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On Saturday, 9 November, Hilton College and Michaelhouse will do battle at Hilton College in their annual PinkDrive cricket match.

It’s the fourth year that the sides are playing in support of cancer awareness.

The match starts at 09:00 and will be shown on DStv Channel 216 and streamed on SuperSport Schools.

The contest, which has become a well-supported event on the two schools’ sporting calendar, serves as a fundraising event to help PinkDrive NPC, a health sector NGO, founded by Ms. Noelene Kotschan in 2009.

The organisation was founded on the basis that “early detection will help to prolong a life.”

PinkDrive’s goal is “to contribute towards preventing, as many people as it can, from succumbing to breast, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancer. Its primary focus is on citizens without access to reasonable care for these conditions, and who reside in areas where health services do not reach.”

“The match is a brilliant initiative and one which both schools, I would like to believe, hold very close to their hearts,” Khalipa Cele, the Michaelhouse 1st XI coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

Warren Kirsten, the Hilton College 1st XI coach, echoed Cele’s words. “This is an important event for our school because we are all affected by this disease. When the boys go out to play, they are not just playing for themselves, they are also playing for the other 600 boys in their brotherhood and their loved ones.”

Cele’s side hosted the last PinkDrive contest in which Michaelhouse went down in front of their home crowd. They will be keen to return the favour. That plan is not misguided as Michaelhouse has won against Hilton this year. However, Hilton, most recently, triumphed against their rivals in the semi-finals of the Tuskers’ Schools SA20 tournament before going on to win the regional title. Cele’s charges will go into the match keen to have the final word on the question of who had a better year.

Michaelhouse heads into the game on the back of a comprehensive 143-run win over Northwood, which featured a brilliant 88 from Graydon Leslie and outstanding bowling from Thandanani Zuma and Radhesh Jhilmeet, who bagged seven wickets for 16 runs between them.

Hilton, on the other hand, heads into the contest on the back of a loss to St Charles in their most recent limited-overs match. Kirsten’s men have endured an inconsistent run in traditional limited-overs fixtures. They’ve also missed five of their top players for extended periods due to injuries. However, three of those five players are back for Saturday’s match and Kirsten hopes the team will be able to capitalise on their availability.

Victory will be foremost on the minds of both sides, because, as Kirsten put it, a contest between Hilton and Michaelhouse always means more. The schools have a well-chronicled rivalry. But they’re also aware that the match is being played for a bigger cause than a win.

“As a coach and educator, I always try to blend sport with life lessons. Sport is about life lessons really; learning to be patient, resilient, and working with other people, to name a few. This day is about cricket, but also not about cricket, as it is about a cause which, in my opinion, is bigger than the game, but the game is used to raise this awareness,” Cele explained.

“We are aware of the significance of the rivalry between the two great schools. It brings energy and excitement to the fixtures. Our message is consistent with every match we play. Follow your process, which contributes to the team’s success. Having the PinkDrive as part of the day creates a meaningful motivation,” Kirsten said.

As regular followers of the Michaelhouse versus Hilton matches have come to know, the contest between the sides will be spirited. Neither will be willing to give an inch.

Saturday will be a historic day for schools’ cricket north of the Vaal River.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The Fain Noordvaal Competition will crown a new champion when the history-making underdogs, Hoërskool Hans Moore and Hoërskool Middelburg, face off on the TC Mitchell Oval, the home of St Alban’s College cricket, in Pretoria.

The Middies have won the Noordvaal competition once previously, way back in 1941, while the Moories will be chasing their first title.

The sides’ respective roads to the final weren’t easy. Hans Moore had to get past last year’s runners-up, Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, and Die Hoërskool Menlopark, tests which they passed with flying colours.

The Middies brushed aside Hoërskool Kempton Park in the quarter-finals and then, a week later, at home, stunned the defending champions, Hoërskool Waterkloof, in the semi-finals. Those victories mean that for the first time since 2013, a Pretoria-based school won’t feature in the title decider.

The Klofies, the most successful side over the past 10 years, contested nine of those 10 finals, winning six times, including consecutive victories in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Saturday’s showdown should be a fascinating battle between bat and ball.

