Author: Grocott's Mail Reporters

By MATTHEW JENNINGS The year has started well for Kingswood’s Abongile Klaas (Grade 11) and Dwayne Pharo, who both participated  in the SASA National High School Championships in Potchefstroom recently. Pharo, a Grade 9 pupil at Kingswood, ran 10.9 in the 100m semi-final and won a silver medal in the final. Klaas, a Grade 11 Kingswoodian, ran in the boys’ U17 100m, and claimed a personal best 10.79. He however, failed to get past the heats. “I was quite sad that I did not make it to the next round but also could not be happier that I had run in…

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By MATTHEW JENNINGS It was a glorious day for Graeme’s annual rugby day which took place on Saturday 24 March. It marked the rugby day’s 20th year and it went down very successfully. After an exciting morning of fixtures, the three local schools played throughout the afternoon. St Andrews got the action underway against Hudson Park High, who really brought the game to SAC. For the first few minutes, the action was tight but Hudson broke the deadlock through a converted try. St Andrews kept threatening and eventually Christian Roebert went over the line to get SAC on the scoreboard, but…

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By: CHANEEZ SIAS The Rhodes Stallions welcomed the University of Western Cape on Monday 19 March, in their last match of the 2018 Varsity Shield competition. The Stallions had not been in good shape, having lost every game they had played in the Varsity Shield this year. To make matters more difficult, the current Varsity Shield champions, UWC looked to finish the season on a high. With the memories of last season’s 88-8 embarrassment still fresh in the mind of most Rhodents, the Stallions certainly had a point to prove. UWC made their first try look like child’s play when Sthaba Mqhafu dove onto a…

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By: CHRIS TOTBELA Last weekend saw the conclusion of the Makana LFA under 17 league, which was eventually won by Jacaranda Aces. Aces will now represent the Makana region in the Engen u18 knockout tournament to be held in Port Elizabeth from 28 June to 01 July. The players are excited and can not wait to share the field with best junior teams from all over Eastern Cape. The trophy was handed over to Aces by Makana LFA competitions chairman Mr Tsotsa who congragulated the boys on their achievement. Meanwhile there were no LFA league games this past weekend, however…

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By GARFIELD KHANYILE Eighteen schools descended on PJ Olivier’s A and B rugby fields  on 16-17 March to take compete in the Frans Erasmus U/13 Rugby tournament. A total of 42 matches were played between the various primary schools. Local sides Graeme College and PJ Olivier competed against schools from as far away as Port Alfred and Cradock. PJ primary played seven matches and won three of them, with two draws and a two loses. The tournament had no outright winner, as it was played more as a festival, but the experience these young athletes obtained is sure to benefit them in the…

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By CHANEEZ SIAS The warm weather encouraged supporters to come out and watch SEDRU hosted several local Eastern Cape rugby teams at the Grahamstown Oval on Saturday 10 March. The Brumbies’ first team vs Kowie United from Port Alfred was the final game of the day. Crowds of people turned up for the main match which started at 5:15pm and the Brumbies’ supporters were eager to see their boys battle it out on their home turf. The opening 10 minutes of the game promised the Brumbies 1st XV team a well-deserved lead as Leclue Smith (x2) and Chad Gill raised the bar…

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By GARFIELD KHANYILE On a chilly Saturday 10 March morning, 12 teams decamped in Grahamstown to participate in the Kingswood College Eastern Cape U18 Boys Basketball Championship. The tournament brought in teams as far as Mthatha, as well as big names such as Grey College. Kingswood, as hosts, were expected to open up the tournament with the first match, but their first opponents, Kuyasa, forfeited the giving them the points. Their second match was against the fancied Grey College U18A and it promised to be a thriller. In the middle of the first quarter Kingswood’s main defensive man, Bandile Kunene,…

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By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday 10 March, two local sides hosted teams from Alexandria in the SAB regional league fixtures. The XI Attackers took on the challenge of Leeds, with the main match of the day taking place between Maru and Golden Chiefs. In an intense contest, Attackers drew one all against Leeds early in the day. Attackers came from a goal down to level matters via the boot of Siyabonga Mnyakama. Mnyakama shocked the visitors with a well taken over head kick which left the keeper motionless to the delight of the home crowd. The intense match ended as…

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By LUTHO MAGASANA Rhodes University hosted the University of KwaZulu-Natal in a Varsity Shield Rugby match on 5 March and fell to a heavy 48-0 defeat. UKZN started the match well and showed great energy, with flanker Sphephelo Mabuza getting his first try in less than two minutes. Sphelele Buthelezi successfully secured the conversion to give the visitors an 8-0 lead. The Rhodents attacked with energy but UKZN showed their dominance again, with left wing Thobekani Buthelezi running through four Rhodes defenders and landing  behind the try-line. Another Sphelele Buthelezi  conversion kick made the score 16-0. Rhodes played exceptionally well after the…

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By: CHANEEZ SIAS The Southern Kings welcomed the Dragons team all the way from Wales right here in the Eastern Cape on Friday 2 March. The teams gathered in the rainy weather conditions at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening. The teams took part in the Guinness Pro14 match and the Southern Kings seemed keen on playing on their home turf. Supporters started filling up the seats anxiously with minutes left until kick off. Five minutes into what looked to be an exciting game, Dorian Jones successfully secured the first three points for the Dragons.…

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