English Schools through to the Rugby and Hockey Semi-finals
June 2009

The 1st teams of Uplands College and Penryn College qualified to play in the Mpumalanga Rugby Semi-finals for Medium Schools on Saturday, 13 June in Volksrust. It is the first time in history that both independent schools qualified together. It shows the significant role both these schools play on the local sporting front. Uplands played in the Quarter-finals of the Beeld Trophy in 2005 and 2006. Uplands finished first in the league after beating Hoërskool Bergvlam 19-0. Penryn lost 6-29 to Lydenburg, but managed to accumulate enough bonus points to qualify as the Number Two in the local league. It was Penryn’s first loss in a very successful season. They will face stiff opposition, but the two schools will rely heavily on each other for support and camaraderie. Herewith a breakdown of the league winners and the runners-up for the semin-finals:

It is not only on the rugby front where these two schools excel. Penryn and Uplands showed their superiority this season on the hockey field and dominated the local scene. Once again, the top two boys’ teams qualify for the Mpumalanga Finals to be played on Monday and Tuesday, 15 and 16 June in Witbank. Penryn’s 1st Team is undefeated thus far in the league and the Uplands 1st Team has beaten Hoërskool Nelspruit’s well-drilled 1st Team twice this year. There is no doubt that both schools will make life very difficult for the opposition on the Highveld. Both the Uplands and Penryn U16As are undefeated in the league and they were only separated by the goal difference. The Uplands U16A Team won every single match this season, including all the friendly and pre-season fixtures. The U14A league was another closely contested affair, with Penryn and Hoërskool Nelspruit going through to the play-offs. The Uplands U14A Team is also undefeated, but two draws meant they did not accumulate enough points to qualify.

Final positions for Boys’ Hockey: