
Northwood, who were crushed by DHS in their pool game, then shocked Michaelhouse in the Cup quarterfinals, snatching a tight 19-17 win.
DHS continued their domination, although they gave up their first points of the day, in a 47-5 defeat of Glenwood.
Hilton College fought their way to a 19-12 win over St Charles, and Maritzburg College upset Pool D winners, Westville, scoring a 22-7 victory.
In the Cup semis, DHS was, again, far too much for Northwood in their second meeting of the day, powering their way to a 40-5 win, while Maritzburg College, beaten 22-5 by Hilton at the start of the day, downed Hilton 21-10 in their second meeting to quality for the final.
Michaelhouse won the Plate, beating Westville 10-0 in a close contest, but Westville 2 took the Bowl, handing Northwood 2 a 24-12 loss.
To quote the American poet, Walt Whitman: “Oh Captain, my Captain!”
Two weeks ago, Bishops‘ hooker and captain, Daniel van denHeever, scored a hat-trick of tries to lead a magnificent second half comeback against Milnerton. On Saturday, he bagged a brace to help his team to a 26-26 draw with favoured Wynberg Boys’ High.
DiocesanCollege trailed 14-19 at the break. However, like most of their games this season, the team grew in strength and finished the match strongly.
Although it wasn’t a victory, it was a fantastic reversal of fortune for Bishops, who went down 5-34 to Wynberg in May.
By closing the 29-point differential, Bishops produced further evidence of their evolution and improvement throughout the season.
Wynberg’s challenge was led by their flyhalf Achmat Behardien. Often, he is the one putting his teammates over the line for tries. On Saturday, on the Piley Rees, he crossed for two of his own and added three conversions.
Looking back on the clash, both sides will think about what could have been. Bishops hit the posts with a conversion attempt, while Wynberg missed a late penalty which could have won them the game.
Wynberg will be frustrated with the draw. They were dangerous all over the field.
Prop LuqoboMakwedini scored the direct way, ploughing his way over for a try, while centre Kunene Gadu did it with guile, slicing through the Bishops’ defence to add five of his own.
Credit to the hosts, though, they matched Wynberg’s offensive ferocity.
Perhaps, the takeaway from Saturday’s draw was a rivalry lesson that has stood the test of time: “In big games, there are no underdogs”.
Scorers
Bishops 26 (14) – Tries: Daniel van den Heever (2), Jack Venter, Max Marr. Conversions: Alex Laspatzis (3); Wynberg 26 (19) – Tries: Achmat Behardien (2), Kunene Gadu, Luqobo Makwedini. Conversions: Achmat Behardien (3).
Other Results
U19 – Bishops II 7 Wynberg II 17, Bishops III 12 Wynberg III 25, Bishops IV 12 Wynberg IV 29, Bishops V 14 Wynberg V 24, Bishops VI 5 Wynberg VI 35.
U16 – Bishops A 14 Wynberg A 12, Bishops B 14 Wynberg B 21, Bishops C 31 Wynberg C 10, Bishops D 25 Wynberg D 0.
U15 – Bishops A 8 Wynberg A 29, Bishops B 0 Wynberg B 43, Bishops C 5 Wynberg C 15, Bishops D 0 Wynberg D 63.
U14 – Bishops A 14 Wynberg A 29, Bishops B 0 Wynberg B 35, Bishops C 0 Wynberg C 40, Bishops D 5 Wynberg D 40.
In May, when Rondebosch Boys’ High visited the Memorial A-Field at SACS, it ended 40-17 to the visitors. On Saturday, SACS visited the TinkieHeyns Field, intent on exacting revenge. They very nearly did, with ‘Bosch holding on for a narrow 23-20 victory.
In the first half, Rondebosch played the game at pace, getting the ball wide and playing through their backs, which brought them a try in the 13th minute from Caleb Bell.
He was over after receiving a bullet pass. Just centimetres from the sidelines, he left his feet, flew through the air and dotted down in the corner.
SACS, meanwhile, chose a different approach, turning to their pack to grind it out and wear down the Rondebosch defence. Those efforts paid off just before the half-time break.
