Boland fans have an opportunity to watch some of the players who have been chosen for the annual youth weeks for the first time since their selections were announced when HTS Drostdy plays host to Swartland in Worcester on Saturday.
Five Drostdy Donkeys have been selected for this year’s Craven Week team, underlining the proud Worcester institution’s dominance in the region.
Aljay Skippers, Bernedict George, MJ van der Westhuizen, Marcus Lee and RW Duggan will represent Drostdy at the prestigious event, while three more – Josh Fourie, Stefan van der Merwe and Tertius Wantenaar – have been chosen for the Academy Week squad.
Swartland’s big hooker, Kallie Boutsikaris, will be lining up alongside the Drostdy boys at the Craven Week, but until then all focus will be on this weekend’s clash.
The visitors will also be looking to their dynamic fullback Nicholai Miggel and their exciting inside centre Carlo van der Merwe to unlock the Drostdy defence, but they’ll have to be at their best to contain the home team’s massive firepower.
Meanwhile, Stellenberg visits Somerset West to take on the Parel ValleiBulldogs.
Last year, the Jade Brigade rolled to a decisive 60-5 victory, but the Bulldogs will aim to take full advantage of the home crowd’s support this weekend.
With exciting young talents, Luchen Meyer, Iviwe Majingo and Shudley Rhoda in their ranks, the home side has what it takes to cause an upset.
After a difficult start to the season, Stellenberg have found their rhythm and they’re looking better with every outing.
The battle between the two no. 8s, Renato Tosi and Dale du Toit, is bound to be a highlight of Saturday’s game.
With powerful ballcarriers like Estian Steyn, Dehan Neethling and Almero Keizer driving the visitors’ attack, the PV defence will have to stand strong to avoid a repeat of last season’s result.
TEAMS
HTS Drostdy vs Swartland at 13:30
HTS Drostdy: 15 Hareld Mbuqa, 14 Adrian Vergotine, 13 Aljay Skippers, 12 Josh Fourie, 11 Bernedict George, 10 Stefan van der Merwe, 9 Caleb Cornett, 8 MJ van der Westhuizen, 7 Darius Venter, 6 Morne Coetzer, 5 Marcus Lee, 4 Pietie Erasmus, 3 Tertius Wantenaar, 2 Daniel Mellet, 1 Walter Schoeman.
Swartland: (possibly) 15 Nicholai Miggel, 14 Deven Bocks, 13 Daniel Walters, 12 Carlo van der Merwe, 11 Tyrese Barlow, 10 Iminathi Njozela, 9 Kailen Kotze, 8 JH Kleynhans, 7 Rheinhardt Adonis, 6 Arthur Bester-van Lill, 5 Martin Neethling, 4 Alexzander Wucherpfenning, 3 Melchior Botha, 2 Kallie Boutsikaris, 1 Ruan Zandberg.
Parel Vallei vs Stellenberg at 12:30
Parel Vallei: 15 Luchen Meyer, 14 Junior Ruzvidzo, 13 Caleb Maasdorp, 12 Cade Lucas, 11 Iviwe Majingo, 10 Shudley Rhoda, 9 Keagan Haupt, 8 Renato Tosi, 7 Sebastian van Niekerk, 6 Dylan Cockroft, 5 James Paxton, 4 Thomas Hoffmeyer, 3 Ian Kleynhans, 2 Diaan du Toit, 1 Ayanda Mpumplwana
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Marco Staples, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Pretorius, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Eben Rademan, 9 Christiaan van der Bijl, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Stefan Visser, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Daniel du Plessis, 3 Dean Janse van Rensburg, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Christiaan Jansen van Rensburg.
St Charles welcomes St Stithians to Pietermaritzburg for a derby weekend, with the sides meeting under lights on Friday evening for the 1st XI hockey honours.
Gauteng hockey lovers are in for a treat on the weekend with an epic six derby clashes taking place on Saturday. Those will be preceded by a Friday Night Lights meeting between St Charles and St Stithians in Pietermaritzburg.
The mouthwatering fixtures include the in-form Jeppe High School for Boys against their old rivals, St John’s College.
The Kensington side heads into the clash buoyed after a winning the Aitken Cup last weekend. They met Parktown Boys’ High School in the final at St Stithians and a last-gasp goal secured a 2-0 victory in a tight contest.
Jeppe will wrap up their second term schedule when they host St John’s on the Boden Astro in their last action before the boys turn their attention to their mid-year exams.
The schools have met 71 times previously. Jeppe has been dominant in the past, winning 42 games, with 11 draws, and 18 wins for St John’s.
