Cape Town – The glass courts at the V&A Waterfront echoed with the sound of dominance on Saturday as Dewald van Niekerk and Alex Commins once again proved themselves the undisputed rulers of South African squash, each slamming home victories to retain their Growthpoint SA Nationals crowns.
Van Niekerk, the 28-year-old shot-maker from SA Country Districts, carved his name deeper into the record books with a 3–1 win over rising Northerns star Damian Groenewald.
Dewald van Niekerk Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
With that triumph, he lifted his fifth consecutive national title eclipsing Steve Coppinger’s streak of four and cementing himself as the sport’s benchmark.
Like a player who refuses to let the ball die against the back wall, Van Niekerk has shown resilience that leaves opponents gasping for air.
“It’s an incredible feeling to win five in a row,” he admitted afterwards, though he was quick to credit Groenewald, the only South African to have stolen even a single game from him in the past year.
“Damian pushed me hard, and I had to adjust mid-match – that’s what makes these wins so special.”
On the women’s side, Cape Town’s own Alex Commins showed she still has the sharp edges of a pro despite stepping off the international tour two years ago.
The 31-year-old controlled the court like a maestro, taking her sixth national crown with a gritty 3–1 win over Eastern Province rival Hayley Ward – a rematch of last year’s final.
Alexandra Commins Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
After dropping the second game, Commins tightened her grip, playing each rally like a surgeon’s scalpel carving the line.
“I just tried to stay calm and keep to my gameplan,” she said, exhaling after the match.
“Against Hayley it’s never easy – you can’t switch off for a moment.”
The championship wasn’t just about the senior stars. In the U15 division, Makhanda’s Ashton Burger showed the ruthless efficiency of a seasoned pro, sealing the boys’ title with a straight-games victory over Boland’s Zander Smit.
His crown came after Eden’s Codey Abrahams pulled off a five-game upset over Eastern Province’s Liam Fehrsen, leaving Burger top of the pile on head-to-head results.
Rylee Howells and Ashton Burger Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
KwaZulu-Natal’s Rylee Howells was equally ruthless in the girls’ U15 category, cutting through her opposition with clinical precision to seal the title, highlighted by a 3–0 win over Northerns’ Alyssa Arcangeli.
From the thunder of the senior finals to the fresh energy of the juniors, the Growthpoint SA Nationals delivered a rally of champions with Van Niekerk and Commins once again proving they are the players everyone else must chase down.
Saturday’s results:
Seniors – Women – Final: 3-Alex Fuller (WP) bt 1-Hayley Ward (EP) 3-1 (11-7 6-11 11-7 11-3).
3rd/4th playoff: 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) bt 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns) 3-2 (6-11 9-11 11-4 11-8 11-6).
Pool 5-8 – Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-6 11-9), Helena Hudson (Northerns) bt Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-2 (6-11 12-10 3-11 11-8 11-8).
Final positions: 1 Alexa Pienaar (SACD), 2 Helena Hudson (Northerns), 3 Lara Patrick (Northerns), 4 Shelomi Truter (SACD).
Men – Final: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) 3-1 (11-4 9-11 11-2 11-8)
3rd/4th playoff: 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) bt 3-JP Brits (SACD) 3-1 (6-11 11-1 11-3 11-7).
Pool 5-8 – Jonty Matthys (SACD) bt Luke van Vuuren (SACD) 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-5), Reuel Videler (SACD) bt John Anderson (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-8 12-10 8-11 11-5)
Final positions: 1 Reuel Videler (SACD), 2 John Anderson (Joburg Squash), 3 Jonty Matthys (SACD), 4 Luke van Vuuren (SACD).
U15 – Girls
Pool A – Jasmaine Rust (Free State) bt Genevieve Lang (WP) 3-2 (11-7 6-11 8-11 12-10 12-10), Rylee Howells (KZN) bt Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) 3-0 (11-5 11-6 11-8).
Final positions: 1 Rylee Howells (KZN), 2 Jasmaine Rust (Free State), 3 Genevieve Lang (WP), 4 Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns).
Pool B – Mienke Stander (Boland) bt Hanja Gildenhuys (Free State) 3-2 (9-11 12-14 11-6 11-6 11-3), Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash) bt Faatima Packery (EP) 3-0 (11-9 11-8 12-10).
Final positions: 1 Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash), 2 Faatima Packery (EP), 3 Mienke Stander (Boland), 4 Hanja Gildenhuys (Free State).
Boys – Pool A – Ashton Burger (EP) bt Zander Smit (Boland) 3-0 (11-5 11-7 11-8), Codey Abrahams (Eden) bt Liam Fehrsen (EP) 3-2 (5-11 11-7 8-11 11-4 11-3).
Final positions: 1 Ashton Burger (EP), 2 Codey Abrahams (Eden), 3 Liam Fehrsen (EP), 4 Zander Smit (Boland).
Pool B – Milton Posthumus (WP) bt George Hung (Free State) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-7), Jeremy John (KZN) bt Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-7).
Final positions: 1 Milton Posthumus (WP), 2 Jeremy John (KZN), 3 George Hung (Free State), 4 Tiaan Goosen (Northerns).