Utilising the pick and go, SACS closed in on the Rondebosch try line. Eventually, flank SipheMbungendlu took a pass from Matt Forbes, and powered his way over under the poles from five metres out.
The second half was gruelling, with both sides putting up 13 points while sticking to the styles they had employed in the first half.
‘Bosch, though, also crossed the try line by more direct means.
A hard line run by Matthew Galpin, who was fed a flat pass from scrumhalf James Kirsten just two metres out, ended in a try, with Galpin holding the ball to his chest and using his momentum to force his way over.
SACS responded through their hooker Sango Zangqa. He dotted down after a lineout maul, which had started on the 22.
By then, unfortunately for the visiting side, it was too little too late, as time was up on the clock and they came up three points short.
For SACS, outside centre, MikeySkeeles, kicked well, landing two penalties and two conversions.
Scorers
Rondebosch 23 (10) – Tries: Caleb Bell, David Kadima, Matthew Galpin. Conversion: Sebastian Boshoff. Penalties: Sebastian Boshoff, Eathon Williams; SACS 20 (7) – Tries: Siphe Mbungendlu, Sango Zangqa. Conversions: Mikey Skeeles (2). Penalties: Mikey Skeeles (2).
Hoërskool Stellenberg claimed the honours in Durbanville’s King Price Derby Series showdown, scoring a hard-fought seven-point win over Hoërskool Durbanville in muddy conditions. Photo: Hoërskool Stellenberg on Facebook.
In heavy and muddy conditions, Hoërskool Stellenberg outlasted Hoërskool Durbanville 21-14 on Saturday, to claim a gritty victory in their King Price Derby Series clash.
It was, however, Hoërskool Durbanville, the hosts, who opened the scoring in the ninth minute, which forced Stellies to come from behind.
The Durbies‘ forwards drew in the Stellenberg defence by hitting it up through a series of pick and goes from just five metres out. Eventually, the defence had been sucked in, scrumhalf Lorenzo Brogneri sent the ball wide to his backs, which ended in left wing, Kyle Doyle, diving over in the corner for five. Flyhalf, Kyle Albertus, added the extras from the touchline.
Those seven points were all that separated the teams at the break.
Stellenberg turned the tide in the second stanza, led by scrumhalf, Daniel Steffan, who was crowned the King of the Match. While the Durbies’ defence began to fatigue and slow, he played with intense speed and stamina, distributing the ball at pace and varying the length of his service, which opened up spaces in the home side’s defence.
Durbanville started off strongly but was unable to keep up their intensity in the second half. Photo: Durbies Rugby on Instagram.
Inside the first 20 minutes of the second half, Stellenberg took charge of the contest, running in three tries, with the first two coming from scrum variations from five metres out.
Their fightback began when powerful eighthman, Yanos Molnar, went route one, picking up the ball at the back of the scrum before muscling his way over the whitewash for a try.
Their second five-pointer from a five-metre scrum took on a different approach, with Steffan releasing the ball to the backline on the blind side where wing Ralton Rhode, wrapped around to cut the line and finish.
Stellies saved the best for last. A huge hit from Molnar on the halfway line, led to a turnover. The Jade Brigade, then, quickly moved the ball down their backline, with Rhode being brought to a standstill just five metres from the try line. On the following phase, flyhalf Eben Rademan bulldozed his way through for five more points.
Centre Daniel Mongie added his third successful conversion of the day to complete the scoring.
Scorers
Stellenberg 21 (0) – Tries: Yanos Molnar, Ralton Rhode, Eben Rademan. Conversions: Daniel Mongie (3); Durbanville 14 (7) – Tries: Kyle Doyle, Juan Smit. Conversions: Kyle Albertus (2).
Other Results
U19 – Durbanville II 21 Stellenberg II 18, Durbanville III 27 Stellenberg III 22, Durbanville IV 13 Stellenberg IV 19, Durbanville V 22 Stellenberg V 16, Durbanville VI 0 Stellenberg VI 17, Durbanville VII 18 Stellenberg VII 0.