Coach Siya Sityana‘s Jeppe troops will go into the clash full of confidence. Their recent form, apart from their Aitken Cup winning exploits, include a 3-2 win over Pretoria Boys High School and a 3-2 defeat of KES. Only Northwood, in Durban, stopped the Zebras, with the Knights claiming a 3-1 victory.
The Aitken Cup runners-up, Parktown Boys’ High are away at St Benedict’s College, in Bedfordview.
Parktown has shown good growth during the 2024 season. It began with a so-so showing at the Founders Festival, but they’ve been picking up momentum ever since. At the Aitken Cup, they won two of their three games on the first day of the tournament.
On the second day, they won both fixtures, 5-3 over St John’s and 2-1 over St David’s Marist Inanda. Their reward was an appearance in the final of the Aitken Cup for the first time since 2010.
Coach Kyle Reddy believes that the key to his team’s success has been great sportsmanship and selflessness among the players.
“I think the key thing, since I joined the team, is that they have been together since they were 16, playing for the 1st team, so most of the guys in the squad have 100 caps.
“I have started them young, but the most important key is they are good humans. They play for each other. They are brothers on and off the field. That’s what allows them to fight well for each other,” he said.
JEPPE V ST JOHN’S HEAD-TO-HEAD
2011 St John’s 3 Jeppe 0 2012 Jeppe 0 St John’s 0 2013 St John’s 3 Jeppe 2 2014 Jeppe 2 St John’s 0 2015 St John’s 3 Jeppe 0 2016 Jeppe 0 St John’s 0 2017 Jeppe 1 St John’s 0 2018 Jeppe 2 St John’s 2 2019 Jeppe 2 St John’s 2 2022 Jeppe 4 St John’s 3 2023 Jeppe 2 St John’s 1
FIXTURES
Friday
18:45 – St Charles College vs St Stithians College
Saturday
10:00 – St Benedict’s College vs Parktown Boys’ High; 10:40- King Edward VII vs Affies; 10:45 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs St John’s College; 10:45 – St David’s Marist Inanda vs Waterkloof; High; 11:45 – Garsfontein vs Menlopark; 11:30 – Pretoria Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse
Nadat hulle verlede naweek ‘n loslootjie geniet het sal Boland Landbou weer oorgehaal wees vir aksie wanneer hulle Saterdag vir SACS in die Agter-Paarl welkom heet.
Beleef al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – Registreer nou
Verlede jaar het die boere met 32-22 in die moederstad geseëvier, dus sal SACS vasberade wees om die bordjies te probeer verhang wanneer hulle hierdie naweek op die plaas gaan kuier.
Verlede Saterdag het SACS beïndruk deur Milnerton se segetog tot ‘n einde te bring met ‘n wegholoorwinning van 59-19. Hulle pak egter hierdie naweek se uitdaging aan sonder hul kaptein, Seth Bradford, vleuel, Quewinn Lackay, en flank, Tashriq Bailey.
Buitesenter, Nic Reynolds, neem die leisels oor met Max Bester wat in die nr. 9-trui begin. Imtiaz Abrahams draf uit op die vleuel en Qawe Sawuka sak langs die skrum na ‘n rits beserings aan die SACS-vyftiental.
Met gevaarmanne soos Reynolds, heelagter, Jack Benade en losskakel, Rayaan Solomons op hul pos sal die Boland-span egter steeds wakker moet wees om die besoekers se agterlyn in toom te hou.
Hans Verster trek elke week aandag met sy kragtige spel in die Boland-trui, terwyl die tuisspan self oor genoegsame spoed agterlangs beskik, met Wehan Lume en Enslin Claasen op die vleuels.
Rondebosch Boys’ High soek ook wraak in Brugstraat wanneer hulle vir die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl die stryd aansê.
In 2023 het Boishaai met 12-7 koning gekraai na ‘n rillerstryd in die Kaap. Teen halftyd was dit nog net ‘Bosch wat punte kon aanteken, en hulle sal hul lippe aflek vir die geleentheid om hierdie naweek enduit vir die Paarl-reuse te kasty.
Die enigste verandering aan die Boishaai-span wat verlede naweek vir Bishops Diocesan College met 73-6 afgeransel het is Christiaan Grundling, wat terugkeer op haker.
Die besoekers word ook versterk deur die terugkeer van hul haker, Justin Amos, maar is sonder hul ster-skrumskakel, Caleb Belelie, en buitesenter, Randall-John Davids. Travis van den Berg begin Saterdag op skrumskakel en Ewan Lawrie neem Davids se plek in.
‘Bosch het verlede naweek ook ‘n blaaskans geniet na ‘n goeie vertoning die vorige Saterdag, toe hulle vir Paarl Gimnasium laat sweet het. Die Gimmies het uiteindelik met 19-12 gewen en daardie stryd het definitief ‘n swaar tol geëis op die span van die suidelike voorstede.
