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The annual Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, hosted by Grey High School, is headed towards the business end of matters, with the eight quarterfinalists having been confirmed after Thursday’s action in Gqeberha.

After a cracking opening day that produced 42 goals, the 16 teams returned to the turf with their sights set on securing play-off places.

On a windy day, teams were left to make calculations and consider permutations. While the action was hot, parents and other spectators were swathed in winter jackets and blankets on the sidelines.

Last year’s finalists, Paul Roos Gimnasium and South African College High School (SACS), cemented their spots in the last eight early. PRG outplayed Maritzburg College 6-2, while SACS claimed a thrill-a-minute 6-4 win over Grey College.

By midday, the focus had shifted to other teams chasing places in the last eight.

Joining SACS and PRG in the quarterfinals were Clifton College, from Pool A, and Grey College, from Pool B. Clifton scored a gritty 3-1 victory over Selborne College in the morning, while Grey bounced back from the SACS defeat with a 2-0 win over St Alban’s College, courtesy of strikes by Warena Legaiwa and Matthias Visser.

Visser has been Grey’s dangerman all season long with his fiery drag flicks from the top of the D and he said he wants to bring his A-game in their knockout game on Friday.

“It’s been a great tour, but I think we haven’t had the best of games,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“In the quarters, we want to come out with more energy and play our hearts out. As a flicker, I have to bring everything I’ve got.”

Clifton had to wait on the result of the contest between Maritzburg College and Selborne College before knowing whether or not they had made it through to the quarterfinals. In the end, they advanced, but it was a nail-biting time for the Durban school’s players.

Clifton’s victory over Selborne meant Maritzburg College needed to win by five goals against the East London side if they were to surpass their provincial rivals on goal difference. College won, but the match ended 2-0, and Clifton booked their place in the quarterfinals.

Before a ball had been played in the Hibbert Shield, Pools C and D looked as if they were going to be highly contested, and that proved to be the case.

Paarl Gimnasium, who fired on all cylinders on day one, beating Grey High 5-0, scored four against Westville Boys’ High before being held to a 1-1 draw by St Stithians College.

The Western Cape side conceded late in the game, with Liam O’Flaherty providing the finish for Saints, but Gim struck back through a Stefan Wiehahn PC drag flick.

“That was probably the most important flick since we played Saints at the Founders Festival and lost 3-4 to them,” he reckoned.

“I missed a shorty there, but this time I knew it was an important one for me and the team.”

While Saints didn’t pick up the win, skipper Liam O’Flaherty was pleased with his team’s display. “It’s our first time getting into the quarters, and the boys are chuffed,” he said.

“I think we have momentum on our side now. We want to take our opportunities in the quarterfinal and reward ourselves when we do get opportunities.”

Gim and St Stithians were confirmed as the top two sides in Pool C on Thursday afternoon, but Pool D was far from done and it went down to the wire.

Durban High School (DHS) didn’t do themselves any favours when they drew 1-1 with Parel Vallei, while goals by Armand van der Vyfer, Luken Brunette, Lesego Msiza, and Duardt Tollig lifted Hoërskool Garsfontein to an impressive 4-2 win over Bishops.

That result put Garsies through, but the last pool match, between Parel Vallei and Bishops would determine who would finish first and who would finish second, with DHS in with a chance at ending in first place if the result went their way.

Earlier in the season, Parel Vallei powered their way to a big 7-2 win over Bishops. This time, though, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. That meant Garsfontein finished atop Pool D with DHS in second place.

Commenting on his team’s progress to the quarterfinals, DHS captain Josh Mungherera said: “We had a slow start to the tournament.  I feel like we are leaving games we should be winning, but hopefully we come alive in the quarterfinals.

“It means a lot going to the last eight, but we need to convert our opportunities. You can’t win games without scoring.”

While the eight that remain in with a shout of winning the Hibbert Shield celebrated that feat, it continued to be a tough time for teams like Selborne, Westville Boys’ High, Pearson, and Bishops.

Grey High ended the day with a 1-0 victory over Westville, courtesy of an Athi Voigt strike, but that wasn’t enough and the hosts bowed out of contention.

