Die tweede dag van die Menlo-Netbaltoernooi 2025 het nogmaals spel van hoogstaande gehalte opgelewer, met ‘n aantal spanne wat bo die res begin uitstyg het.
Spanne vanuit die Kaap, soos Durbanville, Bellville, Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl Girls’ High, DF Malan, Swartland, Brackenfell en Rhenish, sowel as die gasheerspan, Menlopark 1, het uitgestaan op die tweede dag van aksie in Pretoria.
Durbanville het stewig vertoon met seges van 31–20 oor Duineveld en 27–19 oor Edenvale, terwyl Bellville met 25–4 vir Wonderboom kafgedraf het voordat hulle vir Alberton met 37–4 afgeransel het.
Menlopark 1 het ’n taai kragmeting teen Bloemhof met 26–18 gewen en ’n belangrike oorwinning van 29–21 teen Monnas aangeteken. Parkies se tweede span het egter teen Brackenfell (10–20) en Rhenish (14–16) vasgeval. Rhenish het ’n goeie dag beleef deur ook vir Krugersdorp met 21–10 en Oosterland met 16–7 te troef.
DF Malan het afgeskop met 23–21 teen Linden, vir Capricorn met 22–17 verslaan en ook ‘n indrukwekkende sege van 13–11 behaal oor Middelburg, wat met ’n 24–18 gewen het teen Dr Malan en naelskraaps met 17–16 die pyp gerook het teen Milnerton.
Swartland het hulself onderskei as een van die konsekwentste spanne met oorwinnings oor Merensky (21–10) en Frans du Toit (19–12), terwyl Stellenbosch ook met Frans du Toit (24–13), Hans Moore (13–9) en Merensky (16–14) afgereken het, danksy puik taktiese spel en afronding.
Paarl Girls’ High het oortuig met seges van 30–9 oor Secunda en 29-10 oor Outeniqua, terwyl Paarl Gimnasium twee swaar- maar welverdiende oorwinnings behaal het teen Helpmekaar (22–16) en Oranje 1 (20–17), en later ook net-net vir Ermelo met 16–15 verslaan het.
Brackenfell het drie stabiele vertonings opgedis, teen Menlopark 2 (20–10), Capricorn (17–14) en Drostdy (15–9). Oranje 1 was in ‘n titaniese stryd gewikkel met Rand Park, wat met 7–7 gelykop geëindig het, nadat hulle vroeër met 18–14 teen Monnas geseëvier het. Oranje 2 het oortuigend met 25–8 teen Capricorn gewen en ook vir Hans Moore met 18–13 verslaan.
Onder die naelbyt-uitslae van die dag tel die eenpunt-seges van Dr Malan oor Rand Park (11–10) en Secunda oor Northcliff (17–16), terwyl Potch Gim vir Hugenote met 21–16 getroef het. Randburg het Lydenburg met 20–6 verslaan, en Ben Vorster het hul momentum behou met ’n sege van 22–13 oor Diamantveld.
Helpmekaar het indrukwekkend vertoon met hul sege van 29–8 oor Duineveld, terwyl Wonderboom vir Vredendal met 13–8 en Worcester Gimnasium vir Hans Moore met 15–9 verslaan het.
Die sukses van die Menlo-Netbaltoernooi lê egter nie slegs in dié tellings nie, maar verál ook in die gees van sportmangees en verbondenheid wat by hierdie gewilde byeenkoms heers.
Die Leeus van die Noorde het die bordjies na verlede jaar se eindstryd verhang in hul openingswedstryd deur die verdedigende kampioen, Hoërskool Hugenote van Springs, met 17-10 die loef af te steek.
Die Hansies se oopkantflank, Heigers Ferreira en loskopstut, Alwyn Geyser, het die vuur onder die tuisspan se pak aangesteek en is met ‘n drie elk beloon in die tweede helfte. Dit het aan die tuisspan die voortou besorg, nadat die Hugies met die omdraaislag met 10-5 voorgeloop het.
Agterlangs het losskakel, Jayden Enslin, die agterlyn met netjiese visie en balverspreiding op die voorvoet geplaas.
Hoewel ‘n bitter pil vir die Hugies om te sluk, was daar nietemin positiewes om uit die wedstryd te neem. Slot, Paul de Beer, het beïndruk met sy fisieke teenwoordigheid in die stryd voorlangs en het moedig probeer om sy span op die voorvoet te kry met ‘n paar kragtige lopies.