Hul groot agsteman, Collin Paul Kemp, is nietemin ‘n speler om fyn dop te hou, aangesien hy elke naweek sy span op die voorvoet plaas met sy kragtige dryfspel en klipharde verdediging. Hierdie naweek kom hy egter te staan teen een van die sterkste lostrio-kombinasies in die land, met Douw Wessels, Rubin Dames en Steph van der Merwe wat tot dusver uitblink vir Boishaai.
Hoër Jongenskool Paarl: 15 Francois van der Merwe, 14 Aiden Jacobs, 13 Tristan Joubert, 12 Viaan Mentoor, 11 Shane Lee Simonse, 10 Jeneal Davids, 9 Keagan Smith, 8 Douw Wessels, 7 Rubin Dames, 6 Steph van der Merwe, 5 Jayden Joubert, 4 Gershom Pieters, 3 Cruz Davey, 2 Christiaan Grundling, 1 Jordan Jooste.
Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 David Kadima, 13 Ewan Lawrie, 12 Alutha Wesi, 11 Shakeel Abrahams, 10 David Simon, 9 Travis van den Berg, 8 Collin Paul Kemp, 7 Joshua Neill, 6 Matthys du Plooy, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Danil Nicolas Oosthuizen, 3 Matthew van der Merwe, 2 Justin Amos, 1 Luke Pretorius.
Flyhalf Luke Davidson will be a key player when Michaelhouse hosts Pretoria Boys High on Meadows on 25 May.
Michaelhouse welcomes Pretoria Boys High to Meadows for a 13:30 showdown on Saturday. While the hosts should be favoured to win on their home fortress, they head into the clash a little disappointed after a loss to Maritzburg College last time out.
In the cauldron of College’s Old Boys’ Weekend, and playing on Goldstone’s, ‘House allowed College to dictate the early going in the game and after that it was a case of playing catch-up. The disappointment in that result was that it also came following a stirring and well-deserved victory over their arch-rivals, Hilton College, on Gilfillan Field.
James Fleming’s charges will be more than a handful on their home ground, however. They’ll be led, by example, by their 8th-man and captain Carlyle Hawkins, who was one of three Michaelhouse boys to be named in the Sharks’ Craven Week team. Hawkins possesses a fantastic engine and is all action on attack and defence from the first whistle to the last.
Just behind the scrum, Luke Davidson, in the crucial flyhalf position, is one of those players whose class is shown in how much time he appears to have on the ball. His decision-making is usually correct, and he has the full gamut of skills at his disposal, whether using the boot, his feet, or his hands.
The other Sharks’ selection from Michaelhouse was loosehead prop Aphiwe Shelembe. Again, he brings a wonderful all-round skillset to his position. But, make no mistake, he’s a load doing his primary job in the set pieces, first and foremost.
Like Michaelhouse, Pretoria Boys High lost their last game. The difference is, however, that they will feel somewhat encouraged by their previous outing, which ended in a 22-27 defeat to a very good Jeppe team.
Boys High has played one of the tougher schedules to be found anywhere in 2024. But, in typical Candies‘ fashion, they’ve knuckled down and got on with meeting the challenges head-on.
One of the areas in which Boys High has excelled this season is the driving maul. It’s proven to be a fine attacking weapon for the side and caused their opposition many issues defending it. No doubt, Michaelhouse will have done work on preparing for it, but theory and reality are two different things. ‘House will hope they can translate the theory into reality.
Pretoria Boys High made one of the most interesting positional switches of the season when they moved Seth Venter from flank to flyhalf. One of the consequences of that move, has been the problem Venter, with his physicality, has posed to opposing defences. It has certainly made him a regular try scorer.
Where Boys High has been less consistent has been off the kicking tee. They’ll be hoping that doesn’t catch up with them at Michaelhouse.
Northwood at home to Maritzburg College should be a very interesting matchup. The Knights are enjoying a strong season. College has been less consistent, but they have appeared to be in good form in their past two KZN clashes.
While they were well beaten by Paul Roos and Grey College, ranked one and two in the country, at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival, College has impressed in wins over Westville and Michaelhouse. If they get away to a good start, they’re a tough team to haul in.
Northwood, though, is a similarly abrasive outfit. They’re tough up front and dangerous at the back. A big loss against Jeppe is the outlier in their season. Mostly, they’ve been efficient and well drilled.
Unfortunately for the Durban school, they’re still without their skipper Vuyo Gwiji. The 8th-man made the SA Schools A side last year and has been included in the Sharks’ Craven Week team, but he has missed most of the season.