Friday’s action kicks off with a cracking clash between SACS and DHS at 07:30.

RESULTS

Pool A

SACS 6-4 Grey College
Grey College 2-0 St Alban’s College
Pearson High 1-1 St Alban’s College

Pool B

Paul Roos Gimnasium 6-2 Maritzburg College
Clifton College 3-1 Selborne College
Maritzburg College 2-0 Selborne College

Pool C

Paarl Gimnasium 4-0 Westville Boys’ High
Paarl Gimnasium 1-1 St Stithians College
Grey High 1-0 Westville Boys’ High

Pool D

DHS 1-1 Parel Vallei
Garsfontein 4-2 Bishops
Parel Vallei 1-1 Bishops

FIXTURES

Friday, 2 May 

Grey High School

07:30 – SACS vs DHS (Quarterfinal 1)
08:45 – Paul Roos vs St Stithians College (Quarterfinal 2)
10:15 – Grey College vs Garsfontein (Quarterfinal 3)
11:30 – Clifton College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Quarterfinal 4)
15:00 – Loser of quarterfinal 1
16:15 – Loser of quarterfinal 2
17:45 – Semifinal 1
19:00 – Semifinal 2

Collegiate AstroTurf

07:30 – St Alban’s College vs Bishops
08:45 -Maritzburg College vs Westville Boys’ High
10:15 – Pearson vs Parel Vallei
11:30 – Selborne College vs Grey High School
15:00 – Loser 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Loser 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
16:15 – Loser 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Loser 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
17:45 – Winner 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Winner 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
19:00 -Winner 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Winner 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C

A draw between Oakdale Landbou‘s Bulle and Hoërskool Garsfontein’s Bere was a fitting reflection of the 70 fiercely contested minutes that preceded the final whistle on Thursday at the Absa Wildklawer tournament, in Kimberley.

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

With the lead changing hands on multiple occasions, Bere flyhalf Joshua Gouws slotted his third penalty of the match to level the scores at 30-30.

In addition to his accurate goal-kicking – three penalties and two conversions – Gouws delivered a commanding all-round performance. His incisive attacking play consistently tested Oakdale’s defence and provided Garsfontein with crucial momentum throughout the contest.

The opening 20 minutes, however, belonged to the side from Riversdal.

Starting strongly, Oakdale’s forward pack dominated early proceedings, providing quality possession for fullback Reinhart Viljoen and company to launch attacking movements with freedom.

Garsfontein responded through their talismanic tighthead prop, Luan van den Berg, whose powerful carries have been a hallmark of their season.

He was ably supported by the “Tower from Namibia”, lock JJ Fourie, who imposed himself across the field, particularly on defence. Hooker Justin Blom also impressed, bringing energy and dynamism to broken play.

The much-anticipated clash between Van den Berg and Oakdale’s Kai Pratt materialised, not so much in the scrums, but through some sizzling handling and impressive running lines from both front-rowers that captivated the crowd.

In the match that followed, Paarl Gimnasium opened their Wildeklawer campaign with a commanding 46–20 victory over Northwood.

The outstanding Markus Muller, as usual,  stood out for Gim, further bolstering his claim for the SA Schools no. 13 jersey by scoring his fourth hat-trick of the season.

Up front, blindside flank Hendré van Zyl delivered a fine performance, helping to set the tone for Gim with his boundless energy and relentless work rate. Despite the margin of defeat, Northwood can take pride from their performance after putting 20 points on a side that many consider to be the finest team in the country.

Northwood’s refusal to back down was commendable, with flashes of brilliance on display, most notably from outside centre Bongane Khumalo, whose attacking flair caught the eye.

Earlier in the day, Outeniqua and Hoërskool Monument played out a thriller, with the Kwaggas edging the Wit Bulle, from Krugersdorp, by a single point, sneaking a 21-20 victory.

Outeniqua fullback Jade Peterson lit up the A-field at Hoërskool Diamantveld with his scintillating counter-attacks, one of which caught the Krugersdorp side completely off-guard.

For Monument, captain and eighthman, Vincent Roberts, delivered arguably his best performance of the season. A formidable ball carrier, Roberts repeatedly breached the gain line, giving his team the ascendancy for the better part of 60 minutes.

