Author: froberholzer

 

Rukudzo Madinga was Hilton’s hero in a somewhat unexpected win for Brad McLeod-Henderson’s troops on Saturday.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools. Link to the games.

Madinga’s brace of tries helped Hilton College to a famous 17-14 victory over Boland Landbou in the main game on the second day of the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival.

The right winger broke through shortly after half-time, with his side trailing 3-7, to score their first five-pointer. Moments later, he capitalised on a Boland Landbou lapse of concentration to score another.

That second try stretched the KwaZulu-Natal side’s lead and they managed to stay in front for the remaining 10 minutes of the game as both packs delivered heavy blows on defence.

Liyema Nela, the Hilton flyhalf, found his rhythm from the tee after a wobbly start and converted both of Madinga’s tries, while also slotting an important penalty.

Landbou’s Retagan van Rooi showed his class, this time at fullback. He contributed nine of his side’s 14 points, which included scoring the try which gave his side a sniff at a comeback. He converted that try and the five-pointer scored by scrumhalf, Jayden Brits.

Hilton’s gutsy fight in the second half was the difference between the sides, as they wrestled the momentum away from Boland Landbou.

Maritzburg College, the other school from KwaZulu-Natal in action at the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival, also came out to play and staged a stubborn fightback from 7-19 down at the break to get by a spirited SACS 26-24 in the penultimate game of day two.

Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, College’s left wing, went over for the match-winning score with three minutes left on the clock.

Replacement flyhalf Jordan Thackwray kept his cool, slotting the all-important conversion, which sunk the men from Cape Town.

Hooker, Lwanda Khumalo, was a standout for College and lit a fire under the big men up front.

As was the case in the main match, the defence from both sides was extremely tight, with both packs taking it to the other. In the end, Maritzburg College managed to get on top of the Cape Town boys, which caused the SACS defence to miss a few tackles.

Scorers

Hilton College 17 (3) – Tries: Rukudzo Madinga (2). Conversions: Liyema Nela (2). Penalty: Nela. Boland Landbou 14 (7) – Tries: Jayden Brits, Retagan van Rooi. Conversions: Van Rooi (2).

Maritzburg College 26 (7) – Tries: Lwanda Khumalo, Struan Oosthuizen, James Slevin, Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein. Conversions: James Slevin (2), Jordan Thackwray. SACS 24 (19) – Tries: Daniel Grant, Seth Bradford, Endie Sidinele, Jack Benade. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (2).

Cheswill Jooste and Hoërskool Noordheuwel appear to have found their top form.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools. Link to the game.

The Norries’ SA Schools A representative crossed the try line twice in his side’s 40-18 victory over Kingswood College on Saturday at the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival.

His first five-pointer came from a moment of individual brilliance, when he rounded his opposite number on the outside, showcasing the extreme pace he possesses. The second time he rounded off a well-executed backline move to take his tally for the match to 10 points.

Lindsey Jansen, the Norries’ speedster on the left wing, also produced a solid performance. He capitalised on an accurate cross-kick from the in-form flyhalf, Jeandré Uithaler, to cross the line for Norries’ first try. Uithaler also converted five of his side’s six tries.

Daniel Stevens, Kingswood’s hooker, produced a valiant performance in a losing cause. He kept the Norries’ forwards busy with his strong ball carries, with one of those busts resulting in a try for the Mkahanda school.

Hoërskool Nelspruit executed a 180-degree turnaround. Unlike their first game, where they had to claw their way back from a 0-21 deficit against Voortrekker, they started like a house on fire and maintained their dominance throughout to hammer the hosts, St John’s College, 38-13.

Jordan Pretorius (right wing) kicked off the Nellies’ festivities, going in for a brace of tries within 10 minutes of the opening whistle. St John’s held on for the rest of the first half and trailed by only six points at half-time.

However, a strong driving maul, which resulted in a try for Nelspruit’s hooker, Regardt Pretorius, was the beginning of the end for the hosts, as Nellies ran in three more after that, including a special effort from Tinyiko Silubane, who was rewarded for his hard work when he outflanked the St John’s defence to run in a try from inside his own half.

Divan de Kock, the side from Mpumalanga’s flyhalf, enjoyed another good day out with the boot, slotting four conversions to further boost the Nelspruit total.