Middelburg possesses a strong bowling lineup, led by off-spinner Gavin Genis, who has bagged a sensational 16 wickets, including three five-fors, in his last three appearances. His best figures of 6/51 were achieved in the shocking upset of Waterkloof, a team that boasts a talented and deep batting lineup. Genis has also been a key performer with the bat, scoring over 450 runs in eight limited-overs matches in 2024.

Middies’ vice-captain, Eduan Strydom, will also be full of confidence after knocking over a crucial 4/44 in the win over the Klofies.

Facing the Middelburg attack will be a challenge, but Hans Moore’s captain, Warren Minnaar, will, no doubt, be looking forward to it. The Moories’ skipper has shown his class throughout 2024, accumulating 1 354 runs thus far. He’ll be eyeing one last big and game-changing score on Saturday.

Alongside him, Easterns’ Khaya Majola representative, Xavier Coetzee, always appears to be in form. He, too, will be a scalp the men from Mpumalanga will regard as critical to their success.

In the Moories’ bowling department, their vice-captain, Henré Everleigh, has already captured 59 wickets this year, which leaves him just four short of equalling the school’s record of 63. Appearing in the Fain Noordvaal final means motivation to equal or better that mark will not be an issue for him.

TEAMS

Hans Moore: Warren Minnaar (Captain), Henré Everleigh (Vice-Captain), Kenan Shaw, Stephan Vermaak, Xavier Coetzee, Adrian Watson, Aiden Shaw, Zander Swart, Ethan Smith, Kearan Weyers, Kyle Wratten.

Head Coach: Paul Amorin.
Assistant Coaches: Werner Swart, Justin Brink.

Hoërskool Middelburg: Le Roux French (Captain), Eduan Strydom (Vice-Captain), Zubair Desai, Herman Potgieter, Reuben Brandmuller, Gavin Genis, Shaun Taljaard, Ivan Deale, Hendré Nel, Wian van Heerden, Sibusiso Maduna, Christian Jansen.

Head Coach: Shaun Neethling.
Assistant Coach: Waldo Prinsloo.

Die Hoërskool Monument van Krugersdorp het ‘n oud-Monumentaar, Reinhard Gerber, as sy nuwe hoof van rugby aangestel.

Gerber het die Wit Bulle in 1999 gespeel met toekomstige internasionale spelers soos Quintin Geldenhuys (Italië) en Jorrie Muller (Suid-Afrika) as sy spanmaats. Geldenhuys is tans die hoof van rugby by Hoërskool Trio in Kroonstad.

Buiten Gerber is die voormalige Springbok-voorryman Jannie du Plessis as die hoof van afrigting aangestel. Gerber en Du Plessis sal saam die sweep by die skool se eerstespan klap.

Du Plessis het die Springbokke in 70 toetse as stut verteenwoordig. Hy was onder andere ‘n lid van die Springbok-span wat in 2007 die Wêreldbeker verower het.

Gerber was tot onlangs nog betrokke as afrigter by die Duitse klub Frankfort 1880. Hy het voorheen ook skolerugby by Ben Vorster in Tzaneen asook Glenwood in Durban afgerig. Hy het ook as speler vir die Luiperds, Goue Leeus en Grens uitgedraf.

Monument se paneel wat die onderhoude en aanstellings hanteer het, het onder andere uit oud-Bokke van Monnas – Jaco Taute en Willem Alberts bestaan, asook die voorsitter van die beheerliggaam, Ryno Hartman, en nog ‘n oud-Monumentaar dokter Jano de Beer.

Gerber en Du Plessis het stof in die oë van ‘n hele paar sterk aansoekers geskop. Onder die aansoekers was daar voormalige Springbok-afrigters, asook huidige provinsiale breiers.

Monnas se paaie het verlede maand met Tjaart van der Walt geskei. Hy was sedert 2017 aanstuur van sake van Monnas se rugby. Die Wit Bulle het onder hom drie keer die Noordvaaltrofee in 2017, 2018 en 2022 gewen. Hy het die Wit Bulle ook in 2017 en 2018 tot kampioen van die Tuks-reeks geneem.

Van der Walt het in sy sewe seisoene by Monnas vyf trofees verower. Twee van die seisoene was boonop nie volle seisoene nie weens die Covid 19-pandemie. Van der Walt het hom intussen by Helpmekaar-kollege in Johannesburg aangesluit.