Northcliff High School het vir die grootste opskudding van die dag gesorg. Die span van Randburg het vir Hoërskool Jeugland, wat as ‘n aansienlik groter hond geag word, met 17-12 geskok.
Indien Northcliff kan voortbou op dié aanskoulike rugby, met puik interaksie tussen voor- en agterspelers, hou hy vir seker ‘n bedreiging in vir toekomstige teenstanders. Matthew Hunt was die Randburgers se groot uitblinker met ‘n bydrae van 12 punte, wat een van sy span se twee drieë ingesluit het.
Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer het ratte verwissel in die tweede helfte om vir die besoekers uit die Wes-Kaap, Hoërskool Belville, met 17-7 af te stof. Die Frikkies, bekend vir hul groot en fisieke voorspelers, se indukwekkende agttal het inderdaad sy stempel afgedruk, met steelkantfalnk, Keanu Visser, wat van voor gelei het met ‘n woelige vertoning op sowel die aanval as verdediging.
Vir die Kapenaars het agsteman, Corné Smit, uithalerspel gelewer met die bal in hand en was ook ‘n doring op verdediging.
Hoërskool Alberton se steelkantflank, Luke Joubert, het twee keer oor die doellyn geduik in sy span se naelskraapse sege van 19-17 oor Hoërskool Piet Retief, wat vanjaar opskuif na die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Skild-afdeling. Ál 19 die Allies se punte is ná rustyd aangeteken.
Puntemakers:
Hans Strijdom 17 (5) – Drieë: De Wet Pretorius, Braydon Farrow, Arné Marais. Doelskop: Dylan Nel. Hugenote (Springs) 10 (10) – Drie: Paul de Beer. Doelskop: Jayden Enslin. Strafdoel: Enslin.
From left to right: Florian Gerwien, Mokgatle Mokgatle, Kurt Hensberg, Aladin Halil, Tshiamo Molefe, Mulalo Mbulaheni. Photo. Siya Pongco
KickID has officially landed in South Africa, following the signing of an agreement with MRM Sport Capital, in Sandton, on Monday, 31 March.
The KickID Player rating system offers a gamified, data-driven, and contextualised assessment of soccer skills across six essential sub-categories: passing, defence, control, physicality, dribbling, and impact.
Each player is provided with a scorecard within the app, designed similarly to EA Sports FC25, which presents a fun and engaging way to visualise performance, along with personalised and highlighted player videos.
A standardised rating system facilitates global player comparisons, irrespective of age or skill level.
Founded in Germany, KickID has branches in several countries, including China, Egypt, India, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates, and now it’s officially in South Africa through its partnership with MRM Sport Capital.
MRM Sport Capital is a leading sports investment firm with a global footprint. It’s engaged in a broad array of sports-related investments and services. It also has the official rights to run the programme in South Africa.
From left to right: CEO of MRM Sport Capital, Mokgatle Mokgatle, and Co-founder and Group Chief Technology Officer of KickID, Aladin Halil. Photo Mulalo Mbulaheni.
SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Aladin Halil, the Co-founder and Group Chief Technology Officer of KickID, and Mulalo Mbulaheni, the Senior Sports Analyst at MRM Sports Capital.
Halil expressed his excitement following the agreement between KickID and MRM Sport Capital, noting that when they initiated their journey with KickID, there was a complete absence of data about grassroots and amateur football.
“The whole idea started when we saw those panini stickers, you know the collective stickers, with stats of pro players. So what we wanted, or what we thought, is why not transfer this for kids, because kids can have their own stickers, similar to FIFA or EAFC?
“I guess the importance is that you are able, for the first time, as a kid or youth player, to see where your weaknesses are.”
Halil said that when a player excels, they often receive praise for their skills, but rarely do they receive constructive feedback on areas for improvement.
He also said KickID provides players and coaches with the tools to discover effective training patterns, pinpoint essential areas for development, and recognise players’ strengths.
In today’s digital age, Halil observed that children typically spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms like Instagram or playing video games on PlayStation or XBox. With KickID, he expressed a desire to gamify the entire experience.
He said that efforts are underway to expand KickID into additional markets. To facilitate this expansion, they have sought strong partnerships, such as with MRM Sport Capital.
Halil said KickID is focused on achieving a global reach and, he said, further partnerships are taking place around the world.
