Hosts, Clifton and DHS, shine at Belgotex Sport Coastal Cup
Local teams sparkled over the first two days of the Belgotex Sport Coastal Cup in Durban, with Clifton College and Durban High School (DHS) among the most impressive performers. Both laid down markers from their opening matches on Friday, scoring eye-catching victories.
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Clifton opened their campaign against Paarl Boys’ High, who were unbeaten at the Coastal Cup in 2025, and one of the season’s feel-good stories after an excellent run, which concluded with a victory over Paarl Gimnasium in the big Paarl derby.
Coach Calvin Price‘s boys had been in good form in the lead-up to the tournament, impressing with their dangerous counterattacking play, and they again showed a sharp edge to hand Boishaai a 5-2 defeat, slotting two penalty corners and scoring three times on the counter. In 2025, Boishaai beat Clifton 4-2 at the Coastal Cup.
DHS, meanwhile, faced Paarl Roos Gimnasium (PRG), another team that went undefeated at the 2025 Coastal Cup. It was a meeting between coach Michael Baker‘s former school, DHS, and his current school, Paul Roos.
PRG played some fine hockey and took a 1-0 lead early in the game. DHS, though, demonstrated outstanding character, fighting back to grab a 2-1 win. For the Horseflies, facing a team coached by their former mentor was all the motivation they needed.
That big result – DHS has shone in recent seasons in KZN but come up short against Western Cape opposition – boosted their u16A side hugely, and they responded with an eye-catching 5-1 win over PRG on Saturday.
Westville Boys’ High beat St Andrew’s School 3-1 on Friday, with the Bloem boys showing the effects of a long drive and playing soon after arriving in Durban.
On Saturday morning, Saints took on Garsfontein in their second outing. They were more cohesive and forged a 3-1 lead at the break, but Garsies, with typical grit, battled hard and came from behind to grab a 3-3 draw.
In the afternoon, St Andrew’s showed their character against Bishops, who had beaten Menlopark 3-1 in their first outing on Friday evening. The Cape Town school opened up a 2-0 lead, but Saints didn’t blink, exhibiting a neat mix of individual flair and swift ball movement. Just before the break, they replied. Then, in the second half, they added three more goals to take a 4-3 win.
Westville, meanwhile, was held to a 2-2 draw by St Alban’s College, who lost 0-2 to Michaelhouse on Friday evening, and then fell 2-3 to Glenwood High. It was an encouraging performance from Glenwood, but they were smashed 7-0 by Parel Vallei High later in the day.
Parel Vallei had opened their campaign with a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Garsfontein. The Capetonians will bear watching this season. They feature many players who starred throughout their strong 2025 campaign.
Clifton followed up their impressive win over Paarl Boys’ High with a 2-1 victory over Menlopark. The Durban side moved the ball well and created good opportunities in the first half.
Luke Carolan and Dan Rea provided the finishes to give them a 2-0 lead. Menlo, with Heinz Kunzmann, leading the way and scoring, pulled one back, but it wasn’t quite enough.
They controlled the third chukka, but Clifton tightened up in the last quarter to bag a second win.
Kunzman was superb. His vision, which allowed him to pick out sure passes, and the time he appeared to have on the ball, along with his beautifully controlled close skills, caught the eye.
Paul Roos captain Seth Paterson was, meanwhile, the driving force for the Stellenbosch boys in their second outing, a 4-1 win over Michaelhouse.
‘House took an early lead, PRG equalised, and the Balgowan boys carved open another opening to retake the lead, but goalkeeper Jeandré van Zyl pulled off two spectacular saves in quick succession to keep the scores level.
From that point on, with Paterson providing forward momentum, PRG took charge and pulled clear to record an outstanding win.
DHS, after their victory over Paul Roos, added another Western Cape scalp, handing Paarl Boys’ High a 3-1 loss.
RESULTS
1st XI
Friday, 27 March
Bishops 3-1 Menlopark
Westville Boys’ High 3-1 St Andrew’s School
Clifton College 5-2 Paarl Boys’ High
DHS 2-1 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Garsfontein 0-0 Parel Vallei
Michaelhouse 2-0 St Alban’s
Saturday, 28 March
Garsfontein 3-3 St Andrew’s School
Glenwood High 3-2 St Alban’s
Clifton College 2-1 Menlopark
Paul Roos 4-1 Michaelhouse
St Andrew’s School 4-3 Bishops
DHS 3-1 Paarl Boys’ High
Westville Boys’ High 2-2 St Alban’s
Parel Vallei 7-0 Glenwood
Under-16
Friday, 27 March
Paarl Boys’ High 3-2 Clifton College
Westville Boys’ High 2-0 Pearson
Saturday, 28 March
Parel Vallei 3-1 Garsfontein
Michaelhouse 5-1 St Alban’s
DHS 5-1 Paul Roos
Bishops 2-1 Menlopark
DHS 2-2 Paarl Boys’ High
Glenwood 3-0 St Alban’s
Clifton College 3-0 Menlopark
Under-14
Saturday, 28 March
Glenwood 1-0 St Alban’s
Garsfontein 5-2 Parel Vallei
Michaelhouse 4-1 Paarl Boys’ High
Menlopark 1-0 Clifton College
Paul Roos 3-2 DHS
Pearson 2-1 Westville Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 2-1 St Alban’s
Glenwood 2-1 Parel Vallei
Bishops 2-1 Menlopark
Clifton College 1-0 Paarl Boys’ High
Garsfontein 1-0 Pearson
