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Both Clifton College and Maritzburg College enjoyed victories in derby clashes over the weekend. Sharpened by competing in two festivals each during the break at the end of the first term, they claimed similar 1-0 wins.

The Saturday encounter between Clifton and Glenwood at the Riverside Sports Club in Durban was the second time the sides have met this year. The first time was in January, when the teams were preparing for the forthcoming season, in a practice match in which the coaches experimented with personnel and structure.

That contest gave Calvin Price, the Clifton coach, insight into his team’s abilities and weaknesses. Pryce, who has taken over as the Director of Hockey from Keegan Pearce this year, is not a stranger to the school, however, He previously served an internship at Clifton.

“I found the team in a good place. They played well and were well organised, but we lacked experience in front of goal,” he shared.

Price’s mission has not been to revolutionise how Clifton plays. Rather, he has focussed the team on making incremental improvements and becoming a better unit. The key is building a culture that reflects the values he espouses.

“It is a respect-based culture, respecting the people around you, your teammates, your opponents, and the umpires. We also want the boys to develop and enjoy the brotherhood of playing and supporting each other. Then, the pride of wearing the Clifton badge,” he explained.

On the Astro, Price wants his team to play an exciting brand of attacking hockey that is built off of a foundation of firm defensive principles. He also wants his players to be engaged and to think outside out of the box.

In his short period with the team, Price has witnessed some of his experienced players taking the lead, with Daniel Hompes, Jared Pearson, Zach Williamson and Ryde Brisset setting a strong example, and the remainder of the team coalescing around them. One of those four, Hompes, was on target in Clifton’s win over Glenwood on Saturday.

Ahead of the derby, Pryce had been preparing for a tough encounter against an opponent that has shown clear improvement this season already, and they got one. The only downside was that Clifton spurned numerous chances in the D.

Those missed chances reflected Clifton’s inexperience in front of goal, but Pryce was not discouraged by them. Rather, he said he was happy to see his charges are creating opportunities and venturing into the opposition’s final third with confidence.

On Pape’s Astro, Maritzburg College drew first blood in their annual two-leg derby against Pretoria Boys High School.

In two of their past four derby encounters, the sides had finished deadlocked, with no outright winner in 2022 and 2023. Saturday’s game was fiercely contested, which was no less than College coach Kyle Emerson expected.

“Boys High arrive with intense energy and always have extra in the tank when they come here,” he told Supersport Schools Plus before the match.

Over recent years, the contests between the two teams were determined by a one-goal difference or ended in draws. Saturday’s clash followed the same script, with College scoring the all-important only goal of the game late in the first chukka.

Meanwhile, at Balgowan, the two-match Michaelhouse–Garsfontein derby games were played as practice matches on Saturday and Sunday, although, for the record Garsfontein enjoyed a clean sweep.

With Michaelhouse coach Nick Bérichon having been in charge of Garsfontein until taking up his position at ‘House this year, it was a matchup of teams playing the game in a similar manner. His successor at Garsies, Steve Paulo, wisely chose not to reinvent the wheel and has largely stuck to Bérichon’s successful methods while adding a few tweaks of his own.

Bérichon, whose Michaelhouse team is still adjusting to the structure the coach believes will serve them best, won’t be too unhappy with his charges’ efforts, despite them losing both encounters.

There have been encouraging signs of his players’ development and they appear to be on the right track after a difficult 2023.

Despite that growth, however, it was Garsfontein who won 3-0 and 1-0 on the Punchbowl Astro.

Results

Saturday: Michaelhouse 0-3 Garsfontein, Maritzburg College 1-0 Pretoria Boys High, Clifton College 1-0 Glenwood High

Sunday: Michaelhouse 0-1 Garsfontein

Duineveld het Saterdag Upington se trots verdedig teen die besoekende Diamantveld van Kimberley danksy AJ Burger se geoefende skopskoen, en senuwees van staal.

Toe die twee spanne verlede jaar in Kimberley slaags was het die Diamonds met 30-15 die botoon gevoer. Hierdie slag het die Velties egter binne trefafstand gebly vir Burger om in die doodsnikke ‘n naelbytsege van 14-12 met sy strafdoel te beklink.

