After a stuttering start, Saints go goal crazy against Rand Park High

St Stithians College opened their 2024 Aitken Cup campaign with a shock defeat to Helpmekaar Kollege and a draw against Parktown Boys’ High School.
Saints began proceedings on Friday on the Superpark Red Astro against Helpmekaar, and the defending champions were stunned, going down 1-2. Meanwhile, 2023 runners-up, Jeppe, played to a 1-1 draw with St David’s Marist Inanda in their opener.
After their early setback, St Stithians fared better in their second outing, sharing a 2-2 draw with Parktown.
Then, in their third and the last game of the day, Saints reminded their competitors of their potential when they overwhelmed Rand Park High School 10-1.
It took the hosts only four minutes to get onto the scoreboard. Within a minute, they had doubled their advantage.
Rand Park mustered a response in the 16th minute, but Saints kept adding to their tally. At half-time, they were 7-1 clear.
In the second stanza, Rand Park offered stiffer resistance, but St Stithians hit double figures with 14 seconds remaining in the contest to make the final score 10-1.
King Edward VII School (KES), who’ve endured middling fortunes in 2024, sneaked a 3-2 win over St Benedict’s, who have been more consistent this season.
It was a good day for KES, who also brushed aside Fourways 5-1, and later beat Linden 3-1.
The tournament reaches its knockout stages on Saturday. There is much to play for.
RESULTS
St Stithians 1-2 Helpmekaar; Jeppe 1-1 St David’s; St Benedict’s 2-3 KES; St John’s 2-0 Noordheuwel; Parktown 6-0 Randpark; Northcliff 1-2 Monument; Linden 0-1 Fourways; Trinityhouse 3-1 Beaulieu; St Stithians 2-2 Parktown; St Benedict’s 2-0 Linden; Helpmekaar 2-1 Randpark; KES 5-1 Fourways; St Stithians 10-1 Randpark; St David’s 0-0 Monument; Noordheuwel 1-1 Beaulieu; Jeppe 3-0 Monument; St Benedict’s 6-0 Fourways; Helpmekaar 1-2 Parktown; KES 3-1 Linden; St John’s 2-1 Beaulieu; St David’s 2-0 Northcliff; Noordheuwel 2-2 Trinityhouse
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