Stellenberg got the home crowd on their feet by scoring the first try of the match in scintillating fashion through speedster Luc Cilliers, after his fellow winger, Marco Staples, turned the Gimmie defenders on their heels with the initial break.
That was, however, the only shot fired for the Jade Brigade, as Paarl Gim kept them scoreless for the rest of the match while stacking up 29 points in reply to the hosts’ early success.
Centre Kobus Blanckenberg did well to dismantle the Stellenberg defence and his big prop, Ely Williams, went on a couple of destructive runs to further soften up the opposition.
A brace by the Gimmies’ nippy winger, Freek de Kock, and more tries by Markus Muller (centre), Nicolas Nel (eighth man) and Wihan Kotze (flanker), plus two conversions by De Kock, saw Paarl Gim to a decisive victory, which reasserted their dominance after Stellenberg ran them to within one point on their home turf last year.
The Stellenberg boys still have exciting tournaments to look forward to in the coming weeks, including fixtures against the hosts, Affies, and Noordheuwel at the forthcoming NMI Toyota North South Rugby Tournament.
Paarl Gimnasium will also be in action at the event against Pretoria Boys’ High and Monument. They appear poised to establish themselves among the top teams in the country again this year.
Scorers
Paarl Gimnasium 29 (10) – Tries: Freek de Kock (2), Markus Muller, Nicolas Nel, Wihan Kotze. Conversions: De Kock (2). Stellenberg 5 (5) – Try: Luc Cilliers.
Other results:
u19 – Paarl Gimnasium II 19, Stellenberg II 13; Paarl Gimnasium III 21, Stellenberg III 5; Paarl Gimnasium IV 33, Stellenberg IV 3; Paarl Gimnasium V 34, Stellenberg V 6; Paarl Gimnasium VI 10, Stellenberg VI 5.
u16 – Paarl Gimnasium A 20, Stellenberg A 15; Paarl Gimnasium B 28, Stellenberg B 6; Paarl Gimnasium C 7, Stellenberg C 3; Paarl Gimnasium D 35, Stellenberg D 17.
u15 – Stellenberg A 6, Paarl Gimnasium A 5; Stellenberg B 12, Paarl Gimnasium B 3; Stellenberg C 24, Paarl Gimnasium C 0.
u14 – Paarl Gimnasium A 8, Stellenberg A 7, Paarl Gimnasium B 15, Stellenberg B 7, Stellenberg C 15, Paarl Gimnasium C 12; Stellenberg D 12, Paarl Gimnasium 7.
Vleuel, Ruwan Stevens, het Hoërskool Robertson se derde en laaste onverdoelde drie gedruk om sy span op die nippertjie met 15-12 te laat seëvier teen ‘n begeesterde Hoërskool Vredendal in die hoofwedstryd van die jaarlikse Robbie-fees in die vallei van wyn en rose.
Die gasheerspan het die kragmeting op haas die perfekte wyse afgeskop, toe Bernardo Diedericks, na skaars vyf minute, deur die besoekers se verdedigingslyn kon sny om die Robbies op die bord te kry. Diedericks is verlede jaar reeds in die SA o. 17-Sewesspan opgeneem wat ‘n derdeplek op die Statebond-jeugspele in Trinidad en Tobago kon behaal.
Die manne van Vrendendal het egter ander planne vir die wedstryd gehad, en het bykans geen verdere geleenthede vir die tuisspan gebied nie.
Dit het meer as 20 minute geneem voor die volgende punte aangeteken is, toe Robertson se losskakel, Jaydan van Niekerk, vinnig gedink het om sy eie steekskoppie op te volg en die bal toe te duik.
Oomblikke later het die besoekers se agsteman, Dillen Theron, egter presies dieselfde gedoen vir Vredendal, om die rustydagterstand na 5-10 te laat krimp
Die tweede helfte het dieselfde mate van armdruk tussen die twee trotse plattelandse spanne afgegee.
Vredendal het vir ‘n lang periode met 12-10 voorgeloop in die tweede skof, nadat Calvin du Toit ‘n puik drie deur sy slot Mivuyo Yakobi kon verdoel, maar met skaars sewe minute se speeltyd oor het Stevens oorgeduik vir die wendrie, na ‘n vlymskerp breekslag deur Van Niekerk.
Die toeskouers moes tot die eindfluitjie asem ophou, met albei spanne wat nog ‘n paar opwindende geleenthede gekry het, maar klipharde verdediging, aan altwee kante, het enige verder punte verhoed.
Vredendal se voorspelers het die veld vol gespeel, terwyl Robertson se snellers, soos Van Niekerk, Diedericks en heelagter, Tyron April, gewys het dat hulle nog vir baie spanne probleme gaan veroorsaak hierdie seisoen.
Hoërskool Montagu het hul stem dik gemaak teen Jakes Gerwel Tegnies met ‘n wegholsege van 52-12.
Montagu-flank, Chadwin Lottering, het twee van sy span se agt drieë aangeteken, terwyl losskakel, Renaldo Koker, in die kol was met ses doelskoppe en ook gedruk het vir ‘n bydrae van 17 punte.
In die voorlaaste wedstryd het Langenhoven Gimnasium, van Oudtshoorn, vir Overberg, van Caledon, met sewe punte geklop.
OLIVER REID, prop of Paul Roos Gimnasium in action against HTS Drostdy. PHOTO: Charmaine Sander
Die “Maroon Machine” het die nuwe seisoen op volspoed die naweek afgeskop, deur vir HTS Drostdy met 73-10 kaf te draf op die Markötter.
‘n Driekuns deur Paul Roos Gimnasium se bul van ‘n haker, Altus Rabe, en 19 punte vanaf Joshua Dampies se geoefende skopskoen het die grootste skade aangerig.
Hierdie uitmuntende uitslag bied ‘n fantastiese hupstoot vir die span van Stellenbosch alvorens hulle die eerskomende naweek vir die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool en Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria aandurf by Affies se jaarlikse Noord/Suid-toernooi.
Die tuisspan se haastige heelagter, Keenan Stoffels, het die eerste spyker in Drostdy se kis geslaan na 10 minute, en daarna het kaptein Riley Norton en sy span die tempo dramaties opgetel om nóg ses keer voor die breuk die besoekers se verdediging oop te sluit.
Drostdy se twee losvoorspelers, MJ van der Westhuizen en Darius Venter, kon na halftyd uiteindelik ook vir die Donkies op die bord kry, en die vloei van punte was nie naastenby so eensydig soos in die eerste helfte nie.
Die manne in maroen het nietemin hul spiere behoorlik gebult, en lyk oorgehaal vir die seisoen wat voorlê.
Dampies se nege suskesvolle pogings pale toe is ook ‘n belowende teken vir die Wynlanders voordat hulle ‘n strawwe reeks bepalings betree, terwyl Matthew Seymore ook sy kans netjies benut het toe hy die stelskop-verantwoordelikhede moes oorneem.
Die tellings deur die laer en jonger spanne bevestig weereens dat Paul Roos besig is om ‘n uiters effektiewe rugbyprogram te ontwikkel, en hul eerstespan sal beslis weer vanjaar saam met die voorste spanne in die land kan saamgesels as hulle so voortbou.
Die puntemakers:
Paul Roos Gimnasium 73 (52) – Drieë: Altus Rabe (3), Gert Kemp (2) Keenan Stoffels, Samuel Badenhorst, Malan Erasmus, Riley Norton, Adeeb Boraine. Doelskoppe: Joshua Dampies (8), Matthew Seymore. Strafdoel: Dampies. HTS Drostdy 10 (0) – Drieë: MJ van der Westhuizen, Darius Venter.
Ander tellings
o. 19 – Paul Roos II 59, HTS Drostdy II 12; Paul Roos III 15, HTS Drostdy III 14; Paul Roos IV 17, HTS Drostdy IV 0; Paul Roos V 35, Hoërskool Stellenbosch 14; Paul Roos VI 22, HTS Drostdy V 7; Paul Roos VII 41, HTS Drostdy VI 0; Paul Roos VIII 17, Hoërskool Stellenbosch II 3; Paul Roos IX 27, HTS Drostdy VIII 0.
o. 16 – Paul Roos A 30, HTS Drostdy A 20; Paul Roos B 41, HTS Drostdy B 3; Paul Roos C 64, HTS Drostdy C 6; Paul Roos D 33, HTS Drostdy D 10; Paul Roos E 17, Hoërskool Stellenbosch A 15.
o. 15 – Paul Roos A 24, HTS Drostdy A 19; Paul Roos B 26, HTS Drostdy B 0; Paul Roos C 5, HTS Drostdy C 5; Paul Roos D 29, HTS Drostdy D 0; Hoërskool Stellenbosch A 15; Paul Roos E 0.
o. 14 – Paul Roos A 39, HTS Drostdy A 0; Paul Roos B 31, HTS Drostdy B 0; Paul Roos C 72, HTS Drostdy C 0; Paul Roos D 44, HTS Drostdy D 0; Paul Roos E 15, Hoërskool Stellenbosch A 12.
While it is still very early in the new season, the two sides have made contrasting starts to their 2024 campaigns.
Boland rallied to tame an impressive Milnerton attack at their Afgri Rugby Day last weekend while the Kwaggas were stymied by Noordheuwel at their 101-Year Festival.
The hosts will be fired up to get back to winning ways, though, and the Paarl outfit will be ready for a battle.
The battle between the flyhalves, Andrew Stopforth and Retagen van Rooi, will be intriguing to watch.