U16 – Durbanville A 22 Stellenberg A 27, Durbanville B 20 Stellenberg B 19, Durbanville C 10 Stellenberg C 3, Durbanville D 0 Stellenberg D 50.
U15 – Durbanville A 7 Stellenberg A 10, Durbanville B 18 Stellenberg B 13, Durbanville C 10 Stellenberg C 3, Durbanville D 19 Stellenberg D 27.
U14 – Durbanville A 33 Stellenberg A 7, Durbanville B 14 Stellenberg B 14, Durbanville C 5 Stellenberg C 10, Durbanville D 5 Stellenberg D 10, Durbanville E 29 Stellenberg E 3.
Hoërskool Garsfontein moes verbete terugveg, met 26 punte in die tweede helfte, om nie alleen vir Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen uit te skakel nie, maar ook bo aan die puntelys in die Beker-afdeling van die SDC Noordvaal Cup te eindig.
Met ‘n agterstand van 5-12 wat hulle met die omdraaislag in die gesig gestaar het, moes die Bere uithaal om die kookwaterspan van die Jansies in te haal en uiteindelik met 31-24 in Boksburg te seëvier.
Die tuisspan het in sy laaste wedstryd soos ‘n totaal nuwe span gelyk en het veral in die eerste helfte die pap dik aangemaak.
Binnesenter, Nathan Delport, het die Garsie-verdedigers dikwels in die eerste skof laat bontstaan met sy kranige lopies in die middeveld. Dit het ook aan Delport ‘n welverdiende tweekuns aan drieë besorg.
Dit was egter die “pocket-rocket”, Craig Lightfoot, wat die kollig gesteel het. Hy was uitmuntend in die vastelos, en het selfs soos ‘n wafferse senter deurgebars om vanuit sy halfgebied te druk.
Delport en Lightfoot se uitstaande pogings was oplaas nie genoeg om die verdedigende kampioen te stuit nie. Met linkervleuel, Yuvrah George, aan die spits van hul aanslag, het die Bere in die tweede helfte na hoogste versnelling oorgeskakel en vir George het die spasie gebied om briljant af te rond vir ‘n aanskoulike driekuns.
Heelagter, Drewyn Baron, het die kersie op die koek geplaas deur, na nog ‘n puik vertoning, uit gebroke spel die wendrie te druk. Die Garsies kom volgende naweek teen Die Hoërskool Menlopark op hul tuisveld, Berepark, in die halfeindronde te staan.
In Vanderbijlpark het die armdruk tussen Hoërskool Transvalia en Hoërskool Noordheuwel geëindig in ‘n gelykopuitslag van 14-14. Dit was ‘n klipharde kragmeting, met rotsvaste verdediging aan albei kante en nie een van die twee spanne wat bereid was om handdoek in te gooi nie.
Dit was vernaam Valia wat beïndruk het met hul verbete verdediging in die tweede skof. Nie alleen kon haker, Wihandré Kruger, die doellyn oorsteek om sake gelykop te laat trek nie, maar die span Vanderbijl het ook die besoekers van Krugersdorp punteloos gehou na rustyd. Spoedvraat, Aiden Bester, en binnesenter Kieran Reid, het elk ‘n drie vir die besoekers gedruk.
Die Nories verskuif nou hul fokus na volgende naweek se halfeindstryd teen Helpmekaar Kollege in Johannesburg.
The hosts, Hilton College, finished top of a tightly contested Group A on day one of the Primo Big 10. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Saturday, day one of the Primo Big 10, threw up some unexpected results, with the hosts, Hilton College, finishing top of Group A, Northwood topping Group B, and Michaelhouse leading the way in Group C.
It was very tight in Group A, with Hilton edging out St Charles 2-1 after striking twice in quick succession, while the other two matches – between St Charles and Glenwood (1-1) and Hilton and Glenwood (0-0) – ended in draws.
The Green Machine, the defending champion, then, were destroyed by Maritzburg College in their cross-pool playoff game, with the Red, Black, and White rolling to a 5-0 win.
