Author: hnienaber

St. Andrews of Bloemfontein will host the annual Independent Schools Festival from tomorrow in the City of Roses as part of their 150th birthday celebrations. Sentraal from Bloemfontein also got an invitation and will play with a team without their Academy Week players.

The teams: 

St. Andrews (Bloemfontein): 15 Dean Tucker, 14 Phano Khalema, 13 Max Mitchell, 12 Bophelo Moloi, 11 Sam Lin, 10 Seleke Taje, 9 Sinclair Marais, 8 Lawrence Danso, 7 Tsepang Bereng, 6 Khosi Molapo, 5 Kyle Hartley, 4 Ross Middlecote, 3 Anthony Rawson, 2 JR de Bruin, 1 Steven Wu. Replacements: 16 Marc Brown, 17 Tebogo Kwagile, 18 Tristan Davis, 19 Gao Aaron, 20 Kevin Pretorius, 21 Carl Fitzpatrick, 22 Bokang Mosala.

Clifton: 15 Sean May, 14 Joshua Niemand, 13 Keegan Nell, 12 Gareth May, 11 William Thatcher, 10 Manqoba Cele, 9 Karl Goedeke, 8 Travis Rutter, 7 Dillon Faber, 6 Ruben Vosloo, 5 Aiden Trench, 4 Daniel Pestana, 3 Bryan Murray –Rodgers, 2 Keegan McVicar, 1 Nicholas Downes. Replacements: 16 James Law, 17 Matthew Law, 18 Dean Jacobs, 19 Jason Briggs, 20 Dalen Ramnarain, 21 Jean-Luc Robert.

Michaelhouse: 15 Zander Prinsloo, 14 Bader Pretorius, 13 Gary Porter, 12 Farai Mundariki, 11 Robert Lee, 10 Brandon Landsberg, 9 Daniël Kramer, 8 Christopher Kelland, 7 Gregory Jackson, 6 Cameron Holenstein, 5 Liam Furniss, 4 Ciaran Furniss, 3 Nicholas Egberink, 2 Billy Dean, 1 Louis Albertse. Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Jason Schwegmann, 18 Jacques Swarts, 19 Brandon Tattam, 20 Thomas Walker, 21 Jack Walters, 22 Christopher Whiting.

Penryn College: 15 Nick Wilken, 14 Munyaratzi Mavarutha, 13 Mtunzi Mcube, 12 Michael Nkosi, 11 Matthew Tomlinson, 10 Lucas Burger, 9 Ketho Mhlombo, 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Gidyon Lankers, 6 Eric Fernandez, 5 Costa Tsobanoglou, 4 Bryan Pingo, 3 Bonga Khoza, 2 Andele Shelembe, 1 Akani Mbaso. Replacements: 16 Phila Matsebula, 17 Rainard Scholtz, 18 Romeo Ndzukulu, 19 Shaun Sethole, 20 Telvin Mthlongo, 21 Vuyu Hayward, 22 William Bennett, 23 William Wilken.

Somerset College: 15 Matthew Healy, 14 Konstandino Kappatos, 13 William Kingwill, 12 Anrich Essman, 11 Manande Bikitsha, 10 James Freemantle, 9 Robbie Stuart, 8 Joseph Gebers, 7 Anthony Tennick, 6 Andreas Janse van Rensburg, 5 David Ribbens (captain), 4 Frederik Bakker, 3 Anthony Read, 2 Joshua Carroll, 1 Francois Paulsen. Replacements: 16 Songo Ngudu, 17 Keegan Ekermans, 18 Harry Lines, 19 Aiden Morgan-Wilson, 20 Michael Holloway, 21 Jules Troxler, 22 Oscar Henman.

Sentraal: 15 Neil le Roux, 14 Tiaan Wolvaardt, 13 Tumi Tukelhele, 12 Denzill Fiff, 11 Wian Koekemoer, 10 DP de Lange, 9 Brendan Bruwer, 8 Stefan Kruger, 7 Franco Tack, 6 DB Nel, 5 SJ Wessels, 4 Ben Moodie, 3 St. Andre Durandt, 2 Ryno Gerber (captain), 1 Lafras Bekker. Replacements: 16 Hennie du Plessis, 17 Stephan van Heerden, 18 Johan Strydom, 19 Hanno Prinsloo, 20 Stefanus Eckard, 21 DJ Hefer, 22 JP de Waal, 23 Roan van der Westhuizen

