A huge ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ to Grade 8 learner ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ on being awarded his EP colours for representing the U16 Eastern Province Elephants team at the Junior National Indoor Cricket South Africa tournament this past April.
This past weekend saw a proud showing from our Grade 7 learners, with ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ (loose forward) and ๐ฌ๐ผ๐น๐ผ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐น๐ฎ (hooker) representing us in Makhanda at the Eastern Province Rugby Unionโs second round of trials for the EPPSRA U13 team.
At the same time, ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ and ๐๐ฎ๐๐น๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ flew the Union flag high in Gqeberha as they took part in the second round of EP U13 hockey trials.
A big ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to our Union High School rugby boys on their well-deserved selection to various representative teams.
We are incredibly proud to see ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฎ named in the U16 Grant Khomo Invitational Team, which will compete in Durban during the June holidays, as well as ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ท๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ and ๐๐๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐ถ (U16 Karoo) and ๐๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ, ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ง๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ, ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ, ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ and ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ (U18 Karoo) earning their places.
The team faced two tough fixtures against strong local opposition, gaining valuable experience and lessons along the way.
Match 1: Union vs Langenhoven Gimnasium (Final) The hosts came out firing from the start, applying relentless pressure through well-executed up-and-under kicks that unsettled Unionโs back three. Costly errors allowed Langenhoven to capitalize, racing to a commanding 34โ7 lead at halftime.
Union, however, showed immense resilience in the second half. By changing their attacking strategy, they clawed their way back to level the score at 34โ34. Unfortunately, fatigue set in, and two lapses in concentration led to quick tries for the hosts. The final whistle saw Union defeated 48โ34, but the spirited comeback highlighted the teamโs adaptability and fighting spirit.
Match 2: Union vs Oudtshoorn High School Unionโs second fixture was against Oudtshoorn High, who entered the game brimming with confidence after a big win over Fish Hoek. Anticipating wide attacks, Unionโs defense closed down the wings effectively, but this left gaps in midfield which Oudtshoorn exploited twice.
In the second half, Unionโs reserves made a strong impact, dominating possession. However, forced errors and โwhite line feverโ proved costly. Despite their efforts, Union went down 35โ12. While not the desired result, the match showcased the teamโs ability to adapt defensively and highlighted areas for growth.
Positives and Highlights Resilience & Adaptability: The ability to change attacking strategies mid-game and fight back from a large deficit. Defensive Lessons: Exposure to varied opposition tactics will strengthen Unionโs defensive responses in future fixtures. Player of the Tournament: A special congratulations to Josh Arends, whose outstanding performances earned him this accolade.
Off-Field Experiences The tour was not only about rugby. The team enjoyed a memorable outing to an ostrich farm, learning about different species and products, and even feeding the ostriches. Recovery sessions with compression boots and massages were a special treat, ensuring the players were well looked after.
Hockey Report
This was our first time attending the Langenhoven Gymnasium Festival. Initially, there was some disappointment around sacrificing a long weekend for only three games. However, once we arrived, the festival atmosphere quickly changed our perspective and it became clear that the girls truly needed this experience. From the start, we established ourselves as the team to beat at the festival. Results: โข UHS 1st Team Girls vs Langenhoven Gymnasium: UHS won 1โ0 Our girls dominated from the start to secure a 1โ0 victory. Despite some challenging decisions from the umpires throughout the game, what stood out most was the teamโs composure. The girls remained calm and did not allow external factors to affect their performance. A true mark of the First teamsโ class and maturity. โข UHS vs Dirkie Uys: UHS won 10โ0 โข UHS vs King Edward High School: UHS won 8โ0 Across all matches, the UHS displayed excellent attacking hockey and disciplined structures. Man of the Match Awards: โข Leigh-ann Murray (x2) โข Amy Waddelow โข Katelyn Trollip
It was especially rewarding to hear positive feedback from other coaches and spectators, who described our brand of hockey as exciting to watch. More importantly, they acknowledged the respect and humility shown by our players throughout the tournament. We are proud not only of the results, but of the manner in which our girls represented the school, playing with intensity and always upholding the school values. Well done, girls!
๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ก๐ฌ of the 2026 Langenhoven Gimnasium Sports Fest in Oudtshoorn.
The U/11A team delivered a dominant performance to win 24โ0, displaying excellent teamwork and defensive discipline. The U/13A side continued the winning momentum with a strong 19โ0 victory, controlling the game from start to finish.
