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STRAIGHT KNOCKOUT PUTS BOYS' SCHOOLS HOPES AT RISK IN WESTERN PROVINCE

16 Oct 20244 mins

The Western Province regional competition will see 32 teams enter the competition, slated to start on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, for what will be a straight knockout until the region's two qualifiers for the second phase of Schools SA20 emerges.

The four boys' schools, traditional powerhouses in Western Province schools cricket, will back themselves to at least reach the region's semi-finals which is the earliest stage at which they can meet. In that regard Diocesan College (Bishops) are bracketed to meet their near-neighbours, Rondebosch Boys' (RBHS - winners in 2013 of Schools SA20's predecessor) in top half's semifinal. Meanwhile, SACS and Wynberg Boys' (WBHS), who both reached the national finals before have their sights set upon each other in the bottom half.

DID YOU KNOW?

Six old boys from schools competing in the Western Province region will play in SA20 Season 3. Jason Smith (Durban's Super Giants), Kyle Verreynne (Pretoria Capitals) and David Bedingham (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) all attended Wynberg Boys' while Dayyaan Galiem (Paarl Royals) was a 2013 Schools T20 Challenge national champion with Rondebosch Boys'. SACS too are represented via Auction buy Dane Piedt (MI Cape Town) and Rookie Daniel Smith (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Meanwhile, Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt will have vested interest in the progress of Parklands College, whose 1st XI she played for (when available) during her school days.

Of course, though, cricket matches are not won on fixture sheets.

The nine hubs, whether its St Augustine and Victoria in the southern suburbs, to Tygerberg in the north, Helderberg in the east and Ottoman, Langa, Gugulethu, Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha bringing together the best talent from central and 'Cape Flats' areas, will be eager to create upsets.

Similarly the co-ed schools, who don't often get to test themselves against their better-resourced rivals and will look to the 20-over format as an opportunity for a 'big fish in a small pond' to produce the performance which makes the difference.

ROUND 1 BOYS' FIXTURES

Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Bishops vs Groote Schuur HS
Westerford HS vs Victoria Hub
Curro Durbanville vs HS DF Malan
Rondebosch Boys' HS vs Edgemead HS
Milnerton HS vs Table View HS
SACS vs Gugulethu Hub
Tygerberg Hub vs Mfuleni CC
Helderberg Hub vs HS Tygerberg
Muizenberg HS vs Reddam Constantia
Bellville Technical HS vs Mitchell's Plain Hub
Wynberg Boys' HS vs South Peninsula HS

Friday, 18 October 2024

Pinelands HS vs Hanover Park CC
HS Durbanville vs Parklands College

Monday, 21 October 2024

Fish Hoek HS vs St Augustine Hub
Khayelitsha Hub vs Brackenfell HS

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Ottoman Hub vs Langa Hub

*Home team listed first

Meanwhile, 16 teams are entered in Western Province's girls competition whose winner will emerge after four rounds of of knockout matches.

Nine of the teams are the hubs based at Victoria (Kenwyn and surrounds), Ottoman (Surrey Estate and surrounds), St Augustine (Elfindale and surrounds), Mitchell's Plain, Tygerberg, Langa, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Helderberg.

Similarly, six of the school teams, from Reddam House Constantia, Muizenberg, DF Malan, Edgmead, Curro Durbanville and Bellville Technical are also represented in the boys' division. The odd one out is Oscar Mpetha High School, based in Nyanga, whose girls will be aiming to be the talk of the school corridors should they progress deep into the competition.

ROUND 1 GIRLS' FIXTURES

All scheduled for Friday, 18 October 2024