St. Alban’s College: 15 James Godlonton, 14 Brent Christoffel, 13 Daniel Coughlan, 12 Dylan McCann, 11 Ross Colesky, 10 Max Barwell, 9 Chris Ford, 8 Caleb Whiskin, 7 Dylan Hugo, 6 Devon Landman, 5 Daniel Brown, 4 Sean Sweetlove, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Kwame Adu, 1 Cullan Moore. Replacements: 16 Kean Dry, 17 Bradford Asbury, 18 Michael Esterhuyzen, 19 Zola Ngcikwe, 20 Ryan Posthumus, 21 Julius van der Westhuizen, 22 Machudu Raphunga, 23 Ruan Muriso.

Uplands College: 15 Sandile Jele, 14 Juan-Paul Meintjies, 13 Jan Jerling, 12 Ryan Brain, 11 Kgemodise Molale, 10 Swelake Sacolo, 9 Chris Adams, 8 Msimisi Sacolo, 7 Sizwe Khoza, 6 Hannes Hamer, 5 Luker Ryle, 4 Andrew Jackson, 3 Michel Mesquita, 2 Joshua Ward, 1 Siyabonga Matsebula. Replacements: 16 Breandan Lilford, 17 Alex Bezuidenhout, 18 Rome Nunn, 19 Freddy Mbuli, 20 Joshua Weir, 21 Jacques Rabe, 22 Willie Engelbrecht, 23 Devon Eaton, 24 Bruce de Amaral, 25 Aidan Head, 26 Tiago Pareskova, 27 Christiaan le Roux, 28 Rui de Lima, 29 Victor Santalla.

St. John’s College: 15 F Gmeiner, 14 T Oberholzer, 13 S Mkhize, 12 C Moses, 11 N Sayanvala, 10 O Gnodde, 9 D Testa, 8 T Rapelwane, 7 R Brinkman, 6 J Eckersly, 5 D Stone (captain), 4 R Warinda, 3 A Marquis, 2 L Pann, 1 P Qwabe. Replacements: 16 D Kalz, 17 J Hale, 18 J Swanepoel, 19 N Rowe, 20 W Malan, 21 J Reinecke, 22 S Greeff.

St. Benedict’s College: 15 Andrew Worthington, 14 Senkie Mafuma, 13 Matteo Biffi, 12 Nelson da Bastos, 11 Kathleho Tsotesi, 10 Vito Kotton, 9 Geo Louw, 8 Jamie Tweedie, 7 Tapiwa Mangwana, 6 Christopher Worthington, 5 Tatenda Zhoya, 4 Joshua Macey, 3 Derino de Abreu, 2 Kaketso Malinga, 1 Jason Shultz. Replacements: 16 Dean da Silva, 17 Reinhart Osborne, 18 Daniel de Jesus, 19 Paulo de Gouveia, 20 Mitchell Losper, 21 AN Other, 22 Tatenda Chimusoro.

St. Charles College: 15 N Mvelase, 14 J Freeman, 13 J Davidson, 12 M Mchunu, 11 K Jones, 10 J Neil, 9 A des Tombe, 8 R Langley, 7 S Mkhize, 6 W Squires, 5 B Sclanders, 4 G Oosthuizen, 3 M Sohkela, 2 D Spriggs, 1 S Mtshahe. Replacements: 16 T Sharply, 17 D Cox, 18 P Jacobs, 19 S Coetzer, 20 Z Mtshatsha, 21 A Hodgkinson.

St. David’s College: 15 B Masikane, 14 L Dyson, 13 M Lombard, 12 T Geach, 11 N Bangura, 10 J Steere, 9 A Magetse, 8 K Msebenzi, 7 M Symmonds, 6 J Rambo, 5 K McCauley, 4 I McHardy, 3 N Harding, 2 M Chalungumana, 1 M Mangwanya. Replacements: 16 N Nott, 17 T Bastenie, 18 J O’Donoghue, 19 B Leitch, 20 D Dustan, 21 R White, 22 J Shrank.

St. Stithian’s College: 15 C Ferguson, 14 C Simpson-Craig, 13 J Enslin, 12 A Dott, 11 C Swart, 10 C Dott, 9 J Sacks, 8 E Hunter, 7 M Wade, 6 S Eichner, 5 H Hankey, 4 T Brown, 3 M Ntsingila, 2 N Mayers, 1 T Ndlovu. Replacements: 16 D Kotze, 17 B Austin, 18 D Firth, 19 N Butler, 20 J Dott, 21 D Vorster, 22 B Goosen, 23 N Mayers.