Van der Walt is met sy vyf titels as afrigter in die SDC Noordvaal Cup een van die mees suksesvolste afrigters in die geskiedenis van die oudste skolereeks in Suid-Afrika. Hy het ook twee titels as hoofafrigter van Garsfontein in 2015 en 2016 verower. Slegs Dr. Carel Kriek met nege titels vir Affies het al meer titels sedert 1920 as Van der Walt ingepalm.

Monnas se Wit Bulle het vanjaar sy grootste nederlaag nog op ‘n rugbyveld

Wynand Moolman sal steeds ‘n belangrike rol by Monnas vertolk om te verseker dat die voorste talent na Krugersdorp gelok word.

Merensky Landbou Akademie‘s first XI will be holding their breath to see who they’ll face in the final of the Limpopo Schools SA20 on Saturday.

Relive all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

In the final, Merensky will face either Giyani Hub or Phalaborwa Hub for the title. Those sides meet in a semi-final showdown on Saturday morning.

The Plasies booked their place in the title decider by comfortably defeating Mohodi Boys Hub by 47 runs on 2 November.

Playing at the prestigious Stanford Lake College, after the teams chose to meet one other halfway, the Plasies opted to bat first, and their opening batsmen, James Durant and Bernard Wandrag, started well, combining for a 57-run partnership, to which they both contributed 21 runs.

This laid the platform for the attacking duo of all-rounder, Rinaldo Bornman, and wicket-keeper/batsman, JP Botha, to do what they do best. Botha led the Merensky charge, smashing three sixes and three fours on the big Stanford Field, in his innings of 39 runs from 30 deliveries.

Bornman chipped in with 36, which included four fours, and the pair partnered for a scintillating 81-run stand.

After their demise, Xander Schoeman went on the attack, smashing two sixes and two fours in a quickfire 28 from only 13 balls.

By the conclusion of their 20 overs, Merensky Landbou had posted a very challenging 189/4.

In reply, Mohodi’s Kamogelo Morema, who’ll be heading to his second Khaya Majola Week in December, batted phenomenally. The experienced opening batsman gave the Plasie bowlers grey hairs while cracking four fours and three sixes in an entertaining contribution of 72 runs.

Unfortunately for Morema, the only other noteworthy contribution was 25, scored by Mphontseng Mashlane, but more were needed.

The Plasies’ fast bowler, Schalk Rossouw, impressed with his three wickets, which included the scalps of Morema and Mashlane, at the cost of 18 runs from his three overs

Captain and opening bowler, Luka Heinlein, did a tidy job, generating good swing, to claim 2/12 from three overs.

After 20 overs, the Mohodi Hub had been restricted to 142/7.

Summarised scorecard 

Merensky Landbou 189/4 (JP Botha 39, Extras 39, Rinaldo Bornman 36, Xander Schoeman 28*, James Durant 21, Bernard Wandrag 21; Mahloti Sekuba 1/15) Mohodi Boys Hub 142/7 (Kamogelo Morema 72; Mpontsheng Mashlane 25; Schalk Rossouw 3/18, Luka Jeinlein 2/12).

Merensky Landbou won by 47 runs.

Curro Holdings is expanding the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS) programme by adding six additional schools in 2025 as part of its mission to “Create the player of tomorrow’”.

The initiative has, already, successfully integrated 17 Curro schools. Its objective is to provide students with the essential technical, cognitive, and social competencies required to excel in competitive football.

During an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus earlier this year, Pitso Mosimane, the founder of the PMSS said: “The development of football must be a combination of academics and the sport itself.”

The PMSS programme has chosen to work with schools, Mosimane said, to nurture football skills from an early age.

The schools set to benefit from the programme include Curro Academy Mbombela and Meridian Karino, in Mpumalanga; Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel, in Roodepoort; Meridian Rustenburg, in North West; and Curro Academy Sandown and Meridian Pinehurst, in the Western Cape.

Curro’s partnership with the renowned coach, Pitso Mosimane, began in January 2023 at Curro Northern Academy, in Polokwane, and Curro Meridian Cosmo City, in Roodepoort.

Since partnering with Curro, the PMSS programme has achieved remarkable success, with Meridian Northern Academy in Polokwane recently winning the prestigious Kay Motsepe Schools Championship, while the u13 boys’ team secured an impressive third place.

Those outstanding achievements were hailed by Curro’s CEO, Cobus Loubser, as being among the greatest milestones in the 25-year history of Curro’s sports teams.

The PMSS model provides a structured pathway for players aged from six to 18, guiding them from grassroots development to high-performance training as they progress on their football journeys.

“Curro’s continued commitment to the PMSS programme and its expansion into more schools reflects our vision of fostering excellence in both sports and academics,” Fergus Sampson, Business Executive for Meridian Schools at Curro Holdings, said.

“We believe that sports play a critical role in developing not only physical fitness but also essential skills, like leadership, teamwork, and discipline in our learners.

Partnering with Pitso Mosimane, one of Africa’s most successful football coaches, enables us to elevate the standard of soccer in South Africa. The extension of the programme is a natural progression, allowing us to nurture even more talent.”

The PMSS programme includes federation-accredited coaches and a comprehensive training plan. Among the pillars it is focused upon are talent identification, school league integration, and high-performance training.

The KZN Inland u19 squad for the Khaya Majola Week features only one player, Netanzi Denenga, who represented the province at last year’s week, where the team finished fourth after a narrow 15-run defeat to The Titans in the third-place playoff.

Only five players from 2023’s KZN Inland u16 squad – Ben Hockly (Hilton College), Sphamandla Dzanibe (Maritzburg College), Daniel Nadasan (Maritzburg College), Radhesh Jhilmeet (Michaelhouse), and Siphosethu Ngcobo (Ikusaselihle High) – have made the step up to the senior side.

The squad, though, includes many players who have performed outstandingly well in 2024. Both Chad Mason (Maritzburg College) and Cian Fortmann (St Charles College) bettered 1 000 runs in the calendar year while also performing well with the ball.

The right-handed Mason bats near the top of the order and is also a more than useful spin bowler, which he demonstrated when he was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker at the St John’s Rams T20 in Harare.

Fortmann, a left-hander, opens the batting and can be brutal against wayward bowling. Early in the year, in the Clifton Centenary T20 Tournament, he blasted an eye-opening 153 not out from only 76 balls in a win over Hilton College.

Speaking of Hilton, besides Denenga, they’ve had two batsmen who’ve been among the runs selected for the KZN Inland side. Ben Hockly’s excellence was recognised when he was selected for the South Africa u19 Emerging side that scored a 5-0 series whitewash over Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe. Charles Swart, who has scored centuries against Paul Roos Gimnasium and Kearsney College this term, also cracked the nod.

Apart from Mason and the aforementioned Sphamnadla Dzanibe, a left-arm paceman, who trends towards being a bowling all-rounder, Maritzburg College is also represented by opening batsman Daniel Nadasan. He’s not usually the fastest of scorers, but he is solid and makes bowlers graft every bit as hard for his wicket as he grafts for his runs.

Joining Cian Fortmann, from St Charles, are Marcell Wellmann, Rowen Rajah, and Kwanele Nqayi.

Wellmann has enjoyed an excellent year as captain of Saints, leading them to the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League title while delivering with both bat and ball. He’s a left-hander, too, and his nagging left-arm spin gives the KZN Inland team a bowler who can tie down one end and still attack. Wellman is, furthermore, a solid performer with the bat near the top of the order.

Rajah, meanwhile, joined Hilton’s Ben Hockly in the SA u19 Emerging team. He offers proper pace and, on a wicket that offers a little help, he can be an absolute handful.

Nqayi, a batsman, is talented but can be a little inconsistent. For him, it’s about playing himself in before trying to press on.

Michaelhouse provides Radhesh Jhilmeet and Ross Moller to the side. Jhilmeet has some pace to him and with that comes his ability to extract something out of the wicket to remove batsmen. Moller, meanwhile, is as steady as they come as far as opening bowlers are concerned. He doesn’t offer express pace, but his control of line and length is exemplary and builds pressure. It usually brings him wickets at an economical rate.

The only player from outside of the four schools that traditionally make up the KZN Inland side is Siphosethu Ngcobo, from Ikusaselihle High. It’s a tremendous achievement for him to make the side when one considers that he has far fewer opportunities than the other team members to test himself week in and week out against top opposition.

KZN INLAND KHAYA MAJOLA SQUAD

Natenzi Denenga (Hilton College), Sphamandla Dzanibe (Maritzburg College), Cian Fortmann (St Charles College), Ben Hockly (Hilton College), Radhesh Jhilmeet (Michaelhouse), Chad Mason (Maritzburg College), Ross Moller (Michaelhouse), Daniel Nadasan (Maritzburg College), Siphosethu Ngcobo (Ikusaselihle High), Kwanele Nqayi (St Charles College), Rowen Rajah (St Charles College), Charles Swart (Hilton College), Marcell Wellmann (St Charles College)

Non-travelling reserves

Sechaba Gude (Hilton College), Llewellyn Sutherland (Maritzburg College), Ethan van Heerden (Hilton College)

Management

Head coach: David Griffiths (Hilton College)
Assistant coach: Lwandiswa Zuma (Michaelhouse)
Manager: Suvedh Ramprith (Drakensview)

The South African u17 boys’ hockey team entered the third edition of the Dato Mirnawan Cup intending to go all the way.

However, it was far from smooth sailing for coach Justin Collins and his team in the opening rounds of the tournament.

Ahead of the event, the South Africans would’ve drawn inspiration from last year’s team, which won silver.

On Sunday, the opening day of the tournament, they began well, delivering a blistering performance to whip Canada 9-1. It was a commanding victory that filled the team with confidence.

Captain Reece Theunis scored a hattrick while Siwaphiwe Sithembu found the back of the net on two occasions. The other goals were netted by Callum Anderson, Keegan Le Roux, Chris Abrahams, and Ryde Brisset.

Up against South Korea in their second outing, South Africa’s confidence was jolted when the Koreans’ quick and aggressive play caught Theunis and company off guard.

They found themselves in a deep hole, trailing 0-3. South Africa, though, staged a valiant comeback, but South Korea found a decisive strike to score a 4-3 win.

The team’s last group match was against the hosts. It was a must-win clash with a place in the top four on the line.

Unfortunately for the touring side, they lacked a cutting edge and struggled to find their rhythm. Meanwhile, Malaysia was on song and scored three goals to secure their second win of the tournament.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus after day three’s action, South Africa’s head coach Collins said they were disappointed by the results but will continue to soldier on and take lessons from their performances.

“It’s not the position we would’ve liked to be in, but that’s the nature of tournament hockey,” he said from Malaysia.

“It’s a game of inches. We never prepare to lose. No team does. This is a great experience for our young players on an international stage.”

With the group matches done and dusted, the South Africans are out of medal contention and will enter the playoffs aiming to finish in fifth place.

On Thursday, 7 November, they will face Queensland at 10:00 SAST. Click HERE to watch the match.

After their teams made strong strides during the 2024 SASHOC National Weeks, consistently finishing at the upper end of the various tournaments, the Boland Schools Hockey Association has set its sights on even higher achievements and has launched a High-Performance League for players in the region.

The league is set to kick off on 8 November. After a sharp and intense two weeks of competition, the finals will be played on the Maties AstroTurf in Stellenbosch on Friday, 22 November. 

The league is the first of its kind in the region, and it will see players from u13 to u17 challenged by a series of highly competitive matches.

Boland coaches will take charge of each of the sides, and their main objective will be to implement systems and structures, with a key focus being the 2025 SASHOC National Weeks.

Besides helping players, the league will also assist coaches enhance their skills by putting them through their paces and ensuring everyone is aligned with the same goals.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus after the announcement of the High-Performance League, the Chairlady of Boland Schools Hockey, Adele Bothma, said the idea of a high-performance league was motivated by a desire to build on Boland’s successes during 2024.

“We recognise the need to continuously enhance our structures and systems with a focused effort on improving the high-performance format,” she said.

“More than 200 players will compete in the High-Performance League. The committee looks forward to building on this format and including many more players in the future.

“Out of 12 teams this year, seven Boland teams finished in the top three places [at SASHOC National Weeks], highlighting the strength and development of our hockey programme.”

The coaches set to take charge of the teams are familiar faces within the Boland system.

The u13 boys will be under the guidance of Scott Patterson and Michael John Alexander, while Lou Foster, Scott Hendricks, and Michaella Beart will take charge of the u13 girls. 

