Blog

Pretoria Boys High School clawed their way back into the game, after trailing at the break, to claim a 36-24 win over St John’s College on Brooks Field on Saturday.

After being forced onto the back foot in the first half, the home side dialled up the pressure, threw in some big hits, and scored 26 points in the second stanza.

Rewatch all the action on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com)

Boys High scored first when their hooker Thapelo Mphela crashed through the defensive line to start the scoreboard ticking.

However, the Blues‘ number eight, Kyle Watson, was in the thick of the action, twice crossing for tries to give the visitors the edge in the first half.

His first five-pointer came from a lineout variation, which opened up the left flank of the field, resulting in Watson taking the Boys High defence by surprise. Hats off to the coaching staff for coming up with the manoeuvre. The opposition was caught completely unawares.

With five minutes left of play in the first half, Watson, the Blues’ skipper, was stretchered off after he sustained a serious leg injury.

At the halfway mark, St John’s College was in front, leading 14-10. They looked well poised to build upon that advantage, but the Candies had other ideas and came back strongly, scoring three minutes into the second half.

A strong driving maul, which has been a feature of Boys High’s play this season, resulted in flank Jeffrey Singo going over for a try. Much like he did against Maritzburg College, he timed his break off the maul perfectly to exploit a gap in the defence.

Then, speedster Jack Tsanwani made a sniping run down the field to score an excellent try, which left St John’s with a mountain to climb.

An overlap in the final phase of the match saw the Johannesburg school reduce the deficit to 12 points, with wing ⁠Jacob Smith dotting down the consolation try with ease.

With a win in the bag, Boys High will head into the break with a confidence boost, but some very tough fixtures await them later in the season, including clashes with KES, Maritzburg College, and Affies.

Also in Pretoria, St Alban’s College stormed to a convincing 42-7 victory over St Benedict’s College to avenge the two losses they suffered at the hands of the side from Bedfordview in 2023.

St Alban’s struck first with a cleverly executed try from JJ Steenkamp, who sliced through the Bennies’ defence with ease and grace. Later, the talented flyhalf added a second try.

Against the run of play, Bennies scored when their number eight Jason Cutler executed a textbook pick-and-go before surging over the try line. Braeden Le Roux was successful with his conversion attempt.

The game’s pace never waned, with both sides defending resolutely and attacking with creativity, but the hosts held the upper hand, regularly tacking on points to increase pressure on the visitors.

Hoops’ scrumhalf Joshua Verster had a fantastic day with the boot, successfully converting all but one of the seven tries St Alban’s scored. He also delivered excellent service throughout the contest, quickly recycling the ball to help his team maintain its attacking momentum.

In the dying minutes of the match, another freak injury occurred. St Alban’s College lock Tim Garnett broke a leg after colliding with one of his fellow teammates, and he will have to undergo surgery.

The St Benedict’s coaching staff, who were closest to the incident, jumped in immediately to assist the player and were commended by the St Alban’s parents for their swift response.

Bennies will be scratching their heads after another disappointing result. Their forthcoming schedule includes a return to St Alban’s for the u18 Independent Schools Rugby Festival (ISRF) at the end of June.

Parktown, meanwhile, continued their turnaround with a 24-19 victory over St David’s Marist Inanda, away on La Valla Field.

With five minutes remaining in the contest, the visitors stole a win from the hosts. Ben Nettleton scored the winning try, which was converted by flyhalf Kelvin Kotey, to give Parktown the victory.

SCORES

Pretoria Boys High School 36 (10) – Tries: Jeffrey Singo (2), Thapelo Mphela, Stephen Adams, Jack Tsanwani, penalty try; Conversions: Seth Venter (3) St John’s College 24 (14) – Tries: Kyle Watson (2), Jacob Smith; Conversions: ⁠Bryson Walker (3); Penalties: ⁠Bryson Walker

St Alban’s College 42 (28) – Tries: JJ Steenkamp (2), Matthew Nelson, Craig Milne, Patrick Weir, Ben Stevenson, Andreas Phillipou; Conversions: Joshua Verster (6); St Benedict’s College 7 (7) – Try: Jason Cutler. Conversion: Braeden Le Roux.

