Blog

Daar was vanjaar gewis weer meer as 70 persent van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-rugbyspan op die jaarlikse Wildeklawer-toernooi hier in aksie.

Die gehalte van die rugby op vanjaar se toernooi was dalk die beste sedert die toernooi se onstaan in 2008. Daarom was dit moeilik vir School of Rugby om vanjaar sy span van die toernooi te kies.

Ons kan waarskynlik vanjaar nog ’n span kies wat ons uitsoek vyftiental heel moontlik sal kan klop. Die hoofwedstryd van die toernooi en die hoogtepunt was gewis die stryd tussen die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria en die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl.

Boishaai het die wedstryd met 29-25 danksy sy skitterende heelager, Gianni Lombaard, gewen. Hy het ook al sy span se punte aangeteken. Lombaard sal ook ons span se laaste vesting beman, maar Paarl Gimnasium se heelagter, Wian van Zyl, was net so uitmuntend.

Slegs twee spelers van Affies het ons span gehaal. Hulle is die voorrymanne Cabous Eloff en Arno van Wyk wat met hul skrumwerk en losspel beïndruk het. Regardt du Plessis kan ongelukkig voel dat hy nie die span gehaal het nie, maar HTS Middelburg se blondekop flank JC Pretorius het geen gelyke in Suid-Afrika nie.

Garsfontein se skrumskakel, Embrose Papier, se spel in sy span se nederlaag teen Grey-kollege was . Papier is net na die toernooi na die Suid-Afrikaanse o.20-span se oefenkamp opgeroep.

Daar was heelwat skrumskakels van gehalte in die Diamantstad in aksie. Jack Hart (Affies), Zak Burger (Paarl Gimnasium), Ginter Smuts (EG Jansen), Rewan Kruger (Grey-kollege) en Deon Carstens (Boland Landbou) het almal die vermoë om eendag ten minste provinsiale rugby te speel.

Soos die Wes-Kaapse skole die uitslae oorheers het, het die provinsie ook die grootste verteenwoordiging in die span. Grey-kollege se vleuel Marnus Boshoff en senter Rikus Pretorius was ook naby om in ons span ingesluit te word.

Diamantveld wat soos Grey ook onoorwonne was se senter Etdeon Greyvenstein en agtsteman, Jacques Ackerman, sal ook geen span in die steek laat nie. 

School of Rugby se span is:

Gianni Lombaard (HJS Paarl), Cameron Hufke (Noord-Kaap), Manuel Ras (HJS Paarl), JP Duvenhage (Outeniqua), Muller du Plessis (Paarl Gimnasium), Damian Willemse (Paul Roos), Embrose Papier (Garsfontein), Muller Uys (Paarl Gimnasium), Dian Schoonees (Grey-kollege), JC Pretorius (HTS Middelburg), Louis Meiring (Outeniqua), Salmaan Moerat (HJS Paarl), Arno van Wyk (Affies), PJ Botha (Monument), Cabous Eloff (Affies).

 

Die aanduidings is daar dat 2016 se rugbyseisoen ’n Greyt jaar sal wees.

Grey-kollege van Bloemfontein het die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria hier met 53-29 in hulle jaarlikse ENB Classic Clash verslaan.

Dit was veral Grey se senterpaar, Rikus Pretorius en Janco van Heyningen, wat heeltemal te veel vrae aan Affies se verdediging gevra het. Die span van die Rosestad het vroeg in die wedstryd sy losskakel, Christopher Schreuder, weens ’n besering verloor, maar sy plaasvervanger, Jaco Wessels, het die veld aan die brand gespeel.

Affies se eerste rugbyspan het voor gister nog nooit in sy geskiedenis 50 punte in ’n wedstryd afgestaan nie. Affies tel onder die voorste skolespanne in Suid-Afrika vanjaar wat Grey se sege nog meer indrukwekkend maak.

Die vorige hoogste telling teen Affies was ook deur Grey opgestel toe hy in 2007 onder die leiding van Robert Ebersohn met 47-10 in Bloemfontein baas was.