The u15 boys’ section has three teams, which will be overseen by Rowan McLachlan, Mick Ouwerkerk, and Kyran Fortuin, respectively.

In the girls’ U15 section, Darren Davies and Chris Gerber will serve as the coaches, while Alvin August will do duty as an assistant coach.

Matt Smith, Fred Olivier, and Dewald Raath will guide the three boys’ u17 teams, while in the girls’ senior section, Jackie Scheepers‘ team will compete against Mignon Collinse‘s side, with Marc Landman serving as an assistant coach.

Mentoring of the coaches will be managed by Jarred Pitout, Michael Baker, and Jacques Grobler.

Pitout said he believes if the High-Performance League is properly utilised, it could work wonders for Boland hockey.

“The plan is to contact our players eight months before tournaments, track them through high-performance, and guide our coaches on this journey, too,” he explained.

“Boland is making a conscious effort to engage our coaches to become a community that can rely on one another, be supportive, and be the sounding boards because we need to break the mold of all of us competing for our own gain.

“I believe that if Boland can get this right and the coaches buy into our vision, we are standing at the beginning of something great that can make our Boland Schools Hockey programme one of the greatest,” he concluded.

Fixtures for the Boland HP League

Round 1 

WEEK 2 (8 November)
TIME	TURF	TEAMS
15:00-16:15	Maties C	Girls U17 1 vs 2
15:00-16:15	Maties A	Girls U15 1 vs 2
15:00-16:15	Maties B	Boys U17 1 vs 2
15:00-16:15	Rhenish	Boys U13 1v2
16:30-17:45	Rhenish	Girls U13 1v2
16:30-17:45	Maties C	Boys U15 1 vs 2
16:30-17:45	Maties A	Girls U17 1 vs 2
16:30-17:45	Maties B	Girls U15 1 vs 2
18:00-19:15	Maties C	Boys U17 1 vs 3
18h00-19:15	Maties A	Boys U15 1 vs 3
18h00-19h15	Maties B	Boys U13 1 vs 2
19:30-21:00	Maties C	Girls U13 1 vs 2
19:30-21:00	Maties A	Boys U17 2 vs 3
19:30-21:00	Maties B	Boys U15 2 vs 3

Round 2 

WEEK 3 (15 November)
TIME	TURF	TEAMS
15:00-16:15	Maties C	Girls U17 1 vs 2
15:00-16:15	Maties A	Boys U15 1 vs 2
15:00-16:15	Maties B	Boys U17 1 vs 2
16:30-17:45	Maties C	Boys U13 1 vs 2
16:30-17:45	Maties A	Girls U15 1 vs 2
16:30-17:45	Maties B	Girls U13 1 vs 2
18:00-19:15	Maties C	Boys U17 2 vs 3
18:00-19:15	Maties A	Boys U15 2 vs 3
18:00-19:15	Maties B	Girls U17 1 vs 2
19:30-21:00	Maties A	Boys U17 1 vs 3
19:30-21:00	Maties C	Boys U15 1 vs 3
19:30-21:00	Maties B	Girls U15 1 vs 2

FINALS 

WEEK 4 (22 November)
TIME	TURF	TEAMS
15:00-16:15	Maties C	U15 Boys Semi
15:00-16:15	Maties A	U17 Boys Semi
16:30-17:45	Maties C	U13 Girls Final
16:30-17:45	Maties A	U13 Boys Final
18:00-19:15	Maties C	U15 Girls Final
18:00-19:15	Maties A	U15 Boys Final
19:30-21:00	Maties C	U17 Girls Final
19:30-21:00	Maties A	U17 Boys Final

 

With the season extended by a week due to the earlier postponement of some fixtures, including the Kaizer Chiefs versus Mamelodi Sundowns showdown at Naturena two weeks ago, teams in the Gauteng Development League (GDL) took to the field on the weekend once again with plenty to play for.

All eyes were on Sundowns, who had an opportunity to narrow the gap on the log leaders, Highlands Park.

It was a tough ask for coach Surprise Moriri‘s Sundowns, though, as they were faced with matches on successive days, playing Joburg City on Saturday and Randburg AFC on Sunday.

‘Downs, though, were up for the challenge, easing to 5-1 and 3-1 wins respectively to reduce the gap on the defending champions, Highlands Park, to only three points ahead of the last week of the season.