SCORERS

Paarl Gimnasium 46 (24) – Tries: Markus Muller (4), Migael Turner, Hendré van Zyl, Quinton Potgieter, Thomas Saunders. Conversions: Liam Koen, Muller, Divan Pieters. Northwood 20 (13) – Tries: Aphiwe Maphisa, Lusanda Mabizela. Conversions: Trevor van Vollenstee (2). Penalties: Van Vollenstee (2).

Oakdale Landbou 30 (15) – Tries: Jakobus de Villiers (2), Reinhart Viljoen, Diaan Augustyn. Conversions: CT Vosloo (2). Penalties: Vosloo (2). Garsfontein 30 (10) – Tries: JJ Fourie, Penalty Try, Stefan van der Vyver. Conversions: Joshua Gouws (2). Penalties: Gouws (3).

Outeniqua 21 (0) – Tries: Henru Nell (2), Jade Peterson. Conversions: Virgil Pockpas (3). Monument 20 (6) – Tries: Dean Hartman, Ewan van der Walt. Conversions: Jaydon Viljoen, Cameron Kourie. Penalties: Viljoen (2).

Reaching 100 caps for your school is a schoolboy’s dream, and to do it in your matric year at a prestigious tournament adds a cherry on top.

A player that has made that dream become a reality is Paul Roos Gimnasium‘s (PRG) hockey captain, Christo Swanepoel.

He reached the milestone on Thursday, day two of the Hibbert Shield, at Grey High School, in Gqeberha.

Humble and soft-spoken, the midfield maestro was given a guard of honour by his teammates, coaches, and PRG’s u16 players as he walked out for a showdown with Maritzburg College at the Rectory AstroTurf.

If Paul Roos won the Pool B match, they would be guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals, with Clifton College, Maritzburg College, and Selborne College battling it out for second place and the other Pool B quarterfinal spot.

After a slow start, PRG turned on the afterburners and dominated the KwaZulu-Natal outfit. It was the first exhibition of “Baker Ball” at the tournament as they controlled the tempo of the game, capitalised on their chances, and gave their supporters, who had travelled from Stellenbosch, the show they had hoped to see.

They outscored College 6-2, finishing the pool with maximum points after their two victories on the opening day when they beat Clifton College 2-0 and Selborne College 4-0.

After the four chukkas had flown by, Swanepoel had a chance to reflect on reaching the 100-game milestone.

“It’s a huge privilege. I’m super grateful for this opportunity. I don’t think there are a lot of people who achieve this, and it’s something I will cherish forever,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus, in Gqeberha.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share this experience and awesome moment with. There’s still a season left, but I’m grateful.”

It’s been quite the journey for Swanepoel in the maroon jersey, and it all began in his grade nine year, in 2022, when he made his debut at the Cape Co-Ed Festival, in Cape Town. He recalled that moment.

“I remember the nerves running out for the first time, and I never thought something like this would become a reality.

“As a grade nine, to play hockey at PRG was special. I didn’t worry about the spotlight or anything. I just wanted to play hockey. It didn’t matter if it was for the first team, u14, or anything else.”

The skipper has one of the most decorated CVs in schoolboy hockey currently.

Some of his standout accolades include winning the Hibbert Shield twice, representing Boland at age-group and u18 level, and donning the green and gold at the u17 Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia last year.

Besides representing Paul Roos, Swanepoel also plays for the Central Hockey Club and has won several titles with the powerhouse club.

All of these achievements, however, wouldn’t be possible without the support of his parents, he said: “I have to give a lot of credit to my parents. They’ve been there since I was a kid, supporting me through every step.

“It wasn’t going to be possible for me to be here without them. My mom and dad have always been there for me and played an important role.”

Swanepoel is the only second Paul Roos player in history to reach 100 games for the school. Gys Steyn was the first to record the magnificent milestone in 2010.

Durban High School (DHS) overturned a seven-point deficit in the dying moments to preserve their unbeaten record in 2025 in their opening fixture of the Absa Wildeklawer tournament in Kimberley, on Thursday.

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

The Horseflies ran in two tries in quick succession to come back from 12–19 down and defeat the Jade Brigade, of Hoërskool Stellenberg, 26–19 in the third match of the tournament’s second day.