Regarding the timeline for the full launch of KickID in South Africa, Halil said a proof of concept has already been conducted with Global Soccer Schools. He confirmed that the necessary equipment is already in the country, which means KickID will shortly launch on a larger scale in the country.
Global Soccer Schools during the official pilot of KickID South Africa on Sunday, 30 March. Photo. Supplied.
Mbulaheni said the initiative represents a significant advancement for South African football, particularly at the grassroots level.
He noted that both academies and players will gain valuable insights from the system, allowing them to assess a player’s performance and fast-track work on critical areas that require improvement.
KickID serves as an excellent resource for academy players, aiding them in their individual development programmes, Mbulaheni said.
“As a player, their point system and their performance allows them to be seen from a scouting perspective,” he explained.
Mbulaheni said of the official pilot of the KickID South Africa programme: “We did it with u11 and u13 players with Global Soccer Schools, and from now on, moving forward, it’s accessible to academies and various teams.”
“They can contact us if they have an interest in us coming over with the equipment and running tests for them.
“We are ready to bring it to the teams so that they can also gain the benefits of KickID.”
Worcester Gimnasium was one of the standout teams on day one of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament in Cape Town. Photo: Enhanced Sports Media/Belgotex Sport
There were goals galore, a couple of shock results, and milestones achieved on day one of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Festival in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The annual event runs until Saturday, 5 April, and all the action will be live on the SuperSport Schools App.
One of Africa’s biggest co-ed hockey festivals, it has drawn 96 teams to the Mother City.
The opening day’s action took place at eight venues, which include the Hartleyvale A and B turfs, Western Province Cricket Club‘s two fields, Pinelands High School, Rustenburg Girls’ High, Wynberg Girls’ High, and Herschel Girls School.
Several teams in the boys’ section were impressive and put their hands up as potential successors to last year’s champions, Paarl Gimnasium, who are absent this year.
Worcester Gimnasium was on song and ended the day with wins over Penryn School and St John’s College, from Zimbabwe.
Coach Edrich Janse van Rensburg‘s side netted through Christiaan Jacobs and Jannie Vlok against their Zimbabwean counterparts, while Bhukosi Mapete found the back of the net against Penryn before Jacobs scored his second of the day.
The South African College High School (SACS) Invitational side also showed promising signs.
They played to a goalless draw with Glenwood House but did enough to qualify for the round of 16 after beating Hugenote 2-0, courtesy of goals by Brett van Rooyen and Nicholas Oscroft.
Another Cape Town outfit, Stellenberg High, made it through to the knockout stages and will face Woodridge College, Curro Durbanville, and Langenhoven Gimnasium in the last 16.
Hoërskool Nelspruit is a team to watch. The side, led by Anthony Ruschenbaum, made its presence felt on day one with a 6-0 defeat of Oudtshoorn before playing out to an entertaining goalless draw with Kempton Park.
They have been drawn in Pool C of the Cup section and will face the Paul Roos Gimnasium Invitational side, Hoërskool Outeniqua, and Hoërskool Monument. All the teams in that pool are unbeaten.
Hudson Park High School, from East London, rattled in 10 goals as coach Sipe Matafeni‘s troops defeated Windhoek Gimnasium and the Paarl Gimnasium Invitational team in their first two outings.
Against Windhoek, Helio Ruiters netted a brace and was joined on the score sheet by Nathan Kearney and Zizibele Mtongana.
Hudson will continue in the Cup section where they will meet Fairmont High, Bridge House, and DF Malan.
Only one international side qualified for the Cup section, and that was Pro-Ed Akademie, from Swakopmund, in Namibia.
Stellenberg High School fired on all cylinders on day one of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament. Photo: Enhanced Sports Media/Belgotex Sport
GIRLS SECTION:
While the action lived up to expectations in the boys’ section, the girls also delivered some cracking performances.
One of the tournament favourites, Stellenberg High School, began their hunt for silverware in the best possible way with an impressive 7-0 win over Worcester Gimnasium.
In that clash, three of their players, Ilke van der Merwe, Minke Lourens, and Helen de Kock, celebrated 100 games for the side.
They dominated the game, scoring through Juane Meiring (2), Zanay Gerber (2), Stella Zwiegers, Bea van den Berg, and Lané Schoeman.
They upped the ante in their second clash and thumped the Rustenburg Girls’ Invitational side 13-0.
