Blog

Jeppe High School for Boys pulled off another impressive performance to dismantle Parktown Boys’ High (5-1) in the highly anticipated Gauteng derby this past weekend.

The boys from Kensington in Johannesburg entered the game high in spirits after a solid base was laid in the first half of the year.

The boys were tasked with maintaining a six-year record of beating Parktown on the Astroturf while also looking to replicate their previous (5-1) from last season.

Jeppe, who were playing with beeps on top of their t-shirts to avoid kit confusion with their hosts started the game on the front foot, attacking early on in the game.

It only took the visiting side, six minutes to score the opener via a penalty corner that was slotted in by the ever-present Jaydon Brooker.

The side grew confidence as the game went by and were dominant in possession and territory.

Brooker quickly scored his second closer to the end of the first chukka through another well-worked PC. The visitors led (2-0) after the first chukka.

The second quarter produced a similar picture, with Jeppe bossing proceedings, while Parktown were forced into defence mode. The only goal in the quarter came from Boipelo Koloti, who found himself at the right place to slot in for his side’s third of the match.

Parktown only had one opportunity by then. A penalty corner that was saved by the keeper. The visitors led (3-0) at the halfway mark.

The last two quarters provided three goals, two from the visitors and a consolation goal for the hosts. All in all, the home side were dominated and outplayed by a quicker, better, and more skilled Jeppe side.

The search for a win against their old rivals continues.

Another big clash in the region over the weekend saw Maritzburg College travel from Pietermaritzburg to face Affies in the Inter-school’s clash.

The sides played out to a (2-2) draw in what was described as a “closely contested encounter between two evenly matched teams,” by Affies head coach, Blake Goosen.

Goosen, who spoke to SuperSport Schools after the match said he was happy with his team’s performance despite feeling like they let the match slip away.

“We took the early lead from a penalty corner but then generously allowed College to come back into the game and take the lead 2-1,” he said.

“An Affies team never backs down or lacks fight and we showed that once again as we continued to go on the attack and eventually take one of our many short corner opportunities to level the game 2-2.”

“Although we felt we left ourselves one goal short on the pitch, we were happy with the team’s performance after a short turn around coming back from school holidays.”

The Pretoria side will shift its attention to Waterkloof for the next weekend while Maritzburg College will welcome Pretoria Boys High.

Pretoria Boys High also edged out King Edward VII (1-0) in one of the big matches played during the weekend.

Scorers:

Jeppe High School for Boys 5 (Jaydon Brooker (2), Boipelo Koloti, Miguel de Jesus, Ben Benjamin); Parktown Boys’ High 1: (Takudzwa Makhudo).

Affies 2 (Louw du Preez, Wian van Schalkwyk); Maritzburg College 2 (Banele Dlamini, Siwa Sithembu).

Pretoria Boys’ High 1 (Micha Sonn); King Edward VII 0.

The resumption of the hockey season after the mid-year break saw a total of 32 goals scored across seven highly contested fixtures in the Eastern Cape this past weekend.

Out of those 32, Kingswood College contributed 14 goals from their two fixtures played on Friday and Saturday respectively.

The Makhanda side started their weekend off with a (4-1) victory against Gqeberha’s Alexander Road High School. That match also saw Jean-Luc Basson get his 50^th first team cap for the side.

If dominance was anything to go by on Friday, the side certainly turned up the tempo on Saturday, bringing a whole different ball game to the table.

They took on Framesby away from home and scored an emphatic 10 goals while only conceding two on the day. Another hattrick of players were playing their 50^th games for the school on the day. Stephen Aylesbury, Michael Van Staden, and Brad Goss were all given a guard of honour before the match.

Basson, who had received his 50^th cap the day before and who has been a goal scoring machine for the side, scored a hattrick on the day. Two separate braces by Stephen Aylesbury, and Chris Painting then allowed Brad Goss, Daniel Phillips, and Peter Van Der Meulen to all add a goal each and reach the final 10 goals.

The win will come as a confidence booster for Jason Machlachlan and his side. Before the school break, they narrowly lost to town rivals St Andrews (1-0) before coming short against Woodridge College (2-1).