Thomas More: 15 S Batchelor, 14 A Magagula, 13 J Walker, 12 J Houston, 11 L Homby, 10 G Borley, 9 T van Eck, 8 M Vosters (captain), 7 B van Zyl, 6 T Preston, 5 C Wesley, 4 R Princen, 3 A Whiting, 2 L van der Merwe, 1 J Relph. Replacements: 16 F Coleman, 17 K Coetzer, 18 M Fechter, 19 J Wikberg, 20 B Tooley, 21 J Wiborg, 22 J van Dyk.

Western Province is the unofficial champions of the annual Grant Khomo Week after beating the Blue Bulls 22-15 in the main match of the tournament in the Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark. 

This victory completed a doubleheader for the union in the Youth Weeks, as their under-13 team also beat their Pretoria rivals in the final match played in Bela-Bela last week.

In a thrilling finale to the tournament, Western Province’s innovative attack and solid defence earned them a well-deserved 22-15 victory against the Blue Bulls in a match featuring a mixture of tense and magic moments.

The team stamped their authority early on as they created two try-scoring chances in the opening minutes, but the Blue Bulls’ tenacious defence shut them out. The tables soon turned to attack as the Bulls scored two tries in quick succession to take a 12-0 lead. This, however, was short-lived as Western Province right wing Moegamat Cassiem-February sprinted to the tryline in the 21st minute, which was supported by a second try minutes later by centre Taigh Schoor, to level the scores at 12-12 at the break.

A penalty by Blue Bulls flyhalf Eduard Fouche two minutes into the second half broke the deadlock and pushed the team into a 15-12 lead. But the arm-wrestle continued as Western Province scrumhalf Jondre Williams slotted over a tough penalty to leave the scores locked at 15-15 with 10 minutes to go.

Western Province backed this up with a stunning try by Juandre Grobler whose dummy pass earned him a clear path to the tryline. Province had the opportunity to inflict further damage and seal the victory with five minutes to go as, but they failed to use an overlap, which cost them a bonus point try. The Bulls, however, refused to lie down and worked their way into Province’s red zone in the dying minutes, but their efforts were countered as the Cape side put their bodies on the line on defence to secure the victory.

KwaZulu-Natal, Namibia and Border also continued their success in the tournament as they completed a clean sweep of victories. KwaZulu-Natal defeated the Valke 33-19, while Namibia beat Zimbabwe 33-22 in the traditional “international match” and Border registered a 27-10 win against SWD.

 

The Leopards showed no mercy towards the Border Country Districts on the final day of the Grant Khomo Week in Vanderbiljpark. The Leopards thrashed Border Country Districts 106-6 in their match with Ernest Smiles racking up 25 points. Edmund Rheeder scored a hat-trick of tries in the match. 

Lourens Steenkamp, flyhalf of Griqualand West u16, contributed 19 points as his side recorded a narrow 29-27 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Vanderbijlpark. Steenkamp was successful with five penalties and also converted both his side’s tries. 

Scorers: 

Griqualand West 29 (20) – Tries: Johan Joubert, Jan Cloete. Conversions: Lourens Steenkamp (2). Penalties: Steenkamp (5). Limpopo Blue Bulls 27 (14) – Tries: Matimu Manganyi, Jacques Venter. Conversions: David Jacobs (3). Penalties: Jacobs (2). 

KwaZulu-Natal 33 (13) – Tries: Donovan du Randt (2), Ilunga Mukendi, Jaydon Morgan. Conversions: Bader-Werner Pretorius (2). Penalties: Pretorius (3). Valke 19 (12) – Tries: Pierre du Preez, Hendre Stassen, Banella Jafta. Conversions: Irvin Ali (2). 

Griqualand West Country Districts 21 (10) – Tries: Dian Dry, Gustav Loots. Conversion: Eben Nieuwoudt. PEnalties: Nieuwoudt (2), Lynthen Barties. Valke XV 18 (10) – Tries: David Joubert, David Henning. Conversion: Wernich Human. Penalties: Human, David Keyser.