Affies is vroeg in die wedstryd ook ’n slag toegedien toe sy flank Regardt du Plessis die veld weens ’n besering moes verlaat. In sy afwesigheid het Grey die botoon by die afbreekpunte gevoer.

Monument van Krugersdorp is vir die eerste keer sedert 2010 as kampioen van die Tuks-reeks gekroon. Monnas het die Hoërskool Nelspruit se Rhinos met 25-17 in die eindstryd in die LC de Villiers-stadion in Pretoria verslaan.

Monnas was al twee keer vantevore in 2009 en 2010 as kampioen gekroon. Dit was egter sy ervare breier, Hans Coetzee, se eerste titel as kampioen in die reeks. Oupa van der Merwe en Wynand Moolman was onderskeidelik in 2009 en 2010 die afrigters toe die Wit Bulle die kroon gedra het.

Monnas se twee slotte, Christopher Havenga en Ruan Vermaak, het ’n beduidende rol in die sege gespeel. Agterlangs het die senter Bakkies Potgieter uitstekende werk vir die wenspan verrig.

Die Rhinos se senterpaar, Riaz Adebayo en Marnus Kruger, het Monnas probleme in die middelveld besorg. Voorlangs was die haker, Gerald van Eeden, die verloorspan se beste speler.

EG Jansen kon nou wel nie vanjaar sy titel as kampioen van die Tuks-reeks behou nie, maar het danksy ’n strafdoel in die doodsnikke deur sy skrumskakel, Ginter Smuts, met 39-36 oor Garsfontein in die uitspeelwedstryd vir die derde posisie geseëvier.

Jansies se losskakel, Ruben Beytell, het met twee drieë in die wedstryd sy totaal vir die seisoen tot ’n ongelooflike 18 drieë in 11 wedstryde opgestoot. Garsies se skrumskakel, Shaun Williams, het sy span met twee drieë in die tweede helfte in die wedstryd gehou.

Die Brandwag van Uitenhage het sy oorheersing van sy jaarlikse Classic Clash teen HTS Daniël Pienaar met ’n sege van 17-12 voortgesit. Brandwag het sedert 2008 nog net een keer in 2012 (23-28) teen HTS Daniël Pienaar die knie gebuig.

Brandwag se senter Henco Pieterse was sy span se uitstaande speler.

In nog ’n Classic Clash was HTS Drostdy in ’n klipharde kragmeting met 13-8 oor Worcester Gimnasium baas.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium het waarskynlik die grootste verrassing van die dag gelewer deur Lichtenburg op sy agterplaas met 31-30 te troef. Lichtenburg is onlangs as kampioen van die Pukke Prestige-reeks gekroon.

Paarl Gimnasium was op sy stukke teen Wynberg Boys’ High en het ’n wegholsege van 71-11 behaal. Boland Landbou het ook nie veel probleme ondervind om Rondebosch Boys’ High met 48-15 kaf te draf nie.

Al die uitslae: 

Tuks-reeks

Monument 25, Hoërskool Nelspruit 17; EG Jansen 39, Garsfontein 36; HTS Middelburg 25, Hoërskool Rustenburg 19; Eldoraigne 17, Kempton Park 10; Menlopark 47, Hoërskool Klerksdorp 12; Hoërskool Pietersburg 54, Transvalia 12; Centurion 29, Florida 22.

Blou Bulle

Zwartkop 26, Wonderboom 21; HTS John Vorster 19, Montana 18; Oos-Moot 35, Overkruin 14; Hoërskool Tuine 54, HTS Tuine 0; Midstream College 40, Pretoria-Noord 27; Pretoria THS 17, Uitsig 0; Curro Hazeldean 60, Akasia 26; Waterkloof 32, Noordheuwel 25.

Leeus

Jeppe Boys’ High 45, Westville Boys’ High 14; Helpmekaar 44, Ben Vorster 25; Randburg 38, Dinamika 9; Hoërskool Alberton 17, Linden 14; Fochville 48, Carel de Wet 7; Maragon 48, Curro Aurora 0; St. Benedict’s College 34, St. Alban’s College 33; President 27, Carletonville 15; St. John’s College 23, Pretoria Boys’ High 18.

Limpopo

Ben Viljoen 21, Ellisras 0; Frikkie Meyer 28, Hans Strijdom 17; Frans du Toit 43, Warmbad 20.

Luiperds

Potchefstroom Gimnasium 31, Lichtenburg 30; Potchefstroom Volkskool 15, Wesvalia 10; Vryburg 47, Schoonspruit 13; Brits 63, Motlosana 22; Zeerust 54, Wolmaransstad 3; Schweizer-Reneke 23, Grenswag 7.

Pumas

Piet Retief 22, Ermelo 19; Bergvlam 31, Generaal Hertzog 14; Penryn College 62, Oosterland 5; Standerton 20, Volksrust 5; Lydenburg 35, Rob Ferreira 16; Secunda 10, HTS Witbank 10; Curro Nelspruit 67, Groblersdal 0; Kriel 43, Witbank High 19; Barberton 17, Sybrand van Niekerk 15.

Valke

Transvalia 22, Vereeniging Gimnasium 11; Heidelberg Volkskool 24, Oosterlig 10; Voortrekker (Boksburg) 29, HTS Springs 3; Brandwag (Benoni) 14, Stoffberg 12; Dr. Malan 36, Hans Moore 17; Benoni High 31, Birchleigh 17.

Vrystaat/Griekwas

Grey-kollege 53, Affies 29; Voortrekker 28, Hentie Cilliers 24; Witteberg 73, HTS Sasolburg 14; Welkom Gimnasium 33, AHS Kroonstad 12; HTS Welkom 56, Hoërskool Kroonstad 27; Goudveld-Hoërskool 41, Wilgerivier 17; Sand du Plessis 52, Tsoseletso 0; Brandfort 46, Sehunelo 19; Sandveld 19, Theunissen 17; Hoopstad 48, Welkom High 12; Hendrik Potgieter 31, Zastron 0; Wessel Maree 19, Riebeeckstad 10; Bothaville 34, Hennenman 33; Reitz 8, Ficksburg 5.

KwaZulu-Natal/Oos-Kaap

Brandwag (Uitenhage) 17, HTS Daniël Pienaar 12; Marlow Landbou 8, Jim Fouché 7; Hilton College 10, Michaelhouse 8; Maritzburg College 32, King Edward VII 32; Itembelihle 15, Ndzondelelo 11; Durban High School 47, Voortrekker (Pietermaritzburg) 21; Nico Malan 12, Despatch 8; Dale College 53, De Vos Malan 0; St. Andrew’s College 23, Graeme College 7; Kingswood College 36, Union 17.

Wes-Kaap

Paarl Gimnasium 71, Wynberg Boys’ High 11; Boland Landbou 48, Rondebosch Boys’ High 15; Paul Roos Gimnasium 34, Stellenberg 8; SACS 38, Bishops 19; Brackenfell 27, Hoërskool Windhoek 19; Hermanus 21, Parel Vallei 7; HTS Drostdy 13, Worcester Gimnasium 8; President 29, Edgemead 10; DF Malan 43, Monumentpark 21; Durbanville 26, Hugenote (Wellington) 26; Hoërskool Stellenbosch 14, Hottentots-Holland 10; Tygerberg 21, Primrose-klub 3; Swartland 23, De Kuilen 0; Hoërskool Bellville 26, Strand 12.

The Junior Springbok training squad on Friday concluded the first phase of their preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship with a tough hit-out against the DHL Western Province Institute.

The two teams went hammer and tongs in windy conditions with the WP youngsters providing SA U20 coach Dawie Theron’s side with a proper test four days before the final 28-man squad is named to travel to England in a few weeks’ time.

“Perhaps the first two of our chukka-sessions went too well and some of the guys may have been complacent today, while our handling and lineouts were not good enough,” said Theron after his team’s training session in Stellenbosch.

“Having said that, the Western Province Institute played with a lot of passion and commitment and we had our eyes on a few of their players too.

“We were without a couple of our core guys, who are playing Vodacom Super Rugby and Currie Cup Qualifiers this weekend, so we wanted to have a look at some fringe players and after today’s session we are definitely closer to finalising the squad.”

Theron said he will consult with his assistant coaches and national selector, Peter Jooste, before finalising the squad for the tournament in Manchester next month. The announcement is on Tuesday at SA Rugby’s offices in Plattekloof, Cape Town.

“The door is still open for a few players and if we were unsure about certain positions, we have more clarity now,” said Theron.

“We will properly assess the situation with injured players and those coming back from niggles when we discuss the final squad, and while some of the players in camp now won’t make the initial selection, they will know that they can still play a vital role.

“Our depth is not what it was last year and we know the importance of some of our key players, but the players realise that and know we simply have to work harder.”

The Junior Boks will play three warm-up matches before they depart for England, against the Xerox Golden Lions U19s and U21s (in Johannesburg on 13 May), Maties (in Stellenbosch on 17 May) and South Western Districts (in Oudtshoorn on 21 May). They depart for England on 2 June.

Issued by SA Rugby Corporate Affairs

We thought it will be easier after Wildeklawer to compile our rankings, but as with every rankings of School of Rugby it’s never easy. Paarl Boys’ High removed Affies of Pretoria from the top of our rankings with their 29-25 victory over them in the main match of Wildeklawer in Kimberley.

It was Boishaai’s 29th successive victory on the rugby field. Affies drops to third after the defeat with Grey College moving into the second position after maintaining their unbeaten record this season with victories over Garsfontein and Oakdale Landbou. The clash this Saturday between Grey College and Affies promises to be another highlight in the school rugby season of 2016. 

The four top teams are very close to each other. Glenwood will take on Rotorua Boys’ High of New Zealand in the semi-final of the annual Sanix International tournament in Japan tomorrow. Paarl Gimnasium moved into the fifth position after finishing Wildeklawer unbeaten by beating Menlopark and EG Jansen convincingly. Gimmies’ only defeat thus far came against Garsfontein. 

Diamantveld was the big movers of the week after also finishing Wildeklawer unbeaten with victories over highly ranked Boland Landbou as well as HTS Middelburg. Welkom Gimnasium dropped out of the Top 20 after losing both their matches against Oakdale Landbou and Noord-Kaap respectively. Monument also didn’t have a good weekend at Wildeklawer drawing 3-all against Selborne College and losing against Outeniqua (40-25).  

Please note that we don’t take matches against international opposition into consideration in our rankings. These games will however still be recorded and shown in our results. This rankings is not an official ranking as there is no official ranking on schoolboy level and this is only to get the discussion on school rugby on South Africa flowing. We however take our responsibilty on reporting school rugby very seriously.

To see each team’s results so far this season click on their name in the rankings. If you see any results missing please don’t hesitate to contact Hannes Nienaber via e-mail on hannes@schooolofrugby.co.za – and please feel free to discuss and differ from us in the comments section.

The Rankings:

Ranking	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points F	Points A	Ave Score
1	Paarl Boys’ High	8	8	0	0	304	110	38-14
2	Grey College	8	8	0	0	455	87	57-11
3	Affies	8	7	0	1	354	89	44-11
4	Glenwood	7	7	0	0	230	50	33-7
5	Paarl Gimnasium	8	7	0	1	262	109	33-14
6	Oakdale Landbou	7	6	0	1	211	93	30-13
7	Jeppe Boys’ High	9	8	0	1	339	150	38-17
8	Paul Roos Gimnasium	9	7	0	2	320	132	36-15
9	Boland Landbou	8	6	0	2	306	134	38-17
10	Garsfontein	9	6	0	3	286	194	32-22
11	Stellenberg	7	6	0	1	299	86	43-12
12	Diamantveld	8	6	0	2	220	142	28-18
13	Dale College	9	8	0	1	360	106	40-12
14	EG Jansen	10	7	0	3	345	199	35-20
15	Queen’s College	10	8	0	2	294	194	29-19
16	Ben Vorster	7	6	0	1	225	98	32-14
17	Grey High School	9	7	0	2	291	108	32-12
18	Selborne College	10	6	2	2	254	126	25-13
19	Monument	9	5	1	3	281	131	31-15
20	Nelspruit	9	7	0	2	210	182	23-20
21	Outeniqua	8	5	0	3	213	142	27-18
22	Helpmekaar	7	4	0	3	182	153	26-22
23	Welkom Gimnasium	10	7	0	3	412	182	41-18
24	Rustenburg	8	6	0	2	205	168	26-21
25	Rondebosch Boys’ High	4	3	0	1	128	68	32-17
26	HTS Daniel Pienaar	12	10	0	2	227	151	19-13
27	SACS	8	4	1	3	246	142	31-18
28	Duineveld
29	Voortrekker	8	5	0	3	233	96	29-12
30	St. Andrew’s College	7	5	0	2	215	113	31-16
31	HTS Middelburg	11	5	0	6
32	Lichtenburg
33	Pietersburg	7	5	0	2
34	Diocesan College	8	4	1	3	190	240	24-30
35	Durban High School	10	7	0	3	288	155	29-16
36	Kearsney College	8	5	0	3	233	177	29-22
37	Brackenfell	9	5	0	4	171	157	19-17
38	Oos-Moot	5	5	0	0	117	40	23-8
39	Jim Fouche	11	6	0	5	250	204	23-19
40	Kathu	9	9	0	0	325	39	36-5

Die grootste skolerugbywedstryd op skolevlak tot dusver vanjaar het gister aan Gianni Lombaard, heelagter van die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl, behoort.

Lombaard het al 29 van sy span se punte in sy oorwinning van 29-25 oor die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria in die hoofwedstryd van die laaste dag van die Wildeklawer-toernooi hier aangeteken.

Dit was toevallig ook Boishaai se 29ste agtereenvolgende sege op die rugbyveld. Affies was tot voor die wedstryd nog onoorwonne en as die voorste skolespan in die land gereken. Boishaai het verlede jaar as Suid-Afrika se voorste skolespan afgesluit.

Dit was ’n titaniese stryd waarvan die uitslag nog tot op die einde in die weegskaal was. Affies se skrumskakel, Jack Hart, behoort vanjaar baie naby aan die nasionale skolespan te kom, terwyl die vaskopstut, Arno van Wyk, ook ’n yster was.

Buiten Lombaard het sy kaptein en slot, Salmaan Moerat, ook fisiek onder Affies ingeklim.

Die Kwaggas van die Hoërskool Outeniqua het vir Monument van Krugersdorp ’n rugbyles van 40-25 geleer.

Dit was ’n les dat vaart en vernuf meer werd as fisiekheid op die rugbyveld is. Die Kwaggas het teen rustyd met die telling op 34-5 vir Monnas reeds van die veld afgespeel. Veral die binnesenter, JP Duvenage, en die heelagter,Tristan Fourie, het te veel vrae aan Monnas se verdediging agterlangs gevra.

Monnas het wel in die tweede helfte sterk teruggeveg na Fourie tyd in die koelkas deurgebring het.

Grey-kollege het Oakdale Landbou se onoorwonne status vanjaar met ’n sege van 48-23 tot ’n einde gebring. Die span van die Rosestad was met ’n agterstand van 16-7 teen rustyd in die moeilikheid, maar het op die ou einde oor te veel skietgoed vir Oakdale beskik.

Grey se agtsteman, Dian Schoonees, en die stut, Naudé Naudé (stet), het meter veld gewen wanneer hulle die bal onder die arm vasgeknyp het. Die buitesenter, Janco van Heyningen, se vaart was ook te veel vir Oakdale om hom in te perk.

Paarl Gimnasium was in ’n opwindende wedstryd met 38-22 teen EG Jansen van Boksburg baas. Die twee spanne het met die telling op 31-17 in Paarl Gimnasium se guns gaan rus.

Paarl Gimnasium het ook gesien hoekom Jansies se losskakel, Ruben Beytell, nie vir ’n enkele oomblik alleen gelos kan word nie. Beytell het drie keer Gimmies se doellyn oorgesteek. Die losskakel van Boksburg het vanjaar al 16 drieë in sy span se tien wedstryde tot dusver gedruk.

Diamantveld moes aan sy voorsprong van 22-17 klou om uiteindelik as oorwinnaars van die veld teen HTS Middelburg se Rooi Bulle te stap. Diamonds se senter Etdeon Greyvenstein en die agtsteman, Jacques Ackerman, het die grootste bydraes met hul vertonings tot die sege gelewer.

Die Rooi Bulle se kaptein en flank, JC Pretorius, was sy skitterende self. Die blondekop kantman het die veld vol gespeel.

Paul Roos Gimnasium se SA Skole-losskakel, Damian Willemse, was weer op sy stukke teen Menlopark. Hy is vir sy vertoning met die toekenning as Speler van die Wedstryd in die sege van 32-5 beloon.

Noord-Kaap het die bordjies in ’n wipplankstryd op die tweede dag van die Wildeklawer-toernooi in Kimberley teen Welkom Gimnasium met 34-32 verhang. Gimmies het die kragmeting tussen die twee spanne vroeër vanjaar oortuigend met 32-5 gewen. Northerns se heelagter, Cameron Hufke, het ’n strafdoel na speeltyd reeds verstreke was vir die sege oorgeklits. Hufke het 19 punte tot sy span se totaal bygedra.

Puntemakers: 

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl 29 (19): Drieë: Gianni Lombaard (2). Doelskoppe: Lombaard (2). Strafdoele: Lombaard (5). Affies 25 (11): Drieë: Marnus Potgieter, Schalk Erasmus, Cabous Eloff. Doelskoppe: Ruan de Swardt (2). Strafdoel: De Swardt. Skepdoel: De Swardt (2).  

Outeniqua 40 (34): Drieë: JP Duvenage (2), Lance Lamprecht, Bradley Kiewietz, Wilco du Preez. Doelskoppe: James-Henry Mollentze (3). Strafdoele: Duvenage (3). Monument 25 (5): Drieë: Luke Rossouw, Cameron Shutzler, Jandré Botha, PJ Botha, PJ Jacobs.

Boland Landbou 30 (17): Drieë: Louis Frylinck, Janlu Steenkamp, Jandré Maree. Doelskoppe: Duren Hoffman (3). Strafdoele: Hoffman (3). Waterkloof 20 (20): Drieë: Renaldo Dorlfing (2), Giovan Syman. Doelskop: Duhann Gunter. Strafdoel: Gunter.

Paarl Gimnasium 38 (31): Drieë: Muller du Plessis (2), Muller Uys, Wian van Zyl, Zak Burger, Jan Jordaan. Doelskoppe: Theo Boshoff (4). EG Jansen 22 (17): Drieë: Ruben Beytell (3). Doelskoppe: Ginter Smuts (2). Strafdoel: Smuts.

Grey-kollege 48 (7): Drieë: Henk Cilliers, Janco van Heyningen, Diaan Schoonees, David Kriel, Juan Venter, Wihan Kloppers, Jaco van Tonder. Doelskoppe: Christopher Schreuder (5). Strafdoel: Schreuder. Oakdale Landbou 23 (16): Drieë: Xavier Swartbooi, Jaco Smit. Doelskoppe: Darren Adonis (2). Strafdoele: Jay-Cee Nel (2), Adonis.

Noord-Kaap 34 (14): Drieë: Gladwin Nieuwenhuyzen, Marc Aitken, Conrad van Aswegen, Cameron Hufke. Doelskoppe: Hufke (4). Strafdoele: Hufke (2). Welkom Gimnasium 32 (15): Drieë: Ronaldo Fortuin, Duke Jantjies, JJ Scheepers, Jason Wagman. Doelskoppe: Andrew Kota (3). Strafdoele: Kota (2).

Paul Roos Gimnasium 32 (8): Drieë: Daneel Steinman, Lyle Hendricks, Joshua Vermeulen, Damian Willemse, Davd-Ley Moses. Doelskoppe: Willemse (2). Strafdoel: Willemse. Menlopark 5 (0): Drie: Ruben Fleischauer.

Diamantveld 22 (22): Drieë: Etdeon Greyvenstein, De-an Ackermann, Timothy Harding. Doelskoppe: Charles Williams (2). Strafdoel: Williams. HTS Middelburg 17 (7): Drieë: Zander Joubert, JC Pretorius, Japie Kleynhans. Doelskop: Riekert Barnard.

Selborne College 60 (27): Drieë: Joshua Armstrong, Miles Norton, Cameron Moodie, André Rust, Darren Lemmer, Afika Ndinisa, Stephan Nieuwenhuizen, Sango Xamlashe. Doelskoppe: Xamlashe (7). Strafdoele: Xamlashe, David Coetzer. Louis Botha 10 (7): Drie: Marvin Ruiters. Doelskop: Rethabile Mzamo. Strafdoel: Mzamo.

Garsfontein 19 (0): Drieë: Embrose Papier, Ryno Pieterse, Lincoln Daniels. Doelskoppe: Abner van Reenen (2). Stellenberg 18 (7): Drieë: Lance Jurgens, Johann van der Merwe. Doelskop: Ruben Scholtz. Strafdoele: Scholtz (2).

GREY 16 DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL 7

Grey High soaked up big periods of pressure to emerge 16-7 victors over Durban High School in an exciting finish to the Standard Bank Grey Rugby Festival, powered by Powerade, at Grey High in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

DHS showed plenty of running skills and cracked the Grey defence midway through the first half with some excellent play for fullback Cham Zondeki to cross over, with Sanele Nohamba adding the conversion.

Grey hit back with a powerful maul for hooker Ruan Jonker to score and the conversion, plus two penalties, by flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela gave the home side a 13-7 lead at the break.

In the second half, DHS spent a good deal of time in Grey’s half but this time they could find no way through the home defence. When they finally had a chance to attack, Grey found the Durban side’s defence equally tight and they eventually resorted to a drop goal by Dobela to stretch their lead to nine points.

With time running out, it proved a crucial score and Grey stood firm in the closing stages for a hard-earned victory.

Point-scorers:

GREY HIGH 16: a try by No 2 Ruan Jonker; two penalties, a conversion and a drop goal by No 10 Lubabalo Dobela
DHS 7: a try by No 15 Cham Zondeki; a conversion by No 9 Sanele Nohamba
ST ALBAN’S 10 MUIR 10
ST ALBAN’S failed to convert a lengthy period of pressure in the second half and then missed a penalty in the dying seconds to draw their encounter with Muir College.
After swopping penalties, St Alban’s No 8 Gustav Bouwer powered his way over under the poles to give his team a 10-3 lead at the break.
In the second half, Muir replied with a fine try by centre Sicelo Tole, converted by Neo Pepeta to level the scores and neither side were able to break the deadlock thereafter.
Point-scorers:
ST ALBAN’S 10: try by No 8 Gustav Bouwer; a penalty and a conversion by No 15 Corne Korff.
MUIR 10: try by No 13 Sicelo Tole; a penalty and a conversion by No 12 Neo Pepeta.
ST DAVID’S 12 ITHEMBELIHLE 12
TRAILING 12-0 at halftime, powerful Ithembelihle lock Hussayn Banzi used his strength and pace to crash over for two superb tries to secure his team an encouraging 12-12 draw against St David’s.
In fact, Ithembe had a late chance to snatch victory, but the penalty attempt went wide and the teams had to settle for the second draw of the day.
St David’s scored two good tries in the first half when wing Ngonidzashe Mupanomunda pulled off an interception in the opening minutes and later No 8 Joseph Lebos powered his way over.
But Ithembe stayed in the game throughout the second half and eventually the pace and power of Banzi gave them a well-earned draw.
Point-scorers:
ST DAVID’S 12: Tries by No 22 Ngonidzashe Mupanomunda, No 8 Joseph Lebos; conversion by No 12 Thapo Letsoalo
ITHEMBELIHLE 12: tries by No 5 Hussayn Banzi 2; conversion by No 10 Thabo Matiso

STIRLING 34 GRAEME 19
AFTER a close first half, Stirling displayed fine attacking instincts to run in four second half tries for a morale-boosting 34-19 win over Graeme.
The East London side led 10-7 at the break and maintained their lead in the second half even when Graeme managed to score tries. Each time the Grahamstown side drew close, Stirling, with good distribution and running rugby, consistently broke through the defence to ultimately score a convincing win.
Point-scorers:
STIRLING 34: tries by No 15 Khaya Mqashosho 2, No 10 Count More 2, No 12 Sako Makata, No 4 Nicholas Holm; conversions by No 11 Tristan Popp, No 4 Nicholas Holm
GRAEME 19: tries by No 8 Thandwefika Mgidlana, No 9 Cameron Amos, No 10 Sivu Ngqiyaza; conversions by No 10 Sivu Ngqiyaza 2.
DALE 64 GOUDVELD 7
Dale again showed their sublime running skills as they overwhelmed Welkom outfit Goudveld 64-7, scoring 10 tries to add to the 12 they put past St David’s on Saturday.
From an early stage it was clear there would only be one winner in this clash and although Gouties never gave up, they simply could not plug all the gaps on defence against the rampant Dalians, for whom flyhalf Siphosethu Dlongodlongo and fullback Aphelele Fassi each scored two tries.
Gouties’ brief moment of success came in the first half when wing Triumph Baloyi scored from a kick ahead, well converted by flyhalf Tristan September.
Point-scorers:
DALE 64: tries by No 10 Siphosethu Dlongodlongo 2, No 15 Aphelele Fassi 2, No 8 Siyanda Am, No 11 Siphosoxolo Dlongodlongo, No 13 Siphamandla Matsinya, No 18 Thandile Mpangeva, No 19 Lathitha Lukasi, No 20 Sikhokhele Buhlungu; seven conversions by No 15 Aphelele Fassi
GOUDVELD 7: try by No 11 Triumph Baloyi; conversion by No 10 Tristan September.
PARKTOWN 36 PEARSON 10
Sparked by two quick tries by flyhalf Ethan Anderson, Parktown fired themselves to an impressive 36-10 win over Pearson after leading 22-0 at halftime.
Pearson came back somewhat in the second half with two long-range tries by Keegan van Dyk and Luthando Ndlova, but Parktown matched them with two tries of their own to ensure there were no second half jitters.
The Parktown forwards competed effectively at the breakdown and gave their backs plenty of ball to work with, allowing Anderson to control things from the pivotal position.
Point-scorers:
PARKTOWN 36: tries by No 10 Ethan Anderson 2, No 12 Tyler Murray, No 14 Lelethu Mahlangeni, No 15 Michael Tambwe, No 13 Darren Solomon; three conversions by No 10 Ethan Anderson.
PEARSON 10: tries by No 21 Keegan van Dyk, No 22 Luthando Ndlova.
QUEEN’S 20 FRAMESBY 12
Queen’s hit back from a 12-0 deficit to register a 20-12 win over Framesby in a rugged encounter as the PE side failed to capitalise on the breeze behind them in the second half.
The Framesby side came out firing and tries by fullback Riaan van Rensburg and flank Bernard McDonald gave them a handy lead.
Crucially, though, Queen’s scored shortly before halftime through a powerful drive from prop Dale Venske to make it 12-5 at the break.
The Queenians struck immediately after the restart when pacy wing Asi Mrubata beat the cover defence in a 50-metre run to level it all up at 12-12.
Queen’s stayed on the attack and were rewarded when lock Aaron Brody picked up to drive over from short range, putting them in front.
It was a tough battle from then on but Queen’s had the edge and when they were awarded a penalty near the posts in the dying seconds of the match, they had no hesitation in taking the kick to make the game safe.
Point-scorers:
QUEEN’S 20: tries by No 1 Dale Venske, No 4 Aaron Brody, No 11 Asi Mrubata; a conversion and a penalty by No 16 Chris Hollis.
FRAMESBY 12: tries by No 15 Riaan van Rensburg, No 6 Bernard McDonald; a conversion by No 15 Riaan van Rensburg.
Other scores:
Daniel Pienaar 15 Hudson Park 12 – point-scorers not available