Coach Paulene de Bruin‘s side charged into the Cup knockout stages where they will take on Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse, Namibia’s St Paul’s College, and Hoërskool Eldoraigne.
Hoërskool Monument and Fairmont High were also on song on the opening day.
Fairmont ripped through Hoërskool Linden and Hoërskool Upington 3-0 and 4-0, respectively, to book themselves a spot in the playoffs.
An interesting battle in the round of 16 awaits between Hoërskool Nelspruit, Rustenburg Girls’ High, Wynberg Girls’ High, and Hoërskool Outeniqua. All four sides are in the same group after dominating their opponents on Wednesday.
Wynberg beat Charlie Hofmeyr 2-1 and Woodridge College 2-0. At the centre of their attack was skipper Jehan Abrahams, who scored in both matches.
It was a good day for Hoërskool Monument, who netted nine goals without reply, to go with the 11 their boys scored without conceding.
Day two will see the teams meeting in the Cup, Shield, and Bowl sections as the tournament intensifies.
RESULTS
DAY 1
BOYS
Pool 1
Worcester Gimnasium 2-1 Penryn School
Worcester Gimnasium 2-1 St John’s (Harare)
St John’s (Harare) 4-0 Penryn School
Pool 2
Stellenberg High 2-0 Linden
Stellenberg 3-1 Middelburg Hoërskool
Linden 1-4 Middelburg Hoërskool
Vanjaar se Menlo-Netbaltoernooi was oudergewoonte ’n viering van spanwerk, uithouvermoë en ‘n passie vir die spel.
Met spanne van regoor Suid-Afrika wat op die Menlopark-bane saamgetrek het, was die gehalte van spel uitsonderlik en die gees tussen skole bewonderenswaardig. Elke span het gekom om hul merk te maak, en dit was duidelik van die heel eerste fluitjie af dat hierdie ’n netbalfees van hoogstaande gehalte sou lewer.
Gasheerskool, Menlopark, het twee spanne ingeskryf wat albei hul staal gewys het. Menlopark 1 het uithalerspel teen Diamantveld gelewer om met 29–13 te wen, met vernaam hul blitsige sirkulasie van die bal wat beïndruk het. Hoewel hulle teen ’n uiters sterk Durbanville-span vasgeval het met 20–28, het Parkies nietemin karakter getoon en aanhou veg tot die einde.
Benewens Menlopark, het verskeie ander spanne op die eerste dag van die toernooi hul teenwoordigheid bekendgemaak. Noordheuwel het ’n duidelike boodskap gestuur met ‘n sege van 28–14 oor Secunda, terwyl Bellville hul teenstanders, Randburg en Pretoria-Noord, met onderskeidelik 22–10 en 29–3 verslaan het.
Outeniqua het verbete vasberadenheid getoon teen Monument om met 28–27 as oorwinnaars te tree uit ’n stryd wat as een van die hoogtepunte van die dag beskou is. Dr.Malan het ewe briljant vertoon teen Potchefstroom Gimnasium, om met twee doele in die doodsnikke die pyp te rook met 23-21.
Helpmekaar het self hope karakter aan die dag gelê deur Oranje met 16–15 te klop in ’n naelbytstryd gelaai met spanning. Bloemhof het hulself as ’n krag in skolenetbal onderskei deur met sowel Edenvale (29–17) as Duineveld (25–17) klaar te speel, terwyl Paarl Gimnasium ook met gemak geseëvier het, onder andere met 35–12 oor Secunda.
Dag 1 van die Menlo-Netbaltoernooi het gesorg vir naelbyt-aksie, opskuddings en sterre wat hand opgesteek het. Met sulke uitslae as verwysingspunt, het die die res van die toernooi beloof om nóg heelwat vonke te laat spat.
Frankie Henn is part of an experienced and settled squad that will be one of the leading title contenders at the St Mary’s Festival. Photo: Rhenish Girls’ High School on Facebook.
Rhenish dominated the field at the festival in 2024 and emulated those performances, beating Clarendon High School for Girls, Bethlehem Voortrekker, Oranje Meisieskool, St Anne’s DSG, and Eunice High School.
In total, Gerber’s charges scored 21 goals and conceded only three. Despite their successes, the coach believes there’s plenty of room for improvement.
“The most important thing for us at Greg Beiling was to elevate our structure and expand on what we have already been doing,” Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“It was good to play against some of the top teams because we always want to play at the highest possible level we can. We learnt a lot. We still have development areas we need to work on as a team.”