However, confidence will be high after scoring 14 goals in two matches. They next face Graeme College, in a mid-week fixture on Wednesday.

In other matches around the province and keeping it in Makhanda, St Andrews thumped Cambridge High (6-0) at home.

Merrifield College pulled off one the upsets of the season when they defeated a travelling Queens College side (1-0).

In East London, Hudson Park came short against Selborne College, losing (3-2) on Friday night, while Stirling High Schools played off to a 0ne-all draw against King Williams Town’s Dale College.

In the last game on Friday night, Grey High School managed a (1-0) win against York High in George.

Scorers:

Kingswood College 10 (Jean-Luc Basson (3), Chris Painting (2), Stephen Aylesbury (2), Brad Goss, Daniel Phillips, Peter van der Meulen); Framesby 2 (scorers not provided).

St Andrews 6 (Mark Ter Morshuizen (2), Sibusiso Mxube, Laurie Apps, Ross Gordon, Jake Coventry); Cambridge 0.

Merrifield College 1 (Trent Pillay); Queens College 0.

Selborne College 3 (Ben van der Merwe, Waeden Plaatjies, Daniel Sirgel); Hudson Park 2: Ayola Rubushe, Helio Ruiters.

Stirling High School 1: Ndalo Manqina. Dale College 1: Sbongisile Nzima.

Grey High School 1: Michael Mollenaar. York High School 0.

Other results:

Kingswood College 4, Alexander Road 1; Pearson High 6, Punt High School 2.

Highlands Park u19 leapfrog Mamelodi Sundowns on top of the GDL after a win away against School of Excellence.

The lion of the north team has been in good form in their last five games . A 2-1 win against School of Excellence has moved Highlands Park to the top with 44 points in 18 games.

Highlands Park will look to make a statement in their next game when they host Remember Elite Sports Academy. 

Lions of the North are top by two points from Mamelodi Sundowns who played a draw against Panorama FC.

Mamelodi Sundowns moved to 42 points in 18 games.

In other Gauteng Development games, Randburg AFC held Kaizer Chiefs to a  0-0 draw. 

GDL results:

Rosina Sedibane 1-0 Jomo Cosmos
Siluma 1-0 Wits Juniors
Supersport United 2-0 TUKS
TS Galaxy 3-1 Joburg City FC
Remember Elite 4-1 Kagiso Porto Academy
Randburg AFC 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs

 

The Rand Central League, u17 returned after weeks of soccer provincial tournaments held at the Gauteng province. 

Stars of Africa FC continued with their winning streak taking them to 9 games unbeaten since the beginning of the 2023 season. The log leaders defeated Flying Eagles FC by 2-1 on the 23 of July. 

Stars of Africa FC sits at the top position, 27 points and three games in hand. In the second position is FC Real with 26 points and a game in hand. After 11 games Wits Junior FC, sit at the third position, 2 points behind the log leaders. 

Going into the weekend, Stars of Africa FC will have a strong chance to strengthen their lead in position one as they take on the 6th place, Velocity FC on 28 July. 

RCLFA, u17 Fixtures 

Friday, 28 July 

Velocity FC vs Stars of Africa FC 

Sunday, 30 July 

Midrand United FC vs FC Leapers
Ecclesia Football Academy vs Wits Junior
FC Real vs Westrand Ballers FA
Flying Eagles vs Velocity
Football Elite FC vs Valley FC
Gold City Royals FC vs Stars of Africa FC
Panorama FC vs Starlets SoE

The count-down to the Engen Knockout Challenge in Cape Town closes by. 

Some of the best teams and academies in the Western Cape province will battle it all out for this year’s Cape Town Engen Knockout Challenge on 28-30 July. 

With the excitement building to the weekend, once again, the country will witness the future stars of South African football battling on the field at Langa Stadium.  

For 21 years Engen Soccer has continued its support and investment to the growth of South African football by giving lifetime opportunities to young players across the country to showcase their talent at the highest stage of level. 

