A solitary goal in the first half by experienced campaigner Litha Mbiko secured a gritty 1-0 victory for Bishops over their arch-rival, Rondebosch Boys’ High, in Cape Town on Friday night.
Bishops were made to work hard for the win, but they defended like their lives depended on it, and survived several waves of attack from ‘Bosch to clinch victory in the Bisch/Bosch derby.
It was a perfect ending to the season for coach Ryan Julius and his troops, who made significant strides compared to last year’s campaign.
The win on Friday night meant Bishops finished their season with wins over the other southern suburbs’ schools, Wynberg Boys’ High, South African College High School (SACS), and Rondebosch.
“We went into the game against Rondebosch on quite a good stretch of form, having beaten Wynberg and SACS,” coach Julius told SuperSport Schools News.
“We played Somerset College in a friendly game where I experimented with some of the younger players to create depth for next year, which resulted in a 5-1 win.
“We were very confident going into the game, but we also realised that we needed to be present, stay humble, and keep our feet planted and produce a good tactical and technical game.”
Bishops delivered on that brief to set the tempo and grabbed an early lead.
They dominated ball possession and territory, but were unable to convert the goalscoring opportunities created.
Mbiko’s goal came after some brilliant play from his matric counterparts, who built it up from the back for him to tap in on the far post.
Coach Julius said it was important for his side not to get sucked into the external noise at the Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) and keep their focus between the four lines.
“The fixture was well attended,” he said. “The Bish/Bosch derby just keeps on growing, and that also becomes very tricky for the boys because they start to focus on all the noise around them.
“I just kept telling them that the team that ends up winning will be the one that blocks out the external distraction and focuses on what happens on the field.”
Despite dominating the first half, Bishops were placed under heavy pressure in the second half and had to defend with discipline to maintain their lead.
It was an aspect of their game that pleased their coach.
“Our deep defence and the way we defended were outstanding. We executed well under pressure, both offensively and defensively, and the stakes were very high for us.
“It was a game we had to win, and if we had won it. It would’ve secured the triple crown for us, which is beating Bosch, SACS, and Wynberg. We did that, and it was special for our matrics to end that way.”
Nine seniors made their final appearances for Bishops: Luc Dicey, Cameron Macbeth, Ryan Whiffler (injured), Josh Huntingford, Matthew Edwards, Alexander Gordon, Mbiko, Troy Stockdale, and skipper Harry Morgan.
Coach Julius thanked the departing players for their contribution: “The matriculants led incredibly well; they helped me push certain values and cultures across the season, and set a good base for next year and thereafter.
“I’m incredibly proud of them and how they’ve led the team.
“It’s been a good year for Bishops’ hockey; in general, we came second in the league, and the U16s and U14s also came second.
“I thank these guys for their service, and they can rest assured that they left the badge in a better position.”
Result:
Bishops 1-0 Rondebosch Boys’ High
- Mackenzie Cup title up for grabs in Cape Town - 2026-09-10
- Grey College unveils new Director of Hockey - 2026-09-08
- SACS finishes superb season on a home turf high - 2026-08-24