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Diamantveld se eerstespan lewer tot dusver vanjaar uithalerrugby en was Saterdag weer eerste uit die blokke. Toe Simon Liversage se reuse strafdoelpoging die pale getref het, het die Diamonds vinniger gereageer as die tuisspan met Jonathan Harding wat die bal opgeraap en oorgeduik het vir die eerste drie.

Met slegs vyf minute oor in die eerste skof het die tuisspan teruggeslaan met ‘n drie deur skrumskakel, Franco Erasmus, om die rustydtelling met 5-5 gelykop te laat trek.

Dit was die Velties se enigste drie, maar ondanks nog een vir die Diamonds, deur hul breker-agsteman, Enrique Boshoff, wat verdoel is deur losskakel, Marno Greeff, het Duineveld daarin geslaag om die besoekers in toom te hou, terwyl Burger elke kans om punte op die bord te plaas benut het.

Jacquin Jasson (vleuel) en Philip van As (haker) het uitgeblink op die verdediging, terwyl Erasmus sy span op die voorvoet gehou met sy hoë werkverrigting agter die skrum.

Met skaars vyf minute speeltyd oor was die besoekers nog met 12-11 voor, toe Burger ‘n strafskoppoging langs die reggoppaal verby laat seil het. Oomblikke later hy het egter koelkop gebly toe hy nóg ‘n geleentheid gekry het, en die bal tussen die pale deurgejaag vir die wenpunte.

Puntemakers:

Duineveld 14 (5) – Drie: Franco Erasmus. Strafdoele: AJ Burger (3). Diamantveld 12 (5) – Drieë: Jonathan Harding, Enrique Boshoff. Doelskop: Marno Greeff.

Ander uitslae:

o. 19 – Hoërskool Kalahari 38, Hoërskool Kathu 5; Diamantveld II 26, Duineveld 24; Diamantveld III 51, Duineveld III 5; Diamantveld IV 26, Duineveld IV 0.

o. 16 – Diamantveld 22, Duineveld 3; Diamantveld B 31, Duineveld B 10.

o. 15 – Diamantveld 28, Duineveld 13; Duineveld B 19, Diamantveld B 12.

o. 14 – Diamantveld 45, Duineveld 5; Diamantveld B 28, Duineveld B 7.

Only a week after competing in the St Mary’s Festival, Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl Girls’ High, and Rhenish Girls’ High were back in action on the weekend, and all three picked up wins.

Those three sides contributed seven goals to the 30 that were scored in the eight matches contested by Western Cape girls’ teams over the weekend.

Other schools that recorded victories on Friday and Saturday included Rustenburg Girls’ High, Durbanville, Wynberg Girls’ High, and Springfield Convent School.

DF Malan, meanwhile, had also been in action at St Mary’s, where they finished 24th. Paarl Girls’ placed 19th, Rhenish 11th and Paarl Gim fourth, which was the best of the Western Cape schools.

Those results were all in the past on Friday night in Stellenbosch, however, when Rhenish played host to DF Malan.

The home team enjoyed the upper hand, scoring twice without reply, to post a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Lily Newton and Pippa Viljoen.

The second clash of the day saw Paarl Girls’ High make a trip to Parel Vallei. It wasn’t a comfortable outing, but the visitors did just enough to scrap their way to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Jarred Pitout‘s charges.

Fairmont High School, after opening their season with a 2-1 win over Durbanville, failed to replicate that performance and went down 1-2 against Rustenburg Girls’ High in the final match of the day.

Plenty of mouthwatering action followed on Saturday, with a number of interesting matchups delivering good entertainment.

In the first match of the day, HTS Drostdy and Framesby shared a 1-1 draw. Soon after that, Durbanville put a tick in the win column, drubbing Westerford 4-0, to get their season back on track after losing to Fairmont last week.

Paarl Gim, who travelled to Pretoria for a showdown with Affies, made sure the long trip was worthwhile, rolling to a 3-0 win over their rivals, with goals from Marieka Neethling, Karea de Ridder and Tanya Pieterse.

