Football wrap: Virginia on a high in Potch, Maritzburg College wallop Curro Salt Rock
The past week’s football action saw some big upsets nationwide, including Virginia High School securing their second title by defeating Clapham High School in the final of the inaugural Potchefstroom High School for Boys Football Tournament.
It is turning out to be a most remarkable season for Virginia High, which also won the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament.
The final against Clapham, one of South Africa’s top-rated schools, which also won both the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament and the inaugural Iber Cup South Africa Championship in 2024, no doubt provided a massive challenge for Virginia. However, the Free State outfit rose to the occasion with a 3-2 win, courtesy of a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time.
It could have been Virginia’s third title had they emerged victorious in the Kloof High Schools National Football Tournament, which they lost in the final against Pinetown Boys’ High in June.
In KZN, the Primo Big 10 Schools Cup, won by Hilton College, garnered most of the attention during the weekend’s football action in the province.
However, earlier on Saturday, Maritzburg College romped to a resounding 15-0 win against Curro Salt Rock in the Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup.
Glenwood High, who had suffered defeat against Hillcrest High on two previous occasions this season, once in the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League and again in the semifinals of the Curro Halala Cup Plate, finally managed to see off their Hillcrest counterparts with a narrow 1-0 win in the Cowie Cup.
With 32 knockout fixtures having been completed, there is still one game pending in this round, with Fairvale Secondary School and Birdswood Secondary School set to compete this week to finalise the last-16 draw.
In Gauteng, Waterstone College played Edenglen High School to an entertaining 3-3 draw, while Curro Wilgeheuwel tasted their first defeat, since late June, in the Waterstone College Super Cup. They had been on an impressive streak, but Randfontein High halted Wilgeheuwel’s momentum with a 2-0 victory.
In other school football activities in Gauteng, Pretoria Boys’ High School secured a 1-0 win against Springs Boys’ High.
In the Eastern London High Schools Football League, also known as the B Block BWFLA High Schools Football League, the reigning champions, Stutterheim High, are currently at the top of the league with 30 points, closely followed by Selborne College, also on 30. This sets the stage for intense rivalry between these two formidable outfits. Last Thursday, Stutterheim showcased its prowess in the league with a whopping 10-0 victory against George Randell High School.
For George Randell High, it was a challenging week that they would prefer to forget, as they also suffered a 0-6 loss at the hands of Selborne College on Wednesday.
Dale College, currently in third place behind Selborne College and Stutterheim High, secured a 3-0 victory over Hudson Park High on Friday. However, Dale remains well behind the league leaders, having accumulated only 18 points thus far, which places them 12 points adrift of the two frontrunners in the race for the league title.
Earlier in the week, Cathcart High School placed fourth and one point behind Dale, sealed a 3-2 win over Hudson Park High, while West Bank High School and Merrifield College played to a 1-1 draw.
In other football matches taking place in Gqeberha, Urban Academy maintained their impressive form by pipping Happy Home Academy 4-2, while, in the Western Cape, Paul Roos Gimnasium, who has experienced mixed fortunes, achieved a narrow 2-1 win over Grey College.
Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup
Maritzburg College 15-0 Curro Salt Rock
Glenwood 1-0 Hillcrest High
Gauteng
Waterstone College 3-3 Edenglen High School
Pretoria Boys High School 1-0 Springs Boys’ High
Randfontein High 2-0 Curro Wilgeheuwel
Eastern Cape
Urban Academy 4-2 Happy Home Academy
B-Block BWFLA High Schools League/East London High Schools Football League
Dale College 3-0 Hudson High
Stutterheim High 10-0 GRHS
Selborne College 6-0 GRHS
West Bank 1-1 Merrifield
Cathcart 3-2 Hudson Park
Western Cape
Paul Roos Gimnasium 2-1 Grey College