Leopards 106 (29) – Tries: Edmund Rheeder (3), Ignatius Prinsloo (2), Bongani Nhlapo, Douglas Bruce-Smith, Francois Pelser, Gerrit Bezuidenhout, Gift Matoase, Johan Joubert, Kabelo Mogotsi, Katleho Thabanchu, Meluleki Dlamini, Michael Tolmay, Ernest Smiles. Conversions: Smiles (10), Martin Pelser (3). Border Country Districts 6 (0) – Penalties: Mbasa Peza (2). 

Namibia 33 (19) – Tries: Gerbus van Wyk, Cliven Loubser, Marino Goagoseb, Shgyr Smith. Conversions: Loubser (2). Penalties: Loubser, Pieter Steenkamp. Zimababwe 22 (12) – Tries: Michael Snook, Edwin Nxumalo, Brian Muntanga. Conversions: Campbill Nyakudya, Takudzwa Gamanya. Penalty: Gamanya. 

Eastern Province 29 (14) – Tries: Duan du Plessis, Immanuel Libbok, Kamvelihle Dilima, Yomelela Keswa. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2), Denver Kleu. Penalty: Bosch. Golden Lions 10 (10) – Try: Joseph Kamangu. Conversion: Kyle Lues. Penalty: Lues. 

Pumas 35 (7) – Tries: Fana Ngwenya (2), Mfundo Ndlovu (2), Eric Basson. Conversions: Rynard van As (4), Chris Hanekom. Griffons 7 (0) – Try: SJ Malherbe. Conversion: Luan James.

Free State 16 (3) – Try: George Rossouw. Conversion: Dawid Snyman. Penalties: Snyman (2), Niel Durow. Boland 14 (8) – Try: Andre Swanepoel. Penalties: Andriaan van der Bank (2), Andell Loubser.

Border 27 (10) – Tries: David Brits (2), Geraldo Joseph. Conversions: Morgan Steyn (3), Penalties: Steyn (2). South Western Districts 10 (7) – Try: Logan Stoffels. Conversion: Christo Hamman. Penalty: Hamman.

Western Province 22 (12) – Tries: Taigh Schoor, Moegamat Cassiem-February, Juandre Grobler. Conversions: Jondre Williams (2). Penalty: Williams. Blue Bulls 15 (12) – Tries: Warren Brits, Hluma Zondani. Converion: Eduard Fouche. Penalty: Fouche.

The SWD Eagles on Thursday concluded a successful Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week as they thumped Eastern Province 32-7 in the grand finale of the tournament at Glenwood High in Durban.

The George-based team were in top form throughout the competition as they secured thrilling victories against the Golden Lions and Western Province in their opening matches.

The 22-19 victory against tournament favourites DHL Western Province undoubtedly bolstered their confidence going into the final match following the Cape side’s emphatic 93-0 victory against the Red Valke on the opening day.

The Eagles entertained the crowd by running in a total of five tries to only one scored by their opponents.

A penalty by John Jackson opened the scoring in the seventh minute, which triggered the team’s first half dominance as they cruised to a 22-0 lead at the break.

Wynand de Necker and Hendri Storm crossed the chalk first, with Domenic Smit adding another to the tally shortly after the break. But the score was inflated significantly by two tries in two minutes in the third quarter, which handed the side a 32-0 lead.

Eastern Province, however, scored a late consolation try for their only points of the match.

The Griffons also finished the tournament on a high as they defeated KwaZulu-Natal Country Districts 34-20 to round off their unbeaten run.

In other matches, Western Province registered a 24-5 victory against the Pumas, hosts KwaZulu-Natal beat the Blue Bulls 32-28, Free State outplayed the Golden Lions 35-8 and Border outclassed the Blue Valke 76-10.

Scorers: 

Red Valke 29 (26) – Tries: Tries: Chris van Zyl, Christopher Schimper, Martin van Wyk, Zinhle Nhlapo. Conversions: Schimper (3). Penalty: Schimper. Namibia 25 (10) – Tries: Alastair Bock (2), Kurt Stellmacher, Jesse Harmse, Cameron McNab. 

Leopards 20 (17) – Tries: Tyren Waterboer, Mandla Ndlungwana, Eugene Hare. Conversion: Hare. Penalty: Hare. Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (17) – Tries: Wessels Kuhn, Thabang Mashaba, Rinus Bezuidenhout. Conversion: Diederik Oberholzer. 

Free State 35 (25) – Tries: Alex Jonker, Dwayne Wessels, Jarmaine Achilles, Louis Nel. Conversions: Andre Swarts (3). Penalties: Swarts (3). Golden Lions 8 (3) – Try: Justin Bhana. Penalty: Ruan Conradie. 