The growth continues and this weekend will be no different as the excitment and anticipation draws to the mother-city. 

Professional teams such as Cape Town City FC, Cape Town Spurs, other football academies such as Ubuntu FC, Wanderers FC will all be competing for the grand prize of the Cape Town Engen Knockout Challenge. 

KLIPHARD en onbuigbaar op die rugbyveld.

Dit is hoe teenstanders vir Divan Fuller, breker-flank van die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl, leer ken het.

Fuller het onlangs besluit om sy loopbaan na skool ook in ‘n Streeptui van Westelike Provinsie voort te sit.

Fuller is vroeër vanjaar na afloop van die Cravenweek in George in die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-span ingesluit. Hy het reeds verlede jaar die SA Skole A-span verteenwoordig, na hy weens ‘n besering opgetrek is.

Fuller was verlede jaar al as deel van die WP Cravenweek-span gekies, maar kon weens ‘n besering nie aan die toernooi in Kaapstad deelneem nie. Hy het egter soveel potensiaal deur die seisoen gewys dat hy steeds later na die SA A-span opgetrek is.

Die kantman het die Streeptruie vanjaar tot ‘n sege van 29-5 oor die Blou Bulle in die hoofwedstryd in George gehelp.

“Om te teken by die WP is een van daardie dinge waarvan mens nie net kan droom nie, maar letterlik ‘n lewe vir jouself moet insien. Volgende jaar het ek die geleentheid om rugby te speel en op dieselfde tyd te kan studeer,” het Fuller gesê.

Fuller gaan ‘n aanlynkursus in B.Com Besigheidsbestuur studeer.

Boishaai se groot bekragtiger het al in 2019 skolerugby-liefhebbers se aandag gevang toe ‘n video begin sirkuleer van ‘n enorme duikslag teen Monument op o.14-vlak tydens die Kwagga-week in George. Dié video het sover as Australië, Kanada en in Amerika opslae gemaak en is al meer as 2 miljoen keer gekyk.

Skielik was almal se oë op die 14-jarige Divan Fuller.

“2019 se video het ‘n definitiewe impak op my lewe gehad. Veral as mens nog so jonk is, jou voete probeer vind en vir jouself nog ‘n naam moet maak, dan is iets soos dit natuurlik nie alledaags nie; jy word gekenmerk deur sulke oomblikke in die lewe.”

Ons het vir hom ook gevra of hy die gebruik van tegnologie en die media se dekking van skolerugby as ‘n positiewe aspek sien.

“Die “exposure” wat vandag op skoolvlak beskikbaar is dink ek is positief. Tegnologie van SuperSport Schools is na aan profesionele rugby en dit skep ‘n hele nuwe vlak waar jy leer hoe om druk te hanteer en dit berei jou voor en maak jou bewus van wat om te verwag in ‘n senior rugby-omgewing. Al hierdie dinge leer jou hoe om druk te hanteer in alledaagse lewe. Dit is ‘n persoonlike besluit, wat jy daarmee maak en hoe jy kies om dit te hanteer.”

Fuller vertel dat vir so lank as wat hy kan onthou het sy gesin Saterdae saam spandeer deur om rugby te kyk met ‘n lekker braai aan die gang en familie raakrugby of grasperk-krieket en mens kan hoor hoeveel sy naaste-familie bygedra het tot sy ontwikkeling.

“As ek moet dink aan ‘n oomblik waar rugby vir my betekenis gekry het onthou ek my boetie op die veld, en klein Divan wat hom probeer na-aap. Ons het altyd kragte gemeet in die agterplaas, my boetie (Anton) en sussie (Carli) was ook kapteine van hul skool se eerstespanne en is, soos ek, lief vir atletiek. My pa, Johan, het ook Cravenweek gespeel en was SA kampioen in hekkies en my ma is ons almal se grootste “cheerleader”. Ek is ‘n groot familie man en ek is baie gelukig om ‘n familie soos myne te hê. Ek sou sê sport is definitief in ons bloed.”