St David’s Marist Inanda 19 (6) – Tries: Connor McWilliams; Conversions: Diego Ferreira; Penalties: Diego Ferreira (4). Parktown Boys’ High School 24 (10) – Tries: Tshephiso Tladi, Kebelo Jwili, Ben Nettleton; Conversions: Kelvin Kotey (3); Penalties: Kelvin Kotey.

Durban High School vs Michaelhouse

Van Heerden’s Field was rocking on Saturday, Durban High School‘s (DHS) Founders Day, for the visit of Michaelhouse.

While the Horseflies have laid claim to being the top team in KZN in 2024, ‘House has been there or thereabouts, and a good contest awaited the spectators and supporters.

There are many wonderful school venues around the country and Van Heerden’s, especially since the addition of The Pavilion, which boasts a wonderful view of the field, ranks among the best, especially when the venue is packed.

The DHS 1^st XV boasts one of the toughest defences in South Africa, which has given up an average of only seven points a game, but they were stunned early on when Michaelhouse got over for a try in the third minute.

When School was pinged for an infringement at a scrum, ‘House no. 9 Jack Hughes took the tap quickly and the home side didn’t react quickly enough. Hughes went blind, passed to flyhalf Luke Davidson, and he sold a dummy, rode a big hit from Bradley le Grange, and was over in the right-hand corner.

The Craven Week no. 10 tacked on two from the sideline and the visitors led 7-0.

It didn’t take long for DHS to reply. Aka Boqwana, with searing acceleration from a standing start, sliced through the Michaelhouse midfield, taking off from inside his own 10-metre line and rounding the defence before finishing with a happy swallow dive.

Like Davidson, he converted his own try, and the teams were level at 7-7. Then, after 15 minutes, Boqwana edged his team ahead with a penalty kick.

DHS were enjoying the better of the possession and punched the ball up, mostly with their forwards, to keep Michaelhouse on the back foot. To their credit, the boys from Balgowan tackled manfully to keep their relentless hosts at bay.

DHS, though, extended their lead when Michaelhouse missed a throw-in, just outside their 22.

Scrumhalf Marcwin Nero accepted the gift of possession at the back of the lineout and immediately fed his backline. One more pass, from flyhalf Allston Cedras to inside centre Zingce Simka and the Horseflies were in again as Zimke, a very physical midfielder, brushed aside the last defender and emulated Boqwana with a theatrical dive to celebrate his try.

Down by eight, Michaelhouse fought their way deep into DHS territory. From a five-metre scrum, Robert Combrinck, captaining the visitors from 8^th-man in place of their injured skipper, Carlyle Hawkins, made a strong drive at the try line. Three more phases and big Aphiwe Shelembe was over the try line, but he had been held up.

Michaelhouse, however, were awarded a penalty for DHS straying offsides and Davidson made it 15-10 at the break.

Early in the second half, DHS increased their lead. They made ground off a lineout inside the Michaelhouse 22, then kept it tight through eight phases before finally letting the ball out wide to the right, where Cedras skipped two men and found Adriano Jackson, who dotted down in the corner.

Boqwana added three more points in the 52^nd minute from the kicking tee to make it DHS 23-10 Michaelhouse.

Three minutes later, a fantastic breakout from DHS, from deep inside their 22, opened up Michaelhouse on their right touchline. Just past halfway, Zenkosi Mthiyane kicked ahead.

Aka Boqwana was in a foot race for the ball with ‘House flank Riley Gehren. Boqwana had the edge in speed, but Gehren never gave up, forcing the DHS fullback to toe ahead. His touch was too heavy, and the ball went out the back of the goal area. Gehren’s never-say-die effort was hugely impressive and, beyond a shadow of a doubt, prevented a try being scored.