Their Tshwane neighbours, SuperSport United, faced off against Kathorus Hyper Academy at Curro Sagewood and emerged victorious by a 5-1 scoreline, which lifted SuperSport into the top five of the league standings.

Remember Elite Sport Academy (Resa) and Randburg AFC drew 0-0 at President Park on Saturday, while Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School suffered a shock defeat to 16th-placed Joburg City.

RESULTS

Mamelodi Sundowns 5-1 Joburg City
SuperSport United 5-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Remember Elite Sports Academy 0-0 Randburg AFC
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Randburg AFC
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 0-2 Joburg City

A LOOK AHEAD TO THE FINAL WEEK

Thirty-five weeks of intense Academy football have come and gone and, with only one week left, the champion has not yet been determined.

After hundreds of fixtures, three teams – log leaders Highlands Park, second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, and third-placed Kaizer Chiefs – have a chance to walk away with the coveted league title.

It’s little surprise that the trio is once again battling it out for the honours. It was a similar story in 2023, when Highlands Park hoisted the trophy, with Sundowns settling for second and Chiefs for third.

The defending champions hold a three-point advantage over ‘Downs and enjoy a six-point cushion over Chiefs, but the Tshwane-based Sundowns have played two games fewer than “The Lions of the North‘” which means if the Brazilians win their last two matches and Highlands Park also wins, the league winner would be decided on goal difference.

The season is set for a nail-biting finish with Sundowns and Chiefs locking horns in the very last match at Naturena Village on Sunday. The tension will, no doubt, be through the roof.

On the other hand, Highlands Park appears to have a simpler task. They conclude their season on Sunday against East Rand Athletic Club at home.

The Westville Boys’ High 1st XI made their trip up to the KZN Midlands for a showdown with Michaelhouse on Saturday worth their while by powering their way to a big 82-run victory on the Roy Gathorne Oval.

The toss went the Griffins‘ way and they chose to bat first, which appeared to have backfired when they lost both of their openers for single-figure scores.

Seth Simpson, though, has been in good form and he, again, delivered. Batting at three, he made 68 from 97 deliveries, smashing a six and adding eight fours. His knock proved pivotal in setting the visitors on course for a solid total.

When he departed, the fourth man out, Westville had reached 135/4 in the 31st over. Together with Sean McGough, who went on to contribute 38 from 53 balls, Simpson put on 78 for the fourth wicket from 98 deliveries.

With others chipping in here and there – Sekou Shangase (19), Tristin Delvin (18), Kyle McGough (16), and Roxton Payne (15) – Westville added 96 more runs in 117 balls to make their way to 231 all out off of exactly 50 overs.

Ethan Muir, who counted Simpson among his victims, bowled well, capturing 4/38 from 10 overs, while the reliable Ross Moller bagged 2/37 from his 10, and Radhesh Jhilmeet claimed 2/31 in five.

Michaelhouse needed to bat at 4.64 runs per over to win, and Seb Hofmeyr, opening the innings, did a fantastic job. The problem for the home side was that only Jean-Lec Rey gave him good support. The other nine batsmen mustered only 36 runs between them.

Hofmeyr top-scored with a fine 64 from 81 deliveries, which included eight fours and a six, while Rey struck four fours in his 36 from 50. There was little momentum to ‘House’s effort, however, as wickets fell regularly.

Nicandro Kistna and Roxton Payne were, mostly, responsible for that. Kistna, in only 5.3 overs, claimed 3/19, while Payne snared 3/27 in 10 with his left-arm spin. His removal of Ethan Muir and Cival Rugbar for ducks, tore the heart out of the Michaelhouse middle-order, reducing the home side to 53/5 in the 17th over.

From there, the chances were slim that the Balgowan boys would win. They were bowled out for 149 in 35.3 overs.

Summarised scorecard

Westville Boys’ High 231/10 (Seth Simpson 68, Sean McGough 38, Ethan Muir 4/38, Radhesh Jhilmeet 2/31, Ross Moller 2/37); Michaelhouse 149/10 (Sebastian Hofmeyr 64, Jean-Luc Rey 36, Nicandro Kistna 3/19, Roxton Payne 3/27).

Westville Boys’ High won by 82 runs.