Surprisingly, College, the 2023 winners and the Mancosa KZNHFA Coastal A-League champion, finished only third in their pool. They drew 1-1 with Northwood but lost 0-1 to DHS, while Northwood claimed a 2-0 victory over DHS.
Then, in the cross-pool playoffs, Hilton and DHS drew 1-1, while Northwood claimed a narrow 1-0 win over St Charles.
Saintsgave a good account of themselves, but two hard-fought defeats by a single goal consigned them to the 9th and 10th playoff on Sunday morning.
In Group C – which had four teams and not three like Group A and Group B – Michaelhouse, who won the KZNHSFA Inland C-League titlein the second term, trailed by a goal against Westville Boys’ High, the Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League champion, in their opening game, but they levelled the score by slotting a penalty. Then, goalkeeper Luke Mitchell saved a spot kick that had been awarded to Westville, and the teams played to a 1-1 draw. That save, in the end, secured top spot in the group for ‘House.
Michaelhouse goalkeeper Luke Mitchell blocks a penalty kick against Westville to keep the scores level at 1-1. Photo: Brad Morgan.
They also sneaked by Kearsney 2-1, which was the same score as when the teams met at the end of July. Against Clifton, Michaelhouse ran wild, powering their way to an 8-0 win.
Westville, meanwhile, edged out their neighbours, Kearsney, 1-0, and scored some crackers in a 4-0 win over hapless Clifton, who went down to Kearsney 1-2 in their opener.
That’s set up a 9th/10th playoff between Clifton and St Charles late on Sunday morning. Before that, though, the quarterfinals will be played.
Hilton takes on Kearsney on the lush green grass of Zungu Field at 09:00, while Northwood and Maritzburg College face off on the bouncier surface of Etheridge, where they drew in Saturday’s group game.
Hilton has looked solid more than spectacular on their home ground, but they’re tough to break down, and keeping the opposition off the scoresheet is a job already half done.
Northwood appears rejuvenated and transformed after a disappointing showing in the Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League in the second term. It’s hard to reconcile the team that played so well on Saturday at Hilton with the side that came so close to being relegated from the Coastal A-League.
The Knights were one of the most impressive outfits on display on day one, but they take on a tricky opponent in College on Sunday. It’s not exactly a favourable draw.
Westville Boys’ High scored a comfortable victory over Clifton College. They pose a grave danger to the defending champion, Glenwood, in Sunday’s quarterfinals. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Michaelhouse tackles DHS on Zungu at 10:00, while it’s Glenwood versus Westville on Etheridge at the same time.
Given their impressive ascension to the top of Group C, ‘House will fancy their chances against School.
Westville will feel that Glenwood has shown some vulnerability, and the Griffinhas the strikers to make the Green Machine pay if they don’t keep it tight at the back.
Results
Group A
Hilton 2-1 St Charles
St Charles 1-1 Glenwood Hilton 0-0 Glenwood
Group B
Northwood 2-0 DHS
Northwood 1-1 Maritzburg College Maritzburg College 0-1 DHS
Cross-pool playoffs
Hilton 1-1 DHS
St Charles 0-1 Northwood
Glenwood 0-5 Maritzburg College
Group C Michaelhouse 1-1 Westville Clifton 1-2 Kearsney
Westville 4-0 Clifton
Michaelhouse 2-1 Kearsney Westville 1-0 Kearsney Michaelhouse 8-0 Clifton
Fixtures, Sunday, 17 August
Quarterfinals
QF1 – 09:00 – Zungu – Hilton (A1) vs Kearsney (2nd best 3rd) QF2 – 09:00 – Etheridge – Northwood (B1) vs Maritzburg College (Best 3rd) QF3 – 10:00 – Zungu – Michaelhouse (C1) vs DHS (B2) QF4 – 10:00 – Etheridge – Glenwood (A2) vs Westville (C2)
9th/10th – 11:00 – Clifton (C4) vs St Charles (3rd best 3rd)
Semi-finals
SF1 – 13:00 – Zungu – W QF1 vs W QF4 SF2 – 13:00 – Etheridge – WQF2 vs W QF3