On a positive note, Northwood has depth and versatility in their squad; Titas Cesonis is playing in his third position in their last three matches. On Saturday, he packs down in the second row. Previously, he played at flank and 8th-man.
If the Knights can supply good quality ball to their backline, Siya Nkosi, at flyhalf, is a dangerous playmaker, able to slice through defences or to play his support runners into gaps.
College will be missing some players through illness, which has led to a number of changes and positional switches. One of those includes a move for Jordan Thackeray from flyhalf to inside centre, with James Slevin returning to the starting lineup in the no. 10 jersey. There are new wings for College and a start for Cyril Cherayi at flank.
One of the missing players is College’s Craven Week lock, Jake Jansen, an influential performer in the lineouts and as a ball carrier. Might Northwood be able to take advantage of that?
St Mary’s DSG’s outstanding striker Elizabeth Anderson grabbed a handful of superb goals against Curro Hillcrest.
St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) was back in action, and registered a comprehensive win, barely four days after being crowned the winners of the inaugural St Anne’s Cup following a brilliant display against Durban Girls’ College in the final.
As they did against DGC, Carla AnnMackay’s charges produced a dominant performance as they pummelled Curro Hillcrest 7-0 on Founders Field on Thursday. That was the first of their two outings this week. They go up against Ashton on Friday.
The tie against Ashton will be a bittersweet encounter for Jamie da Silva. The St Mary’s link, who also transforms into a striker when needed, began her schoolgirl career at Ashton before switching to St Mary’s. She has been in outstanding form, regularly getting her name onto the score sheet, trailing only the prolific Elizabeth Anderson in the Saints’ ranks.
Da Silva scored a brace against Curro, and her former teammates would do well to keep her on lockdown when the sides meet.
“Jamie has fit into the team as if she has been with us forever. She played in the link line predominantly and we have been lucky that she shifted well into that forward position. Her composure on the ball is really nice. It’s something you don’t often see in girls’ hockey,” coach Mackay said after her side’s win on Thursday
However, da Silva is not the only problem Ashton will have to worry about. Anderson has been in red-hot form. The striker played a pivotal role when St Mary’s annexed the St Anne’s title over the past weekend and blasted a jaw-dropping five goals against Curro.
Although they were forced onto the backfoot throughout, Curro Hillcrest did well to restrict St Mary’s DSG to only one goal after half-time.
“She is a force to be reckoned with. She is playing amazingly up front and scoring some top-class goals at the moment,” Mackay enthused.
“She is playing with an exciting tenacity. It’s not often that she is muscled off the ball. Elizabeth is really dominating that nine-yard area. She has really come into her own this season.”
In the Free State, Nika Coertzen continues her rebuilding season with Eunice, who face Monument on Saturday.
Coertzen has a young team, which has not been as dominant as their predecessors, but they’ve shown immense growth since the start of the season and moments of brilliance, which have marked them as an above average outfit.
Die Witbulle van Hoërskool Monument is hierdie naweek in Bloemfontein om hul grootste uitdaging tot dusver vanjaar aan te pak wanneer hulle kragte meet met Grey-kollege.
Verlede jaar het Grey vir die Bulle in Krugersdorp met 31-10 mak gemaak, maar die Gautengers beleef ‘n stewige seisoen tot dusver en sal hul lippe aflek om die Bloemfonteiners op hul tuisveld te probeer skok.
Grey beskik nietemin self weer oor ‘n brekerspan vanjaar, met ‘n hele paar name wat week na week aandag trek met hul opwindende spel.
Heelagter, Heinz Stockenström, is een van die Grey-spelers om dop te hou hierdie naweek, asook die groot vleuel, Pretroius Ekeji, en hul vurige klein skrumskakel, Philip McLaren. Grey is egter sonder hul kragtige buitesenter, Ethan Adams, maar Thristan Maree bied eweveel gevaar in die middeveld.
Monnas het verlede naweek vir hul bure, Noordheuwel, met 36-33 verslaan en sal op daardie momentum wil voortbou in die Rosestad. In daardie kragmeting was dit die Bulle se vleuels, Kealan Milton en Ernesto Oersen, wat die gevaarlikste vertoon het, en die tuisspan sal moet waak daarteen om vir hulle enige spasie te gun.
Volgende maand sal heelparty van die spelers weer ontmoet op Monument se velde, wanneer hulle vir die onderskeie streekspanne by die jaarlikse Stadio Cravenweek verteenwoordig.
