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Hoërskool Middelburg het die bordjies teen Hoërskool Nelspruit verhang om sodoende sy Mpumalanga Premierliga-titel suksesvol te verdedig.

Die Middies het op 20 September met 18 lopies teen die Nellies vasgeval, ‘n nederlaag wat die kaarte in daardie stadium van die liga ietwat deurmekaar gekrap het.

Dit het beteken dat die Middies hul tweede uitstappie teen die span van Nelspruit, dié keer in Nelspruit, moes wen om weer die kroon te dra. Daar is wel steeds een ronde bepalings oor waarin die Middelburgers se pad weer met die van Hoërskool Hoogenhout kruis, maar hulle is wat ligapunte betref buite die bereik van enige ander span.

Die Nelspruiters het die loot gewen, besluit om eerste te kolf en geduldig te werk gegaan. Die Middies kon die eerste paaltjie eers in die 16de beurt kry, toe Herman Potgieter (2/27) vir Duan Smal (10, 55b) gefnuik het.

Smal se lang beurt het die strawwe kolftoestande beklemtoon, met selfs Waldemar Graham, die Nellies se voorslagkolwer, wat op die dag 40 aflewerings trotseer het vir sy 30 lopies. Juan Maritz was kort op sy hakke met 27 lopies, van 44 balle.

Frederik Boshoff was grotendeels verantwoordelik vir die Nellies se stadiger kolftempo. Hy het in sy toegelate 10 beurte slegs 16 lopies afgestaan, terwyl 47 van sy 60 aflewerings leë balle was en hy ook vier paaltjies laat kantel het. Eduan Strydom het, nes Potgieter, twee paaltjies opgepik en 45 lopies in sy toegelate 10 beurte afgestaan. Dit het die tuisspan tot 164 beperk toe die laaste kolwer in die 48ste beurt die trekpas gegee is.

Die tuispsan se kolfbeurt en jaagtog van 165 het bykans op presies dieselfde wyse begin. Lohan Botha (22) is in die 15de beurt deur Jason Day, van die boulwerk van Samuel Day (1/23), gevang, met Christian Jansen (17) wat kort daarna deur Janco Breyl uitgehardloop is. Dit het die druk stewig op die verdedigende kampioen verskuif.

Hoewel Smal met die kolf gefaal het, het sy boulwerk daarvoor opgemaak. Hy was ewe ekonomies met sy toegelate 10 beurte wat uiteindelik syfers van 2/22 opgelewer, waarin hy ook 47 leë balle afgestuur het. Safwaan Miller, het soos in die vorige kragmeting, weer twee paaltjies laat kantel en 33 lopies afgestaan, slegs een meer as in die vorige ontmoeting met die Middelburgers.

Die ervaring van Hendré Nel het uiteindelik die deurslag gegee vir nóg ‘n Mpumalanga-titel. Instede van geduldig kolf, het Nel besluit om te doen wat hy die beste doen. Hy het teruggeslaan met ‘n teenaanval wat slegs 34 aflewerings geneem het en drie viere en twee sesse opgelewer het vir ‘n onoorwonne bydrae van 44 lopies. Sy vennootskap van 63 lopies met Boshoff (18*), wat ‘n uitstekende dag op kantoor onoorwonne afgesluit het, was uiteindelik genoeg vir die Middies om met vier paaltjies te seëvier.

Hoofafrigter Shaun Neethling is uiteraard in sy noppies en trots op ‘n totale spanpoging.

“Ons het natuurlik vir Gavin (Genis) en Eduan (Strydom) wat beduidende rolle gespeel het, maar wat vir my die meeste uitgestaan het is die bydraes van verskeie ander spelers. Spelers soos Frederik Boshoff, Zubair Desai, Hendré Nel en Herman Potgieter het almal hand opgesteek, wat, uit ‘n afrigtingsoogpunt, wonderlik is om te sien,” het Neethling na sy span se sege gesê.

Die Middies se fokus verskuif nou na die Fain Noordvaal-reeks, waarin die span van Middelburg verlede jaar die naaswenner was en wat later vandeesmaand afskop.

Beknopte telkaart

Hoërskool Nelspruit 164 (Waldemar Graham 30, Juan Maritz 27, Ekstras 22; Frederik Boshoff 4/16, Herman Potgieter 2/27, Eduan Strydom 2/45); Hoërskool Middelburg 170/6 (Hendré Nel 44*, Lohan Botha 22, Eduan Strydom 22; Duan Smal 2/22, Safwaan Miller 2/33). Hoërskool Middelburg wen met ses paaltjies. 

One of South Africa’s premier schools’ football events, the Nedbank Grey College Soccer Tournament, kicks off on Saturday, in Bloemfontein.

St Stithians College has won the tournament back-to-back, but they’ll face a stiff challenge trying to make it a hat-trick of titles in 2025.

Last year, they staged an incredible comeback, losing their first two matches – 1-2 to Grey College and 0-2 to Pretoria Boys High – before getting their campaign back on track with a 3-2 win over George Royal Academy.