Wynberg Girls’ High, in their friendly clash against Curro Durbanville, were too strong and ran out 6-0 winners. In their defence, Curro was missing four key players. Despite that, Mila van Deventer and Ithike Gunter showed their class in the defeat.

The final match of the day saw Springfield Convent School run rampant and claim a resounding 6-1 win over La Rochelle Girls’ High.

RESULTS

Rhenish 2-0 DF Malan
Paarl Gimnasium 3-0 Affies
Parel Vallei 1-2 Paarl Girls’ High
Fairmont High 1-2 Rustenburg Girls’ High
HTS Drostdy 1-1 Framesby
Durbanville 4-0 Westerford
Wynberg Girls’ High 6-0 Curro Durbanville
La Rochelle 1-6 Springfield

After an impressive run during the pre-season, Bishops Diocesan College kept the pedal to the metal and began their Western Cape league season in style, hammering DF Malan 8-0 at the Woodlands Astroturf in Cape Town on Friday night.

Before the match, Bishops had only played nine competitive matches – three at the Parel Vallei Hockey Festival in March, and six at the Bishops 175 Hockey Festival last month.

In their home event, coach Ryan Julius’s boys were a cut above the rest, beating every opponent they faced, much to the delight of the home supporters.

They scored wins over Michaelhouse (3-1), St Charles College (4-0), St David’s Marist Inanda (2-0), St Andrew’s School (8-0), St Benedict’s College (4-0), and Makhanda’s St Andrew’s College (2-1).

Bishops then went on a much-deserved break, before facing DF Malan on Friday night.

DF entered the clash on the back of a 0-2 defeat to a good Worcester Gimnasium team a week ago, and Bishops was in no mood to make matters any easier for them.

Joshua Mettler, who was in superb form at the 175 Festival, continued his fine goal-scoring run in front of a buzzing crowd at Woodlands.

At the 175 Festival, it was Mettler who scored the winning goal for his team against previously undefeated St Andrew’s College when the match looked like it was heading for a 1-1 draw.

On Friday, he picked up from where he left off, netting a whopping four times against DF Malan.

There was also a double from Andrew Raubenheimer, and Adam Diggle and Albert Steyn also struck, to make it eight.

Reflecting on the contest, coach Julius said he was pleased with how his team had executed the game plan, particularly after being away from the game for over two weeks.

“It was an excellent team display,” he told SuperSport Schools after the match.

“It’s a good thing that we’ve started the league like this.

“I’m proud of the boys. They adapted well to the tactics that we trained this week. They executed the game plan well, and we were dominant on attack and defence,” he added.

Bishops next shift their focus to a meeting with Curro Durbanville, who played to a 2-2 draw with Langa Hockey Club.

Their game against Curro will be followed with an outing against Stellenberg High School before they take on SACS on the first weekend of May in what is likely to be their biggest challenge of the season.

Julius, though, has urged his side to remain focussed and take it one match at a time.

“It’s really important now that we stay nice and grounded,” he stressed.

“We understand that we’ve done well, but the journey has just started, and we need to get back to the drawing board and continue riding this wave for as long as we can.

“We need to stay nice and focused, humble in victory, and understand that through hard work and preparation, we’ll succeed.

“I’ve told the boys to just stay focused on the task that’s ahead of us. But I am proud of how they played and, I must say, the identity and culture we are creating at the school is positive,” he concluded.

 

Queen’s College produced arguably their best performance so far this season to prevent Selborne College from winning a 16^th consecutive match, with the sides playing to a 1-1 draw in an FNB Classic Clash on Friday night in East London.

Queen’s, who were blown away by their opponents twice in in 2023, losing 1-3 and 2-9, looked like a different side, hungry to cause an upset.

Last weekend, coach Michael Baiden’s boys had allowed a 2-0 lead to slip away against Stirling High School, which left them having to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Selborne on the other hand, was brimming with confidence after registering a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Pearson High School in Gqeberha in their previous outing.

