8 May 2026

Over the long weekend in April, our 14A, 16A and 1st XI hockey teams travelled to Gqeberha to compete against some of the top school sides in the country at the Hibbert Hockey Tournament.

The 14A side faced a challenging opening fixture against Paul Roos, but reegrouped superbly with convincing 2–0 victories over both Garsfontein and Selborne in the pool stages, finishing second in their group. Due to the tournament format, there was no quarter-final, and they progressed to the 5–8 bracket. After a tightly contested cross-pool playoff, they lost to Paarl Gim on penalty shootouts, before competing in their final placing match against Waterkloof to finish 8th overall. The boys showed commendable resilience and character throughout a demanding tournament.

The 16A side delivered an impressive unbeaten performance in their pool, drawing 1–1 with Paul Roos and securing wins against Garsfontein (2–0) and Selborne (3–0). Despite this, and due to the tournament format and goal difference, they did not progress to a quarter-final and instead competed in the 5–8 bracket. Following a tough encounter against Grey High, they went on to face Grey College in the 7th/8th playoff, ultimately finishing 8th. While results did not always go their way, the team showed determination and took valuable lessons from the experience.

The 1st XI began the tournament with a strong 3–0 victory over Pearson, before encountering a strong Jeppe side which they unfortunately lost to. They responded with real character in their next game, edging Paarl Gim 1–0 to secure a place in the quarter-finals against SACS. After a competitive match, they went down 3–1, moving into the cross-pool playoffs. Further tough fixtures against Grey High and St Stithians saw the team finish 7th overall.

Well done to all three teams on representing Bishops with pride in both their character and play. Across the tournament, the boys demonstrated not only their hockey ability, but also admirable composure, resilience, and commitment to team culture — a strong foundation for the season ahead.