Saints could not afford to slip up again, and they didn’t. They needed a penalty shootout to oust Kimberley Boys’ High in the semi-finals, however, and then beat Robinvale to lift the title.

They’re in Pool D, where Kimberley Boys’ High will be one of their opponents. They’ll also face a familiar foe in the form of Jeppe High School for Boys, who’ve put together an impressive season. The challenges of Witbank High and Bloemfontein South High will be enhanced because they’re not as well-known as some of the other teams.

The group is completed by Westville Boys’ High, who’ve been a bit off the boil since winning the Mancosa KZN Coastal A-League title at the end of the second term. However, they’re well-coached and not short of quality. Their challenge, like that of the other coastal schools, will be in adjusting their games to the high altitude of Bloemfontein. The ball travels further and it bounces higher, too. on Bloem’s hard fields.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

St David’s Marist Inanda, who won the Nedbank Challenge Cup at home in August, would love to add another prestigious Nedbank title to their list of achievements. They’re in Group A and they’re a team that could make serious waves.

Perhaps, their greatest challenge will come from the local side, Navalsig High, which has pushed Grey College for supremacy in Bloemfontein in this and recent seasons.

Victoria Park, another school with a proud football legacy, flies the Eastern Cape’s flag, while the Waterstone Super Cup winners, Curro Thatchfield, also pose a threat. KZN’s Glenwood High, who’ve been a little off the torrid pace they set the previous two years, will view the tournament as an opportunity to adjust the trajectory of their season, while Vaal High, as a late addition, brings an unknown challenge to the table.

Group B features four schools that traditionally feature among the best in all sports – Durban High School (DHS), King Edward VII (KES), Pretoria Boys High, and Wynberg Boys’ High – and there’s something cool about seeing traditional powers taking on one another.

At the inaugural Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA) Football Festival, hosted by KES in July, the home team showed up well in similar conditions to those they will face in Bloemfontein. So, too, though, did Parktown Boys’ High, Pretoria Boys High, Jeppe, and St David’s Marist Inanda, and they’ll all be in action at the Nedbank Grey College Soccer Tournament.

Local sides, Brebner and Hodisa Technical High complete the group and, based on their past records, they could be the teams to beat, especially playing in familiar conditions. Last year, Brebner finished seventh and Hlodisa twelfth, but at their best they’re tough to beat. Just two seasons ago, Brebner won the Nedbank Challenge Cup at St David’s.

The hosts, Grey College, will fancy their chances in Group C. Among the teams participating in the Nedbank Soccer Challenge, they were the second-best finishers at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament earlier this year, ending sixth, just one place behind Navalsig.

Interestingly, they beat Navalsig in the fifth-place playoff in the 2024 Grey College Nedbank Soccer Tournament. Norkem Park High, who are also in Group C, made the final of the inaugural Curro Halala Cup and will bear watching, Grey College finished third there, claiming bronze after a win over, you guessed it, Navalsig.

Parktown Boys’ High has enjoyed a strong year, and they could challenge, too, while Uitenhage’s Strelitzia High and Empangeni High, from Zululand, who contested the KZN Coastal A-League for the first time this year, bring something of the unknown to the group.

The lineup is completed by Bloemfontein’s St Andrew’s School. Their football programme is still young, but they’ve picked up some good results in recent times, and they could pull off a surprise or two.

GROUPS

Group A: Glenwood High, St David’s Marist Inanda, Curro Thatchfield, Victoria Park High, Vaal High, Navalsig High

Group B: Durban High School (DHS), King Edward VII (KES), Pretoria Boys High, Wynberg Boys High, Brebner High, Hlodisa Technical High

Group C: Empangeni High, Norkem Park High, Parktown Boys’ High, Strelitzia High, St Andrew’s School, Grey College

Group D: Westville Boys’ High, St Stithians, Jeppe High School for Boys, Witbank High, Kimberley Boys’ High, Bloemfontein South High

FIXTURES

Saturday, 4 October

Round 1 – 08:00 – 09:15

Glenwood vs St David’s, Field 1
DHS vs KES, Field 2
Curro Thatchfield vs Victoria Park, Field 3
Pretoria Boys High vs Wynberg, Field 4
Vaal High vs Navalsig, Field 5
Brebner vs Hlodisa Technical High, Field 6

Round 2 – 09:25 – 10:40

Empangeni vs Norkem Park, Field 1
Westville vs St Stithians, Field 2
Parktown Boys’ High vs Strelitzia, Field 3
Jeppe vs Witbank, Field 4
St Andrew’s School vs Grey College, Field 5
Kimberley Boys’ High vs Bloemfontein South, Field 6

Round 3 – 10:50 – 12:05

Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hlodisa Technical High, Field 1
Victoria Park vs Navalsig, Field 2
DHS vs Brebner, Field 3
Glenwood vs Vaal High, Field 4
KES vs Pretoria Boys High, Field 5
St David’s vs Curro Thatchfield, Field 6