Scorers

Noordheuwel 40 (21) – Tries: Cheswill Jooste (2), Lindsey Jansen, Alex Greef, Jade Muller, Ighnatius Jantjes. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler. Kingswood College 18 (8) – Tries: Daniel Stevens, Appiah Ndzengu, Matthew Paxton. Penalty: Praise Matsila.

Hoërskool Nelspruit 38 (12) – Tries: Jordan Pretorius (2), Regardt Vermaak, Tinyiko Silubane, D’Angelo Roberts, Ronaldo van Rensburg. Conversions: Divan de Kock (4). St John’s College 13 (6) – Try: Joshua Shannon. Conversion: Gerald van Wyk. Penalties: Van Wyk (2)

 

 

Saturday brought another convincing win for Falcon College.

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The visitors from Zimbabwe came out on top once again, comfortably beating St Benedict’s College 29-0 on the second day of the St John’s Easter Festival.

Falcon started quite slowly, with only the trusty boot of fullback, James Thompson, breaking the deadlock, with a penalty after seven minutes of play.

The first try finally came after 21 minutes when outside centre Zane Sibanda sliced through the Bennies’ defence to score his second try of the weekend. Having at last crossed the whitewash, the visitors from north of the border put the pedal to the metal, running in three more tries.

Renatho Ndou, Falcon’s left wing, scored the best of the bunch. The slippery Ndou left countless defenders grasping at air, doing a great impression of Cheslin Kolbe, before going over in the corner.

Thompson was impressive from the tee, slotting three conversions and a penalty, to extend the Zimbabweans’ lead even further.

Voortrekker picked up their first victory of the festival, scoring 31 unanswered points against the Golden Lions Invitational XV.

Left-wing Kamohelo Moses had a good outing, with his elusive running bringing him a brace of tries.

The Bethlehem boys’ workhorse at lock, Tristan Meyer, was rewarded for his industry shortly after Moses’ first try, as he burst through the Lion’s defences for another five-pointer. Inside centre, Craig Mann, and flyhalf, Kaneng Komane, also did the same in the second half to rub further salt in the Gauteng side’s wounds.

Although the score-line showed zero points for the Invitational lineup, the Lions’ side delivered a far better performance than they did on the first day. They firmed up their defensive structures, but they ran out of steam in the last 10 minutes.

A see-saw battle in the third game of the day saw Graeme College pull off a 12-10 win over St David’s Marist Inanda.

A try by Ashton Williams, the Eastern Cape side’s outside centre, 10 minutes before the final whistle, sealed the deal for his team. Xolisa Mdgensha, Williams’ midfield partner, also crossed the whitewash to secure a lead in the first half.

After half-time, the momentum shifted in favour of the side from Johannesburg, as they fought back through a try from loosehead prop, D’Andre Mushonga. The conversion of the try, plus a penalty from the boot of Diego Ferreira, handed them a three-point lead, which was ripped away from them shortly afterwards by Williams’ try.

Scorers

Voortrekker 31 (12) – Tries: Kamohelo Moses (2), Tristan Meyer, Craig Mann, Kaneng Komane. Conversions: Edre Wille (3). Golden Lions XV 0 (0). 

Falcon College 29 (15) – Tries: Zane Sibanda, Renatho Ndou, Khabansi Kabalata, Ralph Tekede. Conversions: James Thompson (3). Penalty: Thompson. St Benedict’s 0 (0).

Graeme College 12 (7) – Tries: Xolisa Mdensha, Ashton Williams. Conversion: Marcus Williams. St David’s Marist 10 (0) – Tries: D’Andre Mushonga. Conversion: Diego Ferreira. Penalty: Ferreira.

Scorers: 

Voortrekker 31 (12) – Tries: Kamohelo Moses (2), Tristan Meyer, Craig Mann, Kaneng Komane. Conversions: Edre Wille (3). Golden Lions XV 0 (0). 

Falcon College 29 (15) – Tries: Zane Sibanda, Renatho Ndou, Khabansi Kabalata, Ralph Tekede. Conversions: James Thompson (3). Penalty: Thompson. St Benedict’s 0 (0).

Graeme College 12 (7) – Tries: Xolisa Mdensha, Ashton Williams. Conversion: Marcus Williams. St David’s Marist 10 (0) – Tries: D’Andre Mushonga. Conversion: Diego Ferreira. Penalty: Ferreira.

Noordheuwel 40 (21) – Tries: Cheswill Jooste (2), Lindsey Jansen, Alex Greef, Jade Muller, Ighnatius Jantjes. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler. Kingswood College 18 (8) – Tries: Daniel Stevens, Appiah Ndzengu, Matthew Paxton. Penalty: Praise Matsila.

Hoërskool Nelspruit 38 (12) – Tries: Jordan Pretorius (2), Regardt Vermaak, Tinyiko Silubane, D’Angelo Roberts, Ronaldo van Rensburg. Conversions: Divan de Kock (4). St John’s College 13 (6) – Try: Joshua Shannon. Conversion: Gerald van Wyk. Penalties: Van Wyk (2)

Maritzburg College 26 (7) – Tries: Lwanda Khumalo, Struan Oosthuizen, James Slevin, Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein. Conversions: James Slevin (2), Jordan Thackwray. SACS 24 (19) – Tries: Daniel Grant, Seth Bradford, Endie Sidinele, Jack Benade. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (2).

Hilton College 17 (3) – Tries: Rukudzo Madinga (2). Conversions: Liyema Nela (2). Penalty: Nela. Boland Lanbou 14 (7) – Tries: Jayden Brits, Retagan van Rooi. Conversions: Van Rooi (2).

 

A rollercoaster of emotions.

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The main match on the first day of the 27th Standard Bank St John’s Easter Festival produced excitement and a tough battle as both St John’s College and Kingswood College left it all out on the field. Eventually, they had to settle for a 17-17 draw.

Both teams defended with everything they had. However, the hosts dominated the contact points and the physical battle. Captain and 8th-man, Kyle Watson, led from the front for the Johannesburg school, putting in a massive shift on defence.

St John’s placed a lot of emphasis on turning defence into attack, which ultimately resulted in both of their tries, one of which was a well-deserved reward for Watson.

Flyhalf, Joe MacRobert, showed that he not only scores runs as a cricket player, but he can score tries on the rugby field, as well. MacRobert burst through after charging down a kick to open his side’s try-scoring account.

For the visitors, MacRobert’s opposite number, Praise Matsila, was exceptional. His tactical vision and eye for space helped the men on his outside, Vizi Labase (left wing) and Likhona Kepe (outside centre) find acres of room.

Labase broke through the St John’s defences, with time nearly up on the clock to get Kingswood within two points of the hosts. Matsila’s trusty boot, under severe pressure, levelled matters to cap off a wonderful first day of rugby.

Maritzburg College came to play as they pushed Boland Landbou all the way in their 32-17 defeat in the curtain-raiser. The side from the KwaZulu-Natal capital, against all expectations, bullied a much bigger Boland Landbou pack in most facets of the game.

The deciding moment in the contest, however, came when the Boland Landbou’s Jonah Lomu look-alike, Enslin Claasen, showed a clean pair of heels to round the College defenders on the outside for a visit on the other side of the whitewash.

It seemed as if the College boys, after 60 minutes of defending, had run out of steam. Openside flank, Hans Venter, capitalised on that, running it in from his 10-metre line to put the final nail in the Red, Black and White’s coffin.

Scorers:

St John’s College 17 (17) – Tries: Joe MacRobert, Kyle Watson. Conversions: Bryson Walker (2). Penalty: Walker. Kingswood College 17 (3) – Tries: Likhona Kepe, Vizi Labase. Conversions: Praise Matsila (2). Penalty: Matsila.

Boland Landbou 32 (17) – Tries: Jayden Brits, Xavier Vorster, Enslin Claasen, Hans Verster. Conversions: Retagon van Rooi (3). Penalty Van Rooi. Maritzburg College 17 (5) – Tries: Phiwayikosi Hubheka, Luyanda Kunene, Struan Oosthuizen. Conversion: James Salvin.

 

The Hilton College hammer came down with force on day one of the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival as the team from the KZN Midlands slammed St Benedict’s College 57-0.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools. Link to the games.

Hilton enjoyed the upper hand up front, as well as at the back, in Thursday’s game. They’re a well-coached unit.