After the tournament in East London, Rhenish had a week-long break to recover and get themselves ready for the Standard Bank St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival, an event at which they finished 11th last year.
The prestigious festival is one of the most competitive and gruelling girls’ hockey tournaments in the country.
Rhenish goalkeeper Jasmine Aitken, who has played over 150 matches for her school, will be a key performer for the Stellenbosch school at the St Mary’s Hockey Festival. Photo: Rhenish Girls’s High School on Facebook.
Rhenish has been drawn in Pool C and will face the hosts, St Mary’s Waverley, along with St Stithians Girls’ College, St Mary’s DSG, from Kloof, St Cyprian’s School, Clarendon, Pretoria High School for Girls, and debutants, Windhoek High School.
“This festival is so unique because we get to play teams from all different areas,” Gerber said. “We also get to test ourselves against teams we don’t play week in and week out.
“It will be a completely different challenge, but we are looking forward to it.”
The busy schedule features matches that last for 25 minutes of running time.
Managing players and using the wider squad will be crucial, but Gerber insisted Rhenish’s approach would be simple.
“The most important thing for us is to take it game-by-game, and we can’t look too far ahead as anything can happen in this tournament.
“We need to adapt and be in the moment for every single game.”
RHENISH SQUAD
Jasmine Aitken, Amy-Leigh Gibson, Shene du Plessis, Emma Lurie, Puck Bakker, Kathrine Sickle, Grace Hobbs, Lily Newton, Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, Leah du Plessis (c), Sarah Oscroft, Pippa Viljoen, Nicola van der Merwe, Ruby Cilliers, Frankie Henn.
MATTHEW ABBEY, losskakel van die Hoërskool Middelburg, in aksie tydens die Klein Karoo Saadproduksie Oakdale Rugbyweek net buite Riversdal. FOTO: Lunchbox Photography
Die Hoërskool Middelburg van Mpumalanga het vanjaar met drie spelers die grootste verteenwoordiging in die Klein Karoo Saadproduksie XV-tal wat na tydens die Oakdale Rugbyweek gekies is.
Die Middies se losskakel, Matthew Abbey, haker, Roux Grobler, asook die loskopstut, Carlo Joubert, het die uitsoekspan gehaal.
Abbey, wat die Pumas reeds verlede jaar tydens die Cravenweek in Krugersdorp verteenwoordig het, is as Agterspeler van die Week aangewys.
Abbey behoort weer vanjaar een van die unie se sleutelspelers op die toernooi te wees, wat vanjaar deur sy skool aangebied word.
Die Brandwag van Kariega en Hoërskool Zwartkop het elk twee spelers in die uitsoek XV-tal. Albei die slotte van die span van Kariega, Damian le Roux en Nicolis Thysse, is hul skool se twee verteenwoordigers.
Middelburg en Die Brandwag het op die eerste dag van die week kragte gemeet, met die Middies wat met 10-5 na ‘n titaniese stryd van die veld gestap het. Le Roux is vir sy uitmuntende spel as die Voorspeler van die Week aangewys.
Zwartkop wat met die toekenning vir die opwindendste rugby beloon is, se twee vleuels, Luan Isaacs en Zulu Mona, het die span gehaal.
Die span word slegs gekies om erkenning aan die spelers vir goeie vertonings tydens die week te gee. Hy sal dus in geen wedstryd in aksie wees nie.
Die Klein Karoo Saadproduksie XV-tal is:
15 Paul Schutte (Die Anker), 14 Luan Isaacs (Zwartkop), 13 Lorenzo Kroutz (Overberg), 12 Johan van der Walt (Hermanus), 11 Zulu Mona (Zwartkop), 10 Matthew Abbey (Hoërskool Middelburg), 9 Jaun Nel (Ooskus Gimnasium), 8 KG Legodi (Lichtenburg), 7 Juan Janse van Vuuren (Hoërskool Middelburg), 6 Tiaan Serfontein (Hoërskool Upington), 5 Damian le Roux (Die Brandwag), 4 Nicolis Thysse (Die Brandwag), 3 Matthew Redelinghuys (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), 2 Roux Grobler (Hoërskool Middelburg), 1 Carlo Joubert (Hoërskool Middelburg).
Eunice will be aiming to make a run at the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival title. Photo: Monique de Gouveia
The annual St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival not only brings together some of the top girls’ teams from around the country, it also draws some renowned sporting icons.