Round 4 – 13:30 to 14:45

Witbank vs Bloemfontein South, Field 1
Strelitzia vs Grey College, Field 2
Westville Boys’ High vs Kimberley Boys’ High, Field 3
Empangeni vs St Andrew’s School, Field 4
St Stithians vs Jeppe, Field 5
Norkem Park vs Parktown Boys’ High, Field 6

Round 5 – 14:55 – 16:10

KES vs Brebner, Field 1
St David’s vs Vaal High, Field 2
Pretoria Boys High vs Hlodisa Technical High, Field 3
Curro Thatchfield vs Navalsig, Field 4
Glenwood vs Victoria Park, Field 5
DHS vs Wynberg Boys’ High, Field 6

Saturday, 4 October

Round 6 – 08:00 – 09:15

St Stithians vs Kimberley Boys’ High, Field 1
Norkem Park vs St Andrew’s School, Field 2
Jeppe vs Bloemfontein South, Field 3
Parktown Boys High vs Grey College, Field 4
Empangeni High vs Strelitzia, Field 5
Westville Boys’ High vs Witbank, Field 6

Round 7 – 09:25 – 10:40

Curro Thatchfield vs Vaal High, Field 1
Pretoria Boys High vs Brebner, Field 2
KES vs Wynberg Boys’ High, Field 3
St David’s vs Victoria Park, Field 4
DHS vs Hlodisa Technical High, Field 5
Glenwood vs Navalsig, Field 6

Round 8 – 10:50 – 12:05

Parktown Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s School, Field 1
Jeppe vs Kimberley Boys’ High, Field 2
St Stithians vs Witbank, Field 3
Norkem Park vs Strelitzia, Field 4
Westville Boys’ High vs Bloemfontein South, Field 5
Empangeni High vs Grey College, Field 6

Round 9 – 13:30 – 14:45

DHS vs Pretoria Boys High, Field 1
Glenwood vs Curro Thatchfield, Field 2
St David’s vs Navalsig, Field 3
KES vs Hlodisa Technical High, Field 4
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Brebner, Field 5
Victoria Park vs Vaal High, Field 6

Round 10 – 14:55 – 16:10

Westville Boys’ High vs Jeppe, Field 1
Empangeni High vs Parktown Boys’ High, Field 2
Norkem Park vs Grey College, Field 3
St Stithians vs Bloemfontein South, Field 4
Witbank vs Kimberley Boys’ High, Field 5
Strelitzia vs St Andrew’s School, Field 6

Playoffs to follow on Monday, 6 October, and Tuesday, 7 October.

The National Co-Ed Water Polo Tournament splashed off in style on Thursday at Pearson High School, in Gqeberha, with 36 schools competing across both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

In Pool A of the girls’ competition, Reddam House Bedfordview wasted no time in stamping their authority on proceedings. They opened their challenge with a one-sided 21-3 win over Steyn City School before powering past Merrifield College 16-5.

Beaulieu College also impressed, downing Merrifield 9-3 before handing Woodridge College a 9-2 loss.

Pool B also produced its share of excitement. Stirling High School got off to a strong start with a 10-1 victory over Alexander Road High and later added another win against Westerford High.

Thomas More College also picked up two wins, beating Westerford 7-3 before blanking Alex Road 5-0 to keep a clean record.

In Pool C, St Peter’s College ended the day on top of the standings after two convincing wins, by 10-1 over Curro Hillcrest and by 12-2 over Hudson Park.

The tightest competition was in Pool D, where Kingswood College edged out Glenwood House 5-4. They had an easier time against Crawford Lonehill, recording a 9-2 victory. Glenwood House bounced back from their narrow defeat with a 5-2 win over the NMMU/VC Invitational side.

In the boys’ competition, Pearson put on a show for the home crowd. They hammered Rand Park High 22-2 before cruising to a 9-1 win over the Invitational team, which put the hosts in early control of Pool A.

Pool B featured tightly contested games. Reddam House Bedfordview opened with an 8-4 win over Steyn City but stumbled against Stirling High. However, they recovered quickly, sneaking a 3-2 win over Thomas More College in their second outing. Steyn City also showed resilience after their loss to Reddam, handing Stirling a 10-5 loss.

Woodridge College dominated Pool C, making a strong statement with a 12-1 win over Reddam House Helderfontein and a 12-4 triumph against Merrifield College. Merrifield picked up a win against Westerford, cruising to a 10-2 victory.

In Pool D, Glenwood House fired off the blocks with a commanding 15-2 win over Alex Road. They were extended by St Peter’s in their second match but won 9-6. Hudson Park, also, notched back-to-back victories, beating Alex Road 11-3 and the Co-Ed Invitational side 8-3.

The tournament continues through until Sunday, 5 October.