The decisive moment came when, after DHS had driven the ball up to the Stellenberg 22 through a number of phases, inside centre Zingce Simka burst through the defensive line to dive over for the match-winning score in the left-hand corner just before the final whistle.

However, it was tighthead prop Bobbie Udo-Iding who laid the foundation for the Durban side’s late surge. His powerful carries kept the Horseflies on the front foot and placed their Western Cape opponents under heavy pressure. Captain and openside flank Daniel Ikotela also impressed, delivering a tireless performance in broken play.

For Stellenberg, flyhalf Ethan van Biljon distinguished himself, once more. He dictated proceedings with composure and flair, keeping his side competitive against the physically dominant DHS outfit. Lock Juvan Burden, still only in Grade 11, raised his intensity and gave the Durban side plenty to think about with his physicality and work rate.

In the day’s most emphatic result, Boland Landbou delivered a scintillating attacking display, running in 10 tries en route to a 64–5 demolition of Hoërskool Framesby – the largest margin of victory at the tournament thus far.

The Agter-Paarl side showcased precision and pace in a performance marked by a hat-trick and three players with a pair of tries each.

It was no surprise that scrumhalf Jayden Brits led the charge. His crisp service to fly-half Pieter Bergh and the dynamic Ocks twins, Jadon and Jason, set the platform for free-flowing rugby. Jason, the more prominent of the pair, crossed the whitewash three times, including a breathtaking solo effort launched from near the Boland Landbou half.

Earlier in the day, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen was made to work hard for their 20–10 win over the Donkies of HTS Drostdy.

Playing in chilly early morning conditions, the teams were evenly matched for much of the encounter. However, a moment of magic from left winger Otlatleng Zulu, who scored a superb solo try, proved decisive and shifted momentum in favour of Jansies.

Captain and hooker Marco Ventura, who was named the Man of the Match, was relentless up front. A constant threat at the breakdown, Ventura carried effectively throughout the clash, and helped his side gain the edge in a fiercely contested encounter.

SCORES

Durban High School 26 (12) – Tries: Zinkosi Mthiyane, Nathan Aneke, Zingce Simka, Jordan van Wyk. Conversions: Cilermo Carolus (3). Stellenberg 19 (12) – Tries Liam Joubert, Keagan Moses, Ralton Rhode. Conversions: Ethan van Biljon (2).

Boland Landbou 64 (38) – Tries: Jadon Ocks (3), Pieter Bergh (2), Jayden Brits (2), Danté Christians (2), Juan Visagie. Conversions: Brits (6), Bergh. Framesby 5 (5) – Try: Dewaldry Fortuin.

EG Jansen 20 (0) – Tries: Otlatleng Zulu, Marco Ventura, Nathan Delport. Conversion: Deshean Pietersen. Penalty: Pietersen. HTS Drostdy 10 (7) – Try: Jacques de Klerk. Conversion: Jano van Deventer. Penalty: Van Deventer.

A far-from-perfect performance filled with sprinkles of individual brilliance and cracking goals secured a hard-fought 6-4 victory for South African College High School (SACS) over Grey College on Thursday, day two of the Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha.

The sides entered the clash fresh off convincing victories on the opening day of action in Pool A.

On Wednesday, the boys from Cape Town defeated St Alban’s College 7-0 and Pearson High 3-0, while Grey College thumped Pearson 7-0.

Thursday’s showdown was the first-ever meeting between the sides, and, befitting the occasion, parents and spectators flocked to the Rectory AstroTurf to witness one of the games of the tournament.

The game got off to a cracking start, with Litha Kraai quickly making his presence felt with a missile-like penalty corner drag flick, which flew into the back of the net.

Grey, known for their never-say-die attitude, responded almost immediately, and it was their dangerman, Matthias Visser, who replied with a drag flick of his own, beating Ethan October in the cage.

The second chukka belonged to SACS, and goals from Mohlodi Maseko and Adam Thompson extended their advantage to 3-1 at the break.

When SACS captain Jo le Roux, sent a thunderbolt past the Grey ‘keeper in the third chukka, it appeared as if the Capetonians, three goals to the good, were on course for a simple victory.

