Western Province hunts a fifth-straight SASHOC National Week title
When the Western Province (WP) u18A side of 2019 won the SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament, they did it on the famous Pape’s AstroTurf at Maritzburg College.
The Province boys dominated Pool B, finishing atop the standings, before edging out KZN Coastal A 3-2 in the semifinals to set up a title decider against KZN Inland A.
In a close and heated contest, they defeated Inland A 3-2. That triumph was the start of something special for the men in blue and white.
Since winning in 2019, Province has successfully defended the title three times.
They will enter this year’s tournament, set to once again be hosted on Pape’s Astro at Maritzburg College, in search of the inter-provincial crown for a fifth straight time. When their run of unbroken success began six years earlier, none of the 2025 team’s players was yet in high school.
It may sound like a fairytale, but the Western Province boys will feel, given the venue for the tournament, as if the stars are aligning for them as they seek to extend their dominance of South African schoolboy hockey.
The tournament runs from 30 June to 5 July, and the WP selectors have named a star-studded outfit to be coached by the experienced Jody Erasmus.
Erasmus, who has been part of the winning train at South African College High School (SACS), takes over the coaching reins from Bryce West, who will serve as an assistant to both the WP u18A and u18B sides, and as the technical director.
West offers a wealth of experience after leading Province to glory in last year’s tournament in Bloemfontein, which they won after defeating Boland A 3-2 in the final.
Six players who were part of that winning effort return to the squad. Four of them are from SACS: captain Jo le Roux, Reece Theunis, Aiden Hughes, and the dangerous Litha Kraai. Joe Gitlin, from Reddam House Constantia, and Wynberg Boys’ High captain, Zach Gibbon, have also cracked the nod again.
Those returning players have, not surprisingly, been making their mark this season.
The four SACS boys have been ripping it up. Le Roux and Hughes have matured well over the year, while Kraai and Theunis have taken their games to the next level.
Gitlin has been Reddam’s standout performer in a very good season for the school, while Gibbon remains a difficult problem to solve for any opposition.
Other SACS representatives include Matthew Lassen and Zach Redfern, who both played for the WP u18B side last year. Mohlodi Maseko, who represented the u16A team in 2024, has been promoted straight to the senior side.
Rondebosch Boys’ High is represented by Daniel Fisher, Joshua Beattie, and Thomas Gordon.
Aiden Topper, from El Shaddai Christian School, who ran out for the Province u18B team in 2024, makes the step up to the u18A side.
WP has been drawn in the pool of death, Pool A. They’ll be up against Southern Gauteng A, KZN Inland A, KZN Coastal B, Eastern Province A, and newly promoted Boland B.
Western Province u18A Team
Aiden Hughes (SACS), Aiden Topper (El Shaddai Christian School), Daniel Fisher (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Ethan Daniels (Wynberg Boys’ High), Ethan October (SACS), Jo le Roux (SACS), Joe Gitlin (Reddam House Constantia), Joshua Beattie (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Litha Kraai (SACS), Luc Dicey (Bishops), Matthew Lassen (SACS), Mohlodi Maseko (SACS), Reece Theunis (SACS), Thomas Gordon (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Zach Gibbon (Wynberg Boys’ High), Zach Redfern (SACS).
Head Coach – Jody Erasmus
Assistant Coach and Technical Director – Bryce West
Manager – Anton Augustyn
POOL FIXTURES
Monday, 30 June
10:20 – Western Province A vs Boland B
Tuesday, 1 July
13:10 – Western Province A vs Eastern Province A
Wednesday, 2 July
08:55 – Western Province A vs Southern Gauteng A
17:25 – Western Province A vs KZN Coastal B
Thursday, 3 July
14:35 – Western Province A vs KZN Inland A