SA LSEN 48 (26) – Tries: Storm Kunde (2), Aamir Visser (2), Thabo Tau, Nathier April, Keanan Parnell, Adolf Gelderblom. Conversions: Rameez Nell (4). Border Country Districts 5 (0) – Try: Phendula Dyantyi. 

Griffons 34 (27) – Tries: Reitumetse Mofokeng, Lethole Mokoena, Justin Williams, Jamille Afrika, Innocent Valashiya. Conversions: Tokkie van Zyl (3). Penalty: Van Zyl. KwaZulu-Natal Country Districts 20 (10) – Tries: Malcolm Cele, Lonwabo Mabande, Jaco Pretorius. Conversion: Johan Heunes. Penalty: Heunes. 

KwaZulu-Natal 32 (19) – Tries: Chris Lines (2), Lindokuhle Ntombela, Kelvin Elder, Gerhard Coetzee. Conversions: Curtis Jonas (2). Penalty: Lines. Blue Bulls 28 (28) – Tries: Sean Joyce (2), Tinus de Beer, Dawie Venter. Conversions: De Beer (4).

Western Province 24 (17) – Tries: Mitch Lingeveldt, Joel Quene, Edwill van der Merwe, Dante van der Merwe. Conversions: Adriaan Carelse (2). Pumas 5 (0) – Tries: Chris de Waal.

When Innocent Radebe goes to Polokwane next week to play in the Coca-Cola Craven Week it will be the fifth Coca-Cola Youth rugby week that he will be attending – proof that his rugby pedigree runs deep, and that his burgeoning talent was identified early, and has been nurtured through the years by SA Rugby and the Coca-Cola youth development system.

He is the only representative of his school, St Stithians College, in the Golden Lions team, but he does not feel isolated because he has come a long way with this group of players – many of them were there when he played for the province’s under-13s at the Coca-Cola u-13 Craven week, twice; at the Coca-Cola u-16 Grant Khomo Week two years ago; and at under-18 Craven Week last year.

His appearance at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in Port Elizabeth last year did not go well, he says. “I played centre, which is out of position, because I’m a flyhalf, so my confidence was not high. However it is a new year and I will go out there and play my best.”

In 2011 after he played in the Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week he was named in the elite group of players that was identified, and his dream is to be recognised again this year, and to make the SA Schools team.

Innocent attended an Afrikaans medium primary school – Laerskool Millenium – before being granted a bursary to attend St Stithians. In his early high school days he was also a keen cricketer, but a shoulder injury put an end to his bowling career and he decided to focus on rugby.

He comes from a humble background – his mother is a domestic servant in the Joe and Annette Toweel household. He has lived with the Toweels since birth and regards them as his family. He was devastated when Annette died a few years ago as he says she was a second mother to him, and a big influence in his life. “She was my inspiration, my mentor and taught me how to keep going no matter what challenges I had to face,” he said. Since her death the Toweel children, who are much older than him, have encouraged and helped him and are now his mentors. They have, and continue, to attend every game he plays in, and they will be in Polokwane to watch him at the Coca-Cola Craven Week.

Rugby is very much part of the future Innocent envisages. “I want to focus on playing next year, and although I know that at some stage I am going to have to study further, I’m not sure of what I want to do. I know I can’t rely on sport as it has a short lifespan after which there are plenty of years to live and grow,” he says.

Innocent gives a lot of the credit for his success to St Stithians director of rugby, Freddie Grobbler. He says he has a management and coaching style which is very motivating and has given him confidence to try new things. “I had been plagued by injuries and Mr Grobbler sent me to the gym to build myself up and I have suffered very few injuries so far this season.”

The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where heroes are made and Innocent Radebe has the ability and the attitude to join the ranks when he runs out in Polokwane between July 8 and 13.

South Western Districts continued their good form at the annual Grant Khomo Week in Vanderbijlpark as they defeated the Pumas 38-7 in their second match of the tournament. Christo Hamman recorded a hat-trick of tries for the victorious team and also converted four of his side’s tries for a personal tally of 23 points in the match. 

Scorers: 

South Western Districts 38 (12) – Tries: Christo Hamman (3), Daine Kannemeyer, Don-MArco Samuels, Logan Stoffels. Conversions: Hamman (4). Pumas 7 (7) – Try: Siyabonga Khaliswayo. Conversion: Chris Hanekom.