Grey-kollege t. Monument om 15:00
Grey-kollege: 15 Heinz Stockenström, 14 Pretorius Ekeji, 13 Thristan Maree, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Ruben Cilliers, 10 Alzeadon Felix, 9 Philip McLaren, 8 Liam Santos, 7 Juliun Cosmo, 6 Xander Smit, 5 AJ Meyer, 4 Marcel Coetzee, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Dian Venter.
Monument: 15 Hanu Fourie, 14 Kealan Milton, 13 Jason Joubert, 12 Theuns du Plooy, 11 Ernesto Oersen, 10 Cruz La Moer, 9 Hanno du Toit, 8 Vincent Robberts, 7 RJ Barnard, 6 Jamaal Feldman, 5 Nathan Erasmus, 4 Jacques Botha, 3 Juandre Marais, 2 Keenan Myners, 1 Wikus Meyer.
On Saturday, Westville Boys’ High hosts Hilton College on Bowden’s Field. They didn’t meet in 2023, so this weekend’s clash marks their first game since 2022, when Hilton were comfortable winners.
Picking a favourite for Saturday’s showdown is a fool’s game. Hilton has slightly the better record in 2024, but Westville has current form on their side.
Last weekend, the Griffin drew 36-36 with King Edward VIIin one of the games of the season. In it, they showed off just how dangerous they can be when they move the ball about the park, matching KES blow-for-blow as the two in-form outfits also matched one another with six tries apiece.
While it was a high-scoring contest, one should not underestimate the defensive physicality of the Griffin. Nor should one underestimate Hilton’s typically aggressive defence. On a couple of occasions this season, they’ve leaked more than they usually would, but when the game opens up, Brad Mcleod-Henderson’s charges have shown they, too, can play that way.
The recently announced Sharks’ Craven Week team includes three players from Westville – Chris Cloete, Zekhethelo Siyaya and Jadrian Afrikaner – and only one from Hilton – Hanu Pieterse – which is an unusually low return for the boys from the KZN midlands, but they’re not about individuals. They’re about a well-drilled team playing to a tried and tested gameplan, which more often than not delivers wins.
Westville plays with more flair, with playmakers like fullback Siyaya, Jade-Will Koopman, on the right wing, and centre Michael Satade, capable of opening up the stiffest of defences. Flair, though, doesn’t always win out.
Up front, Westville’s formidable form in the tight phases will test the Hilton pack. They’re led by their 8th-man, captain, and Sharks’ rep, Hanu Pieterse, who has been superb since making the move from lock to the back of the scrum this season.
Westville’s skipper, Chris Cloete, is a difference-maker, with his work at ruck time, and his proficiency in turning over possession, a key weapon that helps makes Westville so dangerous on the counterattack.
Having praised Westville’s flair, Hilton’s ability to create tries should not be overlooked. They’ve run in some spectacular scores in 2024, most notably in an unusually high scoring game against Kearsney, which Hilton won 55-37. They have pace, they have skills, and that’s why Saturday’s match in Westville should be can’t-miss watching.
And Hilton is coming off a one-point loss to Michaelhouse, which should certainly rev them up to record another win. That defeat, though, came after six wins on the trot, so expect a good response from the boys in the white kit.
There are plenty of changes to the Hilton lineup, mostly enforced. Ivan Jjuuko shifts from centre to fullback, where he played last season, Rukudzo Madinga takes over on the right wing from Seb Gaboreau, and Daniel Sweeney returns to centre, which allows Xander Vorster to take up his place at scrumhalf again. Stewart Falconer is out, which means Meyer Malherbe steps up at flank, and Ross Brown starts in the number six jersey, with Dylan Neill out.
Westville, for once, this season has a healthy squad, which means that Jade-Will Koopman, who stood out at flyhalf against KES, moves out to the right wing, with Unathi Mlotshwa returning to the no.10 jersey. Otherwise, the Griffin has a settled starting 15.
In Durban, Glenwood and Kearsney meet on Dixon’s at 15:00. Both teams will be eyeing the match as an opportunity to reverse some rather lengthy slides.
Glenwood is led by their sole Craven Week representative, Martin van Wyngaardt junior.
Both have shown glimpses of their potential, but it’s consistency that has been the challenge for them this season. Both, too, have played their best rugby when the result is pretty much decided.
Last weekend, Glenwood fell 0-31 behind Northwood before storming back to go down 24-31.
Kearsney, in their last two matches, against Westville and Northwood, closed with a bang, running in three tries in quick succession at the end of each of those games, but it was what went before that cost the team.
Their last meeting, in 2023, was on Stott Field, where Glenwood scraped a hard-fought 18-13 win. Dixon’s will favour the hosts on Saturday, but they’re a young line-up and it might not be as much of an advantage as it typically is.