RESULTS

Girls

Pool A
Steyn City 4-10 Woodridge
Reddam Bedfordview 21-3 Steyn City
Merrifield 3-9 Beaulieu
Merrifield 5-16 Reddam Bedfordview
Beaulieu 9-2 Woodridge

Pool B
Stirling 10-1 Alex Road
Westford 3-7 Thomas More
Thomas More 5-0 Alex Road
Stirling 9-4 Westford

Pool C
Pearson 3-4 Hudson
St Peter’s 10-1 Curro Hillcrest
Curro Hillcrest 1-9 Pearson
St Peter’s 12-2 Hudson Park

Pool D
Crawford Lonehill 8-6 NNMU/VC Invitational
Kingswood 5-4 Glenwood House
NMMU/VC 13-0 Randpark
Crawford Lonehill 2-9 Kingswood
Glenwood House 18-3 Randpark

BOYS

Pool A
Pearson 22-2 Rand Park
Invitational 1-9 Pearson
Kingswood 19-1 Rand Park
Invitational 6-3 Curro Hillcrest
Curro Hillcrest 6-3 Kingswood

Pool B
Stirling 6-2 Thomas More
Reddam Bedfordview 8-4 Steyn City
Stirling 5-10 Steyn City
Thomas More (2) 2-2 (3) Reddam Bedfordview

Pool C
Reddam Helderfontein 1-12 Woodridge
Westerford 2-10 Merrifield
Merrifield 4-12 Woodridge
Reddam Helderfontein 4-8 Westerford

Pool D
Glenwood House 15-2 Alex Road
Hudson Park 8-3 Co-ed Invitational
St Peter’s 6-9 Glenwood House
Hudson Park 11-3 Alex Road
Co-ed Invitational 1-10 St Peter’s

Jeppe High School for Boys has appointed Gareth Heyns as the school’s first-team hockey coach for 2026.

Heyns takes over the reins from Siya Sityana, who will be joining King Edward VII (KES)).

“Mr Heyns is a well-known, respected, and highly qualified coach who comes with a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a coach,” the school said in a social media post.

“He matriculated at Jeppe in 2009, having achieved full colours as captain of the 1st XI hockey team. He represented the 1st XI in over a hundred games and won the Boden, Alan Monk, and Aitken competitions. He also represented Southern Gauteng at every age group level.”

The former Jeppe scholar offers a wealth of experience, having also played for the South African men‘s team. He also competed at the Junior Africa Cup and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and played hockey in the United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand.

It will be his second time taking charge of the first team after a previous stint in 2016 and 2017. Back then, Heyns led the school to victories in the Aitken Cup.

“Mr Heyns says he is delighted to be returning home and, together with a well-established and experienced first team staff, all of whom are fulltime educators employed at the school, he aims to continue to build on the Jeppe Hockey Legacy,” the statement continued.

“Mr Craig Templeton returns as assistant coach of the 1st team, a role he held in 2024. Mr Lydon De Boer-Smit continues in his role as the 1st team manager, together with Mr Ruben Van Zyl as the strength and conditioning coach.

“With his rich playing and coaching pedigree and his deep understanding of and love for Jeppe hockey, we have full confidence that Mr Heyns and the 1st team coaching staff will continue to build on the outstanding Jeppe Hockey legacy and tradition of success,” the statement ended.

Click HERE to read the full statement.

Northwood battled their way to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Carter High on Wednesday in the final of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Cowie Cup.

It was a triumphant end to an inspiring season from the Knights, who went from a struggling team of also-rans to a competitive never-say-die group of winners.

Rhys Millar netted the winning goal for Northwood, having also struck twice for the Knights in their 2-1 win over Maritzburg College in the semi-finals.

The Durban school’s journey to the title was anything but straightforward. Maritzburg College won the KZNHSFA Inland A-League, while Carter High was the runner-up.

Exhibiting fantastic resilience, the Knights defeated the KZN two Inland powers to add another couple of names to the list of opponents they defeated during the third term. Among them, also, was Westville Boys’ High, the champions of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League. 

Northwood’s football journey in 2025 was unforgettable. During the Second Term Coastal A-League, they were well off the pace and relegation threatened. However, they narrowly avoided the drop on the final day by recording their first and only victory of the second-term league, beating Pinetown Boys’ High 3-0. Pinetown, who had their own issues during the second term, later won the Kearsney Soccer Tournament and the Kloof High Football Tournament.

Since avoiding relegation, Northwood has been a team revitalised, stacking wins in the third term while just missing out on the Primo Big 10 title, where they finished as the runner-up.

After the conclusion of the Mancosa Cowie final, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Daniel Haswell, the Chairperson of the Mancosa KZNHSFA, who also serves as the Director of Soccer at Westville Boys’ High.

“Congratulations to Northwood for winning the KZNHSFA Mancosa Cowie Cup for the first time. Commiseration to Carter after losing three finals in four years,” Haswell said.

The Cowie Cup served as the final schools’ football competition within the Mancosa KZNHSFA football framework.

“This brings the curtain down on another memorable season,” Haswell said.