Visser, however, wasn’t about to allow that to happen, and he pulled one back for Grey from the top of the D. SACS replied almost immediately, though, after some individual brilliance by Kraai, who bagged his second of the game.

Heading into the final chukka, SACS was comfortably ahead, leading 5-2, but Grey was far from done. They came out hard, taking the fight to the opposition and putting on a fantastic show.

The boys from Bloemfontein were relentless on attack, and it was just a matter of time before Visser completed his hat-trick with a third rocket-propelled drag flick.

In a tense final three minutes, Neilyandro Van Schalkwyk pulled another one back for Grey, leaving them only a goal down. Kraai, however, put the game out of reach with his third and SACS’s sixth of the game.

The win assured SACS of a place in the quarterfinals, with maximum points from three games, and first place in Group A.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus after the game, SACS skipper Jo Le Roux said they’re ecstatic to progress but more hard work lies ahead.

“We’re very happy with our progress, but there’s obviously a lot of stuff to work on, and that’s always going to be the case,” he said.

“We are going to recover today and do some video analysis and prepare for the knockout games. We want to fine-tweak a few things. Our PCs weren’t firing against Pearson, and we were struggling with our stopping and injection.

“We also want to work on different pressing angles and get them fine-tuned for our next game, depending on who we play.”

SACS will face one of Bishops, Parel Vallei, Hoërskool Garsfontein, or Durban High School, who are contesting a very competitive Pool D.

The highly anticipated Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament kicked off on  Wednesday, with some of the big guns, including Clapham High School and Maritzburg College, immediately making their mark by scoring important victories.

The host, Kimberley Boys’ High, was held to a goalless draw by the Wildeklawer Academy in a local clash. That left Paul Roos Gimnasium to top Group A after a slim 1-0 victory over Potchefstroom Boys’ High.

The reigning champions, Clapham, started their campaign with a 1-0 win over another formidable opponent, Northern Academy, the current titleholders of the Kay Motsepe Soccer Schools Championship.  The match was a closely contested battle, with both teams showing that they are among the strongest title contenders.

Meanwhile, in another Group B game, Emmang Mmogo High School played to a 2-2 draw with Norkem Park High School.

In Group C, the two-time champion of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, HTS Louis Botha tackled Brebner in a meeting of two Bloemfontein titans. There was little to separate the sides and the contest ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

With HTS Louis Botha and Brebner High School dropping points, Victoria Park High School, from Gqeberha, and Virginia High School had an opportunity to take the lead in Group C. The Eastern Cape side grabbed hold of the chance, scoring a 2-1 win to earn themselves three points.

Maritzburg College, who finished in sixth place in 2024, started their campaign on a high note, beating an in-form Jeppe High School for Boys team, making their debut in the tournament, 3-1.

The prolific striker Mazithi Qasha scored a brace, while Wandile Zondile struck from long range to propel the Red, Black, and White to a convincing win. Qasha, who has been scoring goals for fun, was named the man of the match following his outstanding performance.

Grey College, last year’s runner-up, is in Group D with College and Jeppe. The group also features Border Schools and Navalsig High.

Grey kicked off their title challenge with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Border Schools. It appeared as if the contest was headed for a goalless draw, but Grey conjured up a winner in the last 10 seconds to steal the three points on offer to the winner.

RESULTS

Group A

Kimberley Boys’ High 0-0 Wildeklawer Academy
Paul Roos Gimnasium 1-0 Potchefstroom Boys’ High

Group B

Clapham High  1-0 Northern Academy
Emmang Mmogo 2-2 Norkem Park

Group C

HTS Louis Botha 0-0 Brebner
Victoria Park 2-1 Virginia High

Group D

Maritzburg College 3-1 Jeppe
Grey College 1-0 Border Schools

Scorers:

Grey College 56 (28) – Tries: Prestan Bennett, Eddie Mabena, AJ Hendriks, Darius Erwee, AJ Booysen, Alexi Tyropolis, Steven Miller, AJ Meyer. Conversions: Erwee (8). Helpmekaar Kollege 14 (7) – Tries: Wian Strom, Eugene de Lange. Conversions: Storm, Ethan Lourens.