Griqualand West Country Districts 57 (31) – Tries: Reinhard Hayes (3), Xavier Cloete (2), Dian Dry, Joe Willemse, Kylan Griqua, Wynand Terblanche. Conversions: Eben Nieuwoudt (6). Border Country Districts 3 (0) – Penalty: Mbasa Peza.

Free State 17 (7) – Tries: Adam Bezuidenhout, Daniel Rust, Tyrell Heyns. Conversion: Dawid Snyman. Valke 10 (7) – Try: Vuyo Nxele. Conversion: Irvin Ali. Penalty: Webster Swanepoel.

Griqualand West 24 (5) – Tries: Braam Venter (2), Algurand Heyns, Joshua Swarts. Conversions: Gert Nortje (2). Valke XV 16 (16) – Tries: David Nkosi. Conversion: David du Plessis. Penalties: Du Plessis (3).

Border 16 (10) – Tries: Luyolo Khuse. Conversion: Morgan Steyn. Penalties: Steyn (3). Boland 13 (3) – Try: Ashley Franse. Conversion: Adriaan van der Bank. Penalty: Van der Bank. 

Namibia 19 (12) – Try: Pieter Steenkamp. Conversion: Cliven Loubser. Penalties: Curtis de Koe (2), Loubser. Leopards 8 (5) – Try: Gerhard Steenekamp. Penalty: Johan Pelser.

Western Province 34 (31) – Tries: Taigh Schoor, Ryan Muller, Moegamat Cassiem-February, Keenan Abrahams, Jondre Williams. Conversion: George Lourens (3). Penalty: Williams. Eastern Province 22 (8) – Tries: Curwin Bosch, Heino Bezuidenhout, Yomelela Keswa. Conversions: Bosch, Denver Kleu. Penalty: Bosch.

Limpopo Blue Bulls 29 (8) – Tries: Zwihuya Mulaudzi, Tshegofatso Robinson, Sibusiso Mlangeni, Bjanyana Molokomme. Conversions: Duan Schoeman (3). Penalty: Schoeman. Zimbabwe 21 (7) – Tries: Shaun Snyder (2), Farai Murinye. Conversion: Snyder (2), Campbill Nyakudya.

 

 

The Golden Lions and the Blue Bulls have been given the honour of playing in the late game on day 2 of the Coca-Cola u-16 Grant Khomo Week in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday after both teams produced stirring late comebacks to win their opening encounters.

The Bulls were 11-10 down to Eastern Province at the break, and 26-17 down three quarters of the way through the match before a flurry of late scoring saw them triumph 30-26.

The hosts, the Valke looked set for a major upset when they lead the Golden Lions 15-7 at the break, but the Lions turned it on in the second half to win 29-20.

Also impressive on day one was Western Province, who smashed the Leopards 50-12, and Border, who scored a rare win over Free State. Eastern Province are rewarded for their good showing against the Blue Bulls with a game against Western Province on Tuesday.

All the sides are in action again on Tuesday. Wednesday is a rest day and the teams play their third and last games on Thursday.

Day 1 Results

Western Province 50 Leopards 12, KwaZulu-Natal 16 Limpopo Blue Bulls 12, SWD 21 Griffons 10, Blue Bulls 30 Eastern Province 26, Valke XV 28 Border Country 3, Border 15 Free State 13, Boland 17 Pumas 10, Zimbabwe 15 Griquas Country 12, Namibia Griquas 9, Golden Lions 29 Valke 20.

Day 2 Fixtures

B Field

10.30am Border Country v Griquas Country, 11.45am Valke XV v Griquas, 1pm Leopards v Namibia, 2.15pm Zimbabwe v Limpopo Blue Bulls, 3.30pm KwaZulu-Natal v Griffons.

A Field

10.3-am Pumas v SD, 11.45am Valke v Free State, 1pm Border v Boland, 2.15pm W Province v E Province, 3.30pm Blue Bulls v Golden Lions.

Die Rosestad kan hom regmaak vir die grootste rugbytoernooi wat vanjaar hier aangebied word, berig Hannes Nienaber.

St. Andrew is van 5 tot 8 Julie gasheer vir die tweejaarlikse privaatskole-toernooi. Dié toernooi is verlede jaar deur Penryn-kollege in Nelspruit aangebied. Saints het egter besluit om die toernooi vanjaar saam met hul 150ste bestaansjaar-vieringe aan te bied.