Van Rooi and his winger, Wehan Lume, both crossed the line twice in their previous outing and the Kwaggas’ defensive lines will have to be tidy and the defenders make their first-time tackles to deny the try-hungry Boland backline.
Outeniqua’s fullback, Keenan Jantjies, also showed he knows his way to the try-line in their game against Noordheuwel, but most of their success came up front with Ruan van Rensburg and Gareth Maree driving over for a try apiece.
Boland Landbou’s forward pack rarely give an inch against the best in the country, though, so we can expect an entertaining battle when the sides square off at 13:00.
Teams
Outeniqua vs Boland Landbou at 13:00
Outeniqua: 15 Keenan Jantjies, 14 Reshaan Damons, 13 Kerwin Scott, 12 Luca Potieter, 11 Xavier Solomans, 10 Andrew Stopforth, 9 Ellie Meyer, 8 Gareth Maree, 7 Ruart Curlewis, 6 Nicolas Duvenhage, 5 Michael Cronje, 4 Ruben Rossouw, 3 Juan Kleinhans, 2 Ruan van Rensburg, 1 Deven Kleingeld.
Boland Landbou: 15 Lyle Lewis, 14 Wehan Lume, 13 Xavier Vorster, 12 Juan Swart, 11 Enslin Claassen, 10 Retagen van Rooi, 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Alco Bindermann, 7 Karst Smits, 6 Hans Verster, 5 Ruan Viviers, 4 Kody Nel, 3 Derico Mesina, 2 Heinrich Bezuidenhout, 1 Henry Rudder.
The hosts’ u19 rugby team takes on Vredendal in the main event of the day, where they will hope to kick off their winter sports season with a bang.
With the likes of Bernardo Diedericks at outside centre, the Robertson fans are sure to be treated to the exciting brand of running rugby they enjoy.
Diedericks was a member of the SA u17 Sevens team that earned bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago last year and played an integral role in Robertson’s success throughout the season.
The Robbies already revved up their engines with some practice chukkas against Stellenberg earlier in the month and will be anxious to kick on from there.
Their opponents from Vredendal had a mixed season in 2023 and will be eager to make a positive start to 2024.
In the curtain-raisers, Overberg takes on Langenhoven Gimnasium and Montagu faces Jakes Gerwel to set the scene for an exciting day of schoolboy rugby in the valley of wine and roses.
Teams
Robertson vs Hoërskool Vredendal at 13:30:
Robertson: 15 Tyron April, 14 Ruwan Stevens, 13 Bernardo Diedericks, 12 Roberto Koert, 11 Winsor de Koker, 10, Jaydan van Niekerk, 9 Kyle Cedras, 8 Ethan Fourie, 7 André Gelderbloem, 6 Ivor Thompson, 5 Jayban Davids, 4 Mychal Swart, 3 Petrus Coetzee, 2 Yannick du Plessis, 1 Kallie Joubert.
Hoërskool Vredendal: 15 Jaydon Volmer, 14 Juan-Lee le Roux, 13 Brandwill Arries, 12 Waylom Smith, 11 Aidin Blankenberg, 10 Calvin du Toit, 9 Jaco-Willem Greeff, 8 Dillen Theron, 7 Gilbert de Klerk, 6 Oloff le Roux, 5 AJ Botha, 4 Mivuyo Yakobi, 3 Josh Engelbrecht, 2 Franco van Zyl, 1 Bern Coetzee.
The fixtures
A Field: 08:30 – Montagu u16 vs Jakes Gerwel u16; 09:40 – Overberg u16 vs Langenhoven Gimnasium u16; 10:50 – Robertson u16 vs Vredendal u16; 11:30 – Montagu u19 vs Jakes Gerwel u19; 12:30 – Overberg u19 vs Langenhoven Gimnasium u19; 13:30 – Robertson u19 vs Vredendal u19.
B Field: 08:30 – Montagu u14 vs Jakes Gerwel u14; 09:30 – Langenhoven Gimnasium u14 vs Ashton Secondary u14; 10:30 – Montagu u15 vs Jakes Gerwel u15; 11:30 – Overberg u15 vs Langenhoven Gimnasium u15; 12:30 – Robertson u15 vs Vredendal u15; 13:30 – Ashton u19 vs Langenhoven u19 II.
Paul Roos Gimnasium opens its season by welcoming HTS Drostdy to the Markotter on Saturday.
Though the hosts definitely have history on their side in this fixture, the Donkeys will be hoping to build on their impressive pre-season form and score an early upset when they travel to Stellenbosch.
Leading the Maroon Machine into the 2024 season is their dual SA Schools star, Riley Norton, who recorded the elite feat in his grade 11 year.
The Stellenbosch side is further bolstered by the experience of returning players like Truspe Schoeman, Reuben Kruger, Samuel Badenhorst and Keenan Stoffels, and it will take a mighty effort by Drostdy to cause PRG to stumble.
