A herculean struggle by PAHS on and off the field

JON HOUZET

BIG JUMP: Port Alfred High School 1st XV forward Litha Njube takes the ball firmly in hand in their home game against Westering High School on Saturday. Despite an early lead, PAHS lost 21-34 Picture: JON HOUZET

PORT Alfred High School rugby, hockey and netball teams faced off against Westering High School from Port Elizabeth and Lilyfontein School from East London in one its biggest sports derbies this year.

Other clashes happened off the sports field, when the more cerebral pupils took on their opponents in debating and over the chess board.

The PAHS 1^st XV fought a closely contested battle against Westering, at one point leading early in the game, and then just a few points behind. With just 15 minutes left the score was 29-21 to Westering, and it looked as though PAHS had the opportunity to close the gap.

But Westering scored a try in the last few minutes and sealed their victory at 34-21.

Spectator support was phenomenal, with the PAHS 1^st XV receiving rousing cheers and war cries from fellow pupils on the grandstand, and a bit of good-natured heckling directed at the Westering players.

The boys' senior hockey 1^st team lost their match 0-1 against Westering, but the girls' senior hockey 1^st team drew 2-all.

Girls' senior hockey captain Alana Stiglingh reached a milestone, playing in her 50^th game on Saturday.

Alana, who has been playing hockey since 2008, said it was "brilliant” playing her 50^th match for the 1^st team. "I was very excited.”

Her team has had close to a 60% win rate over the years she has been playing.

Westering's chess champions proved too tough for PAHS, who lost 6-15 in their challenges in the PAHS club house.

But in debating, PAHS triumphed. The school has two of the top debaters in the Eastern Cape. Danika Kukard is currently ranked number one in the senior section of the province and will represent the Eastern Cape at national level for third time this year.

Khanya Mabindisa was placed second in the Anglo-American Young Communicators' Competition and won prizes for himself and the school.

HALF CENTURY: Port Alfred High School girls' senior hockey 1st team captain Alana Stiglingh reached a milestone in their clash against Westering on Saturday, playing in her 50th game Picture: JON HOUZET

Results:

PAHS senior school vs Westering (all matches were played team for team)