Die gasheer het ook vir Hoërskool Sentraal as gas na die toernooi genooi. Tralies sal nou wel sonder hulle Vrystaatse Akademie-week spelers wees, maar in die gees van die week wat oor die spel gaan sal dit gepas wees.

Saints kom teen Clifton, St. Charles-kollege en St. Stithian-kollege in sy drie wedstryd op die fees te staan. Die wedstryd teen St. Charles-kollege van Durban sal die hoofwedstryd op die Hickling A-veld op Saterdag, 6 Julie wees.

Die Tralies kom teen St. Benedict-kollege van Johannesburg, St. Stithian-kollege en Michaelhouse in sy drie kragmetings te staan. Veral die kragmeting teen Michaelhouse behoort een van die hoogtepunte van die fees te wees.

Dit is jammer dat Grey-kollege ‘n uitnodiging van die hand gewys het. Saints en Grey het mekaar in die eerste rugbywedstryd ooit in die Vrystaat gepak en dit sou gepas gewees het as die land se voorste skool ?n span na die toernooi kon stuur. Grey is egter sonder meeste van sy spelers wat in die Cravenweek- en Akademieweek-spanne van die Vrystaat in hierdie tyd is wat ook gedurende hierdie tydperk in aksie is. Hulle sou dus met ?n derde span aan die toernooi moes deelneem.

Michaelhouse, St. John-kollege, St. Stithian-kollege en St. Alban-kollege is van die beste spanne wat op die toernooi in aksie sal wees.

St. Andrew se eerste rugbywedstryd was in 1882 teen Grey-kollege. Dit is ook dan nie vreemd dat die twee spanne in ?n hewige tweestryd in die vroee jare van die vorige eeu op die rugbyveld gewikkel was nie. Grey was 3-0 in die kragmeting baas. Die wedstryd is onder die Winchester-reels gespeel wat bepaal het dat ?n span uit tien voorspelers, twee doele (vervyfde driee), vier driekwarte en ‘n goal moet bestaan.

Saints het in 1918 sy eerste oorwinning oor Grey-kollege behaal toe 8-6 as oorwinnaars van die veld gestap het. Interresant is die feit dat St. Andrew se skoolhoof, Oubaas Storey in die span was wat Grey geklop het. Storey was van 1917 tot 1946 Saints se skoolhoof. Hy was ook dan as skoolhoof kaptein van die eerstespan en was ?n voorspeler.

Die toernooi se bepalings:

Vrydag, 5 Julie: A-veld: 09:00: Michaelhouse t. St. David-kollege; 11:00: St. Andrew t. Clifton; 13:00: St. Stithian-kollege t. St. Charles-kollege; 15:00: Sentraal t. St. Benedict-kollege. B-veld: 09:30: Upland-kollege t. St. John-kollege; 11:30: St. Alban-kollege t. Thomas More; 13:30: Penryn t. Somerset.

Saterdag, 6 Julie: A-veld: 08:00: Thomas More t. Clifton; 09:30: Somerset t. St. Alban-kollege; 11:00: Michaelhouse t. St. Benedict-kollege; 12:30: St. Andrew t. St. Charles-kollege. B-veld: 09:30: Sentraal t. St. Stithian-kollege; 11:00: Penryn-kollege t. St. John-kollege; 12:30: St. David-kollege t. Upland-kollege.

Maandag, 8 Julie: A-veld: 08:00: Uplands-kollege t. St. David-kollege; 09:30: St. Andrew t. St. Stithian-kollege; 11:00: St. Charles-kollege t. St. John-kollege; 12:30: Penryn-kollege t. Thomas More. B-veld: 08:00: Sentraal t. Michaelhouse; 09:30: Clifton t. St. Alban-kollege; 11:00: Somerset t. St. David-kollege.

The Coca-Cola under-16 Grant Khomo Week got off to an exciting start at the Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark on Monday with a cocktail of big victories and close encounters keeping spectators entertained.

Such was the competitiveness of the clashes on the opening day only Western Province, SWD and the Valke XV registered convincing wins, while the Blue Bulls, KwaZulu-Natal, Border and the Golden Lions were made to work hard for their victories.

The Cape-based team was particularly impressive as they crossed the chalk seven times against the Leopards for their 50-12 victory in a match that set the tone for a gripping tournament.