The boys from Worcester started their season with a bang at their home sports weekend, comfortably beating Schoonspruit (35-5) and Melkbostrand (65-0), to register 100 points while conceding only five.
This Paul Roos team, however, has been preparing since the end of last year, when they were given a opportunity to tour to Ireland, where they maintained a perfect record against their Irish opposition and enjoyed valuable time together as a unit.
With games against Affies and Waterkloof at the NMI Toyota North South Rugby Tournament around the corner, a good performance on Saturday will give Paul Roos momentum as they head into a challenging run of fixtures. Drostdy, however, are no pushovers and will relish the opportunity to steal the spotlight in Stellenbosch.
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs HTS Drostdy at 14:15:
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Keenan Stoffels, 14 Divan Lamprecht, 13 Matthew Kleyn, 12 Samuel Badenhorst, 11 Myburgh Louw, 10 Joshua Dampies, 9 Adeeb Boraine, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Gert Kemp, 6 Malan Erasmus, 5 Riley Norton, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Luchwayito Mbaliswana, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Oliver Reid.
HTS Drostdy: 15 Hareld Mbuqa, 14 Juvan Janse van Rensburg, 13 Aljay Skippers, 12 Ruben von Solms, 11 Bernedict George, 10 Stefan van der Merwe, 9 Callum van Staden, 8 MJ van der Westhuizen, 7 Ewald Vorster, 6 Darius Venter, 5 Morné Coetzer, 4 Pietie Erasmus, 3 Tertius Wantenaar, 2 Daniel Mellet, 1 Walter Schoeman.
Verlede jaar het die Gimmies weer onder die topspanne in die land geëindig, danksy staatmakers soos Freek de Kock, Kobus Blanckenberg, Chandler Green, Ely Williams en Liam Burger, wat die eerstespan tot groot hoogtes gelei het.
Die Gimmies het in hul jaarlikse interskole teen Hoër Jongenskool Paarl (Boishaai) koning gekraai met 20-17 om ‘n uitstekende seisoen af te sluit.
Stellenberg bou egter nou al ‘n geruime tyd aan hul rugbyprogram en wys jaar na jaar dat hulle saam met die groot honde kan blaf.
In 2022 het Paarl Gim met 12-6 gewen, maar verlede jaar was daar slegs ‘n enkele punt verskil tussen die twee toe die Gimmies vir ‘n naelskraapse sege van 24-23 op hul tuisveld kon vasbyt.
Stellenberg se blitsige vleuel, Luc Cilliers, het in die doodsnikke van daardie wedstryd gedruk om sy span binne trefafstand van ‘n geskiedkundige oorwinning te bring.
Die tafel is dus gedek vir ‘n riller waneer die twee mekaar Saterdag weer aanvat.
Die span van Paarl se groot loskopstut, JJ du Preez, het uitgestaan in hul voorseisoense chukkas teen HTS Drostdy. Du Preez was verlede jaar in Helpmekaar-kollege, so dit sal interesant wees om te sien hoe hy by die Gimmie-patroon inpas.
Met vyf van Stellenberg se pak voorspelers wat verlede seisoen reeds hul staal getoets het as deel van die eerstespan, behoort die Jade Brigade nie ‘n enkele tree terug te staan nie.
Die kragmeting belowe om een van die hoogepunte van die naweek te wees, met albei spanne wat ‘n uiters hoë standaard aan hulself stel, met die oog op groot seisoene.
Die spanne is:
Stellenberg t. Paarl Gim om 13:00:
Hoërskool Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Marco Staples, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Pretorius, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Stefan Roux, 9 Christiaan van der Bijl, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Stefan Visser, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Sebastian Johnson, 3 Ryk Groenewald, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Dean Janse van Rensburg.
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Josh O’Neill, 14 Freek de Kock, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Kobus Blanckenberg, 11 Markus Moolman, 10 Chandler Green, 9 Melt Viljoen, 8 Nicolas Nel, 7 Wihan Kotze, 6 Jan Koegelenberg, 5 Stiaan de Goede, 4 Liam van Rooyen, 3 Ely Williams, 2 Liam Burger, 1 JJ du Preez.
Hierdie Saterdag is al die spanne in vanjaar se Wesgrow Sentrale Sportreeks in aksie, met Hoërskool Trio en Hoërskool Sentraal wat hul veldtogte ook dié naweek afskop.
Na ‘n strawwe voorseisoen, is die manne van Trio slaggereed om Hoërskool Diamantveld Saterdag in Kroonstad welkom te heet, terwyl die Tralies vir Hoërskool Witteberg weg van die huis, in Bethlehem, uitdaag.