“The football played was of a high standard and extremely competitive.

“Every tournament was won by a different team, which is an indication of the depth of talent and the coaching work that is going on at the schools as they contest so keenly for the trophies.”

For Northwood, now that the season is over, their 2025 campaign will serve as inspiration for future generations of Knights’ teams. They took their knocks in the second term, but, somehow, they used those setbacks to rise to the challenges that awaited instead of shrinking in the face of more tough tests.

A first-ever Cowie Cup title spoke volumes about the strong character of the side, about the value of teamwork, and about the vital life lessons that can be learnt through sport.

Northwood will treasure the 2025 season, as they deserve to do. Sports fans love a tale of an underdog come good, a story of a struggling side upsetting the odds, and the Knights fit that bill. They did more than upset the odds in one or two games, though. Their success was about a complete reversal of fortunes, turning the team from one that others expected to beat into a united unit that others respected and faced with trepidation.

At the end of their journey, being crowned the champions of KwaZulu-Natal’s most prestigious knockout tournament was testament to their stirring and remarkable turnaround.

Jeppe High School for Boys will bid farewell to their very successful first-team hockey coach Siya Sityana at the end of the year.

SuperSport Schools Plus understands that Sityana will be leaving the Kensington school to join their fierce rivals, King Edward VII School (KES).

While it’s yet to be confirmed, the former Dale College pupil is expected to assume the Red Sticks‘ head coach role, taking over from the experienced Sharmin Naidoo.

The unexpected move will come as a shock to many hockey enthusiasts, not only in the Gauteng region but across the country, considering the outstanding season Jeppe enjoyed under his tutelage in 2025.

The 30-year-old began his tenure with the Jeppe 1st XI in 2024 when he replaced Gilbert De Villiers, who moved to St John’s College. Next year, De Villiers will be on his way to Maritzburg College.

His first season in charge didn’t go smoothly, with Sityana undergoing a baptism of fire. The side’s results were somewhat inconsistent, but he led Jeppe to some famous victories, which included lifting the Aitken Cup after a 2-0 win over Parktown Boys’ High in the final.

It was during the 2025 season that Sityana came into his own as the coach of Jeppe, leading the school, long recognised one of the leading hockey-playing schools in the country, to one of its best seasons ever.

Under his tutelage, they played 31 matches, won 29 and drew only two, against Hilton College and Grey College, at the Nomads Hockey Festival in March.

He also led the side to victory in the Aitken Cup, with Jeppe claiming the silverware after a 4-2 win over St Stithians College 4-2 in the final.

To cap off an incredible season, he directed the Southern Gauteng u16A boys to gold at the SASHOC National Week in July. Their title-winning run ended with a one-sided thumping of Eastern Province in the final.

He wasn’t done yet, however. A month later, Sityana aided the SA u16B side to an unbeaten run against Zimbabwe during the Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge.

His outstanding contributions were recognised when he was named the Boys’ Coach of the Year at the Hyundai Hockey on 216 Awards. Jeppe was, furthermore, nominated for the Team of the Year Award.

Sityana will undoubtedly add value to KES as they seek to improve their hockey programme and become a greater force in the schoolboy game.

His successor is yet to be confirmed, but SuperSport Schools Plus understands that an announcement from Jeppe is imminent.

Twenty of the best boys’ water polo-playing schools in South Africa will assemble in Cape Town this weekend for the prestigious SACS Water Polo Tournament.

The much-anticipated competition takes place from 4 to 6 October, with all matches being played at the picturesque SACS Aquatic Centre.

The tournament, similar to the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, which took place a week ago, includes top sides, but it is contested over shorter games, which is counteracted by sides playing many matches over the three days.

The SACS Water Polo Tournament is also the country’s longest-running schools’ water polo event, having started all the way back in 1984.

The teams are split into two pools of 10, and the group matches stretch right through until the final day, with the top four teams in each pool progressing to the quarterfinals.

The defending champions, Bishops Diocesan College, made history in 2024 by becoming the first-ever Bishops side to win the tournament.

Under the tutelage of Jabulani Sibiya, they defeated St John’s College 5-2 in the final to break their SACS Water Polo Tournament hoodoo.

They have been drawn in Pool B, where they will face Clifton College, Grey College, Parktown Boys’ High, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Pretoria Boys High, Selborne College, St Alban’s College, St David’s Marist Inanda, and SACS.

Pool A, meanwhile, will be contested by Grey High School, Hilton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Northwood School, Rondebosch Boys’ High, St Andrew’s College, St Benedict’s College, St John’s College, St Stithians College, and Wynberg Boys’ High School.

The Breakdown

Pool A

It’s a fools’ game trying to predict how Pool A will pan out, but one can make some educated guesses.

It’s a tough group filled with competitive teams, and the format of the tournament (20 minutes a game) could help to level the playing field for some of the underdog sides.

