SA School Sports

Kearsney hosted Westville in the first full fixture of the 2016 season. It was a typical season opener with many mistakes and missed opportunities. The goal kickers from both teams struggled and many kickable chances were unsuccessful.

An incredibly hot day was the scene for this match played over the past weekend. Due to this it was decided on having a water break after 15 minutes in each half.

Who is the top all round sporting boys school  in South Africa? The question in itself is guaranteed to generate a plethora of opinions and not a few who will almost entirely back their alma mata regardless of the current results.

Kearsney 1^st X1 beat Westville 1sts in an exciting nail-biter which was clinched by a converted penalty kick with no time left on the clock. It capped an exciting day’s rugby, with a clean sweep for Kearsney’s A teams at all age groups in their fixtures against Westville.

Westville continued to stamp their supremacy in boys’ high school swimming in South Africa by winning the final gala of the season –the Durban and Districts A League Championship on Thursday night.

SIX top schools will be competing against one another in the Coca-Cola Twenty20 Schools tournament in Pretoria this weekend, weather permitting.

On Saturday the 18 January, 2013 eagerly awaited clash between Glenwood High School and Westville took place at Bowdens Field Westville.

For much of the year the race for the No.1 spot was a three horse race with Waterkloof taking the early lead with a powerful start to the first term and going into the last month of the season it looked like the Pretoria team might have done just enough to secure the top spot for 2013.

The annual Oppenheimer Cricket Week in Pietermaritzburg, once again sponsored by that great benefactor of the game, Jonathan Oppenheimer, kicks off on Saturday, September 21 and runs until Tuesday, September 24.

A thoroughly convincing victory by Westville over Maritzburg helps to cement their place at the top of KwaZulu-Natal Soccer rankings having enjoyed a very productive season.

With the start of the final cricket season of 2013 there is plenty of cricket that is about to be squeezed into a few very competitive months and if the weather plays the game we are in for a treat of schoolboy cricket.

It has been a long time coming but finally we have compiled rankings for soccer although it is only for one province of the country.

A season of some of the world’s best school boy rugby has all but come to a close and for the players who ran out for the last time for their school they will be left with that supreme pride that comes from wearing their teams badge and playing to their best ability. A memory that will live with them for decades.

It was a tightly fought season which saw three teams vying for the top spot almost from the start of the season and at various stages all three, Affies, Outeniqua had a taste at being the number one side in the country.

However it is perhaps fitting that it is Affies who can lay claim to the top team in South Africa after completing the season without being defeated, without drawing and winning every single match. It is a supreme effort by a side that played the country’s most powerful teams and still remained competitive scoring heavily in most of their matches.

It is perhaps a pity that somewhere along the line Affies and Paarl Gim never met, as on paper there was very little to choose between the two teams, however Gimmies were held to a surprise draw by Oakdale in what was their only ‘blemish’ on an otherwise spotless season so perhaps finishing in second spot is justified.

A strong finish by Grey College, after an indifferent start to their season put pressure on Outeniqua for the third spot, but the consistency of Outeniqua helped them to finish in the Top three after suffering just the one defeat at the hands of Paarl Gim.

It was another great season and our thanks to the thousands of players, coaches and the avid fans of schoolboy rugby that showed sustained interest in the rankings, offered advice and suggestions and supported us. Rankings are not an absolute science but by factoring in the strength of the opponents, margin of victories and the actual results it is hoped that a team’s current form can be judged.

Feel free to contact us with your thoughts on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , we enjoy the feedback.

The unbeaten run continue for Paarl Gim and Affies who brushed aside this week’s opposition with very little worries.

Victories by Paarl Gim, Affies and Grey College consolidated their status as the leading teams in the country as the second half of the school rugby season kicked off this past week.

A high pedigree Cape School’s Week dominated proceedings in the SA School Rugby scene this past week where there were one or two surprise results and some expected victories for the big names.

The top five all recorded wins over the weekend which ensured that their positions didn’t change and it is a pity that the much anticipated Kearsney v Maritzburg College had to be cancelled due to a flu epidemic.

Please note that two outstanding results for Pretoria Boy’s High have been included which had a small bearing on this week’s rankings. This weekend there is the big “Battle of the Jukskei” when Pretoria Boy’s meet St. John’s College which will give both teams a chance to move up the table.

Thanks for all the astute feedback we receive each week and feel free to contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your thoughts.

A huge effort by Oakdale finally has brought the mighty Paarl Gim bulldozer to a temporary halt although they will no doubt feel the 17-17 draw was more of a speed hump than an arrestor bed.

The Wynberg machine continues on its merry way with yet another victory in what is turning out to be an outstanding season for the Cape Town outfit.

It was yet another emphatic win by Paarl Gim who managed to steam roll their way over Wynberg to keep their dream of remaining unbeaten very much alive at this stage of the season.