Verlede seisoen se o.19 rugbykampioen, Hoërskool Fichardtpark, is ook in aksie in Bethlehem, waar hulle teen die algehele wenners van die reeks in 2023, Voortrekker Hoërskool, te staan kom, en, nadat Goudveld-Hoërskool gedurende die week hul veldtog met ‘n stewige sege teen die Fichies geopen het, verwelkom hulle vir Hoërskool Jim Fouché in Welkom, met die oog daarop om nóg ‘n span van Bloemfontein te kasty.
Trio het nog nie ‘n reeksbepaling gespeel nie, maar na twee harde voorseisoenwedstryde, teen Hoërskool Noordheuwel en Grey-kollege, het losskakel, Byron Biennas, en flank, Tapiwa Mundeta, reeds hul hande opgesteek as opwindende spelers om dop te hou.
Die Diamonds het hul reeks op ‘n hoë noot begin deur die bordjies te verhang teen Voortrekker met ‘n oorwinning van 18-6 in Kimberley.
Met ‘n groot pak voorspelers wat die fondasie lê vir spelbrekers soos Marno Greeff (losskakel) en Kyle Taute (heelagter) om aanvalle te loods, beoog die Diamonds om verlede seisoen se sukses te herhaal, toe hulle vir Trio met 21-15 in Kimberley kon baasraak.
Sentraal het goed vertoon in hul kragmeting met Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vroeër vanjaar by die Fichardtpark-sportdag, maar moes steeds met 22-28 die knie buig.
Binnesenter, SJ Coetzee, het gewys hoe giftig hy kan wees, deur binne die eerste 10 minute te gaan druk.
Witteberg het gedurende die week met 24-24 gelykop gespeel teen Jim Fouché in Bloemfontein, maar Saterdag is hulle terug op hul tuisveld en Kenyon Morat en kie sal gretig wees om hul eerste wen van die reeks te behaal.
JF is in aksie teen die manne van Welkom wat die Fichie-Leeus Dinsdag kon tem.
Met Ruben Crous aan die stuur van die Gouties se aanval, sal die besoekers moet ligloop. Franco Oberholzer was indrukwekkend vir Jim Fouché, maar sal Saterdag weer op sy stukke moet wees om te verhoed dat die tuisspan hul ritme vind.
Fichardtpark se Cravenweek-skrumskakel, Devanté Claasen, begin hierdie naweek op losskakel, wanneer die Leeus vir Voortrekker pak.
Claasen bied ‘n dinamiese opsie in die middeveld, en dit sal interessant wees om te sien hoe hy teen die Trekkers vaar.
Sy direkte opponent in die span van Bethlehem, Tumi Khoza, het verlede jaar al die reeks aan die brand gespeel en het vir Griffons by die Cravenweek verteenwoordig, saam met sy groot stut, Cecil Parsons.
Met ‘n hele paar veranderings in die Fichardtpark-span, na hul wedstryd teen Goudveld, sal die Trekkers hul lippe aflek vir die geleentheid om op te maak vir verlede jaar se nederlaag van 19-33 in Bloemfontein, maar die Leeus is nie ‘n span wat sommer gaan lê nie.
Hoërskool Diamantveld: 15 Kyle Taute, 14 Carel Viljoen, 13 Clinton Brits, 12 Simon Liversage, 11 Lehan van der Westhuizen, 10 Marno Greeff, 9 Ethan Manus, 8 Enrique Boshoff, 7 Jayden de Klerk, 6 Stiaan van Loggerenberg, 5 Zuan Rautenbach, 4 Daniel Kuhn, 3 Dian Ellis, 2 De Wet du Plooy, 1 FJ de Vries.
Witteberg t. Sentraal om 13:30
Hoërskool Witteberg: 15 Janco Swart, 14 Thabo Motheke, 13 JC van Rhyn, 12 Kenyon Morat, 11 Tshepo Motloung, 10 Sydwell Sethi, 9 Kirsten Fourie, 8 Daniel Meintjies, 7 Sakkie Brits, 6 Lesego Mosikidi, 5 Marco Grobler, 4 Llewellyn Beukes, 3 Colin van der Merwe, 2 Jacques van der Merwe, 1 Rian Roos.
Hoërskool Sentraal: 15 Aiden Gotsch, 14 CJ Hertzog, 13 Lee-Yagin Arendse, 12 Pat Cloete, 11 Ethan Hoffman, 10 SJ Coetzee, 9 Hendrik Jonker, 8 Liam Pretorius, 7 Jundre Jardim, 6 Chris Kachelhoffer, 5 DJ Bredenkamp, 4 Steven Smith, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 Marnus Earle, 1 Van Zyl Hetzel.
Goudveld t. Jim Fouché om 13:30
Goudveld-Hoërskool: 15 Ru-Bran Kock, 14 Adriaan Muller, 13 Hendro Boardman, 12 Caleb Lottering, 11 KB Sonopo, 10 Ruben Crous, 9 JM Rensburg, 8 Malan Marx, 7 Thabiso Phafudi, 6 Hannes Fouche, 5 Wehan Mostert, 4 Heinru Carstens, 3 Marko van der Westhuizen, 2 Jan Coetzee, 1 Toka Khooe.