The main point, though, as alluded to earlier, is it is an opportunity for one of the sides to arrest a losing record and start a new winning one. For Kearsney to get that right, they’ll need to beat Glenwood for the first time since 2015 and win for the first time on Dixon’s since 2012.
Old Orchards will play host to an interesting derby, with St Charles College welcoming St Stithians College for a first time and a 12:00 kick-off. It feels like it will be a good matchup. The hometown Saints, though, will fancy their chances.
They boast some real quality in their 1st XV, which is best exemplified by their scrumhalf Matthew Fick, who has cracked the nod for the Sharks’ Craven Week team for a second year in succession. He is a complete player and the puppet-master of their game.
Scrumhalf Matthew Fick is a consistently outstanding performer for St Charles.
Someone who regularly catches the eye is their fullback, Salmaan Mohammed. He’s a dangerous man on the counterattack as Clifton found out when the Pietermaritzburg school was last in action, with Mohammed scoring a thrilling try with a brilliant solo effort from halfway.
St Charles won that match 36-12, while earlier in the season, at the Saints Sports Festival, St Stithians beat Clifton 12-7. Based on that result, it’s advantage St Charles, but that’s not how the game of rugby works.
Last weekend, St Alban’s beat Clifton 39-10. A week earlier, St Alban’s beat Northcliff by two. Clifton beat Northcliff 21-15. The only way to decide matters is on the field.
St Charles, at their best, plays a free-flowing running game that puts the ball in the hands of numbers one to 15. With Director of Rugby Craig Dwyer leaning on over a decade of coaching in New Zealand to direct his approach, it’s an attractive on-field product.
St Stithians, after a promising start to the season, which included a convincing victory over St Andrew’s College, has struggled somewhat since, but they played St David’s Marist Inanda tough in their most recent match, going down 27-28.
TEAMS
Hilton College
15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudzo Madinga, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Xola Bakana, 9 Xander Vorster, 8 Emmanuel Dankwah, 7 Mayer Malherbe, 6 Dylan Neill, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Trent Chubb, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oliver Proudfoot
Westville Boys’ High School
15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jade-Will Koopman, 13 Michael Satade, 12 Blake Allbon, 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 10 Unathi Mlotshwa, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 David Humphreys, 7 Brandon Eke, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wandile Simelane, 4 Oliver Gcina, Bandile Mncwango, 2 Jeshua Ferreira, 1 Akhona Maseko
St Charles College
15 Salmaan Mohammed, 14 Athenkosi Qumo, 13 Rashied Isaacs, 12 Okhule Peti, 11 Matthew Ludick, 10 Ukhanyo Ntsangani, 9 Matthew Fick, 8 Stefan Veldsman, 7 Marlow Mbewe, 6 Lazola Makaula, 5 Reece Curtain, 4 Raphael Ajibade, 3 Christian Allardice, 2 Dean Chiwese, 1 Lutho Mrwata
Oranje Meisieskool van Bloemfontein se eerste netbalspan sal nie sommer Saterdag gestuit word in opmars na hul vierde agtereenvolgende Vrystaatbeker-titel nie.
Die Motheo-kampioen het nog elke jaar sedert 2007 met die titel as kampioen van die Vrystaatbeker weggestap. Die Hoërskool Sentraal was van 2007 tot en met 2018 die kampioen, terwyl Oranje in 2019, 2022 en 2023 die kroon gedra het.
Die Tralies het vanjaar vir die eerste keer in dekades nie tot die eindstryd van die Motheo-liga deurgedring nie. Oranje het vir Jim Fouché in die Motheo-eindstryd met 32-23 redelik gemaklik verslaan.
Die voorste vier spanne in die Vrystaat sal ook later vanjaar in Roodepoort in die nasionale DStv Schools Challenge in aksie wees. Die nasionale toernooi vind van 11 tot 13 Julie op die bane van die Hoërskool Florida plaas.
Oranje is saam met Wilgerivier van Frankfort, Landboudal van Jacobsdal, Monwabisi, Teto en Witteberg van Bethlehem in Groep I geloot. Wilgerivier was die laaste span van buite die Rosestad wat die Vrystaatbeker omhoog kon hou. Die span het in 2006 die kroon gedra.
Wilgerivier het ook tussen 1993 en 1998 vir ses jaar sake in die kompetisie oorheers.
In Groep II behoort Jim Fouché die vroeë gunsteling te wees, hoewel die Tralies alles in die stryd sal werp om die bordjies teen sy aartsvyand te verhang. JF was redelik gemaklik baas met 38-21 in die FNB Classic Clash tussen die twee skole. Dié kragmeting was ook deel van die Wesgrow-reeks.