No more points were added, and DHS claimed a closely contested win.

Maritzburg College vs Hilton College

Both Maritzburg College and Hilton College entered their clash on Goldstone’s having tasted defeat last time out, with College going down to Northwood and Hilton losing to Westville.

College, who had expected to be without their Craven Week lock, Jake Jansen, made him a late inclusion in their lineup. Unfortunately for Hilton, their Craven Week no.8 and captain, Hanu Pieterse, was missing.

Hilton, however, simply knuckled down and took the game to College. Their forward-based, bruising approach works well to counter the traditionally robust College game, and it was the visitors who were first onto the scoreboard through flyhalf Xola Bakana, who slotted a penalty in the ninth minute.

College lock Jansen was to the fore with a marauding run off a lineout in the 12^th minute, which set up the Red, Black and White to take the ball through five phases before winning a penalty. Spurning a five-metre lineout, they went for a tap.

Captain Rambo Kubheka, whose ball carrying was ferocious throughout the contest, charged it up. His fellow prop Aiden Botha made further ground. Then, when the ball was moved down the backline to the left, Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein pulled off an outrageously good dummy to wrong foot the Hilton defence and rip through for a try.

Flyhalf James Slevin added the extras to put Maritzburg College ahead for the first time on the day.

College hooker Siya Nkosi crashed over in the 22^nd minute, but he was held up. From the resulting five-metre scrum, the home side’s skipper, Rambo Kubheka, forced his way through two tacklers to ground the ball and extend his team’s lead. Slevin’s sure boot created an 11-point gap.

When Hilton was awarded a penalty inside the College 22, they opted for a lineout instead of the three points that the accurate Bakana almost certainly would have scored. It was a brave decision, but it paid off.

From the driving maul, Josh Grant broke around the side, supported by Emmanuel Dankwah. They were stopped centimetres from the Maritzburg try line, but their stocky scrumhalf Xander Vorster snatched up the ball and launched himself low over the line for five. The conversion, surprisingly, was missed.

A quarter-of-an-hour into the second half, hooker Josh Grant, with a beautiful inside pop pass, found flyhalf Xola Bakana, who was steaming onto the ball. He took it and hit a gap at the same time, surgically bisecting the College defensive line.

Just shy of the try line, he was brought down by Luyanda Kunene, but the predatory Vorster was up in support to snag the ball and dive over the line for his second try. Bakana’s accurate conversion kick put Hilton 15-14 ahead.

Six minutes later, they were six points clear after a wonderful flat ball from Bakana played Khazimla Makali into a gap. He raced clear of the turning defenders, drew the man, and released Ivan Jjuuko, on his outside, to run in a thrilling try.

Maritzburg College dialled up a good response by grinding their way down into the Hilton 22. They won a penalty but, like their opponents early in the game, chose to set up a lineout instead of taking a kick at goal.

A sharp change of direction from the resulting maul put the ball in the hands of Kubheka on the blindside and he shifted it quickly to Siya Nyathi, with the hooker diving over in the left-hand corner. Then, from in front of Basher Ridge, Slevin nailed his kick from the touchline to edge College in front once more, 21-20.

In the final minute, the extraordinary skills of College skipper Rambo Kubheka were again to the fore. Following a sustained assault by the hosts, scrumhalf Rayke Maartens went right to the big prop. With a beautiful hard and flat pass, worthy of any flyhalf, he gave right-wing Ntsika Mkhize a clear run at the try line and Mkhize scampered over in the corner.

Slevin missed a conversion for the first time on the day, but Maritzburg College celebrated a battling 26-20 victory over Hilton.

Clifton College vs Kearsney College

After boosting their confidence with a win at Glenwood a week earlier, Kearsney College had an easier time of it on Saturday at the Riverside Sports Club against Clifton College, running out 48-0 victors.

Almost exactly two years ago – the game was played on 28 May – at the same venue, Clifton won 24-17. This time around, it was one-way traffic as the One-Stripe crossed for eight tries.