Jeppe High School for Boys 37 (20) – Tries: Ayanda Funeka, Joshua Hamman, Lindelani Nkambule, Joel Akilo. Conversions: Nehemia Hollenbach (4). Penalties: Hollenbach (3). Maritzburg College 24 (7) – Tries: Olwethu Kosani, Amahle Hadebe, Ntsika Mkize. Conversions: Adam Cahill (3). Penalty: Cahill.

Paarl Boys’ High 42 (13): Tries: Cole Moultrie (2), Francois van der Merwe, Jayden Joubert, Tommy Muller. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (4). Penalties: Jordaan (3). Noordheuwel 14 (7): Tries: JB Blaunt, Roehan Hoogendyk, Conversions: Jeandré Uithaler (2).

Paarl Gimnasium 46 (24) – Tries: Markus Muller (4), Migael Turner, Hendré van Zyl, Quinton Potgieter, Thomas Saunders. Conversions: Liam Koen, Muller, Divan Pieters. Northwood 20 (13) – Tries: Aphiwe Maphisa, Lusanda Mabizela. Conversions: Trevor van Vollenstee (2). Penalties: Van Vollenstee (2).

Oakdale Landbou 30 (15) – Tries: Jakobus de Villiers (2), Reinhart Viljoen, Diaan Augustyn. Conversions: CT Vosloo (4). Penalties: Vosloo (2). Garsfontein 30 (10) – Tries: JJ Fourie, Penalty Try, Stefan van der Vyver. Conversions: Joshua Gouws (2). Penalties: Gouws (3).

Outeniqua 21 (0) – Tries: Henru Nell (2), Jade Peterson. Conversions: Virgil Pockpas (3). Monument 20 (6) – Tries: Dean Hartman, Ewan van der Walt. Conversions: Jaydon Viljoen, Cameron Kourie. Penalties: Viljoen (2).

Durban High School 26 (12) – Tries: Zinkosi Mthiyane, Nathan Aneke, Zince Simka, Jordan van Wyk. Conversions: Cilermo Carolus (3). Stellenberg 19 (12) – Tries Liam Joubert, Keagan Moses, Ralton Rhode. Conversions: Ethan van Biljon (2).

Boland Landbou 64 (38) – Tries: Jadon Ocks (3), Pieter Bergh (2), Jayden Brits (2), Danté Christians (2), Juan Visagie. Conversions: Brits (5), Bergh. Framesby 5 (5) – Try: Dewaldry Fortuin.

EG Jansen 20 (0) – Tries: Otlatleng Zulu, Marco Ventura, Nathan Delport. Conversion: Deshean Pietersen. Penalty: Pietersen. HTS Drostdy 10 (7) – Try: Jacques de Klerk. Conversion: Jano van Deventer. Penalty: Van Deventer.

As the heavens opened over Kimberley on Wednesday, the stage was dramatically set for a titanic clash of two powerful packs in the final match on day one of the 2025 Absa Wildeklawer tournament.

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

Ultimately, it was Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) who emerged victorious, edging out Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) 20–18 in a nail-biting contest. It was their first win over the Stellenbosch powerhouse in three years.

Paul Roos made a late change to their starting XV, with hooker Altus Rabie cleared to play and leading the side in the No. 2 jersey.

His inclusion added even more intrigue to what was already a highly anticipated battle amongst the forwards.

As expected, Rabie made an immediate impact, lighting a spark that in eighthman Gert Kemp, who was pivotal with his ball carries, consistently gaining ground with powerful surges downfield.

But, for the Wit Bulle, it was their loose trio who proved the antidote to the Maroon Machine‘s relentless assault. As usual, openside flank Luan Potgieter was a crucial ball-winner at the breakdown, with his tireless work securing him turnovers to go along with a brace of tries, both of which he scored from dominant driving mauls.

Alongside him, blindside flank Elwin Jansen van Vuuren impressed with his powerful runs, while eighthman Stefan McDonald disrupted Paul Roos’s mauls repeatedly, causing headaches for the Maroon Machine.