Die Tralies het egter twee dae later veel beter gevaar en slegs met 25-29 die knie teen Jim Fouché in die halfeindronde van die Motheo-liga gebuig.
Voortrekker van Bethlehem sal ook in sy kanse om tot die uitspeelrondes deur te dring glo. Die Trekkers het vir Witteberg in hul jaarlikse FNB Classic Clash met 52-34 die loef afgesteek.
Buiten dié drie spanne sal Hoërskool Trio van Kroonstad en Welkom Gimnasium ook in aksie in Groep II wees.
Die bepalings
Groep I | Batho
Baan I – 08:30 – Wilgerivier vs Witteberg; 09:50 – Oranje vs Monwabisi; 11:10 – Landboudal vs Oranje; 12:30 – Teto vs Landboudal; 13:50 – Witteberg vs Teto.
Baan II – 08:30 – Teto vs Oranje; 09:50 – Witteberg vs Landboudal; 11:10 – Wilgerivier vs Teto; 12:30 – Oranje vs Witteberg; 13:50 – Landoudal vs Wilgerivier.
Groep II | Batho
Baan III – 08:30 – Hoërskool Trio vs Voortrekker; 09:50 – Jim Fouché vs Hoërskool Trio; 11:10 – Sentraal vs Jim Fouché; 12:30 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Sentraal; 13:50 – Voortrekker vs Welkom Gimnasium.
Baan IV – 08:30 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Jim Fouché; 09:50 – Voortrekker vs Sentraal; 11:10 – Hoërskool Trio vs Welkom Gimnasium; 12:30 – Jim Fouché vs Voortrekker; 13:50 – Sentraal vs Hoërskool Trio.
Wynberg Boys’ High takes on the most in-form team in the country when they travel to face Paul Roos Gimnasium on Saturday.
Both teams have enjoyed stellar seasons thus far, but the Maroon Machine is yet to meet its match despite a gruelling run of fixtures against some of the country’s finest sides.
Wynberg shot out of the blocks early in the season but has recently dropped games against their arch-rivals Rondebosch Boys’ High, 27-49, and Boland Landbou, 10-32.
Despite the losses, however, there can be no doubt that this Wynberg outfit is more than capable of competing against the best, as they showed in memorable wins over the likes of Paarl Boys’ High and St Andrew’s College earlier in the year.
Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed has been exceptional for the southern suburbs’ side and, up front, captain Aden da Costa, Torren February and Jamie Stride have also been causing their opponents headaches.
PRG will not take the challenge lightly at all, and Riley Norton and his men will be ready for a battle come Saturday.
They start without two of their star loose-forwards, Reuben Kruger and Gert Kemp, but their dual-SA Schools’ star, Norton, seamlessly switches from second row to flank, alongside Malan Erasmus and Christiaan Kolbe.
Last week’s heroes in their 23-17 victory over Paarl Gimnasium, props Hendry du Plessis and Oliver Reid, the livewire scrumhalf Adeeb Boraine, and their midfield maestro Joshua Dampies, are all on post for the Stellenbosch outfit and will be focused on finishing the term strongly.
Last year, the sides did not meet after their game was cancelled due to bad weather conditions, but the last time they played in Stellenbosch, in 2022, the Maroon Machine came out on top 32-19.
Meanwhile, Paarl Gimnasium travels to Riversdal to take on high-flying Oakdale Landbou. It should be a cracking contest.
Oakdale asserted their dominance in the South Western Districts (SWD) last weekend when they stormed to a 60-8 victory over their rivals, Hoërskool Outeniqua. They’ve been setting the pace in the region this season and their success has not gone unnoticed as they have 11 players in the SWD Craven Week squad.
Paarl Gim has two losses on their record this season, but they only narrowly missed out against arguably the two front-runners in the country.
Last week, they fell short against Paul Roos by six points and, earlier, Grey College edged past the Gimmies by two points in a 29-27 thriller.
The battle between the two monster packs this weekend is sure to provide fireworks, with exciting young Oakdale talents, Kai Pratt, Tiaan Turck and Gustav van der Merwe, lining up against one of the most impressive front rows in the country, Ely Williams, JJ du Preez and Dawie Stemmet.
The home team’s captain, Kurt Coetzee, has been immense for Oakdale at centre and will have to deliver another strong performance if the farmers are to upset the Gimmies on Saturday.
TEAMS
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Wynberg Boys’ High at 13:00 – Link to the game
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Matthew Seymore, 14 Hugo Coetzee, 13 Matthew Kleyn, 12 Sam Badenhorst, 11 Keenan Stoffels, 10 Joshua Dampies, 9 Adeeb Boraine, 8 Christiaan Kolbe, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Malan Erasmus, 5 Jesse Stegehuis, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Hendry du Plessis, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Oliver Reid.