The game’s first chukka was all about settling in for both teams, and Selborne, as expected, had more of the ball possession.

Goalscoring opportunities were scarce, but the hosts had a chance to take the lead when, with about three minutes remaining in the quarter, they were awarded a penalty corner.

Daniel Sirgel’s injection was pinpoint and Selborne skipper Tre’ Gilbert fired off a stinging drag flick, but his shot hit the crossbar, and the visitors survived a scare.

The second chukka saw Queen’s shot-stopper Rowan Miles come to his side’s rescue on numerous times, pulling off some acrobatic saves.

When the deadlock was finally broken, it was, however, Queen’s skipper, Bevaneo Maytham, who made the breakthrough.

Pressing high, while Selborne was trying to build from the back, Queen’s turned over possession, and an ill-timed tackle by Dan Gaylard inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke for the visitors.

Up stepped Maytham, and he calmly deposited the ball into the right-hand corner to put his side in front.

The team from Komani maintained their lead through the third chukka, but momentum shifted in the fourth, when Cade Kock pulled one back for the hosts.

Just like last week against Pearson, Kock was lively in the circle. His crucial goal came after Gilbert went on the dribble, then picked out Kock in space, and the striker finished smartly to get his side back on level terms.

Both sides pushed hard for a winner, but it ended 1-1.

In Qonce, Grey High School ran rampant against Dale College, powering their way a huge 9-0 win.

Kian Cambier, Xander Elkington, and Luke Tait all netted twice, while Rob Stow, Ben Ristow, and Caden Skinnette all helped to nail Dale’s coffin shut.

Coach Andrew Beynon’s side, unbeaten thus far this season, will be seriously tested next weekend when they travel to Cape Town for two tough matches, against Wynberg Boys’ High on Friday night, and SACS on Saturday.

Cambridge High School was also among the winners on the weekend, beating Makhanda’s Graeme College 4-1.

Coach Tim Stirk’s boys were led to victory by a hattrick of goals from Aqhama Mdlulwa, while Lihle Hempe slotted their other.

Pearson High School were also 4-1 winners in their game against Stirling, and Hudson Park continued their good form at the Oakhill Co-Ed Festival, beating Milnerton High School 2-1.

RESULTS

Cambridge High School 4-1 Graeme College
Dale College 0-9 Grey High
Pearson High School 4-1 Stirling High School
Selborne College 1-1 Queen’s College
Hudson Park 2-1 Milnerton

 

The race for qualification for the Top 12 Tournament and top honours in provincial leagues began in earnest on the weekend as schools shifted their focus away from festival hockey.

Durban Girls’ College began their local campaign with an easy introduction to the KZN schedule. They faced Danville Park Girls’ High, not the strongest of opposition, and could have fielded a weaker side. But they chose a full-strength team.

One of the traps of schoolboys’ and -girls’ hockey is a tendency for teams to let their guard down and take things easy in the face of lower-ranked opposition. Talented and well-structured teams can rise to the level of stronger rivals, but not all maintain a high-quality performance against weaker opponents.

Danville was not in DGC’s class, but the St Mary’s Festival champions didn’t allow their standards to slide on Saturday.

Coach Chardinay Penniston‘s charges are young and ambitious. They have big dreams that include a successful St Anne’s campaign, making it to the Spar Finals, and making it to the Top 12 Tournament. They diligently prepare for each match and take nothing for granted.

Against Danville, they displayed a penchant for goalscoring, showcasing the same desire that brought them success at the St Mary’s Festival.

Ruby Krause (4), Caprice Bengston (2), Emily Macquet (2), Chelsey Woolf (2), Holly Jansen (1), Sherya Subramoney (1), and Tara Pakendorf (1) were on target as DGC fired 13 goals past Danville and took another step towards realising their ambitions.

Eunice and Oranje drew 2-2 against Garsontein on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Both teams put their best foot forward, throwing everything at the Pretoria-based team, but neither could overcome Charlene Jonsson‘s charges. They rose to the challenge, and it’s rare that a side comes away unscathed from back-to-back matches against the Bloemfontein powerhouses.

