Defending champ Jeppe cruises into Aitken Cup quarterfinals
The action has come thick and fast over the first two days of the Aitken Cup, with some of the big guns making loud and clear statements in the early going.
That included some one-sided victories as those teams asserted themselves from the start.
Headlining the excellence has been Jeppe High School for Boys, who began their title defence with a 10-0 demolition of Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge, on Thursday.
On Friday morning, they faced a serious test from St Stithians College, but the Kensington Kids were up to the task, coming out 3-1 winners in a fast-paced contest.
Later in the day, they cruised to a third win, thrashing HeronBridge College 6-0 to round off a perfect group stage run.
The black and white army’s emphatic form served to remind everyone why they were crowned the champion in 2024.
In the quarterfinals, they’ll take on their long-time rivals and last year’s runner-up, Parktown Boys’ High. It should be an exciting battle, but one that Jeppe will be favoured to win.
Parktown made a shaky start on Thursday, falling 0-1 to St Benedict’s College. On Friday, though, they found their rhythm, edging out Hoërskool Monument 2-1 before convincingly brushing aside Beaulieu College 5-1.
King Edward VII School (KES) was also unbeaten through the first two days. They opened their campaign with a composed 2-0 win over St David’s Marist Inanda. Then, on Friday, they hit their stride.
In a breathtaking offensive display, they overwhelmed Fourways High 13-2 and followed up with a clinical 4-0 victory over Rand Park High School. The Red Sticks‘ reward is a quarterfinal meeting with Helpmekaar Kollege.
Helpmekaar demonstrated resilience and picked up their game well after sharing a 1-1 draw with St John’s College in their opener, on Thursday. On day two, they put on a good show to outplay Northcliff High 6-1 before completing their pool assignments with a 5-2 defeat of Hoërskool Noordheuwel.
St Benedict’s, after winning two and drawing one will take on St Stithians in the quarters. That’s not a friendly reward for their efforts because Saints is a very dangerous side, but to be the best one has to beat the best.
After their 1-3 loss to Jeppe, St Stithians beat Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge 3-1 and then stormed to an 8-0 win over HeronBridge.
Bennies, after beating Parktown 1-0, won 2-0 against Beaulieu College and drew 1-1 with Hoërskool Monument.
The last of the quarterfinals features St David’s Marist Inanda up against St John’s College.
St David’s began with a loss to KES, but won their next two games, beating Rand Park High 4-1 and Fourways 2-0.
St John’s, after their draw with Helpmekaar, powered their way to successive 5-0 victories over Noordheuwel and Northcliff.
RESULTS
Thursday, 15 May
Wits
St Stithians 8-0 HeronBridge College
Jeppe 10-0 Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge
King Edward VII School
St John’s College 1-1 Helpmekaar
Noordheuwel 7-2 Northcliff
Monument 10-0 Beaulieu
St John’s College
Fourways 3-4 Rand Park High School
Parktown 0-1 St Benedict’s
KES 2-0 St David’s
Friday, 16 May
Wits
Jeppe 3-1 St Stithians
Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge 5-0 HeronBridge
Jeppe 6-0 HeronBridge
Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge 1-3 St Stithians
St John’s 5-0 Noordheuwel
Helpmekaar 6-1 Northcliff
St John’s 5-0 Northcliff
Helpmekaar 5-2 Noordheuwel
UJ
Parktown 2-1 Monument
St Benedict’s 2-0 Beaulieu
Parktown 5-1 Beaulieu
St Benedict’s 1-1 Monument
KES 13-2 Fourways
St David’s 4-1 Rand Park
KES 4-0 Rand Park
St David’s 2-0 Fourways
