Blog

Whatever Monument’s head coach Tjaart van der Walt had to say to his team during half-time of their match against Hartpury College of Gloucester it worked.

Monnas’ Wit Bulle won the clash in the Markotter Stadium during the World Schools Festival by 32-21 after having the marginalist of leads of 8-7 at the break.

Monnas’ left winger, Luan van der Walt, had an impressive performance and just didn’t manage to celebrate it with a hat-trick of tries. He lost the ball behind the try-line two minutes before the final whistle while trying to put it down.

At the end of the first half the visitors from Gloucester in England was breathing fire and it seemed as if Monnas might be in trouble. In the second half the team from Krugersdorp’s backs managed to generate enough gaps in Hartpury’s defence.

It might also have been the heat and travel that caught on with the visitors as Henco van Wyk, Ethan Snyman and Kagiso Nyamande scored their tries by easing through Hartpury’s defence.

Van Wyk was named Man of the Match for his performance. He is also the head boy of Monument and helped the SA Schools u18 Sevens side to defend their title as champions at the Capricorn Sevens earlier this month in Windhoek, Namibia.

Monnas lost their influential captain and eightman, Izan Esterhuizen, within the first minute of play in the match. Esterhuizen sustained a knee injury during an earlier practice and took another shot on the knee in the opening exchanges.

Hartpury College’s flyhalf and captain, Josh Phipps, was a true general in the back and could feel more than happy with his performance on the day. Flanker Mason Hughes and prop Toby Tyson also deserves a mention for their efforts.

Scorers:

Monument 32 (8) – Tries: Luan van der Walt (2), Henco van Wyk, Ethan Snyman, Kagiso Nyamande. Conversions: Byron Wentink (2). Penalty: Wentink. Hartpury College 21 (7) – Tries: Mason Hughes, Toby Tyson, Max Rendell. Conversions: Josh Phipps (3).

[powr-comments id=”82cb4bfe_1553613333480″]

Results 

Players: Henco van Wyk, Izan Esterhuizen, Heiko Pohlman, Herschelle Goodman, Richard Collins, Rynard Mouton,

Coaches: Tjaart van der Walt and Morné Kruger.

SACS didn’t experience too much trouble unlocking the Zambezi Steelers’ defence as they won the encounter by 43-24 during the opening day of the World Schools Festival in die Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Both SACS’ locks, Jordan Thomas (captain) and Enos Ndiao, managed to score a brace of tries to round off impressive performances by both of them.

Thomas deservedly won the award as Man-of-the-Match as he grinded at the breakdowns, led his team from the front as well as found time to get in a few runs with the ball in hand.

The centre pairing of Robin Aspeling and Rihaz Hendricks also impressed with their performance for the winning side. Both managed to find some promising gaps in the Steelers’ defence.

For the Zambezi Steelers, from Zimbabwe, their flyhalf and captain, Thabonga Ngonyama, impressed with his attacking flair and ability. Ngonyama’s style of play would’ve definitely reminded South African rugby fans of former Free State Cheetahs superstar Kennedy Tsimba.

Tsimba these days are plying his trade as Director of Rugby at St Alban’s College in Pretoria. Ngonyama is a pupil from Peterhouse, which also produced Springbok prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira.

The fullback, Tinashe Hambiro, also impressed every time he got the opportunity to join the line.

SACS will have a tougher job on Friday when they take on the World Schools Invitational XV. The Zambezi Steelers will Western Province XV.

Scorers:

SACS 43 (17) – Tries: Jordan Thomas (2), Enos Ndiao (2), Rihaz Fredericks, Hlumelo Ntweni, Matthew Hayes. Conversions: Hayes (2), Robin Aspeling (2). Zambezi Steelers 24 (5) – Tries: Thabonga Ngonyama (2), Allen Mawande, Tinashe Hambiro. Conversions: Hambiro (2).

[powr-comments id=”c1197c4a_1553606496212″]

The first points for the Rest of the World in their contest with South Africa during the World Schools Festival was bagged by the World Schools Invitation XV, which purely consists of players from South Africa.

The World School side was too strong by 76-29 in their clash on the opening day against a Western Province Invitation XV. The clash in the Markotter Stadium produced 105 points in the 60 minutes that were played.

The losing side made sure that it stayed an exciting match of rugby by fighting back in the second half by scoring 24 points.

In the first half, there was only one side on the field with the World Schools leading 36-5 at the break. The victors extended their lead to 62-5 before the Western Cape side decided they were ready for a fightback.

Four players Keke Morabe (Welkom Gimnasium, flanker), Royden Masters (Selborne College, No. 8), Jared Taylor (Selborne College, lock) and Divan Roelofse (Waterkloof, replacement scrumhalf) managed to score twice as the World Schools scored 12 tries. Morabe already represented the SA Schools side as an eight-man last year.

Masters and Taylor were part of Border’s side which managed to end the Craven Week unbeaten last year in Paarl. The hardworking Taylor was named Man of the Match for his efforts.

The Western Province XV is coached by WP Craven Week coach, Faizel Adams. The team consists of players from smaller schools in the Western Province and could use this opportunity to catch the eye of WP’s selectors or even the SA Schools’ selectors.

Scorers:

World Schools Invitation XV 76 (36) – Tries: Keke Morabe (2), Royden Masters (2), Jared Taylor (2), Divan Roelofse (2), Damon O’Connell, Ngia Selengbe, Keane Galant, Sibusiso Shongwe. Conversions: Brandon Wilkie (5), O’Connell (3). Western Province XV 29 (5) – Tries: Anele Madoli, Hakeem Adams, Byron Maree, HD Stemmet, Kyle Milfad. Conversions: Mikyle Vraagom (2).

Glenwood High School had to work much harder than expected to down John McGlashan College of Dunedin by 32-17 in the opening match of this year’s World Schools Festival at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

The South African side enjoyed most of the possession as well as territory in the first half, but only managed to build up a half-time lead of 15-5. Glenwood managed to produce a few try-scoring opportunities but handling errors and some desperate defence kept them out.

John McGlashan already gave Glenwood problems at the breakdown thanks to their counter-rucking in the first half. Flanker Tim Warman, lock Jack Colbourne and the burly front-rower Tim Copland.

John McGlashan jelled much better as a team in the second half and got themselves back in the contest when their captain and eighthman, Leroy Ferguson, crashed over. This decreased Glenwood’s lead to 15-12.

The introduction of replacement-winger, Martino van Wyk, injected some energy into Glenwood’s backline. Van Wyk rounded of a brilliant individual effort before also completing a brace once again showing off his fast-feet.

Scrumhalf, Nico Steyn, also crossed the try-line twice. Steyn represented the SA Schools u18 Sevens-side in Namibia earlier this month as they defended their title as champions of the Capricorn Sevens.

Captain and fullback, Joe Jonas, and flyhalf, Jordan Hendrikse, also produced good performances. Jonas looked dangerous on attack every time the ball landed in his hands.

John McGlashan’s will definitely improve on their opening performance when they lock horns with Monument on Friday.

Scorers:

Glenwood 32 (15) – Tries: Nico Steyn (2), Martino van Wyk (2), Katleho Thomaga. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse, Joe Jonas. Penalty: Jonas. John McGlashan College 17 (5) – Tries: Harrison Morton, Leroy Ferguson, Jack Colbourne. Conversion: Andrew McKenzie.

[powr-comments id=”9fa1d87a_1553595624548″]

Results 

Players: Joe Jonas,

John McGlashan College of Dunedin has a tough job first up in the opening match of this year’s World Schools Festival in the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch against Glenwood High School of Durban. 

Glenwood finished third on School of Rugby’s Final Rankings of 2018 after finishing the season unbeaten. The only slight blemish on their record was a 25-all draw against top-ranked, Grey College of Bloemfontein.  

John McGlashan celebrated their century last year by reaching the Otago Final losing 17-24 against Otago Boys’ High. The latter went on to reach the South Island final against Christchurch Boys’ High which they lost by 23-26. 

John McGlashan produced All Blacks like Edward Stewart (1923), Neil Purvis (1976), Andrew Hore (2002-13) and Ron Elvidge (1946-50). Glenwood produced Springboks like Warren Whiteley, John Allan, Roger Gould and Doug Walton. 

Glenwood attended the annual Wynberg Boys’ High Festival last week and managed to win both their matches against King Edward VII (46-38) and San Isidro of Argentina (33-31). A player that will be closely watched by the New Zealanders are the versatile Joe Jonas.  

It will be the team from Dunedin’s first appearance at the World Schools Festival. They might provide Glenwood with their biggest test yet at the Festival as the team from Durban brushed away the Italian All-Stars (53-0) and the Namibian XV (53-7) during last year’s inaugural festival at Paarl Boishaai. 

Watch some matches from Glenwood’s unbeaten side on DigiTV.co.za – Never Miss a Moment: 

[powr-comments id=”28cdf00f_1553503292126″]

Results: 

[powr-comments id=”4c728264_1553445109769″]

Grey High blitzed Durban High School with five first-half tries, while Selborne snatched victory at the death as the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival drew to an exciting conclusion on the Philip field in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The hosts maintained their proud record at their festival with a 33-14 result, but full credit must go to DHS for the way they came back in the second half by scoring two tries while limiting their opponents to no points.

However, the fightback of the day belonged to Selborne, who scored an equalising try on the hooter in their clash with Durban school Northwood.

That made it 26-26 and centre Warrick Day then stepped up to the plate to nail the conversion, bringing a happy end to the festival for the East London side after they had lost in similar circumstances to Jeppe on Thursday.

In a match full of action, Northwood fought back courageously from 14-0 down to grab the lead with less than five minutes remaining.

A kick ahead by Selborne was not followed up properly and this allowed the Durban lads to launch an attack from within their own 22-metre area, Willett Ntsinga being the final recipient to race nearly 50 metres for a try under the poles.

That made it 26-21, but Northwood then fiddled too much around the ruck area as they tried to close out the game. Selborne forced a turnover, received a penalty and kicked for the corner near their opponents’ line.

The ensuing drive saw Jarrod Taylor bash his way over for the try which brought the scores level and Day did the rest to snatch a 28-26 win.

With the south-easterly at their backs, Grey dominated the opening period against DHS from the moment flyhalf Matthew Easton split the defence in the sixth minute to race over for a try under the poles.

Further tries came from Nathan Doster, Siviwe Zondani and Leo Wolf (2), while four conversions by Easton took them out to a telling 33-0 lead at the break.

The home side made too many mistakes in the second half and DHS showed spirit by getting tries through Xhanti Njokweni and Jaydian Cedares, but the leeway was too much to make up.

In the other close result of the day on the Philip field, St Andrew’s came back from 12-3 down to earn a hard-fought 13-12 win over the tough Jeppe outfit.

Kingswood showed what they could do with their second win of the festival, comfortably defeating St John’s 35-8 after conceding an early try and a penalty.

A try by lock PJ Sizani saw them turn around 8-7 down, but they took control in the second half as Duncan Krige, Nick Lawson-Smith, Nigel Tinarawa and Bryce Collins all crossed the whitewash. Collins added five conversions.

In a clash on the Pollock Oval, Brandwag were pushed all the way by St Benedict’s, but won 22-19, while Ithembelihle had the edge over Woodridge 26-12.

The first team results were:

Queen’s College 27 St David’s Marist Inanda 10
Stirling 12 St Stithians 80
Parktown 5 Dale 43
Kingswood 35 St John’s 8
Jeppe 12 St Andrew’s College 13
Selborne 28 Northwood 26
Grey High 33 DHS 14
St Alban’s 22 Muir 0
Brandwag 22 St Benedict’s 19
Graeme 10 Marlow 34
Grey High Unicorns 36 Andrew Rabie 0
Hudson Park 10 Framesby 61
Woodridge 12 Ithembelihle 26

[powr-comments id=”4bfe912f_1553421207305″]