The popular event, which runs from 3-6 April in Johannesburg, draws big crowds, including an abundance of hockey enthusiasts, supporters, and parents, from all walks of life.
A legend who will also grace the Nathan Field and Howell Hub AstroTurfs with his presence is former Springbok loose forward Andre Venter.
Venter represented South Africa on 66 occasions from 1996-2001 and, in recent years, has followed schools’ sports, and hockey in particular, with a keen eye.
He is no stranger to the fence of an Astro, and that’s due to his daughter, Anebel Venter, who plays for the first team at Eunice High School, one of the country’s traditional hockey powerhouses.
“I think school sports is very healthy in South Africa, and it doesn’t matter if it is rugby or hockey,” Venter told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the St Mary’s Festival. “It’s so competitive, and the amount of time and money schools and parents invest in their children is incredible.
“The facilities are top-class. If you look at the turfs at St Mary’s, it’s next level, and it seems like school sports are getting more professional. That is a good thing, but as long as we don’t take it too far because kids still need to be kids.”
Venter also attended the Synsport Greg Beling Festival last month in East London. There, he witnessed Eunice record four victories in their five matches, which included his daughter scoring some outrageous goals.
He said he was impressed with the level of hockey on show and stressed the importance of big tournaments in helping young players develop. “Greg Beling showed that the level of hockey is amazing, and it was good seeing how they play and respect the game.
“Tournaments like that help kids write their own stories, make memories at the school level, play against top schools, and be competitive. It just gets the best out of everybody.”
Eunice has made a positive start to the 2025 season. Photo: Monique de Gouveia
Venter said he’s looking forward to watching high-quality performances from teams across the country at the St Mary’s Festival. He’s also relishing the opportunity of meeting old friends, making new ones, and cheering on his daughter from the sidelines.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” he said. “It’s a massive tournament and a highlight in all girls’ hockey careers during their school days. It’s also big for us as parents and for the spectators.
“It’s not just the hockey but also the camaraderie and meeting people.”
Venter’s support will be strongly behind Eunice at St Mary’s. The Bloemfontein school has started the season well and lost only against Rhenish Girls’ High School at the Greg Beling Festival in a tight contest.
In 2023, Eunice won the St Mary’s Festival, and Venter said they, as parents, are optimistic about the 2025 team’s chances but are aware it will come down to fine margins.
“We are believers and positive that the girls can do it. They have a good team, but there are many good sides, and it will depend on the day.
“When it comes to the semifinals and final, it could come down to sudden death, and there can be only one winner.
“I think it will go down to the wire but, as parents, we are just privileged for our girls to be a part of such a tournament,” he concluded.
Eunice has been drawn in Pool B and will face Bloemhof Girls’ High School, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria, St Andrew’s School for Girls, Hoërskool Garsfontein, St John’s DSG, Roedean School, and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.
Jordan Steenkamp ran in the 12th hat trick in the final match of the 2025 NMI Toyota North/South Tournament as the hosts, Paul Roos Gimnasium, held on for a 26-19 victory over Hoërskool Noordheuwel, in Stellenbosch, on Tuesday evening.
Steenkamp, displaying pace and power out on the left wing, punished the Norrie Blueswith his strong and determined runs. His ability to turn nothing into something was one of the highlights of the last match after four days of scintillating action.
His colleague on the opposite wing, big Tiaan Basson, sparkled on the attack, but especially on defence, putting in some massive hits.
Paul Roos’s winning effort, though, was powered by their impressive loose forwards. Gert Kemp, one of the front runners for the Western Province number eight jersey, led the way as the trio caught the eye with their outstanding work rate in all facets of the game.
A red card left the Maroon Machine a man short in the dying moments of the match, and that enabled the Blues to further capitalise on the momentum they had picked up in the second half. Noordheuwel’s hooker, Clinton Agu, was the standout player in their pack and set the tone with his physical runs.
Flyhalf Jeandré Uithaler continues to go from strength to strength, although he seemed slightly off his energetic best after a taxing showdown against Grey College on Saturday.
That same Grey College side put their demons to bed in the rematch of a 2024 North/South game against Jeppe High School for Boys. In 2024, Johannesburg school won 22-19, but the Bloemfontein boys romped to a 64-31 victory on Tuesday night with a sharp exhibition of clinical, running rugby.