There is some massive hockey taking place this week and it is the Girl’s in particular that will be very busy with several high profile matches on the go and the much anticipated ISSF Festival taking place in Pietermaritzburg.

The weather played its role in what turned out to be a top class tennis event, in which some of South Africa’s leading players were seen in action.

Facing the possible thought of slipping out of the Top 10 Maritzburg College faced a mighty challenge from Glenwood who on their day are able to mix it with the best in the business.

Waterkloof fought bravely in their match against Affies and almost pulled off one of the upsets of the season this past weekend.

For the 18^th consecutive year, Kearsney College at Botha’s Hill will host the country’s top tennis playing schools at a three-day invitation festival this weekend (24-26 May, 2013).

Yet again Glenwood dominate the KZN U18 Craven Week side with no fewer than nine players getting selected from the Green Machine.

Several huge encounters have taken place already this week and a few more will be decided over the weekend.

Wynberg clinched two comfortable victories in the past week to cement themselves on the No.1 spot although the chasing pack is not far behind.

Affies didn't play this weekend which gave their players what many would say was a well earned break after playing several gruelling matches on the trot. Even though this was apparently not Affies choice they did get the opportunity to recharge the batteries for a demanding season that lies ahead.

There are now two unbeaten teams occupying the top two positions and virtually nothing separates them at this stage of the season.

Wynberg continue to rule the roost after completing another resounding win and now stretch their unbeaten run to 10 matches as underline just how dominant they are at present.

Paarl Gim managed a clean sweep at the Wildeklawer tournament to keep their number one spot secure after having now strung together a run of eight wins on the trot.

A highly successful KZN tour by Rondebosch Boy’s High which saw the Cape outfit thrashing Maritzburg College, earning a solid win against Michaelhouse and drawing against Northwood has helped boost them into the Top 10.

A supreme effort from Paarl Gim against Outeniqua over the weekend catapulted Gimmies into pole position and in the process extended their unbeaten run this season.

The match between Northwood and Maritzburg College was billed as the “Battle for KZN”, the undisputed Kings of KZN for the past few decades, Maritzburg College and the new kids on the block Northwood.

Yet another crushing victory for high riding Outeniqua see the Kwagga’s firmly entrenched at the top of the table and few will argue that it is well deserved.

Yet another win for Northwood this time over Hilton College saw the KZN outfit extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches and leap in to the No. 1 spot!

The hockey season is now fully underway with most of teams busy with a long season on the Astro. Check out this weeks fixtures and results.

The majority of the teams have now played the minimum of four matches to be included in the rankings and this saw several teams make some steady advancement.

Among the many matches that were played out over the past week it was perhaps the Wynberg v Rondebosch and Pretoria Boy’s High v Maritzburg College clashes that were the most eagerly anticipated.

The hockey season promises to deliver some spectacular play and already we are seeing some traditional powerhouses losing ground to other teams who have seemingly closed the gap.

The rugby season is in full swing with most of the teams having started their 2013 campaign and as the second school term starts there is going to be nonstop action for several months to come.

The hockey season has exploded into a very tight contest this season with several teams causing some shock results against the traditionally stronger teams. The many festival matches that have been recently played were hotly contested and allowed us to get a feel for the type of form in the teams.

Never before in the history of South African school rugby will the Easter weekend have such a plethora of matches on the go from all quarters of the country! 

Kearsney College, St. John's College, King Edward VII and St.Stithians College will all be once again hosting their annual festivals and they will be joined by Krugersdorp High and Tygerberg High who will be hosting the Tony Stoops Tournament and nobody is going to forget the big Maritzburg College 150th Festival either.

Take a look at the fixtures and results as they come in from the field of play!

Westville Boys’ High School pupils Paul van Achterbergh has his sights set solely on making history later this week when he tackles the South African Surf Lifesaving Championships from 21-23 March at Addington Beach and looks to become only the third person globally to win both the junior and senior men’s Iron man titles at a national champs.

The sticks are out and the astro is looking perfect for another massive hockey season which will see some of the top teams clashing in the many festivals that will take place in the next few weeks.

Please feel free to send us all your hockey news , results and fixtures to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on Twitter @SASCHOOLSPORTS and we will showcase your teams achievements.

The first term is over and the cricket kit is put away for a few months before old rivalries resume near the end of the year.

HOPE AND GLORY: Talent scouts, coaches and selectors will be eyeing Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival players who show the potential to play professional rugby in the near future.

A thumping victory by Rondebosch over Bishops sees them edge ever closer to the number one spot as the season draws to an end and it underlines the depth of the ‘Bosch to be competing at the very top for the past three years.

For many teams it was the first match of the season but already there are some positive signs that the coaches and players have put in some serious off season training with some spectacular rugby predicted for the season.

Although the usual suspects continue to show why they are at the very top of school rugby it is encouraging to see the traditionally small teams stepping up and we can expect not a few surprises this season.