The battle lines are drawn as South Africa’s best hockey players prepare to compete for the Sandra Jordaan Trophy at the annual SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT).
The showpiece runs from 29 June to 4 July and will be hosted by Hilton College, St Anne’s, and The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC).
The defending champion, Boland A, arrives in KwaZulu-Natal with a young side eager to build upon the legacy of their predecessors. However, woe betide any side that underestimates them. Coach Chris Gerber‘s squad is laden with talent.
Boland is in Pool A, where they will have to fight their way past perennial contenders, Northern Gauteng A, who boast a well-balanced lineup.
They are also in the same group as the hosts, KZN Inland A, who are hoping to make an impression in front of their home crowd.
Eastern Province A finished fourth last year and could be a handful this year. Eastern Province B and Eastern Gauteng complete the Pool A line-up.
Pool B is, arguably, even tougher than Pool A. It includes four traditional powers – KZN Coastal A, Western Province A, Southern Gauteng A, and Southern Free State A – who claimed four of the top seven spots last year.
KZN Coastal reached the final but were beaten by Boland in the title game. They bring an experienced outfit to Hilton, focused on going all the way this time around.
Last year, Western Province A delivered a strong campaign that earned them the bronze medal. Like KZN Coastal, coach Olu Ncukana‘s charges will be eager to go even further in 2026.
After finishing sixth last year, following a title-winning campaign in 2024, Southern Gauteng A will aim to be in title contention again. Southern Free State A won the title in 2023 and will endeavour to capture the magic of that outfit.
Border A and Northern Gauteng B, the last two teams in Pool B, could spring some surprises and prove themselves as dark horses.
Western Province A gets the tournament underway against Eastern Province A on Monday morning. The hosts cross swords with Northern Gauteng A immediately afterwards.
Western Province B versus Eastern Gauteng and the contest between Southern Gauteng A and Border A wrap up the group matches on Thursday.
The tournament culminates with the final on Saturday.
Fixtures:
Monday: 08:00 – Western Province B vs Eastern Province A, 09:25 – Northern Gauteng A vs KZN Inland A, 10:50 – Southern Gauteng A vs Southern Free State A, 12:15 – Northern Gauteng B vs KZN Coastal A, 13:40 – Eastern Gauteng vs Boland A, 15:05 – Northern Gauteng A vs Western Province B, 16:30 – Border A vs Western Province A, 17:55 – Boland A vs KZN Inland A.
Tuesday: 08:00 – Southern Free State A vs Northern Gauteng B, 09:25 – Border A vs KZN Coastal A, 10:50 – Eastern Province A vs Northern Gauteng A, 12:15 – Western Province B vs Boland A, 13:40 – Western Province A vs Southern Gauteng A, 15:05 – Northern Gauteng B vs Western Province A, 16:30 – KZN Inland A vs Eastern Gauteng, 17:55 – KZN Coastal A vs Southern Free State A.
Wednesday: 08:00 – Northern Gauteng A vs Eastern Gauteng, 09:25 – Boland A vs Eastern Province A, 10:50 – Southern Free State A vs Border A, 12:15 – KZN Coastal A vs Western Province A, 13:40 – KZN Inland A vs Western Province B, 16:30 – Southern Gauteng A vs Northern Gauteng B, 16:30 – Eastern Gauteng vs Eastern Province A.
Thursday: 08:00 – KZN Coastal A vs Southern Gauteng A, 09:25 – Border A vs Northern Gauteng B, 10:50 – Border A vs Northern Gauteng A, 12:15 – Eastern Province A vs KZN Inland A, 13:40 – Western Province A vs Southern Free State A, 16:30 – Western Province B vs Eastern Gauteng, 16:30 – Southern Gauteng A vs Border A.
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- Michaelhouse does the double over Hilton - 2026-06-21