St Benedict’s, however, looked like deer caught in headlights after Hilton’s speedster on the left wing, Requilme Adonis, opened the scoring with less than three minutes on the clock.

Their forwards enjoyed their day out, steamrolling over their opposition with powerful runs. That laid a solid platform for their backs to throw the ball around and express themselves.

Adonis visited behind the St Benedict’s try line twice more to complete the first hattrick of tries at the 2024 St John’s Easter Festival.

Right-wing Khamzimla Makali, outside centre Sebastian Gabareau, and flyhalf Xola Makongole all followed suit, going over for tries.

Khanya Jekwa, Hilton’s loosehead prop, made sure it wasn’t the speed merchants alone who enjoyed themselves. He broke through and, in a manner reminiscent of Bryan Habana, dived over the try line to add five points to his side’s tally.

SACS started quite slowly in their 31-7 victory over Graeme College. But, after their first try came from lock Pierre van Selm, the side from Cape Town put its foot down to add another four tries.

Reserve prop, Callum Hirst, proved his value, not just by crossing the whitewash but by putting in a massive shift on attack and defence.

The SACS’ centre pair, Endie Sindile (inside centre) and Matthew Carrick (outside centre), made full use of the platform laid by Hirst and the rest of the forward pack. Both ran outstanding attacking lines to get their team onto the front foot, and both crossed for five-pointers.

Scorers

SACS 31 (12) – Tries: Pierre van Selm, Endie Sindile, Callum Hirst, Matthew Carrick, Daniel Grant. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (3). Graeme College 7 (7) – Try: Avu Helesi. Conversion: Marcus Williams.

Hilton College 57 (29) – Tries: Requilme Adonis (3), Khanya Jekwa, Trent Chubb, Khazimla Makali, Xola Makongolo, Emmanuel Dankwah, Sebastian Gaboreau. Conversions: Makongolo (3), Liyema Nela (3). St Benedict’s College 0 (0).

 

Hoërskool Nelspruit fought their way back from a 21-point deficit to beat Voortrekker 31-21 on Thursday at the 27th St John’s Easter Rugby Festival.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools. Link to the games.

A brace of tries from the Nellies’ outside centre, Ian Wood, started the fightback. Vaughn van Zyl, the side’s 8th-man, then capped off an exceptional passage of play to cross the whitewash for Nelspruit’s third try in the space of only six minutes.

Voortrekker started like a house on fire, scoring their first three tries within 15 minutes of the opening whistle. Lock Luttig Roux burst through like an inside centre to run in their first try. His second-row partner, Tristan Meyer, did the same, just a few minutes later.

However, it was 8th-man Dawie Fourie and tighthead prop, Cecil Parsons, who laid down the law. They dominated in the opening moments, putting in some breathtaking hits. They also impressed with robust runs, which carried their side well over the advantage line.

In strange fashion, the game swung completely, from a fest of running rugby to both sides struggling to break the other’s defences. After 40 points in the first half, it took 18 minutes before the first points of the second half were scored by the Nellies’ speedster on the left wing, Tinyiko Silubane, who went over for five points.

Jordan Pretorius, his counterpart on the opposite wing, struck the final blow, dotting down in the dying moments of the match.

Nelspruit wasn’t the only team to stage a dramatic come-from-behind victory. The visitors from Zimbabwe, Falcon College, scored 27 points in the second half to down St David’s Marist Inanda 30-19. The Johannesburg school had been 14-3 ahead at the break.

Things changed quickly after Falcon’s blindside flank, Scott Wenham, crossed the whitewash. Left wing, Zane Sibanda and fullback, Tafadza Tigere, followed suit soon after. Tigere was also good from the kicking tee, slotting two penalties and two conversions.

St David’s left wing, Kuzivahwashe Majuru, rounded off a well-worked move, crossing the line just before the final whistle, to grab a nice consolation try for his side.

Noordheuwel ran in an impressive eight tries in their 52-0 victory over the Golden Lions Invitational XV. Scrumhalf Gideon Diedericks and replacement wing Ignatius Jantjies contributed a brace each. Norries’ hooker Brendan Naudé also crossed the whitewash at the back of a driving maul.

Twinkle-toed left-wing Lindsey Jansen had opened his side’s account with a great run down the touchline.

Scorers

Falcon College 30 (19) – Tries: Scott Wenham, Zane Sibanda, Tafadza Tigere. Conversions: Tigere (2). Penalties: Tigere (2). St David’s Marist 19 (14) – Tries: Daniel Fellingham, Jack Brady, Kuzivahwashe Majuru. Conversions: Diego Ferreira (2)

Hoërskool Nelspruit 31 (19) – Tries: Ian Wood (2), Vaughn van Zyl, Tinyiko Silubane, Jordan Pretorius. Conversions: Divan de Kock (2), D’Angelo Roberts. Voortrekker 21 (21) – Tries: Luttig Roux, Tristan Meyer, Wian Fourie. Conversions: Christiaan van der Sandt (3).

Noordheuwel 52 (21) – Tries: Gideon Diedericks (2), Ighnatius Jantjies (2) Lindsey Jansen, Jade Muller, Brendan Naude, Mpho Madisaotsile. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler (6). Golden Lions XV 0 (0)

Scorers:

Falcon College 30 (19) – Tries: Scott Wenham, Zane Sibanda, Tafadza Tigere. Conversions: Tigere (2). Penalties: Tigere (2). St David’s Marist 19 (14) – Tries: Daniel Fellingham, Jack Brady, Kuzivahwashe Majuru. Conversions: Diego Ferreira (2)

Hoërskool Nelspruit 31 (19) – Tries: Ian Wood (2), Vaughn van Zyl, Tinyiko Silubane, Jordan Pretorius. Conversions: Divan de Kock (2), D’Angelo Roberts. Voortrekker 21 (21) – Tries: Luttig Roux, Tristan Meyer, Wian Fourie. Conversions: Christiaan van der Sandt (3).

Noordheuwel 52 (21) – Tries: Gideon Diedericks (2), Ighnatius Jantjies (2) Lindsey Jansen, Jade Muller, Brendan Naude, Mpho Madisaotsile. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler (6). Golden Lions XV 0 (0)

SACS 31 (12) – Tries: Pierre van Selm, Endie Sindile, Callum Hirst, Matthew Carrick, Daniel Grant. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (3). Graeme College 7 (7) – Try: Avu Helesi. Conversion: Marcus Williams.

Hilton College 57 (29) – Tries: Requilme Adonis (3), Khanya Jekwa, Trent Chubb, Khazimla Makali, Xola Makongolo, Emmanuel Dankwah, Sebastian Gaboreau. Conversions: Makongolo (3), Liyema Nela (3). St Benedict’s College 0 (0).

Boland Landbou 32 (17) – Tries: Jayden Brits, Xavier Vorster, Enslin Claasen, Hans Verster. Conversions: Retagon van Rooi (3). Penalty Van Rooi. Maritzburg College 17 (5) – Tries: Phiwayikosi Hubheka, Luyanda Kunene, Struan Oosthuizen. Conversion: James Salvin.

St John’s College 17 (17) – Tries: Joe MacRobert, Kyle Watson. Conversions: Bryson Walker (2). Penalty: Walker. Kingswood College 17 (3) – Tries: Likhona Kepe, Vizi Labase. Conversions: Praise Matsila (2). Penalty: Matsila.

St John’s College: 15 Riley Elliot, 14 Bryson Walker, 13 Gerald van Wyk, 12 Malan du Plessis, 11 Jacob Smith, 10 Joe MacRobert, 9 Thomas Kruger, 8 Kyle Watson, 7 John-John Bierman, 6 Grant Barnes, 5 Zian Newman, 4 Dominique Kamangu, 3 Matthew Kaplan, 2 Kahule Tungata, 1 Joshua Shannon.

St David’s Marist Inanda: 15 Tristan Lambe, 14 Owami Maropola, 13 James Pearson, 12 Theo Fonternel, 11 Kuzivanhwashe Majuru, 10 Teegan Rossini, 9 Diego Ferreira, 8 Daniel Fellingham, 7 James Askew, 6 Tahin Patel, 5 Jack Brady, 4 William Alleman, 3 Marco Bitter, 2 Connor McWilliams, 1 D’Andre Mushonga.

Bethlehem Voortrekker: 15 Tumi Khoza, 14 Karabele Chaka, 13 Frederick Fourie, 12 Craig Mann, 11 Kamohela Moses, 10 Kaneng Komane, 9 Christiaan van der Sandt, 8 Dawie Fourie, 7 Theo van Wyk, 6 Attila Ozturk, 5 Tristan Meyer, 4 Luttig Roux, 3 Cecil Parsons, 2 Arnold Ras, 1 Francois Maree.

Falcon College (Zim): 15 Tafadzwa Tigere, 14 Renatho Ndao, 13 Ralph Tekede, 12 James Thompson, 11 Zane Sibana, 10 Tawanda Chisungo, 9 Joshua Littlewood, 8 Dominic McKechnie, 7 Scott Wenham, 6 David Clegg, 5 Nlisi Moyo, 4 Obinna Nweke, 3 Mandlenkosi Mpande, 2 Benjamin Cocker, 1 Tinotenda Dimhairo.

Graeme College: 15 Xolisa Mdyesha, 14 Emihle Sukula, 13 Ashton Williams, 12 Junior Solani, 11 Damon Sais, 10 Marcus Williams, 9 Cameron Doyle, 8 Ayamila Bill, 7 Liyema Mbatyotyi, 6 Fumani Baloyi, 5 Ayoli Mali, 4 Mikhulu Yolani, 3 Athi Bonga, 2 Lebo Mahasele, 1 Avuyils Helesi.

St Benedict’s College: 15 Lex Pilling, 14 Wade Ramsay, 13 Matthew Hovelmeier, 12 Iviwe Mlilo, 11 Anogona Marufu, 10 Braeden le Roux, 9 Declan le Roux, 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Matthew Joubert, 6 Tebogo Phukuile, 5 Luke Carr, 4 Nicholas Moravec, 3 Victor Gocalves, 2 Chad Urquhart, 1 Rudzani Tshivhase.

Boland Landbou: 15 Lyle Lewis, 14 Wehan Lume, 13 Dante Christians, 12 Juan Swart, 11 Enslin Claasen, 10 Retagon van Rooy, 9 Jayden Britz, 8 Alco Bindeman, 7 Karst Smits, 6 Hans Venter, 5 Ruan Viviers, 4 Kody Nel, 3 Derico Mesina, 2 Heinrich Bezuidenhout, 1 Henry Kudder.

Hoërskool Nelspruit: 15 Christiaan van Deventer, 14 Jordan Pretorius, 13 Ian Wood, 12 Divan de Kock, 11 Tinyikl Silubane, 10 Theuns Meyer, 9 Liam Pringle, 8 Vaughn van Zyl, 7 Banele Ngwenya, 6 Tiaan de Beer, 5 Ronaldo van Rensburg, 4 Bradley Claasen, 3 WJ Botha, 2 Regardt Vermaak, 1 Siya Gama.

Hoërskool Noordheuwel (Possible): 15 Jade Muller, 14 Kean Steyn-Shawe, 13 Cheswill Jooste, 12 Jared Coetzee, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Jeandre Uithaler, 9 Ignatius Jantjies, 8 Brad Brown, 7 Juandre de Villier, 6 Andrew Lambert, 5 Xander Butendag, 4 Alex Greeff, 3 Martin Nel, Mpho Madisaotsile, 1 Meyer Opperman.

Golden Lions XV: 15 Booker Gowere, 14 Benjamin Rosen, 13 Siyanda Vilakazi, 12 Anele Hlongwane, 11 Njabulo Mahlungula, 10 Petri Schutte, 9 Jason van der Merwe, 8 Natali Wolde, 7 Tumisho Makhura, 6 Junior Mpanza, 5 Shuan Udo, 4 Samkelo Kgoatshisi, 3 Kabelo Letsaba, 2 Donelle Bailey, 1 Samuke Themba.

Hilton College: 15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudza, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Mitchel Wilson, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 7 Jacques Olivier, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Stewart Falconer, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Dylan Neill, 1 Ollie Proudfoot.

Maritzburg College: 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Langelihle Makhathine, 13 Swelihle Mbatha, 12 Nkuleleko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 James Selvin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imi Kemka, 7 Nzer Isaacs, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Jake Jansen, 4 Wasi Vyambwere, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka.

SACS: 15 Jack Bemade, 14 Quewinn Lackay, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Endi Sidinile, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Seth Bradford, 8 Connor King, 7 Thando Sithole, 6 Ben van Coller, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Callum Hirst, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Ethan Combrink.

Kingswood College: 15 Jared Wilson, 14 James Mackenzie, 13 Likhona Kepe, 12 Mungani Kamwendo, 11 Vizi Labase, 10 Praise Matsila, 9 Appiah Ndzengu, 8 Tapiwa Zhanda, 7 Sipho Nonyalela, 6 Daniel Stevens, 5 Liyema Katikari, 4 Josh MacKenzie, 3 Ike Ukekwe, 2 Junior Ndlazi, 1 Robert Miles.

Hans Moore: 15 Warren Minnaar, 14 Timothy Henstock, 13 Stephan Kellerman, 12 Ruben van der Berg, 11 Wikus Rossouw, 10 Ettiene Smith, 9 Dian Britz, 8 Keagan van Zyl, 7 Liam Diedericks, 6 Slade Mowbray, 5 Liam Beukes, 4 Marnus van der Walt, 3 Jayden van Heerden, 2 Hanrique Cronje, 1 Vernon Lindeque.

 

For some leading South African schools, the road this Easter leads to St John’s College, in Johannesburg, as teams from far and wide across the country and beyond its borders prepare to take each other on over the course of three days of exciting rugby, from 28 March to 1 April.

It’s the 27th time that the prestigious Houghton school has hosted the event, which brings together some of the best rugby talent in southern Africa.

It also provides the participants with one last opportunity to settle on their best lineups ahead of the start of league action when the second term commences.

Some big names – Boland Landbou, Hoërskool Noordheuwel, Maritzburg College, Hilton College, Kingswood College, SACS and Bethlehem Voortrekker – will take to Burger Field, flanked by the tiers of the Owen Nkumane Terrace, below the imposing and beautiful school buildings.

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There is also the exciting Golden Lions Invitational XV, a team which consists of top talent from schools around Gauteng.

The lineup also features Falcon College, who have made the trip south from Zimbabwe to test their abilities against leading South African schools.

The hosts, St John’s College, will kick off their festival fixtures with a showdown against Kingswood College, from Makhanda, in the main game on the opening day. In another exciting clash, Boland Landbou and Maritzburg College will do battle under lights in the match preceding the St John’s game.

Nelspruit faces Bethlehem Voortrekker on day one, while fleet-footed Noordheuwel kick off their challenge against the unpredictable Lions XV. Falcon College will be tested by St David’s Marist Inanda in their opener.

SACS takes on Graeme College. The Cape Town school has played some fine rugby early in the season, but their goal-kicking has been their Achilles heel. If they can get that right, they’ll be tough to beat.

Hilton College, convincing winners over Grey High earlier in the week, at the Bishops 175 Rugby Festival, tackle St Benedict’s College in their opener.

Fixtures

Thursday, 28 March

12:30 – Falcon College vs St David’s Marist Inanda
13:40 – Hoërskool Nelspruit vs Voortrekker
14:50 – Noordheuwel vs Golden Lions XV
16:00 – Graeme College vs SACS
17:10 – Hilton College vs St Benedict’s College
19:10 – Boland Landbou vs Maritzburg College
20:20 – St John’s College vs Kingswood College

Saturday, 30 March 

08:20 – Bethlehem Voortrekker vs Golden Lions XV
09:30 – Falcon College vs St Benedict’s College
10:40 – Graeme College vs St David’s Marist Inanda
11:50 – Kingswood College vs Noordheuwel
14:10 – St John’s College vs Hoërskool Nelspruit
15:20 – Maritzburg College vs SACS
16:30 – Hilton College vs Boland Landbou

Monday, 1 April

08:30 – Graeme College vs St Benedict’s College
09:40 – Maritzburg College vs Golden Lions XV
10:50 – Hans Moore vs Boland Landbou
12:00 – Kingswood College vs St David’s Marist Inanda
14:00 – St John’s College vs Falcon College (Zim)
15:10 – Hoërskool Nelspruit vs Hilton College
16:20 – Noordheuwel vs Bethlehem Voortrekker