Hoërskool Jim Fouché: 15 Christian Strydom, 14 Heinrich Hattingh, 13 Bendré Vermaak, 12 Hanro Marais, 11 Adrian de Necker, 10 Alldrick Johnson, 9 Brenden de Wee, 8 Qian Moller, 7 Franco Oberholzer, 6 Nathan van Breda, 5 JW Stone, 4 Brenden Weyers, 3 Darren Matthews, 2 Ian Nel, 1 SW van der Merwe.
Voortrekker t. Fichardtpark om 14:20
Voortrekker Hoërskool: 15 Tumi Khoza, 14 Karabelo Chaka, 13 Frederik Fourie, 12 Craig Mann, 11 Komahelo Moses, 10 Kaneng Komane, 9 Christian van der Sandt, 8 Dawid Fourie, 7 Theo van Wyk, 6 Attilla Ozturk, 5 Tristan Meyer, 4 Luttig Roux, 3 Cecil Parsons, 2 Arnold Ras, 1 Francois Maree.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 08: Isaiah Louw of Wynberg during the WP Schools U19A match between Rondebosch and Wynberg at Tienkie Heyns Field, Rondebosch High School on May 08, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Peter Heeger/Gallo Images)
Wynberg Boys’ High kicks off their 2024 rugby season this weekend at their annual rugby festival, where they, and the rest of the peninsular powerhouses, will hope to hit the ground running before league matches get underway.
The hosts will be aiming to build up some momentum when they take on the visiting Windhoek High School in the main match on Saturday.
With some of last year’s stalwarts, including Luqobo Makwendini (prop), Aden da Costa (flanker), Torren February (eighth man), Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf) and Brandon Ashburner (centre), bolstering the Wynberg side, they will be aiming to set the bar high and will expect to do well against the Namibians.
Ahmed and Ashburner menaced their opposition’s defensive lines last season, and they will bear watching on Saturday.
SACS tackle Hoërskool Durbanville and Rondebosch Boys’ High squares off against Oakdale Landbou, while dozens of other teams will be in action across five fields over four action-packed days.
After suffering the wrath of an angry Paarl Boys’ High last weekend, which resulted in a 73-7 defeat at the Porterville festival, the Durbies will be anxious to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
Oakdale beat Ligbron 40-0 in George at the Outeniqua 101 Year Festival this past Saturday, but the Rondebosch boys will pose a completely different challenge for them on this Saturday.
The opening day, Friday, will allow fans a first glimpse of the Bishops Diocesan College 1st XV, which will represent the school in its milestone 175th anniversary year.
Bishops take on Windhoek High in their first outing, before grappling with St Charles College on Sunday, just before Saints hop back on a flight to Pietermaritzburg.
While the fixtures will be competitive and exciting, they will also offer coaches a final opportunity to fine-tune their tactics and structures before their teams travel to different tournaments and league matches begin. Innovative and exciting rugby is on the cards.
With 75 matches and nearly 2 000 players in action over the weekend, this year’s event will be the first to take place over four days as Wynberg welcomes the winter season in style.
Diocesan College: 15 Lucca Mynhardt, 14 Cole Robyntjies, 13 Wa-keem Fortuin, 12 Alex Newton, 11 Iviwe Dadamasi, 10 Jordan Petersen, 9 Kashief Joseph, 8 Aza Gabada, 7 Daniel van den Heever, 6 James le Feuvre, 5 Fouke Wagener, 4 Alex Smith, 3 Yusuf Ahmed, 2 Jack Campbell, 1 Gareth Mckinon.
Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Dale Martin, 14 Lyle Pienaar, 13 Luke Barnard, 12 Tobie Roelofse, 11 Markus van der Walt, 10 Claydon Carlse, 9 Kyle Albertus, 8 Adrian Freemantel, 7 Liebrecht Winterbach, 6 Jayden Short, 5 Daniel Havenga, 4 Murdoch van Dyk, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Juan Smit, 1 Hubert Winterbach.
Oakdale Landbou: 15 Waylon Kortjie, 14 Duraan Janse van Rensburg, 13 Christian Vorster, 12 Kurt Coetzee, 11 Lee-Winn Pretorius, 10 CT Vosloo, 9 Jandrian Goosen, 8 Lohan Gerber, 7 Jannes Snyman, 6 Zack Wessels, 5 Roy Viljoen, 4 Ruan Swart, 3 Kai Pratt, 2 Sine Mdlankomo, 1 Gustav van der Merwe.
Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 David Simon, 14 David Kadima, 13 Randall John Davids, 12 Harry Soboil, 11 Caleb Louw, 10 Dylan Miller, 9 Caleb Belelie, 8 Alutha Wesi, 7 Joshua Neill, 6 Matthys du Plooy, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Carl Geddie, 3 Abongile Nxazonke, 2 Kai Ramsbottom, 1 Matthew van der Merwe.
SACS: 15 Jack Benade, 14 Matt Carrick, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Endi Sidinile, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Seth Bradford, 8 Connor King, 7 Tando Sitole, 6 Ben van Coller, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Callum Hirst, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Ethan Combrink.
St Charles’ College: 15 Salmaan Mohammed, 14 Athenkosi Qumo, 13 Rashied Isaacs, 12 Okuhle Peti, 11 Matthew Ludick, 10 Ukhanyo Ntsangani, 9 Matthew Fick, 8 Stefan Veldsman, 7 Sam Odell, 6 Lazola Makaula, 5 Reece Curtain, 4 Rafael Ajibade, 3 Christian Allardice, 2 Marlon Mbewe, 1 Lutho Mrwata.
Windhoek High School: 15 Alejandro Morkel, 14 Aergo Steenkamp, 13 Sammy Soobamoney,12, Elijah Strauss, 11 Steven Olivier, 10 William Beukes, 9 Dominique Isaaks, 8 McHenry Kambahuka, 7 Joel Bekker, 6 Ealhan Jefta, 5 Praise Kamunga, 4 Keanan Louw, 3 Charlton Binga, 2 Xavier Louw, 1 Tauno Hamakoto.
Fixtures
Friday, 15 March
Hawthornden: 14:45 – Wynberg Boys’ High u15 A vs Windhoek High u15 A; 15:45 – Wynberg Boys’ High II vs Dream Hunters; 17:00 – Diocesan College 1st XV vs Windhoek High 1st XV.
Silverhurst A: 14:00 – SACS u14 C vs Wynberg Boys High u14 C; 15:00 – Jan van Riebeeck u14 A vs SACS u14 B; 16:00 – SACS u15 B vs Jan van Riebeeck u15 A; 17:00 – Windhoek High u14 A vs Wynberg Boys’ High u14 A.
Siverhurst B: 15:30 – Marvin Park u13 A vs SSDP u13 B; 16:00 – Bastion u13 B vs Marvin Park u13 A; 16:30 – Bastion u13 B vs SSDP u13 B; 17:00 – WBJS u13 A vs Bastion u13 A.
Silverhurst C: 15:00 – SSDP u13 A vs Hamiltons u13 A; 16:00 – Reds Academy u14 A vs Wynberg Boys’ High u14 B; 17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High 14 A vs ASSA u14 A.
Saturday, 16 March
Hawthornden: 07:50 – SACS II vs Jan van Riebeeck 1st XV; 09:00 – Bergvliet 1st XV vs Wynberg Boys’ High III; 10:15 – Porterville II vs Oakdale Landbou III; 11:30 – Rondebosch Boys’ High II vs Oakdale Landbou II; 12:45 – Hoërskool Durbanville II vs Porterville; 14:00 – Hoërskool Durbanville 1st XV vs SACS 1st XV; 15:15 – Rondebosch Boys High 1st XV vs Oakdale 1st XV; 16:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High 1st XV vs Windhoek High 1st XV.
Silverhurst A: 08:00 – Jan van Riebeeck u15 A vs Wynberg Boys High u15 B; 09:00 – SACS u16 B vs Kaytomas Academy u16 A; 10:15 – Porterville u16 vs Wynberg Boys’ High u16; 11:30 – Kaytomas Academy vs SACS III; 12:45 – Windhoek u15 A vs Hamiltons u15 A; 14:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High u16 A vs Oakdale u16 A; 15:15 – Langa vs Hoërskool Durbanville III; 16:30 – SACS u16 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u16 A.
Silverhurst B: 08:15 – SACS u15 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u15 A; 09:15 – Hoërskool Durbanville u14 A vs Hamiltons u14 A; 10:15 – Wynberg Boys’ High u14 B vs Oakdale u14 B; 11:15 – Porterville u15 B vs Langa u15 A; 12:15 – Hoërskool Durbanville u16 B vs Oakdale u16 B; 13:30 – Oakdale u15 B vs Hoërskool Durbanville u15 B; 14:30 – Rondebosch Boys’ High u15 B vs Porterville u15 A; 15:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High u14 A vs Oakdale u14 A; 16:30 – Oakdale u15 A vs Rondebosch Boys’ High u15 A.
Silverhurst C: 09:00 – Reds RA u13 A vs SSDP u13 B; 10:00 – Hamiltons u13 A vs Marvin Park u13 A; 11:00 – ASSA u14 A vs Jan van Riebeeck u14 A; 11:30 – Bastion u13 A vs Porterville u13 A; 12:30 – Kaytomas AC u14 A vs Jan van Riebeeck u14 A; 13:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High u14 C vs Oakdale u14 C; 14:00 – ASSA u14 A vs Kaytomas u14 A; 14:30 – WBJS u13 A vs SSDP u13 A; 15:30 – Windhoek High u14 A vs Rondebosch Boys’ High u14 A; 16:30 – Reds Rugby Academy u14 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u14 B.