Hilton College will be brimming with confidence after winning the Clifton Water Polo Tournament for the first time last week. The Paul Martin-coached side edged out St John’s College 10-8 in the final.

Hilton has never won the SACS Water Polo Tournament, but they’re a veteran unit, loaded with some of the heaviest offensive firepower in the country, and they’ll be looking to rewrite history.

Rondebosch Boys’ High will also be a serious contender for the title. Under coach Jared Wingate-Pearse, the ‘Bosch boys have produced a strong showing in 2025. In term one, they pushed Bishops all the way in the SACS Nite Series.

Gauteng is one of the game’s traditional powerhouses and they’ll be represented by Jeppe, St John’s College, St Benedict’s College, and St Stithians College.

St John’s will be favoured to go far. They made it all the way to the title game at the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, but St Stithians bears watching, too. They convincingly beat St John’s in the final of the St Alban’s Beach Water Polo Festival early in September.

Gqeberha’s Grey High School and St Andrew’s College of Makhanda are the two Eastern Cape sides in the pool. They last won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Pool B

There is no doubt that Bishops will be pushed hard in their pursuit of back-to-back SACS Water Polo Tournament titles.

They’re up against some stiff competition and will have to deliver their A-game from the outset.

Along the way, they take on their Cape rivals, SACS and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), who were both eliminated in the quarterfinals last year.

SACS last won the tournament in 2023, while PRG is still in search of their maiden title.

Clifton College will also be in the mix and aiming to add to their title win in 2021.

Selborne College has claimed the title on four occasions: in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2015. Led by coach Storm Siebert, the East London school will also be a threat.

The group is completed by Grey College and the Gauteng quartet of St Alban’s, Parktown, St David’s Marist Inanda, and Pretoria Boys High.

At face value, it’s a well-balanced pool, and the so-called underdogs will be confident of their chances to sneak into the top four.

TEAMS

Pool A

Grey High School, Hilton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Northwood School, Rondebosch Boys’ High, St Andrew’s College, St Benedict’s College, St John’s College, St Stithians College, Wynberg Boys’ High School.

Pool B

Bishops, Clifton College, Grey College, SACS, Parktown Boys’ High, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Pretoria Boys High, Selborne College, St Alban’s College, St David’s Marist Inanda.

FIXTURES

Day 1 – Saturday, 4 October

07:10 – St Stithians vs Jeppe
07:30 – Rondebosch vs St John’s College
07:50 – Bishops vs Grey College
08:10 – Clifton vs Selborne College
08:30 – Hilton vs Grey High
08:50 – St Andrew’s College vs St Benedict’s
09:10 – SACS vs Parktown
09:30 – St David’s Marist vs St Alban’s
09:50 – Wynberg vs Northwood
10:10 – St John’s College vs Jeppe
10:30 – Pretoria Boys High vs Paul Roos
10:50 – Bishops vs Selborne College
11:10 – Rondebosch vs Grey High
11:30 – Wynberg vs St Benedict’s
11:50 – St David’s vs Grey College
12:10 – SACS vs St Alban’s
12:30 – St Andrew’s College vs Northwood
12:50 – Hilton vs St Stithians
13:10 – Parktown vs Paul Roos
13:30 – Clifton vs Pretoria Boys High
13:50 – St John’s College vs Grey High
14:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Rondebosch
14:30 – Grey College vs St Alban’s
14:50 – Bishops vs Paul Roos
15:10 – St Stithians vs Northwood
15:30 – Hilton vs Wynberg
15:50 – SACS vs Pretoria Boys
16:10 – St David’s Marist vs Clifton
16:30 – Jeppe vs St Benedict’s
16:50 – St Andrew’s College vs St John’s
17:10 – Selborne vs Parktown
17:30 – St Stithians vs Wynberg
17:50 – Clifton vs Paul Roos
18:10 – Hilton vs Jeppe
18:30 – SACS vs Grey College
18:50 – St David’s Marist vs Selborne
19:10 – St Alban’s vs Parktown
19:30 – St Benedict’s vs Grey High
19:50 – Rondebosch vs Northwood
20:10 – Bishops vs Pretoria Boys High