Fuller het op ‘n jong ouderdom, by Laerskool Saamtrek in Klerksdorp, saam met die ouer kinders rugby gespeel. Hy het toe die skuif gemaak na Boishaai, waar hy die geleentheid gegun is om sy drome in ‘n realiteit te omskep.

“Om deel te wees van ‘n skool soos Boishaai maak dit moontlik om te glo in ‘n suksesvolle rugbyloopbaan, met soveel groot name om na op te kyk. Booshaaiers se nederigheid en gewilligheid om ander te help is van die eerste dinge wat ek by die skool ervaar het.”

Gevra oor van die spelers na wie hy opkyk is die eerste name wat opkom die van die oud-Boishaaier Evan Roos vir sy aanvallende spel en Pieter-Steph du Toit vir sy werksetiek. Hy noem ook die Stormers se Salmaan Moerat se toewyding, die Nieu-Seelanders, Dalton Papalii vir sy verdedigende spel asook Ardie Savea vir sy agressie, en Duane Vermeulen vir sy leierskapvaardighede.

Verlede jaar was Fuller deel van die Boishaai span wat die groot jaarlikse wedstryd teen hul aardsvyande, Paarl Gim, met 26-24 kon wen. Hy is vol selfvertroue dat hulle hierdie jaar weer daardie sukses kan herhaal.

“Interskole kan mens nie vergelyk met enige ander wedstryd nie want dit is iets heeltemal anders, daar is nie woorde om dit te beskryf nie. Ek sou sê dit berei mens goed voor vir die druk wat mens op SA skole vlak beleef. Mens hanteer hierdie bepaling elke jaar anders, ek het volle vertroue in my span en weet dat ons aan die wenkant sal staan.” 

Fuller het duidelik ‘n uiters volwasse, positiewe uitkyk op die lewe, selfs na sy eie terugslae, wat hom in staat stel om die verwagtings te hanteer.

“Enige druk wat mens ervaar is positiewe druk, want mens is in die bevoorregte posisie om dit te kan ervaar in die eerste plek. Ek is baie dankbaar om te kan sê dat ek die beste “support-system” het en besef dat dit nie vir almal die geval is nie. Enige besering is baie sleg en sal nooit op ‘n gepaste tyd gebeur nie. Dit help jou wel om harder te werk en te groei.”

“Dit hou mens ook gegrond in die feit dat mens die geleentheid om te kan speel moet waardeer want dit kan enige tyd weggevat word. Al is dit partykeer moeilik om te kop dat ‘n besering (soos verlede jaar) gebeur probeer ek myself net herhinder dat die Here ‘n plan met my lewe het en lankal reeds my pad vorentoe ken,” het Fuller gesê.  

This video was first published by School of Rugby, who are now part of SuperSport Schools on their Facebook Page which made it go viral. Back in 2019 School of Rugby was part of DigiTV – who streamed the Kwagga Week in 2019.

 

The Garsfontein girls kicked off the new term on a high note this weekend at the Pullen and Howell tournament.

Kingsmead College hosted the first round and welcomed various teams around Johannesburg and Pretoria to their grounds.

The teams all had three games lined up each and the Garsfontein girls with their eager attacking side did not only win all three of their games, including a match against St Mary’s Waverly the girls’ defenses stood dead strong resulting in no goals scored against them. 

Roedean High School also hot on their heels winning their matches against both Kingsmead College (2-0) and Helpmekaar College (1-0) making that a two out of three win, only falling short against Hoërskool Garsfontein.

Last years Pullen trophy winners St Mary’s Waverly had a slow start at this years tournament having lost their first game against Hoërskool Monument (0-1) and a draw against Affies (1-1) but still managing to come back and end their day with an impressive 7-1 win against E G Jansen Hoërskool.

The Results: 

Pool A: Monument 1, St Mary’s Waverly 0; Affies 1 EG Jansen 0; St Mary’s Waverly 1, Affies 1; EG Jansen 2, Monument 2; St Mary’s Waverly 7, EG Jansen 1; Affies 0, Monument 0.

