St Stithians successfully defends Nedbank Grey Soccer Tournament title
The defending champions, St Stithians College, on Tuesday, pulled off a hard-fought defence of the Nedbank Grey College Soccer Tournament title they won for the first time in 2023
With two titles from three visits to the tournament, they boast a remarkable record. Facing some of the best teams in the country and playing a congested four-day programme, that’s some achievement.
This time, the Saints’ challenge was almost scuppered on the first day of action, when they lost their first two games, going down 1-2 to Grey College and 0-2 to Pretoria Boys High. They got back on track in their third game, scoring a tight 3-2 win over George Royal Academy.
Thankfully for St Stithians, they hit their straps on day two, charging to a 4-2 win over Victoria Park and a big 5-1 defeat of Durban High School (DHS).
With momentum on their side, Saints handled a potential banana skin fixture against a dangerous Brebner High School side with aplomb, cruising to a 4-1 win in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals, they had to lean on their big-match temperament (BMT) to get by Kimberley Boys’ High. The contest went to a penalty shootout after the teams had finished regulation time level at 1-1. St Stithians clinched their place in the final with a 4-2 win from the spot.
When they faced Cape Town’s Robinvale for the trophy, they again needed BMT to get by their opponents.
Robinvale grabbed the lead early in the second half, but Jason Oliver, who was named the Striker of the Tournament, netted an equaliser. Then, just as it seemed that Saints would have to go to penalties for a second match in a row, their captain, Liam Slattery, snatched a late winner.
Wynberg Boys’ High finished third after edging out Kimberley Boys’ High 5-4 on penalties. The teams had finished regulation time all square at 2-2.
That was tough on Kimberley Boys’ High, who twice lost out from the penalty spot in the playoffs. Their only loss in regulation time was a 2-3 defeat against the runners-up, Robinvale, in their group opener.
Grey College beat their Bloemfontein rivals, Navalsig, 2-0 to finish fifth, while Westville Boys’ High had to settle for eighth after going down 1-2 to Brebner. It was a good thing they made it to the tournament. Extreme weather conditions on Van Reenen’s Pass doubled their usual travel time to Bloemfontein, making it a harrowing 12-hour trip.
PLAYOFF RESULTS
23/24
Curro Bloemfontein 3-1 Glenwood High School
21/22
Bloemfontein South (11) 2-2 (10) St Andrew’s School
19/20
Victoria Park 1-0 Durban High School
Bowl Final (17/18)
King Edward VII School 1-0 Empangeni High School
15/16
Parktown High School 2-1 St David’s Marist Inanda
13/14
HTS Louis Botha 3-0 Pretoria Boys High
11/12
Norkem Park High School 2-1 Hodisa Technical School
Plate Final (9/10)
Jeppe High School 4-2 George Royal Academy
7/8
Brebner High School 2-1 Westville Boys’ High
5/6
Grey College 2-0 Navalsig
3/4
Wynberg Boys’ High (5) 2-2 (4) Kimberley Boys’ High
Challenge Cup Final
St Stithians College 2-1 Robinvale