They opened their account when Clifton missed a penalty kick at touch. Kearsney moved the ball quickly from the right flank to the left flank, and Sharks’ Craven Week back, Cameron Veenstra, playing at outside centre, ran a good support line to take a short pass from Bukho Hlwatika and go over.

Veenstra converted the try – he would go four for eight on conversion attempts – but it was the start of a fantastic day for the flyer. He added another two tries to finish with a hattrick and a personal haul of 23 points.

Kearsney won the tactical battle, playing most of their rugby camped inside the Clifton half and that, allied with their enthusiastic and hard-hitting defence, paid rich dividends. That’s how they landed their second try, with smothering defence in the Clifton 22 leading to a loose pass. Then, Valentino Lenge, with some fast feet, evaded the scrambling defence to make the dive for five. He dotted down twice on the day.

The visitors were able to build up a rhythm to their attacks, which began to flow nicely, and Blake Kruger, after Kearsney had moved the ball nicely through a number of phases, forcing their way up the field, broke away from a ruck, and scored from 32 metres out with a determined run.

Just before half-time, the One-Stripe’s captain, tighthead Anele Cele, was rewarded for his work off the ball, charging up in support of Murray Weyer, after the scrumhalf had made a searing break from a lineout, to take the final pass and crash over for a try.

With Cameron Veenstra making all four of his conversion kicks in the opening stanza, Kearsney led 28-0 at the break. He was less successful in the second half, failing to land any, but Cele and company crossed for another four tries to record their biggest win of the season.

There were two more for Veenstra, Lenge’s second and the last five-pointer from Rogan Strydom.

Successive wins for Kearsney gives their forthcoming outing against Michaelhouse on Stott Field on Saturday, 8 June, an exciting boost.

SCORES

Durban High School 23 (15) – Tries: Aka Boqwana, Zingce Simka, Adriano Jackson; Conversions: Aka Boqwana; Penalties: Aka Boqwana (2); Michaelhouse 10 (10) – Try: Luke Davidson; Conversion: Luke Davidson; Penalty: Luke Davidson

Maritzburg College 26 (14) – Tries: Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, Rambo Kubheka, Siya Nyathi, Ntsika Mkhize; Conversions: James Slevin (3); Hilton College 20 (8) – Tries: Xander Vorster (2), Ivan Jjuuko; Conversion: Xola Bakana; Penalty: Xola Bakana.

Clifton College 0 (0); Kearsney College 48 (28) – Tries: Cameron Veenstra (3), Valentino Lenge (2), Blake Kruger, Anele Cele, Rogan Strydom; Conversions: Cameron Veenstra (4).

OTHER RESULTS

DHS vs Michaelhouse

u19 – DHS II 31 Michaelhouse II 14; DHS III 29 Michaelhouse III 7; DHS IV 10 Michaelhouse IV 28; DHS V 0 Michaelhouse V 52; DHS VI

u16 – DHS A 32 Michaelhouse A 12; DHS B 12 Michaelhouse B 26; DHS C 14 Michaelhouse C 31; DHS D 0 Michaelhouse D 66

u15 – DHS A 13 Michaelhouse A 0; DHS B 10 Michaelhouse B 0; DHS C 7 Michaelhouse C 13; DHS D 25 Michaelhouse D 14

u14 – DHS A 50 Michaelhouse A 12; DHS B 62 Michaelhouse B 0; DHS C 51 Michaelhouse C 7; DHS D 40 Michaelhouse D 19