Pool B: Garsfontein 2, Roedean 0; Helpmekaar 1, Kingsmead College 0; Garsfontein 6, Kingsmead College 0; Roedean 1, Helpmekaar 0; Garsfontein 2, Helpmekaar 0; Roedean 2, Kingsmead College 0. 

Die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) het as oorwinnaars uit die stryd getree toe hulle die gesogte titel as kampioene van DStv Schools Challenge verower het.

Van die land se beste netbalspanne het die afgelope naweek aan die driedaagse-netbaltoernooi, wat van 21 tot 23 Julie by Hoërskool Florida in Roodepoort, plaasvind het, deelgeneem.

Die eindstryd was ‘n ware skouspel waar Affies ‘n oorwinning van 25-18 oor hul gedugte teenstanders, Paarl Gimnasium, verseker het.

Affies het reeds aan die begin van die wedstryd  hul oorheersing getoon en in die eerste kwart ‘n vroeë voorsprong van 7-3 teen Paarl gehad.

In die tweede kwart het Affies hul voorsprong voortgebou, met hul aanval wat ‘n indrukwekkende vertoning gelewer het en drie agtereenvolgende doele aangeteken het.

Paarl het egter nie toegelaat dat die agterstand hul gemoed demp nie en het teruggeveg met vier doele.

Affies se verdediging en onderskeppings was egter die deurslaggewende faktor wat hulle in staat gestel het om elke geleentheid te benut en hul voorsprong tot 17-7 na die tweede kwart te bring.

Die span het ‘n verstommende tien doele in dié kwart aangeteken.

Met die begin van die derde kwart, het Paarl tekens van ‘n potensiële terugkeer getoon en twee deurslaggewende doele aangeteken. Affies het vinnig enige hoop op ‘n ommekeer uit die weg geruim en hul vermoë en krag bewys toe hulle die punteverskil vergroot het na ‘n indrukwekkende 22 vir Affies en 12 vir Paarl.

Paarl het hul veggees ten toon gestel en ses doele aangeteken terwyl hulle net drie afgestaan het.

Affies het egter reeds ‘n onoorkomelike voorsprong opgebou en verseker dat hulle tot die eindfluitjie in beheer bly.

Doelspelers Jaime Matfield en Izelle Grabe het ‘n groot rol gespeel in Affies se reis na die titel.

Izaan Snyman, kaptein van Affies, sê hulle het nie eenkeer ophou baklei vir die titel en het hul harte uitgespeel tot die eindfluitjie geblaas het. Sy het egter beklemtoon dat elke lid van die span tot hul sukses bygedra het.

As kampioene dra Affies nie net die kroon van oorwinning nie, maar kry ook die geleentheid om die Protea-netbalspan by die  Wêreldbeker in Kaapstad in aksie te sien en hulle te ontmoet.

In die toernooi se derde-en-vierde-uitspeelwedstryd het Menlopark en Paarl Girls’ High teen mekaar te staan gekom.

Paarl Girls’ High het na die eerste kwart met een doel voorgeloop (5-4) en deurgaans hul voorsprong behou en 23-16 gewen. Hulle het die derde plek verseker, wat Menlopark in die vierde plek laat.

Hlabi keer terug na die wennerspodium van die DStv Schools Challenge in die Ubuntu-stroom, nadat hulle die eerste keer die kompetisie in 2021 gewen het

Al die uitslae:

Eindstryd: Affies 25, Paarl Gimnasium 18.

Uitspeelwedstryde – 3/4: Paarl Girls’ High 23, Menlopark 16.

Halfeindstryde: Paarl Gimnasium 28, Menlopark 16, Affies 29, Paarl Girls’ High 28.

Kwarteindstryde: Paarl Girls’ High 20, Oranje 18, Paarl Gimnasium 25, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 8, Menlopark 27, Rustenbrug 17, Affies 24, Helpmekaar 23.