In the end, though, it was Affies’ defence that made the difference, especially in the final 18 minutes after a lightning delay had halted proceedings. Holding firm under immense pressure, they clung to a narrow two-point lead after replacement hooker, Lehan Barnard dived over for PRG.

Flyhalf Ruben Groenewald also deserves special mention for the way he managed the game in torrential conditions. He added five crucial points with a well-taken penalty and a conversion that ultimately secured the slender winning margin.

SCORES

Affies 20 (20) – Tries: Luan Potgieter (2), Elwin Jansen van Vuuren. Conversion: Ruben Groenewald. Penalty: Groenewald. Paul Roos Gimnasium 18 (10) – Tries: Luke Kent, Lehan Barnard. Conversion: Matthew Seymore. Penalty: Seymore.

Following an impressive start by Hillcrest High to the Mancosa KwaZulu Natal Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Second-Term League, SuperSport Schools Plus caught up with Hillcrest‘s coach, Cayle Marillier, to discuss his role, the team’s performance, and the objectives they have set for this year.

Marillier began his coaching career in 2015 after matriculating from Kloof High School, where he also played first-team cricket and football, both of which he described as his fervent passions.

Although Hillcrest recruited him primarily as a cricket coach, his enthusiasm for football always remained significant.

“It’s something (football) that I was always very passionate about and I love it. It was always my second favourite sport, something that I wanted to pursue more, and on the coaching side, just because I really enjoy it,” he said.

During his first two years of coaching at Hillcrest High, Marillier took charge of the u16A team. He had lost out to Covid-19 in 2020. However, in 2022, things began to come together as Hillcrest scored nine wins, two draws, and lost only one of their 12 matches.

Following two successful seasons with the u16 squad, Marillier transitioned to the role of assistant coach for the first team, where he began by taking on various on-field and off-field responsibilities.

Now, having spent three years with the first team, Marillier said he thoroughly enjoys every aspect of the challenge.

“I’m not the most qualified person to be doing the job,” he said humbly, “but I’m very enthusiastic about the kids and about getting results with them. When I first got the role, I was very understanding  of the boys that I dealt with in the squad because I coached them in the previous couple of years in the u16 team.”

Reflecting on the last year’s group, he noted that it was significantly different from the 2025 squad. The unit is more cohesive now, Marillier explained.

“I think everyone’s a lot more of a unit, which is nice. It gives the team a very different dynamic, and we have been achieving a little bit.”

He told SuperSport Schools Plus that they achieved their objectives at the beginning of the season by starting with two important wins, contrasting that with last year when Hillcrest made a shaky start. In 2024, Marillier said, a negative mindset infiltrated early on, which hindered Hillcrest’s progress.

Expounding on his role and enthusiasm for the sport, Marillier said his greatest satisfaction comes from understanding his players’ journeys and assisting them in recognising the reasons behind their actions. Witnessing the players develop into young men is what truly inspires him about football.

One of the most challenging aspects of coaching school football, for both coaches and players, is resetting their goals, he opined. Regardless of whether teams experience failure or success, the next match or practice is always approaching rapidly. Time is an uncontrollable factor, so the sooner one can recover from a setback, the more effectively one can navigate future challenges.

Hillcrest’s season was given a big boost on Tuesday, 22 April, when they beat the defending champions of the Mancosa Second-Term League, Glenwood High School, 2-0.

Marillier said Hillcrest has a good relationship with Glenwood. In 2024, they played two friendlies and also met in the league, and they learnt lessons from those games. So, when they met Glenwood again this year, they made sure to play their game and believe in themselves.

It’s Hillcrest High’s goal to compete this year, Marilier told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We don’t see ourselves as favourites to win the league or tournaments. We see ourselves as underdogs in every game. That keeps us humble,” he said.

He said staying humble keeps the players diligent and motivated.

Hillcrest will aim to challenge for trophies, Marillier explained, but he acknowledged that the challenges awaiting them were tough. Nonetheless, he hoped for favourable outcomes in tournaments, including in the nearby Kloof High School National Football Tournament.

“We would like to compete for one of the trophies at the Kloof Tournament,” he admitted. “We are realistic and we do understand that the likes of HTS Louis Botha are very good football teams.

