It’s go time for the 2024 Pullen and Howell Tournament!
Gauteng’s premier girls’ hockey tournament, the Pullen and Howell, returns this weekend for the first round of the 2024 edition of the competition, which will feature 73 teams battling for supremacy at nine venues.
The annual tournament, founded by Rob Pullen and Ros Howell in 2006, has gone from strength to strength since its first edition.
The Pullen section refers to the u18A and u18B sections, while the u16A and u16B sections compete for the Howell Trophy.
In its first edition, 18 years ago, Johannesburg’s St Andrew’s School for Girls won the Pullen Trophy, while St Mary’s Waverley claimed the Howell Trophy.
This year’s tournament will run for four days, starting on Saturday 20 July, with further mid-week action on Tuesday, 23 July, and Thursday, 25 July. The final is scheduled for Saturday, 27 July.
The competition includes schools from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Krugersdorp, Eastern Gauteng, and Vereeniging.
The defending champions St Stithians Girls’ College will be eyeing a repeat in the Pullen Trophy. They’ve been drawn in Pool A and face Northcliff, St Mary’s Waverley, and Dr EG Jansen.
Pool B features this year’s All Girls Festival champions Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria (AHMP) in action against Noordheuwel, Holy Rosary, and Kingsmead.
Coach Omari-Pienaar Geyer‘s Waterkloof girls will be keen to challenge for the title. They’re in Pool C, where they’ll need to get past Monument, Beaulieu College, and one of the hosting schools, St Andrew’s School for Girls.
Hoërskool Garsfontein will be favoured in Pool D. They’re up against Helpmekaar Kollege, Roedean School, and Trinity Randpark Ridge.
The B Section promises to be very competitive and upsets, inevitably, will happen.
Eldoraigne are among the favourites. Standing in their way in Pool C are Hugenote, Linden, Germiston’s Assumption Convent School, and Alberton.
Menlopark, in Pool D, will be out to dominate against St Dominic’s, Redhill, Marias Viljoen, Bryanston, and Midstream College.
The Pullen u18 A Section will be played at St Mary’s Waverley, Roedean, Kingsmead, and St Andrew’s.
Meanwhile, the B Section takes place at Parktown High School for Girls, Redhill, Holy Rosary School, Linden, and Fourways.
In the Howell trophy, last year’s champs, St Mary’s Waverley, are in Pool D. If they are to successfully defend their title, they will first need to see off Marias Viljoen, Northcliff, and Steyn City.
There is no clear favourite in pools A, B and C.
The action in the A Section, kicks off with a crucial clash between Affies and St Stithians College at Fourways High School at 08:45. Saints will also face Monument and Kempton during the course of the day.
Pullen Trophy A Section Fixtures
Pool A @St Mary’s Nathan Field
09:15 – St Stithians College vs EG Jansen
10:00 – Northcliff vs St Mary’s
12:15 – St Stithians College vs St Mary’s
13:00 – EG Jansen vs Northcliff
15:15 – St Stithians College vs Northcliff
16:00 – St Mary’s vs EG Jansen
Pool B @ Kingsmead College
09:15 – Noordheuwel vs Kingsmead
10:00 – Affies vs Holy Rosary
12:15 – Noordheuwel vs Holy Rosary
13:00 – Kingsmead vs Affies
15:15 – Noordheuwel vs Affies
16:00 – Holy Rosary vs Kingsmead
Pool C @ St Andrew’s School for Girls
09:15 – Monument vs St Andrew’s School for Girls
10:00 -Waterkloof vs Beaulieu College
12:15 – Monument vs Beaulieu College
13:00 – St Andrew’s School for Girls vs Waterkloof
15:15 – Monument vs Waterkloof
16:00 – Beaulieu College vs St Andrew’s School for Girls
Pool D @ Roedean School
09:15 – Garsfontein vs Trinity Randpark Ridge
10:00 – Roedean School vs Helpmekaar College
12:15 -Garsfontein vs Helpmekaar
13:00 – Trinity Randpark Ridge vs Roedean School
15:15 – Garsfontein vs Roedean School
16:00 – Helpmekaar College vs Trinity Randpark Ridge