Oranje coach Gyster van Schalkwyk and Eunice’s Nika Coertzen would have preferred victories but will take draws over defeats, and both declared themselves satisfied with the performances of their teams.

Oranje produced their regular high standards on both ends of the field, while Eunice, whose players went into their game after participating in the Southern Free State trials earlier in the day, did not display weariness on the turf and delivered a typically solid display.

Kirsten Beneke’s charges, Voortrekker (Bethlehem), have one main goal for the 2024 season, to qualify for the Top 12 Tournament. They took a decisive step towards turning that dream into a reality with a 4-0 win over Fichardtpark.

The victory further enhances their bid for a spot in the prestigious event. “The table has been changing rapidly every week and we hope to keep improving and make the cut,” Beneke said.

Results

DSG 13-0 Danville, Eunice 2-2 Garsfontein, Oranje 2-2 Garsfontein, Voortrekker (Bethlehem) 4-0 Fichardtpark.

Wynberg Boys’ High kept their perfect record for the season alive by beating Paarl Boys’ High for the first time since 1991 on Saturday.

What made the feat even more impressive was that they downed the Paarl giants on their home turf, handing the Boishaai first team their first taste of defeat for the year.

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Wynberg’s SA A flyhalf, Yaqeen Ahmed, was phenomenal for his side again, slotting three conversions and three penalties to cancel out the extra try scored by the hosts.

In the most crucial moment of the game, long after regulation time had elapsed, Ahmed split the uprights for a final time to secure a historic win for his side, who won against Boishaai for the first time in 33 years.

To underscore what a generational performance it was, Joe da Costa, the father of Wynberg captain Aden da Costa, ran out for Wynberg in 1988, the last time they got one over Paarl Boys’ High before the win in ’91.

It was an intense battle throughout, with the lead changing hands no fewer than five times in the first half. At every opportunity, Ahmed punished the hosts and kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Boishaai wing Ashwin Swarts opened the scoring for the home side, but Ahmed struck back with another successful penalty goal.

Using the width of the field, Boishaai then managed to send their other wing, Aiden Jacobs, over to regain the lead, but the visitors handed them some of their own medicine when Levi Brown scored Wynberg’s first try.

When Kunene Gadu went over for a second, Wynberg took a 20-10 advantage into the break.

As one would expect from a team of their stature, Paarl Boys’ High came out swinging in the second half.

Wynberg defended bravely, with players like Luqobo Makwedini and Brandon Asburner putting their bodies on the line to withstand the Boishaai onslaught. However, after 15 minutes of frantic defending, the home side created an opening for Anroux du Plessis to score after a well-rehearsed lineout movement.

With Paarl’s tails up, Jacobs crossed for his second try to level the scores, with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. The action was far from over.

When Wynberg scrumhalf Tyrone Gombe sent a bullet to his captain, Da Costa, he barrelled into the Paarl defence but was stopped only centimetres from the try line. However, Ezra Antonio, up in support, picked up and dived over to give his side the lead once more.

To their credit, Paarl Boys’ High never let up and they continued to throw everything at the Wynberg defence until Swarts found a gap to go over for his second five-pointer of the day in the final moments of regulation time.

Neither team was ready to settle for a draw and they kept going hard at it well into added time. Boishaai had a couple of moments where they came within reach of securing the win, but Wynberg was given a chance to win it when the assistant referee alerted the referee to an error on the hosts’ side. They had 15 players on the field while another was in the sin bin.

Ahmed was the man for the occasion. He nailed the clutch kick to the roar and delight of the Wynberg supporters.

SCORERS

Wynberg Boys’ High 30 (20) – Tries: Levi Brown, Kunene Kadu, Ezra Antonio. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (3). Penalties: Ahmed (3). Paarl Boys’ High 27 (10) – Tries: Ashwin Swarts (2), Aiden Jacobs (2), Anroux du Plessis. Conversion: Viaan Mentoor.