The Western Province forwards and backs combined well to produce a solid display, but it was their effectiveness at snuffing out gaps in the defence and creating point-scoring chances that put them in the driving seat. The match was particularly memorable for Taigh Schoor, who scored a hat-trick of tries, and Jondre Williams who contributed 15 points with the boot.

The clash between the Blue Bulls and Eastern Province, meanwhile, lived up to its billing as one of the top clashes of the day, as a last-minute try by Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier earned his team their 30-26 victory. The clash proved to be a close encounter from the start, with EP No8 Malan Marais crashing over the tryline in the fourth minute to open up the scoring. But the Bulls hit back minutes later with two penalties and a try to only one penalty by EP, which handed them an 11-10 lead at the break. The second half was equally tense as the teams each scored two tries in what proved to be a see-saw half. Papier’s try, however, in which he picked up the ball from the ruck and out-paced a few defenders to score under the posts, proved to be the decisive moment of the match.

Border also snuck through the back door for their 15-13 win against the Free State thanks to a last-minute penalty by Morgan Steyn, this despite scoring two tries to only one by the opposition, while Zimbabwe staged a strong second-half comeback from 12-5 down against Griquas Country Districts to register a well-deserved 15-12 victory.

The Lions, meanwhile, delivered a spectacular second-half display to recover from a 15-7 deficit at half time against the

Valke for a 29-20 bonus point victory. The team lifted the urgency and tempo in their performance significantly after a sluggish first half and used their pace to take advantage of the open spaces, which earned them three-second half tries.

Scorers: 

KwaZulu-Natal 16 (10) – Try: Robert du Randt. Conversion: Bader-Werner Pretorius. Penalties: Pretorius (3). Limpopo Blue Bulls 12 (7) – Try: Johann du Preez, Bjanyana Molokomme. Conversion: Donovan Pretorius. 

Western Province 50 (29) – Tries: Taigh Schoor (3), Gustav Marais, Keenan Abrahams, Ryan Muller, Zain Davids. Conversions: Jondré Williams (6). Penalty: Williams. Leopards 12 (12) – Tries: Anré O’Neill, Gerrit Bezuidenhout. Conversion: Johan Pelser. 

Blue Bulls 30 (11) – Tries: Embrose Papier, Hluma Zondani, Khwezi Mafu, Wayne van der Bank. Conversions: Wayne van der Bank (2). Penalties: Eduard Fouché (2). Eastern Province 26 (10) – Tries: Duan du Plessis, Malan Marais, Immanuel Libbok. Conversion: Denver Kleu, Curwin Bosch. Penalties: Bosch (2). 

South Western Districts 21 (8) – Tries: Albert de Wet (2), Renaldo Ferreira. Penalties: Logan Stoffels, JP Duvenhage. Griffons 10 (7) – Try: Karabelo Moleko. Conversion: Luan James. Penalty: James.

Border 15 (7) – Tris: Courtney Winnaar, Geraldo Joseph. Conversion: Morgan Steyn. Penalty: Steyn. Free State 13 (3) – Try: PR Serfontein. Conversion: Dawid Snyman. Penalties: Snyman (2). 

Namibia 13 (6) – Try: Desmond Gaseb. Conversion: Pieter Steenkamp. Penalties: Steenkamp (2). Griqualand West 9 (3) – Penalties: Lourens Steenkamp (3). 

Boland 17 (12) – Tries: Xolisa Guma, Andell Loubser, Adriaan van der Bank. Conversion: Van der Bank. Pumas 10 (10) – Try: Cyprian Nkomo. Conversion: Chris Hanekom. Penalty: Hanekom.

Zimbabwe 15 (5) – Tries: Anton Ciampi, Jeff Makoni. Conversion: Campbill Nyakudya. Penalty: Takudzwa Gamanya. Griqualand West Country Districts 12 (12) – Tries: Willrich Delie, Reinhard Heyns. Conversion: Lynthen Barties.

Golden Lions 29 (7) – Tries: Morne van den Berg (2), Willem Massyn, Junior Ntlhane. Conversions: Kyle Lues (3). Penalty: Lues. Valke 20 (15) – Tries: Charlton Bock (2), Xander Crause. Conversion: Crause. Penalty: Crause.

Valke XV 28 (21) – Tries: Wernich Human, David Keyser, David Joubert, David Bailey. Conversions: Human (2), David Henning (2). Border Country Districts 3 (0) – Penalty: Mbasa Peza.