St Stithians and Affies out to defend their Pullen and Howell titles
St Stithians and Affies will be defending the u18 and u16 titles respectively when the 2024 edition of the Pullen and Howell Hockey Tournament gets underway on Saturday.
The event was founded in 2006 by two stalwarts of the Southern Gauteng hockey scene, Rob Pullen and Ros Howell, and it brings together schools from Johannesburg and Pretoria, and a number of other towns.
Looking ahead to the competition, Pullen, who is the Director of Sports at Kingsmead College, told SuperSport Schools Plus: “The preparation for all teams is quite different. Some schools have just come back to school a week or two ago, and others have been training right through.
“Schools, like Kingsmead, were in exams, so we didn’t get to train. It’s a bit of a disadvantage, but it’s one of the things we have to live with. But I think what is exciting is it’s a prestigious event, with 73 teams, and it is a big opportunity. We might have to look at [including] a C section next year.
“What is great is that the players who went to the provincial tournaments recently are all back, so it will be a big opportunity for some of the schools to set up and see how well they can participate this week.
“It’s going be exciting and it is probably going to be one eight or nine teams who can win this tournament in both sections.”
The 2023 Pullen champions, St Stithians, will open their challenge against Dr EG Jansen, while the Howell champions Affies, will begin their quest to defend their title against Saints.
Pullen says the supersized tournament presents a wonderful opportunity for the girls to challenge themselves, interact with others, and make friends in the sport.
“For me, it is always an opportunity to give kids another way to play with school friends and to play matches, so I am looking forward to a great week of hockey,” he reckoned.
The games will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools app and DStv Channel 216.
Pullen said the livestreaming is a great treat for sports lovers. “I think we are lucky with SuperSport Schools. It gives a wider opportunity for people to watch if they cannot be at the venue and to record and watch it all over again.
“I think we are very fortunate from a sporting point of view that every parent can get to watch it, whether it’s live or recorded or streaming, so we are very chuffed with that,” he concluded.
PULLEN TROPHY
u18A Section
Pool A: St Stithians; Northcliff; St Mary’s Waverley; Dr EG Jansen
Pool B: Noordheuwel; Affies; Holy Rosary; Kingsmead
Pool C: Monument; Waterkloof; Beaulieu; St Andrew’s
Pool D: Garsfontein; Roedean; Helpmekaar; Trinity Randpark Ridge
u18 B Section
Pool A: Jeugland; St Peter’s; Rand Park; Trinity House Little Falls; Steyn City
Pool B: Kempton Park Hoërskool; Fourways; Parktown High School for Girls; Krugersdorp; Crawford Sandton
Pool C: Eldoraigne; Hugenote; Linden, Assumption; Alberton
Pool D: St Dominic’s; Redhill; Marais Viljoen; Bryanston; Midstream; Menlopark
HOWELL Trophy
u16 A section
Pool A: Affies; Monument; Kempton Park Hoërskool; St Stithians
Pool B: Garsfontein; Helpmekaar; St Andrews; Hugenote
Pool C: Noordheuwel; Waterkloof; EG Jansen; Kingsmead U16
Pool D: Marais Viljoen; St Mary’s Waverley; Northcliff; Steyn City
u16 B section
Pool A: Alberton; Holy Rosary; Trinity House Little Falls; Menlopark
Pool B: Bryanston; Eldoraigne; Parktown High School for Girls; Jeppe; Midstream
Pool C: Reddam House Bedfordview; Linden; Fourways; Rand Park; Krugersdorp
Pool D: Roedean; St Dominic’s; St Peter’s; Trinity House Randpark Ridge; Jeugland