Other results:

u19 – Paarl Boys’ High II 57, Wynberg Boys’ High II 0; Paarl Boys’ High III 50, Wynberg Boys’ High III 7; Paarl Boys’ High IV 53, Wynberg Boys’ High IV 6; Paarl Boys’ High V 75, Wynberg Boys’ High V 3; Paarl Boys’ High VI 73, Wynberg Boys’ High VI 3; Paarl Boys’ High VIII 17, HTS Drostdy VI 0; Paarl Boys’ High VIII 17, HTS Drostdy V 0; Paarl Boys High IX 17, HTS Drostdy VII 7.

u16 – Paarl Boys’ High 43, Wynberg Boys’ High 17; Paarl Boys’ High B 22, Wynberg Boys’ High B 14; Paarl Boys’ High C 57, Wynberg Boys’ High 12; Paarl Boys’ High D 69, Wynberg Boys’ High D 5.

u15 – Paarl Boys’ High 31, Wynberg Boys’ High 16; Paarl Boys’ High B 40, Wynberg Boys’ High B 10; Paarl Boys’ High C 59, Wynberg Boys’ High C 0; Paarl Boys’ High D 55, Wynberg Boys’ High D 0.

u14 – Paarl Boys’ High 27, Wynberg Boys’ High 0; Paarl Boys’ High B 35, Wynberg Boys’ High B 0; Paarl Boys’ High C 54, Wynberg Boys’ High C 12; Paarl Boys’ High D 50, Wynberg Boys’ High D 8; Paarl Boys’ High E 64, Kraaifontein A 0.

Collard Field played host to an exciting highveld versus coastal fixture on Saturday, with the pace in the Jeppe High School for Boys vs Westville Boys’ High clash never waning, and both sides defending resolutely and attacking with creativity in a 31-24 win for the hosts.

In 2023, on Westville’s Bowden’s Field, Jeppe won 43-31. This year’s match was, again, tightly contested, and the respect the schools share for one another was evident, both on and off the field.

Within six-minutes of kick-off, Westville’s fullback Jade-Will Koopman showed off his blistering pace down the sideline, after centre Michael Satade’s clever pass had opened up an overlap.

Employing a clever dive over the corner flag, Koopman evaded the cover defence to score a fantastic five-pointer, which got the scoreboard moving. From out wide, flyhalf Unathi Mlotshwa easily converted.

Jeppe fought hard to retain possession after the restart and, after cycling through a number of phases, captain Kuthadzo Rasivhaga delivered a near perfect pass to set up a try for inside centre McMillen Mongwana, who weaved in between the Westville defenders to go over under the posts.

It was like a game of ping-pong in the first half, with Westville bouncing back immediately after conceding points. From a five-metre scrum, they put the Jeppe pack in reverse and scrum-half Ryan Pistor passed the ball out quickly to the blindside, where the talented Jadrian Afrikaner made a beeline for the left-hand corner, diving in for a try.

Afrikaner is an exciting prospect. He has a touch of pace and the ability to kick a ball long and far and looks like a player with a bright future.

On the brink of halftime, with the half seeming to have run a little long, Jeppe erased the seven-point deficit and levelled at 14-14 after winger Lindelani Nkambule showed off his wheels to slice through the middle of the Westville defence.

The second half was every bit as entertaining as the first, with the hosts striking early through Luke Cannon, who was played into a gap and sprinted through from almost the halfway line to score a fantastic try and give Jeppe the lead for the first time in the match.

Both packs were unyielding in their efforts to gain the edge over the other. Andre Poulton, Jeppe’s loosehead prop, was tough as nails in the set scrums and added some good plays around the field during the course of the contest.

With his side seven points ahead, scrumhalf Talent Sithole added another try for the home team, going over next to the uprights, after the Jeppe pack had driven the ball up. Substitute and one of the heroes of their victory over Grey College, Matthew Coetzee knocked over the conversion, to add to an earlier penalty, to extend Jeppe’s lead to 14 points.

Westville were not done, however, and they fought to the final whistle. They were rewarded with the play of the match before it sounded.

With Jeppe’s defences holding firm, as the Griffin probed for a chink in the hosts’ armour, flyhalf Mlotshwa expertly judged a cross-kick from right to left. It passed just over the outstretched hands of Jeppe’s widest defender but fell perfectly into left-wing Evan Moolman‘s mitts.