Hockey
In hockey, the U/11A team produced an outstanding performance against Kroonvaleโs U/13A side, securing an emphatic 8โ0 win. Their attacking play and finishing were exceptional, highlighting a well-rounded team effort.
On Saturday, 18 April, Union High School Grade 7 learner ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป participated in an archery competition hosted at Hoรซr Volkskool.
In the Bullseye competition, she secured 1st place with a top score of 259, showing impressive consistency across both distances. She followed this up with another strong showing in the 3D event, finishing 2nd with a score of 238.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ, Shanaโs results reflect both her skill and composure and she can be very proud of a standout overall performance.
๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ as we hosted Laerskool Aliwal-Noord today, with our junior hockey and rugby teams delivering strong performances across the board.
๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ, the U11A side edged a hard-fought 2-1 win, while the U13A team impressed with a confident 4-1 victory.
๐๐ถ๐ณ ๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ญ๐ช๐ธ๐ข๐ญ-๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฅโ๐ด ๐11๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐13๐ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฆ๐น๐ต๐ณ๐ข ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ต ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ ๐ด๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด. The U13B team showed real grit despite a 0-3 result and the U11B side faced a strong challenge, going down 0-3.
๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐๐ด๐ฏ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ, both teams produced excellent performances. The U11A side delivered a commanding 10-0 win, while the U13A capped off the day with an outstanding 41-5 victory.
A solid afternoon of rugby for Union High School against Cradock, with the ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ฉ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฐ-๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ป.
Unionโs 1st XV delivered a commanding performance, setting the tone early with quick attacking play that saw them dominate possession and territory. Their fast start, however, led to a lapse in defensive concentration, allowing Cradock to capitalize with an easy try.
Cradock then shifted tactics, turning the game scrappy by kicking frequently and testing Unionโs back three under pressure. Despite this, Union held firm and responded with a well-executed maul to regain control.
While Union were clinical in many areas, several final passes went astray. Had those passes gone to hand, the scoreline could have been far more emphatic. The focus going forward must remain on team effortโsacrificing an individual try for the sake of a well-constructed team try is key to building consistency and dominance.
Try scorers: Yasseen Kazi (1), Peter Daniel (2), Ronan Ewers (1) Conversions: Qhama Solomon (2)
Unionโs ability to adapt and maintain composure under pressure proved decisive, ensuring a solid victory.
OTHER RESULTS
There were also positive results from the U16s (26-10) and the 2nd XV, who put together a strong performance to win 43-10.
The U14s (29-32) and U15s (3-10) came up against tough opposition, but showed good effort in their respective matches.
It was a challenging outing for our girls against Collegiate this past weekend. The First Team went down 10 โ 0, but the scoreline does not fully reflect the character and resilience shown on the field. After a very tough start, finding themselves 5 โ 0 down after the first chukka and 7 โ 0 at halftime, the girls could easily have dropped their heads. Instead, they showed grit, never giving up and continuing to fight until the final whistle. Their determination and refusal to quit in the face of adversity is something to be proud of and will serve them well going forward.
Other results: U/16A lost 10 – 0 U/14A lost 5 – 1
UHS vs Victoria Park
On Saturday, the First Team delivered a much-improved performance. Despite a slow start, they managed to hold a narrow 1 โ 0 lead by Mecoli Vorster for the first three chukkas. The girls created numerous scoring opportunities but struggled to convert. However, their persistence and pressure eventually paid off in the final chukka, where they added four more goals to secure a convincing 5 – 0 win. It was a great display of unity, teamwork and dominance.
Other results: U/14A lost 12 – 0 U/16A lost 4 – 0 U/16B lost 5 – 1 U/16C lost 3 – 0
Overall, it was a tough weekend at the office. There is clear work to be done and the focus now shifts back to basics and improving fitness. With the right attitude and effort at training, the girls will come back stronger.
The rugby fixtures against Sunridge proved challenging, with our teams facing strong opposition across all age groups.
U/11A went down 19โ0, while U/11B lost 39โ0. In the U/13 division, U/13B suffered a 50โ0 defeat and U/13A lost 43โ7.
While the results were not in our favour, the fixtures highlighted key areas for development, particularly in defence, physicality, and game management. These matches will serve as valuable learning experiences as we continue to build and improve throughout the season.