Day 2 – Sunday, 5 October

07:10 – St Alban’s vs Paul Roos
07:30 – SACS vs Selborne College
07:50 – St David’s Marist vs Pretoria Boys High
08:10 – Hilton vs St John’s College
08:30 – St Stithians vs Rondebosch
08:50 – St Benedict’s vs Northwood
09:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Wynberg
09:30 – Grey College vs Parktown
09:50 – Jeppe vs Grey High
10:10 – Hilton vs Rondebosch
10:30 – Bishops vs Clifton
10:50 – Selborne College vs St Alban’s
11:10 – St Andrew’s College vs St Stithians
11:30 – Jeppe vs Northwood
11:50 – Grey College vs Paul Roos
12:10 – SACS vs Clifton
12:30 – St John’s vs St Benedict’s
12:50 – Wynberg vs Grey High
13:10 – St Davids vs Bishops
13:30 – Pretoria Boys vs Parktown
13:50 – Hilton vs St Andrew’s College
14:10 – St John’s College vs Northwood
14:30 – Selborne College vs Paul Roos
14:50 – Rondebosch vs St Benedict’s
15:10 – Wynberg vs Jeppe
15:30 – SACS vs St David’s Marist
15:50 – Clifton vs St Alban’s
16:10 – Pretoria Boys vs Grey College
16:30 – St Andrew’s College vs Grey High
16:50 – Hilton vs Northwood
17:10 – Bishops vs Parktown
17:30 – St Stithians vs St Benedict’s
17:50 – SACS vs Paul Roos
18:10 – Rondebosch vs Jeppe
18:30 – Clifton vs Grey College
18:50 – Pretoria Boys vs Selborne College
19:10 – Bishops vs St Alban’s
19:30 – Wynberg vs St John’s College
19:50 – St Stithians vs Grey High
20:10 – St David’s vs Parktown

Day 3 – Monday, 6 October 

06:50 – Hilton vs St Benedict’s
07:10 – Grey High vs Northwood
07:30 – Selborne College vs Grey College
07:50 – Pretoria Boys vs St Alban’s
08:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Jeppe
08:30 – St Stithians vs St John’s College
08:50 – St David’s Marist vs Paul Roos
09:10 – Clifton vs Parktown
09:30 – Rondebosch vs Wynberg
09:50 – SACS vs Bishops
10:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Quarterfinal 1)
11:00 – 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B (Quarterfinal 2)
11:20 – 1st Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Quarterfinal 3)
11:40 – 4th Pool A vs 1st Pool B (Quarterfinal 4)
12:30 – Semifinal 1
13:00 – Semifinal 2
14:00 – Bronze medal playoff
14:00 – Final

There have been some noteworthy performances in the first round of the Switch School SA20 competition in Mpumalanga over the first few weeks of action.

Hoërskool Secunda‘s Nathan Erasmus still holds the highest individual total thus far, having scored a blistering 116 not out against Embu Hub on 17 September. He was joined by Luan Swart, who in the same fixture also surpassed the century mark with an unbeaten 103. Both faced fewer than 70 deliveries in their quest to score as many runs as possible in the allotted 20 overs.

Erasmus used only 65 deliveries, smashing 15 fours and six sixes, while scoring even faster, facing only 42 deliveries. He struck 10 fours and eight sixes in the pair’s 180-run partnership and a team total of 245/1 in 20 overs. The side from Secunda won this fixture by 37 runs.

That was also the highest team total until Hoërskool Middelburg unleashed on the same Emba side on Wednesday, 1 October, concluding their 20 overs on 290/5.

Gavin Genis and Eduan Strydom became the second pair to score a century in the same T20 fixture, both making 106. They also surpassed Erasmus and Swart for the highest partnership, contributing a massive 190 runs together.

Genis, as per usual, was the main aggressor and dealt mostly in sixes, with 10 landing on the other side of the boundary rope. He also smashed seven fours, with 96 of his runs coming from boundaries. Strydom, at the other end, wasn’t much slower, using 47 balls for his 106. He hit nine fours and seven sixes, taking the pair’s boundary count up to an astonishing 35 from a combined 86 balls.

The writing was on the wall when Wildré Cilliers shone when it was his turn with the ball. Three wickets upfront (3/17), alongside Xander Engelbrecht‘s 2/18, broke the backbone of the Emba batting lineup. At 38/5, the visiting Emba had suffered too much damage to recover, slumping to 91 all out and a defeat by 199 runs, also the biggest winning margin to date.

What makes these performances by Secunda and the Middies even more impressive is that Emba will have three representatives at the Khaya Majola Week set to take place in Bloemfontein later this year.

Hoërskool Nelspruit also won their first T20 encounter comfortably, beating Malekutu Hub by 117 runs on Tuesday, 30 September. De Jong Schreuder led the way with an unbeaten 60 runs, while Dian Boucher smashed the ball all over the Nellie-Oval. Boucher’s unbeaten 52 runs came from just 18 balls, and included four fours and four sixes. Juan Maritz also made a half-century, contributing 51 from a mere 26 balls.

Summarised scorecard: 01 October 2025

Hoërskool Middelburg 290/5 (Eduan Strydom 106, Gavin Genis 106, Hendré Nel 33*; B Blessing 2/57); Emba Hub 91 (B Blessing 36, Extras 21; Wildré Cilliers 3/17, Gavin Genis 2/5, Xander Engelbrecht 2/18). Hoërskool Middelburg won by 199 runs. 

 

Cristivan Coezer is the envy of his North-West Schools counterparts, and with good reason.

The opening batsman of Potchefstroom Gimnasium‘s First XI notched his seventh century of the calendar year to maintain the Gimmies’  unbeaten run in the North West Schools 50-over League.