He caught it cleanly, with an open try line ahead, and went over for a well-executed try. Mlotshwa added the extras to reduce the deficit to seven points.

Meanwhile, down the road at Parktown Boys’ High School, the home side conceded 80 points in a one-sided loss against King Edward VII (KES), who were clinical in their victory.

The Red Army put on a show, crossing the try line on 12 occasions, with six of the starting XV scoring and substitute backline player Indi-Gusha Mboniswa also getting in on the action.

However, winger Jarell Mbuyi stole the spotlight, with the tall and powerful paceman making light work of a defence that looked uncertain for much of the match to race in for five tries.

By halftime, it was already 40-0, and there was no realistic prospect of Parktown turning the game around from there. They had created several scoring opportunities, including a penalty kick at goal, but failed to use them.

KES no. 10 Vusi Moyo continues to grow in stature as a flyhalf, and on Saturday a couple of neatly executed cross kicks resulted in two of his side’s tries. Moyo’s strong touch kicking has also proven to be a valuable asset and has enabled the Red Army to gain valuable territory in recent outings.

It was his foot and pinpoint accuracy which delivered Mbuyi one of his five tries on a plate. Perfectly judged, it opened up the Parktown defence like a can of beans and landed invitingly in the winger’s welcoming arms.

Dylan Piek, who came in as a replacement for the injured SA Schools’ hooker Esethu Mnebelele, scored a try and handled his lineout throwing duties with aplomb.

With KES comfortably in command, the coaching staff made five changes and were given a good opportunity to examine their squad’s depth in a match situation. There were some nerves on show from the incoming players, resulting in a few errors, but their additions demonstrated a well-balanced unit.

Next weekend KES takes on Pretoria Boys High in the first of their two annual fixtures. With both sides playing attractive 15-man games, it should make for entertaining viewing.

Scorers

King Edward VII 80 (40) – Tries: Jarell Mbuyi (5), Kebotile Maake (2), Haniel Monkoti, , Dylan Piek, Indi-Gusha Mboniswa, Sam Bruwer. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (10). Parktown Boys’ High School 0 (0)

Jeppe High School for Boys 31 (14) – Tries: McMillen Mongwana, Lindelani Nkambule, Luke Cannon, Talent Sithole. Conversions: Kuthadzo Rasivhaga (3), Matthew Coetzee. Penalties: Matthew Coetzee. Westville Boys’ High School 24 (14) – Tries: Jade-Will Koopman, Jadrian Afrikaner, Evan Moolman. Conversions: Unathi Mlotshwa (3). Penalties: Unathi Mlotshwa.

In die NWU Prestige-reeks se kwarteindronde, het Hoërskool Montana ’n oortuigende oorwinning van 38-20 oor Hoërskool Zwartkop behaal.

Montana het in die eerste kwart voorgeloop met 9-3, en hoewel Zwartkop probeer terugveg het in die tweede kwart, was Montana eenvoudig meer doelgerig om hul voorsprong na 19-9 te rek.

Montana het agt doele bygevoeg na rustyd, maar Zwartkop het mooi teruggekom met sewe doele van hul eie.

Die laaste kwart het egter geheel en al aan Montana behoort, en hulle het 11 doele teenoor Zwartkop se vier bygevoeg om die uitslag bo alle twyfel te stel.

Elders was Marais Viljoen se spanne aan die brand en het ses uit hul 10 spanne teen Rustenburg gewen, met die eerstespan wat met 35-29 geseëvier het.

Jeugland het met 23-21 teen Wesvalia gewen, terwyl Potchefstroom Volkskool vir Oosterlig met 32-7 ore aangesit het.

In volgende week se halfeindronde sal Montana, Marais Viljoen, Jeugland en Potch Volkies sake uitspook om te bepaal wie deurgaan na die finaal toe.

