Jozi’s finest go head-to-head for Aitken Cup honours
The Johannesburg schoolboy hockey scene will come to a standstill this week when the annual Aitken Cup kicks off on Thursday afternoon.
The prestigious event, which brings together 16 of Jozi’s top hockey-playing schools, will be hosted at St Stithians College. It runs until Sunday, 17 May.
Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
The A-section of the tournament promises yet another spectacular event following last year’s showpiece, which Jeppe High School for Boys won after beating Saints 4-2 in a pulsating final at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Both outfits will be among the favourites, with St David’s Marist Inanda, Parktown Boys’ High, and St John’s College also eager to challenge for the title.
Jeppe has won the event a whopping 21 times since its inception in 1977. Their quest to defend the title begins with matches against their Pool A opposition – Monument, Northcliff, and Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge.
There’s plenty on the line for all four sides. Monnas and Trinity occupied the last two positions last year, so they’ll be eager to improve and climb the standings, while Northcliff will want to give a good account of themselves.
Pool B will be contested by the hosts, Saints, St Benedict’s College, Noordheuwel, and Linden.
Saints are brimming with confidence heading into the clash after wins over St Alban’s College and Linden last weekend.
Home-ground advantage is a real factor in schoolboy hockey, and St Stithians, led by coach Pat Owgan, will aim to use it to their advantage.
St Benedict’s and Noordheuwel will be tricky opponents, considering how the pair have played this season, while Linden is aiming to hit its stride.
Parktown Boys’ High, who have won the Aitken title 11 times, will be in Pool C and contesting it against St David’s, Randpark High, and Redhill.
St David’s missed out on the bronze medal last year after going down 0-4 to King Edward VII (KES), while Parktown finished in seventh place. KES is absent from the event this time, though. They’re heading to KwaZulu-Natal for their traditional derby against Westville Boys’ High, and they’ll also take on Northwood, bringing together two of the season’s most impressive teams.
Pool D features St John’s College, Helpmekaar Kollege, Beaulieu, and HeronBridge.
At first glance, St John’s and Helpmekaar would be favoured, but Beaulieu and HeronBridge will be eager to make their mark as they’re playing in the A-section for the first time.
The action begins on Thursday at the Saints Blue AstroTurf when Trinity locks horns with Northcliff while Jeppe takes on Monument.
Matches will also be played at St David’s Marist Inanda and St John’s College.
GROUPS
Pool A: Jeppe, Monument, Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge, Northcliff.
Pool B: St Stithians College, St Benedict’s College, Noordheuwel, Linden.
Pool C: St David’s Marist Inanda, Parktown Boys’ High, Randpark High, Redhill.
Pool D: St John’s College, Helpmekaar Kollege, Beaulieu, HeronBridge.
FIXTURES
Thursday, 14 May
Stithians Blue Astro
16:30 – Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge vs Northcliff
18:00 – Jeppe vs Monument
Stithians Red Astro
16:00 – Noordheuwel vs Linden
17:30 – St Stithians College vs St Benedict’s College
St David’s
17:00 – Randpark vs Redhill
18:30 – St David’s vs Parktown Boys’ High
St John’s College
17:00 – Beaulieu vs Heronbridge
18:30 – St John’s vs Helpmekaar
Friday, 15 May
Stithians Blue Astro
07:30 – Jeppe vs Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge
09:00 – Monument vs Northcliff
10:30 – St David’s vs Randpark High
12:00 – Parktown Boys’ High vs Redhill
13:30 – Jeppe vs Northcliff
15:00 – Monument vs Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge
16:30 – St David’s vs Redhill
18:00 – Parktown vs Randpark High
Stithians Red Astro
07:30 – St Stithians vs Noordheuwel
09:00 – St Benedict’s College vs Linden
10:30 – St John’s College vs Beaulieu
12:00 – Helpmekaar vs HeronBridge
13:30 – St Stithians vs Linden
15:00 – St Benedict’s vs Noordheuwel
16:30 – St John’s College vs HeronBridge
18:00 – Helpmekaar vs Beaulieu
Playoff fixtures will be provided at the conclusion of the pool matches.
- Jozi’s finest go head-to-head for Aitken Cup honours - 2026-05-13
- Gauteng’s top guns flex their muscles - 2026-05-11
- Boishaai rewrites history, Paul Roos dominates, Rondebosch holds SACS - 2026-05-10