Groep A: Eunice 29, Gelofte 23; Vosloorus 25, Friersdale 11; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 32, Gelofte 18; Vosloorus 20, Oasis 10; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 18, Eunice 18; Oasis 16, Friersdale 6; Gelofte 39, Vosloorus 14; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 46, Oasis 0; Eunice 37, Vosloorus 10; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 32, Vosloorus 12; Gelofte 23, Friersdale 12; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 43, Friersdale 1; Eunice 52, Oasis 8; Gelofte 46, Oasis 8; Eunice 45, Friersdale 7.

Groep B: Oranje 26, Shaymoya 19; Secunda 28, Joe Slovo 7; Manzomtom 19, Tsoloso 14; Oranje 39, Joe Slovo 2; Secunda 39, Tsoloso 7; Shaymoya 35, Joe Slovo 7; Secunda 16, Sahymoya 14; Oranje 58, Tsoloso 4; Oranje 29, Secunda 11; Manzomtom 21, Joe Slovo 11; Shaymoya 33, Tsoloso 5; Secunda 26, Manzomtom 11; Shaymoya 29, Manzomtom 12; Tsoloso 21, Joe Slovo 8; Oranje 50, Manzomtom 6.

Groep C: Sentraal 35, Kgapamadi 3; Paarl Gimnasium 34, Despatch 9; Sentraal 32, Sempapa 3; Paarl Gimnasium 59, Sempapa 1; Despatch 39, Kgapamadi 11; Phahama 19, Sempapa 16; Despatch 38, Sempapa 16; Sentraal 33, Phahama 11; Paarl Gimnasium 44, Phahama 3; Kgapamadi 19, Phahama 13; Paarl Gimnasium 21, Sentraal 17; Despatch 37, Phahama 16; Sempapa 21, Kgapamadi 20; Paarl Gimnasium 50, Kgapamadi 7; Sentraal 33, Despatch 15.

Groep D: Hoërskool Pietersburg 36, Thakamiso 8; Paarl Girls’ High 30, Hoërskool Pietersburg 11; Framesby 48, Ikeletso 18; Thakamiso 20, Ikeletso 18; Hoërskool Pietersburg 52, Curro Shoshanguve 4; Paarl Girls’ High 32, Framesby 13; Ikeletso 29, Curro Shoshanguve 10; Thakamiso 25, Curro Shoshanguve 4; Paarl Girls’ High 57, Ikeletso 5; Framesby 28, Hoërskool Pietersburg 20; Framesby 40, Curro Shoshanguve 5; Paarl Girls’ High 53, Thakamiso 11; Hoërskool Pietersburg 33, Ikeletso 11; Paarl Girls’ High 51, Curro Shoshanguve 4; Framesby 45, Thakamiso 4.

Montana managed to come out on top against Zwartkop by beating them 28-18 in their SDC Noordvaal Cup clash in the Plate-division on Saturday.

The injury ridden Zwartkop continued to struggle to find any continuity as unforced errors stemmed their flow.

Montana on the other hand, looked they are finally beginning to find some rhythm in their season and looked a different team.

The Monties’ started of slow but got going after hitting their straps and from there on it seemed like it would be one way traffic for most of the game.

Montana played fast paced rugby at high intensity which made it hard for the men from Centurion to keep up.

The Montana based team had the upper hand among the big men up front and shifted the ball from side to side continuously challenging the Zwartkop defence. Their second rower Hein du Preez and ever-present hooker, Christiaan Coetzee, were the two who set the fire among their counterparts.

This made it easy for their dangermen at the back to get into their stride on attack, none being better than their flying outside centre, Liam de Villiers. De Villiers proved to be a constant threat on attack and would later round of a brilliantly set up try.

On the side of Zwarries, it was their flyer on the left wing, Danlison Metcalfe, who stood out among the rest with a good performance, which included a visit behind the Monties’ tryline. Waldo Smith (scrumhalf), tried valiantly to get his team in the game with good performance from the kicking tee, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a better Montana team on the day.

HTS Middelburg made use of their home ground advantage to make Rustenburg sweat for their victory of 22-21.

As the case in the other fixtures, the break seemed to be good for the men the from Middelburg as they looked renewed and was able to match Rustenburg physically.