Geniet al die aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Hoërskool Zwartkop en Hoërskool Oos-Moot is albei daarop uit om voor die vakansie ‘n kritieke oorwinning te behaal in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Plaat-afdeling. Die twee Pretoriaanse spanne kruis Saterdagmiddag swaarde op die Zwarries se tuisveld in Centurion.
Zwartkop sou vandeesweek nog op die golf van ‘n eerste oorwinning in agt jaar oor hul tradisionele aartsvyand, Hoërskool Eldoraigne, gery het, maar die fokus skuif nou terug na hierdie uiters belangrike stryd teen die manne van die Moot. Albei spanne staan steeds ‘n kans om die afdeling se uitspeelrondes te haal indien ‘n oorwinning Saterdag behaal kan word.
Die Zwarries moet egter klaarkom sonder hul staatmaker op losskakel, Luhardt Booyens, wat ‘n rooi kaart in die vorige Plaat-kragmeting met Hoërskool Kempton Park ontvang het. Volgens die Noordvaal-kompitiese se regulasies word ‘n rooi kaart gestraf met ‘n skorsing van een wedstryd.
Dit bied ‘n gulde geleentheid vir sy plaasvervanger, Kyle Koopman, om die leisels as generaal van die agterlyn op te neem en vir die Zwarrie-breiers te wys wat in hom steek.
Aan sy buitekant wag die groot senterpaar van Luan Williams en Kyle Blignaut op die Oosies se middeveld, terwyl die puntemasjien, Denlison Metclafe, sy langverwagte terugkeer tot die beginspan maak op regtervleuel.
Die beseringspook het behoorlik kom draai in die Moot. Die Oosies se regtervleuel, Jayden Pretorius, sal vir ‘n geruime tyd op die krukkelys wees nadat hy sy enkel verlede naweek teen HTS Middelburg gebreek het, met Nick Venter wat hom vervang.
Voorlangs sit die span van die Moot ook sonder die dienste van haker, Clayton de Bruin, wat sukkel met ‘n enkelbesering, terwyl loskopstut, Jandre de Beer, deur griep platgetrek is. Jadrian Jacobs neem De Bruin se plek op haker in, terwyl Henry Meiring geleentheid kry op loskop.
“Dit is ‘n moet-wen vir ons. Die seuns besef dit. Ons doelwit was van die begin af om die uitspeelrondes te haal,” het die Oosies se afrigter, Braam Pretorius, gesê.
In Vanderbijlpark wag daar ook ‘n interessante stryd wanneer Hoërskool Transvalia vir die opwindende Hoërskool Middelburg-span verwelkom.
Die span van Vanderbijl is mooi op dreef en het verlede naweek gewys dat hulle steeds een van die groot aanspraakmakers op die titel is nadat hulle vir Hoërskool Kempton Park met 50-33 verslaan het. Dit het ook beteken dat Transvalia steeds onoorwonne is in vanjaar se reeks.
Die Middies het na die wenpad teruggekeer met ‘n puik sege van 22-9 oor Hoërskool Klerksdorp in Middelburg. Middelburg is, saam met Transvalia, een van die gunstelinge om dit tot in die uitspeelrondes te maak. Hulle het nog nét een keer verloor, teen HTS Middelburg (24-31).
Die spanne:
Hoërskool Zwartkop t. Hoërskool Oos-Moot om 12:30 in Centurion
Zwartkop: 15 Justin Julies, 14 Denilson Metcalfe, 13 Kyle Blignaut, 12 Luan Williams, 11 Milton Naudé, 10 Kyle Koopman, 9 Neil Gous, 8 Brian Smith, 7 Leonard Lotriet, 6 Adriaan Janse van Vuuren, 5 Logan Knott, 4 Ettiene van Niekerk, 3 Brogan Ackerman, 2 Dirco la Marque, 1 Julian Lubbe.
Oos-Moot: 15 Naylan Albertus, 14 Nick Venter, 13 Drew Williams, 12 Dewron Aford, 11 Tapiwa Rwafa, 10 Ruwan Allen, 9 David Joubert, 8 Deon Badenhorst, 7 Wade Williams, 6 Berus van Dyk, 5 Jaydon Botha, 4 Connor de Jager, 3 Christian Smith, 2 Jadrian Jacobs, 1 Henry Meiring.
Hoërskool Transvalia t. Hoërskool Middelburg om 13:45 in Vanderbijlpark
On Saturday, Westville Boys’ High hosts Hilton College on Bowden’s Field. They didn’t meet in 2023, so this weekend’s clash marks their first game since 2022, when Hilton were comfortable winners.
