While much of the hockey talk in the Western Cape surrounds the interschools clash between Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, there are many other big matches to look forward to this weekend.
The schoolboy season is nearing its conclusion, and teams will be eager to end it on a high note.
This week, Parel Vallei High (PV) will face one of the toughest challenges of their sterling season when they host Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in Somerset West.
The clash, on Friday evening, starts at 19:45. Both sides will head into the encounter wanting to make a statement against a strong opponent.
PV will be brimming with confidence after winning the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament last Sunday. The Michael van Rensburg-coached outfit dominated proceedings throughout that event and defeated Paarl Gimnasium 3-2 in the final.
Luca Jordaan scored a brace while Andrew Moreby‘s late strike sealed the win for PV.
They tackle a dangerous Paul Roos side who played to a pulsating 2-2 draw with South African College High School (SACS) last Friday. It was yet another entertaining clash between the powerhouses who have produced some spectacular clashes over the last couple of seasons.
Louis Kriel and Caleb Cilliers scored for coach Michael Baker‘s team, and both players will be keen to deliver once again this week.
PRG had to do without their influential skipper, Seth Paterson, last week, but SuperSport Schools News understands he will feature against PV.
Several players are, however, in doubt for the game, including Konrad Gouws, who sustained an injury on Monday.
Nevertheless, even on the road, PRG will back themselves. Both teams have played entertaining hockey this season, and it should be a cracking contest.
In Cape Town, SACS hosts Rondebosch Boys’ High at the Brewery AstroTurf in Newlands.
In May, the sides drew 3-3. There will be all to play for when the action kicks off at 19:10.
Rondebosch will aim to get back to winning ways after suffering a shock 0-1 loss to Fairmont High in a league fixture on Wednesday.
In another southern suburbs’ showdown, Wynberg Boys’ High welcomes Bishops to the Astro of Dreams.
Wynberg will seek redemption after losing in their first match against Bishops in May, going down 0-3 at the Woodlands AstroTurf.
Coach Devin Stanton‘s troops defeated Reddam House Constantia 4-0 in mid-week, while Bishops won 3-2 against Fairmont in their last outing.
Local bragging rights will be up for grabs when Hoërskool Outeniqua hosts York High in George.
York recently finished third at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament, and they’ll be eager to transfer that momentum into the derby.
Outeniqua, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back after losing 1-2 against Stellenberg a week ago.
Fixtures
Friday, 31 July
18:10 – York High vs Outeniqua
19:00 – Wynberg vs Bishops
19:10 – SACS vs Rondebosch
19:45 – Paul Roos vs Parel Vallei
20:30 – Stellenberg vs Durbanville
Saturday, 1 August
10:30 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium
