Top guns seal play-off spots on a drama-filled day at Hibbert Shield
The annual Standard Bank Hibbert Shield, hosted by Grey High School, is headed towards the business end of matters, with the eight quarterfinalists having been confirmed after Thursday’s action in Gqeberha.
After a cracking opening day that produced 42 goals, the 16 teams returned to the turf with their sights set on securing play-off places.
On a windy day, teams were left to make calculations and consider permutations. While the action was hot, parents and other spectators were swathed in winter jackets and blankets on the sidelines.
Last year’s finalists, Paul Roos Gimnasium and South African College High School (SACS), cemented their spots in the last eight early. PRG outplayed Maritzburg College 6-2, while SACS claimed a thrill-a-minute 6-4 win over Grey College.
By midday, the focus had shifted to other teams chasing places in the last eight.
Joining SACS and PRG in the quarterfinals were Clifton College, from Pool A, and Grey College, from Pool B. Clifton scored a gritty 3-1 victory over Selborne College in the morning, while Grey bounced back from the SACS defeat with a 2-0 win over St Alban’s College, courtesy of strikes by Warena Legaiwa and Matthias Visser.
Visser has been Grey’s dangerman all season long with his fiery drag flicks from the top of the D and he said he wants to bring his A-game in their knockout game on Friday.
“It’s been a great tour, but I think we haven’t had the best of games,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“In the quarters, we want to come out with more energy and play our hearts out. As a flicker, I have to bring everything I’ve got.”
Clifton had to wait on the result of the contest between Maritzburg College and Selborne College before knowing whether or not they had made it through to the quarterfinals. In the end, they advanced, but it was a nail-biting time for the Durban school’s players.
Clifton’s victory over Selborne meant Maritzburg College needed to win by five goals against the East London side if they were to surpass their provincial rivals on goal difference. College won, but the match ended 2-0, and Clifton booked their place in the quarterfinals.
Before a ball had been played in the Hibbert Shield, Pools C and D looked as if they were going to be highly contested, and that proved to be the case.
Paarl Gimnasium, who fired on all cylinders on day one, beating Grey High 5-0, scored four against Westville Boys’ High before being held to a 1-1 draw by St Stithians College.
The Western Cape side conceded late in the game, with Liam O’Flaherty providing the finish for Saints, but Gim struck back through a Stefan Wiehahn PC drag flick.
“That was probably the most important flick since we played Saints at the Founders Festival and lost 3-4 to them,” he reckoned.
“I missed a shorty there, but this time I knew it was an important one for me and the team.”
While Saints didn’t pick up the win, skipper Liam O’Flaherty was pleased with his team’s display. “It’s our first time getting into the quarters, and the boys are chuffed,” he said.
“I think we have momentum on our side now. We want to take our opportunities in the quarterfinal and reward ourselves when we do get opportunities.”
Gim and St Stithians were confirmed as the top two sides in Pool C on Thursday afternoon, but Pool D was far from done and it went down to the wire.
Durban High School (DHS) didn’t do themselves any favours when they drew 1-1 with Parel Vallei, while goals by Armand van der Vyfer, Luken Brunette, Lesego Msiza, and Duardt Tollig lifted Hoërskool Garsfontein to an impressive 4-2 win over Bishops.
That result put Garsies through, but the last pool match, between Parel Vallei and Bishops would determine who would finish first and who would finish second, with DHS in with a chance at ending in first place if the result went their way.
Earlier in the season, Parel Vallei powered their way to a big 7-2 win over Bishops. This time, though, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. That meant Garsfontein finished atop Pool D with DHS in second place.
Commenting on his team’s progress to the quarterfinals, DHS captain Josh Mungherera said: “We had a slow start to the tournament. I feel like we are leaving games we should be winning, but hopefully we come alive in the quarterfinals.
“It means a lot going to the last eight, but we need to convert our opportunities. You can’t win games without scoring.”
While the eight that remain in with a shout of winning the Hibbert Shield celebrated that feat, it continued to be a tough time for teams like Selborne, Westville Boys’ High, Pearson, and Bishops.
Grey High ended the day with a 1-0 victory over Westville, courtesy of an Athi Voigt strike, but that wasn’t enough and the hosts bowed out of contention.
Friday’s action kicks off with a cracking clash between SACS and DHS at 07:30.
RESULTS
Pool A
SACS 6-4 Grey College
Grey College 2-0 St Alban’s College
Pearson High 1-1 St Alban’s College
Pool B
Paul Roos Gimnasium 6-2 Maritzburg College
Clifton College 3-1 Selborne College
Maritzburg College 2-0 Selborne College
Pool C
Paarl Gimnasium 4-0 Westville Boys’ High
Paarl Gimnasium 1-1 St Stithians College
Grey High 1-0 Westville Boys’ High
Pool D
DHS 1-1 Parel Vallei
Garsfontein 4-2 Bishops
Parel Vallei 1-1 Bishops
FIXTURES
Friday, 2 May
Grey High School
07:30 – SACS vs DHS (Quarterfinal 1)
08:45 – Paul Roos vs St Stithians College (Quarterfinal 2)
10:15 – Grey College vs Garsfontein (Quarterfinal 3)
11:30 – Clifton College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Quarterfinal 4)
15:00 – Loser of quarterfinal 1
16:15 – Loser of quarterfinal 2
17:45 – Semifinal 1
19:00 – Semifinal 2
Collegiate AstroTurf
07:30 – St Alban’s College vs Bishops
08:45 -Maritzburg College vs Westville Boys’ High
10:15 – Pearson vs Parel Vallei
11:30 – Selborne College vs Grey High School
15:00 – Loser 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Loser 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
16:15 – Loser 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Loser 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
17:45 – Winner 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Winner 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
19:00 -Winner 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Winner 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