Grey captain, Xander Smit, led from the front, with the flank’s excellent support play bringing him three tries in a true captain’s performance. In the backline, fullback Lamla Mgedezi was at his elusive best and caused Jeppe all kinds of problems.
Jeppe must be commended, though. Although Grey College controlled the game, Talent Sithole and his men never gave an inch and kept taking it to the Bloemfontein powerhouse. They were rewarded with the last try of the contest, their fifth, scored by their fleet-footed centre Lindelani Nkambule, who dotted down twice for the Zebras.
SCORERS
Paul Roos Gimnasium 26 (19) – Tries: Jordan Steenkamp (3), Tiaan Basson. Conversions: Travis Pheiffer (3). Noordheuwel 19 (0) – Tries: Clinton Agu, Raheem Schiefer, Stefan Bezuidenhout. Conversions: Jeandré Uithaler (2).
Grey College 64 (33) – Tries: Xander Smit (3), Tian Fourie (2), Penalty Try, Sherwin Buys, JG Badenhorst, Siyabonga Kenny, Eddie Mabena. Conversions: Jan-Hendrik van der Linden (5), Darius Erwee (2). Jeppe High School for Boys 31 (10) – Tries: Lindelani Nkambule (2), Kuhle Shitlangu, Phano Letsie, Talent Sithole. Conversions: Nehemia Hollenbach (3).
Josh Neill and his Rondebosch Boys’ High side capped off an unbeaten NMI Toyota North/South Tournament with a convincing 47-12 victory over the Rhinos from Hoërskool Nelspruit on Tuesday, in Stellenbosch.
The ‘Boschattack was at its sparkling best and they ran in seven tries. Inside centre Matthew Gaplin proved to be the biggest thorn in the Nellies‘ side, diving over for a double, which was a well-deserved reward for a solid outing.
Alongside him, the big outside centre, Randall-John Davids, imposed himself with another display of abrasive, physical runs in the midfield.
The lanky Neill enjoyed another captain’s outing with his dangerous runs. His ability to read the play and stay three steps ahead of the game makes him a special player and that puts him in the lead in the race for this year’s seven jersey in the South African Schools side.
Speedy left-wing Tinyiko Silubane impressed for the side from the lowveld with his ability to challenge the Rondebosch defence. Silubane, who played for the Pumas’ Craven Week side last year, utilised his experience under pressure to beat his opposite number on a couple of occasions and also scored one of Nelspruit’s two tries.
Hoërskool Diamantveld‘s Diamonds also produced a scintillating offensive performance to more than double up Hoërskool Framesby, from Gqeberha, running away to a 59-29 victory.
The Kimberley school’s vice-captain and lock, Zuan Rautenbach, took it to the Framesby pack with his storming runs and came away with two tries. He found strong support from tighthead prop, Dian Ellis, who also produced an energetic showing, which brought him two five-pointers, as well.
Flyhalf Ezlin Swartz orchestrated play masterfully for the Diamonds to put his team on the front foot. Along with his fine performance in general play, he slotted six conversions, too.
His opposite number, Jaiden Brewis, tried valiantly to keep Framesby in the game. He, also, dotted down twice and was Framesby’s best player on the day.
SCORERS
Rondebosch Boys’ High 47 (21) – Tries: Matthew Galpin (2), David Kadima, Randall-John Davids, Alutha Wesi, Shellvon Mabooi, Connor Arbuthnot. Conversions: Harry Soboil (5), Sebastian Boshoff. Hoërskool Nelspruit 12 (5) – Tries: Gert Cloete, Tinyiko Silubane. Conversion: Laim Pringle.
Diamantveld 59 (40) – Tries: Dian Ellis (2), Zuan Rautenbach (2), Ruben van der Linde, Jonathan Harding, Penalty Try. Conversions: Ezlin Swartz (6). Framesby 29 (12) – Tries: Jaiden Brewis (2), Jaco George, Luke Didloft, Rynhardt Brown. Conversions: Jaiden Brewis, Mondré van Heerden.
Die tweede dag van die Menlo-Netbaltoernooi 2025 het nogmaals spel van hoogstaande gehalte opgelewer, met ‘n aantal spanne wat bo die res begin uitstyg het.
Vanjaar se Menlo-Netbaltoernooi was oudergewoonte ’n viering van spanwerk, uithouvermoë en ‘n passie vir die spel.