“I think it would be difficult and slightly unrealistic to say we want to win the Cup, but to win the Plate is a very realistic goal for us. We are hoping to compete there, and, overall, to achieve more. Our boys want to enjoy football at the end of the day,” he concluded.

The Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal and Inland Leagues will resume next week, with some of the KZN schools currently competing in tournaments, including the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, which began on Wednesday in Kimberley.

There were comprehensive victories for South African College High School (SACS), Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Grey College on a wet and cold opening day of the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, in Gqeberha, on Wednesday.

The prestigious event is hosted by Grey High School and runs through until Saturday, 3 May.

Catch the Hibbert Shield LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

It was a blistering start to the tournament for some of the top teams who came out guns blazing and made strong statements while grabbing maximum points.

In the early session, SACS took on St Alban’s College and cruised to a comfortable 7-0 victory.

The boys from Cape Town, led by coach Sam Holmes, powered to victory in style, controlling the game from start to finish.

Litha Kraai, who was named the SA Indoor Hockey Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year while at the Hibbert Shield, scored a brace along with Reece Theunis. The drubbing was completed with further goals from Zach Redfern, Cameron Groves, and the skipper, Jo Le Roux.

In their second match of the day, SACS was forced to grind out a 3-0 win over a gutsy Pearson High side. Theunis, Mohlodi Maseko, and Adam Thompson were on the scoresheet.

While the Cape Town boys dominated, their Western Cape rivals, Paul Roos Gimnasium, also enjoyed a winning start to their campaign. The defending champions defeated Selborne College 4-0 in the morning and returned later in the day to score a hard-fought 2-0 win over Clifton College.

Against Selborne, it was Callum van Oudtshoorn, Ruan Strauss, Seth Paterson, and Jeandre van Zyl who netted for the Stellenbosch school, while Caleb Cilliers scored the opener against Clifton before Paterson struck for the second time in the tournament to seal the win.

Grey College played only one match on Wednesday, but they stole the spotlight by outplaying Pearson High 7-0.

Pools C and D were highly contested. Paarl Gimnasium was arguably the big winner in Pool C after recording an astonishing 5-0 victory over the hosts. It was a clinical performance by Gim, who converted three of their short corners, through skipper Juan Swanepoel, Phillip Barnard, and Reinhardt Honiball. Stefan Wiehahn and Josh Smit netted from open play in an impressive win.

St Stithians College was made to work hard for their victory over Westville Boys’ High. The Johannesburg boys created numerous opportunities to score, but their conversion rate let them down dismally.

It took a moment of magic by dangerman Aidan Blatch to break the deadlock and snatch a 1-0 victory for his side at the death. Saints failed to build on that win, however, and were held to a 2-2 draw by Grey High in the final match of the day.

There was very little to separate the four sides in Pool D, but Durban High School (DHS) ended the day on top of the log with four points.

After edging Bishops 3-2 in the morning, the boys from KwaZulu-Natal shared a goalless draw with Hoërskool Garsfontein in their second outing of the day.

Parel Vallei, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Garsfontein. They’ll be chasing their first Hibbert Shield win on day two.

RESULTS

DAY 1 

Pool A

SACS 7-0 St Alban’s College
SACS 3-0 Pearson
Grey College 7-0 Pearson

Pool B

Paul Roos 4-0 Selborne College
Paul Roos 2-0 Clifton College
Maritzburg College 1-1 Clifton College

Pool C

Paarl Gimnasium 5-0 Grey High
St Stithians College 1-0 Westville
Grey High 2-2 St Stithians College

Pool D

DHS 3-2 Bishops
Parel Vallei 1-1 Garsfontein
DHS 0-0 Garsfontein

DAY 2 FIXTURES

Grey High School

07:30 – Selborne College vs Clifton College
08:45 – SACS vs Grey College
10:15 – Paul Roos vs Maritzburg College
11:30 – Bishops vs Garsfontein
13:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
14:15 – Grey High vs Westville
15:45 – St Alban’s College vs Grey College
17:00 – Selborne College vs Maritzburg College
18:30 – Bishops vs Parel Vallei

Collegiate AstroTurf

08:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Westville
09:45 – Pearson High vs St Alban’s College
14:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Stithians College