Sunday, 17 March
Hawthornden: 08:30 – St Charles College u16 A vs Wynberg Boys’ High u16 A; 09:45 – St Charles II vs Wynberg Boys’ High II; 11:00 – St Charles College 1st XV vs Diocesan College 1st XV; 12:15 – Wynberg Boys’ High u13 vs Hamiltons u13 A.
Silverhurst A: 08:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High u15 A vs St Charles College u15 A; 09:30 – SACS u14 A vs St Charles College u14 A; 10:30 – Kaytomas u14 A vs SACS u14 B; 11:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High u15 C vs Langa u15 A; 12:30 – Langa vs Kaytomas.
Silverhurst B: 09:30 – Wynberg Boys’ High u13 B vs Reds Academy 13 A; 10:30 – Langa u13 A vs SSDP u13 A; 11:30 – SSDP u13 A vs Marvin Park u13 A.
Monday, 18 March
Hawthornden: 12:15 – Windhoek High 1st XV vs HTS Bellville 1st XV; 13:30 – Hoërskool Durbanville u16 A vs HTS Bellville u16 A; 14:45 – Bergvliet 1st XV vs Jan van Riebeeck 1st XV; 16:00 – Hamiltons u14 A vs Wynberg u14 A.
Silverhurst A: 11:45 – Hoërskool Durbanville u14 A vs Windhoek High School u14 A; 12:45 – Windhoek High u15 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u15 A; 14:45 – Hamiltons u15 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u15 B; 16:00 – HTS Bellville u15 A vs Jan van Riebeeck u15 A.
Silverhurt B: 15:00 – HTS Bellville u14 A vs Hoërskool Durbanville u14 B; 15:30 – Hoërskool Durbanville u14 B vs Jan van Riebeeck u14 A; 16:00 – HTS Bellville u14 A vs Jan van Riebeeck u14 A.
The annual Brackenfell Sports Weekend kicks off on Friday and promises bucketloads of school sports action for fans to enjoy.
With a total of 110 rugby teams, 74 netball teams and 50 hockey teams in action over the course of two days, the Brakkies are preparing for a chock-a-block weekend as the winter school sports season hits full steam ahead.
Brackenfell‘s 1st XV plays under the lights on Friday, taking on Hopefield at 20:30, in front of their home supporters.
They had a challenging start to their campaign this year when they took on Framesby at the pre-season Outeniqua 101 Year Festival last weekend.
Though they lost that match 12-31, there were promising signs, with players like their fullback, Zane van Schalkwyk, who crossed the line twice in that match, showing off their capabilities on attack.
Hopefield enjoyed a solid season last year and ended their campaign with a decisive 60-5 win over Melkbosstrand, so it will be exciting to see if they can recreate that form against the hosts this early in 2024, especially since the Melkies got one over Brackenfell at the Drostdy pre-season sports day, at the beginning of March, winning 14-10.
On Saturday, the game between Worcester Gimnasium and Tygerberg promises to be a highlight.
The Gimmies were an exciting team to follow in 2023 and they hit the ground running, winning both of their matches at the Drostdy festival, and then recorded a 19-0 victory over Langenhoven Gim at the Kwagga Sports Day.
Armaan Adendorff (prop) and Aiden Abrahams (flyhalf) have emerged as two exciting prospects for the team from Worcester.
The Tigers got off to a slow start at the HTS Drostdy event, but with a proud rugby heritage, and boasting alumni like the World Cup-winning lock-duo of Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie, you can count on the boys from Tygerberg to put on a show against the Bolanders on Saturday.
TEAMS
Hoërskool Brackenfell vs Hopefield on Friday at 20:30:
A Field: 16:00 – Hottentots Holland Hoërskool vs Fairbairn; 17:10 – Strand vs Hamiltons; 20:30 – Hoërskool Brackenfell vs Hopefield.
B Field: 16:10 – Bellville THS vs WPLSEN; 17:10 – Bosmandam vs Labori; 18:10 – Fairmont vs Melkbosstrand.
Saturday, 16 March
A Field: 09:10 – Vredenburg vs Edgemead; 10:20 – Montana vs Martin Oosthuizen; 11:30 – Esselenpark vs Piketberg; 12:40 – Tygerberg vs Worcester Gimnasium; 13:50 – De Villiers Graaff vs Steynville; 15:00 – De Kuillen vs Weston.
B Field: 11:30 – Worcester Secondary vs Dirkie Uys.
The annual Brackenfell Sports Weekend kicks off on Friday and promises bucketloads of school sports action for fans to enjoy.