Die res van die uitslae:

o. 14 A: Rustenburg 22, Marais Viljoen 15; Montana 16, Zwartkop 14; Wesvalia 30, Potch Volkies 15; Jeugland 26, Oosterlig 5.

o. 14 B: Rustenburg 19, Marais Viljoen 10; Zwartkop 24, Montana 12; Wesvalia 19, Potch Volkies 11; Oosterlig 14, Jeugland 7.

o. 15 A: Rustenburg 30, Zwartkop 18; Potch Volkies 20, Wesvalia14; Jeugland 24, Montana 14; Marais Viljoen 33, Oosterlig 15.

o. 15 B: Rustenburg 19, Zwartkop 8; Marais Viljoen 13, Wesvalia 9; Montana 19, Potch Volkies 4; Jeugland 15, Oosterlig 5.

o. 16 A: Rustenburg 22, Zwartkop 20; Marais Viljoen 31, Montana 15; Wesvalia 15, Potch Volkies 14; Jeugland 17, Oosterlig 14.

o. 16 B: Montana 22, Zwartkop 14; Marais Viljoen 36, Rustenburg 10; Wesvalia 14, Potch Volkies 13; Jeugland 14, Oosterlig 7.

o. 17 A:  Rustenburg 24, Potch Volkies 17; Marais Viljoen 18, Wesvalia 15; Montana 32, Jeugland 12; Zwartkop 30, Oosterlig 13.

o. 17 B: Zwartkop 25, Montana 7; Marais Viljoen 30, Rustenburg 10; Oosterlig 21, Jeugland 4; Wesvalia wen, Potch Volkies verbeur die wedstryd.

o. 19 B: Montana 27, Jeugland 11; Zwartkop 35, Wesvalia 9; Oosterlig 22, Potch Volkies 6; Rustenburg 22, Marais Viljoen 8.

After a busy day at St John’s College’s Barrow Squash Centre and at Roedean School, the South African Schools Closed Squash Championships hit the business end of matters on Sunday, with titles in the three age groups on the line.

Boys’ u19 top-seed Luhann Groenewald is into the title decider after another dominating day on the court that brought him 3-0 victories over Joel Fehrsen and Juan-Corné Brand. Only once in those six games did he concede more than five points.

Groenewald won’t be up against second-seeded Judah Phillips in the gold medal match, however. Phillips was ousted by third-seed Devon Osborne in the semi-finals, with Osborne, from Parel Vallei, beating Phillips 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5.

Earlier in the day, Osborne, once upon a time from St Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein, before he made the move to the Western Cape, beat Josh Smit and Saints’s Semano Mohapi in four.

Meanwhile, Groenewald’s Hoërskool Zwartkop counterpart, Chanté Leppan, secured her place in the final of the girls’ u19 division. It will be a Northerns’ battle for the title, with Leppan facing Midstream College‘s Elzandri Janse van Rensburg for the title in a meeting of the top two seeds.

Both of the u19 finals are scheduled for 11:20.

It will be Joel Rix versus Christian Swanepoel in the boys’ u16 final after Swanepoel ousted top-seed Benji Newman in four games, winning 11-6, 11-9, 5-11 and 11-5.

Rix, the second-seed, very nearly missed out on the title decider, with sixth-seed Joseph Feast dragging him into deep waters. Rix, though, managed to outlast his never-say-die opponent, scraping through 4-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 and 14-12.

Feast had earlier dispatched third-seed Thero Motshubi, who was playing on his home courts, in three straight.

The girls’ top seeds in the u16 age group won through, making it a showdown between no.1 Makayla Naidoo, of St John’s DSG and KZN, and no.2 Brianna Robinson, who is home schooled but plays for Easterns.

It’s also one versus two in the boys’ u14 final, with Déwan Borstlap, of Waterkloof, taking on Daniel Tarr, from the traditional powerhouse, Selborne College, for all the marbles.

There is some intrigue involved in the girls’ u14 competition after Lily Strydom, the fourth seed, from The Wykeham College, upset top-seed Rylee Howells, from another Pietermaritzburg school, Epworth, on Saturday.

The points scored during the two-pool format being used in the girls’ u14 age group will determine who advances to the final.