The boys from Potch are now the clear favourites to take home the title, shortly after winning the Switch Schools SA20 title barely a week ago. This will establish them as strong contenders in the Fain Noordvaal Tournament, following all five leagues north of the Vaal River.

The century from Coetzer, as well as numerous other contributions with the bat, on Wednesday, 1 October, saw the Gimmies cruise to a mammoth 199-run victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg in Potchefstroom. Ulrich Botha, Coetzer’s opening partner, and Lukas Kotze also shone with 85 runs each.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the hosts amassed a big first innings total of 348/5 in just 30 overs as part of a shortened fixture.

Coetzer led the way with 126 runs, established in T20 fashion as he only faced 50 deliveries, smashing 12 sixes and 10 fours at an astronomical rate of 252. Botha also scored at a rate of more than 100, accumulating 85 runs from 74 deliveries. The pair’s massive 192-run partnership for the first wicket paved the way for a comfortable victory.

The bleeding didn’t stop after Coetzer had departed, with Kotze, batting at three, also in a destructive mood. He continued the trend of scoring at a rapid pace, hitting eight fours and six sixes before Johan Duvenhage ran him out. His innings lasted only 39 balls.

Duvenhage would emerge as the Liggies’ top scorer on the day. He opened their innings and batted patiently for 43, off 72 balls, against the economical bowling from the home side.

Caiden Seleka, younger brother of the North West Dragons’ leg spinner, Caleb Seleka, did most of the damage with the ball, picking up three wickets. Unfortunately, Duvenhage’s only support came from Luan Snyman, who contributed a quickfire 39. The Liggies were eventually all dismissed for only 150, suffering a big defeat at the hands of the front-runners.

In Rustenburg, two of the other big names in North West faced off. Eduard Dreyer scored a marvellous century at the top of the order to pave the way for a 139-run victory for Wesvalia over Hoërskool Rustenburg. Dreyer made 116 at just more than a run a ball and with Luken Maritz (60), batting at three, made the most of their time in the middle for an important 125-run partnership that laid the foundation for a total of 292 before the last wicket fell in the 50th over.

Thian Labuschagne was impressive for the hosts, boasting 3/36 in his allotted 10 overs, but he couldn’t quite replicate his form with the bat. The Wessies bowled to their strengths and picked up wickets at regular intervals. Janré Greyling was the most impressive with figures of 3/17 in seven overs, while Dreyer backed up his batting with 2/15.

Unfortunately for the Rusties, only Tristan van der Linde had answers to the visitors’ questions. He was eventually dismissed for 69 (77b), and with that, the home side’s hopes were dashed as no other batter managed to pass the 30-run mark. Rustenburg were dismissed for 153 in the 36th over, which was disappointing considering the batting talent in their ranks.

Summarised scorecards: 

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 348/5 (Cristivan Coetzer 126, Ulrich Botha 85, Lukas Kotze 85, Caiden Seleka 37; Oratile Masa 2/62); Hoërskool Lichtenburg 150 (Johan Duvenhage 43, Luan Snyman 29; Caiden Seleka 3/45, Damian Kruger 2/17, Henré Cronje 2/19, Bennet Keet 2/31). Potchefstroom Gimnasium won by 199 runs. 

Wesvalia 292 (Eduard Dreyer 116, Luken Maritz 60, Extras 28, Ziandré Stopforth 24, Jordan Lategan 21; Thian Labuschagne 3/36, Hendré Robinson 2/9, Manfred Wenhold 2/39, Marnus de Witt 2/68); Hoërskool Rustenburg 153 (Tristan van der Linde 69, Henlo van Rooyen 24, Extras 22; Janré Greyling 3/17, Eduard Dreyer 2/15). Wesvalia won by 139 runs. 

Westville Boys’ High made short work of Hillcrest High in a Switch Schools SA20 – Volume 2 match played at Hillcrest High on Wednesday. It was all over in just 17.3 overs.

The home side won the toss and chose to bat, but that decision backfired.

Apart from opening batsman Kienan Sawyer, who smashed two sixes and a four in his 21 from 20 balls, no other batsmen fired. In fact, four of them were dismissed for ducks as no one else exited single figures.

With first change bowler, Josh Engelbrecht, leading the way, Hillcrest High was skittled for only 48 in 13.1 overs. He caused havoc, capturing 5/5 in four, which included removing five of the first seven batsmen.

Aarin Rasmussen shone, too, picking up 2/4 in three.

Faced with a low victory target, Westville went after it with aggression. In less than five overs, they had won by 10 wickets.

Kyle McGough launched four sixes and sent another two deliveries to the boundary in an unbeaten 36 off 15 balls, while Aarin Rasmussen appeared relaxed in comparison, adding 12 off 12 as Westville rolled to a hasty win.

SCORES

Hillcrest High 48/10 (Kienan Sawyer 21; Josh Engelbrecht 5/5, Aarin Rasmussen 2/4); Westville Boys’ High 51/0 (Kyle McGough 36*).

Westville Boys’ High won by 10 wickets.