The men from North West struggled to get going with a lot of unforced errors creeping in to their game as the Rooibulle kept on pilling up the pressure.

Although Rustenburg’s general, Jayden Meyer, showed his composure as he put a good performance at ten also contributing five points for his team. Awie Alberts’ boot proved to be the deciding factor for his team with an important performance from the kicking tee.

Kempton Park secured a good win over Hoërskool Middelburg to keep them in the race. The men from Kempton crossed the whitewash five times in their victory of 39-19. Upfront it was Milano Hattingh (blindside flank) and Preston Smith (eighthman) who brought the physicality, to set the stage Josh Meyer to shine.

Meyer’s illusive running proved to be problematic for the defences of Middelburg as he joined the attack from fullback scoring one of his team’s five tries.

Scorers:

Montana 28 (14) – Tries: Christiaan Coetzee, Hein du Preez, Liam de Villiers. Conversions: Roald Matthee, Rigard van Rensburg. Penalties: Matthee (3). Zwartkop 18 (6) – Tries: Danilson Metcalfe, Kyle Blignaut. Conversion: Waldo Smit. Penalties: Smit (2).

Hoërskool Rustenburg 22 (14) – Tries: Zander Steenkamp, Jayden Meyer, Zulu Khumalo. Conversions: Awie Alberts (2). Penalty: Alberts. HTS Middelburg 21 (14) – Tries: Dewald Pieterse, Alex Pretorius, Chris Skonsana. Conversions: Zander Erasmus (3).

Kempton Park 39 (26) – Tries: Divan Bouwer, Milano Hattingh, Keagan Trollip, Ryan Smith, Josh Meyer. Conversions: Marco Opperman (3). Penalties: Opperman (3). Hoërskool Middelburg 19 (19) – Tries: Kaylin Maphutha, Zulu van Niekerk, Mthokozisi Yende. Conversions: Divan van der Westhuizen (2).

Other teams: 

u16: Zwartkop 19, Montana 15; Rustenburg 48, HTS Middelburg 0; Middelburg 43, Kempton Park 9.

u15: Zwartkop 46, Montana 0; Rustenburg 38, HTS Middelburg 15; Kempton Park 34, Middelburg 7.

u14: Montana 24, Zwartkop 17; Rustenburg 31, HTS Middelburg 0; Middelburg 20, Kempton Park 5.

 

On the 22nd of July 2023 at 14:45 Hoërskool Middelburg took on Secunda High School on their home turf at Middelburg High School in the final battle for the Mpumalanga gold medal. 

Both teams showcased their skills which led to a slow start with neither of the teams scoring in the first chukka. Though the Middelburg girls came back in the second chukka with a dominating attack having Rivona Martin score two goals in five minutes. 

Martin claimed her hattrick and the third goal of the game from a short corner awarded to the Middelburg team in the forty-ninth minute. 

Kayla Olivier got her name on the scoreboard with another short corner goal in the third chukka and Imke Grobbelaar scored the fifth goal in the last three minutes of the game. 

The Middelburg defense was a powerhouse and the Secunda team could not break through their forces leaving Middelburg with a 5-0 victory over Secunda High School. 

In other games Hoërskool Nelspruit beat HTS Witbank with an impressive 4-0 lead and placed third overall.

Ligbron and Evander High School went head to head for first place in the boys section and Ameen Tickly scored the only goal for the boys side securing the gold for Ligbron. 

Neither HTS Witbank or Curro Nelspruit could get any goals on the board in their tough battle for third place and had the game result in a 0-0 draw. 

Final Placings:

Girls:

1st place – Hoërskool Middelburg

2nd place – Hoërskool Secunda

3rd place – Hoërskool Nelspruit

Boys:

1st place – Ligbron Akademie

2nd place – Evander High School

3rd place – HTS Witbank and Curro Nelspruit

Girls results:

Hoërskool Middelburg 5-0 Hoërskool Secunda

Hoërskool Nelspruit 4-0 HTS Witbank

Boys results:

Ligbron Akademie 1-0 Evander High School

HTS Witbank 0-0 Curro Nelspruit