Maritzburg College vs Hilton and others

u19 – Maritzburg College II 24 Hilton College II 17: Maritzburg College III 24 Hilton College III 14: Maritzburg College IV 24 Hilton College IV 12; Maritzburg College V 17 Hilton College V 0; Maritzburg College VI 7 Curro Hillcrest I 35; Maritzburg College VII 34 Hilton College VI 5; Maritzburg College VIII 54 Hilton College VII 0; Maritzburg College IX 40 Curro Hillcrest II 19; Maritzburg College X 54 Hilton College VIII 0

u16 – Maritzburg College A 30 Hilton College A 15; Maritzburg College B 52 Hilton College B 0; Maritzburg College C 41 Hilton College C 0; Maritzburg College E 54 Michaelhouse E 12

u15 – Maritzburg College A 31 Hilton College A 6; Maritzburg College B 40 Hilton College B 0; Maritzburg College C 52 Hilton College C 0; Maritzburg College D 36 Curro Hillcrest A 21; Maritzburg College E 54 Hilton College D 0; Maritzburg College F 45 Michaelhouse F 0

u14 – Maritzburg College A 19 Hilton College A 15; Maritzburg College B 53 Hilton College A 12; Maritzburg College C 50 Hilton College C 0; Maritzburg College D 7 Curro Hillcrest A 10; Maritzburg College E 56 Michaelhouse E 0

Clifton College vs Kearsney College

u19 – Clifton College II 0 Kearsney College II 36; Clifton College III 0 Kearsney College VI 31

u16 – Clifton College A 24 Kearsney College A 38; Clifton College B 3 Kearsney College B 50

u15 – Clifton College A 3 Kearsney College A 40; Clifton College B 12 Kearsney College C 52

u14 – Clifton College A 12 Kearsney College A 5; Clifton College B 0 Kearsney College B 32

SACS managed to secure their first victory over Wynberg Boys’ High since 2019 thanks to a brace of tries by their star fullback, Jack Benade. The 30-29 victory is also the first since 2017 at Wynberg’s Hawthornden field.

Benade brace came in the first half to help his side enjoy a 25-17 lead at the break.

This was Wynberg’s fourth successive defeat after starting the season with impressive victories over Paarl Boys’ High (30-27), Kingswood College (35-7) and St Andrew’s College of Makhanda (43-21).

Wynberg has four players within the Western Province’s Craven Week squad that will travel to Krugersdorp later this month.

They are Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf), Xabiso Mkiva (hooker), Aden da Costa (flanker) and Torren February (loose forward). SACS doesn’t have any representation in the team.

Benade’s omission however did lift a couple of eyebrows in the southern suburbs as he didn’t make any of Western Province’s sides for the annual youth weeks. His performance against Wynberg Boys’ High is without a doubt a message to the WP selectors.

Wynberg will feel that the victory was within reach as they scored five tries while SACS scored four during the encounter. Ahmed had some tricky conversions and only managed to slot two of them. The flyhalf will be one of the contenders for being the South African Schools’ side’s general.

SACS’ tight-five consisting of Ethan Combrink, Ikhona Maxegwana (props), Sanga Zangqa (hooker), Callum Hirst and Pierre van Selm (locks) has become a formidable unit this term. They laid the platform for the victory while flanker Zac Wilson secured a couple of penalties at the breakdown.

Qawe Sawuka (flanker) also made a huge impact from the bench. In the back, Nick Reynolds (outside centre) soldiered on despite an injured elbow with another commendable performance.

Scorers: 

SACS 30 (25) – Tries: Jack Benade (2), Sango Zangqa, Qawe Sawuka. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (2). Penalties: Solomons (2). Wynberg Boys’ High 29 (17) – Tries: Morné Noble, Albert Lourens, Xabiso Mkiva, Aden da Costa, Torren February. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (2).

Other teams: 

u16A – Wynberg Boys’ High 19, SACS 12.
u15A – Wynberg Boys’ High 7, SACS 3.
u14A – SACS 17, Wynberg Boys’ High 10.

Rondebosch Boys’ High secures bragging rights against their old foe, Diocesan College, on the Piley Rees, defeating the hosts 31-16 in a Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools derby on Saturday.

The leafy Southern suburbs of Cape Town came to a standstill this past weekend as the “Bish-Bosch” derby took centre stage.

This cross-town rivalry that is played twice a season always presents itself as a blockbuster. The first instalment of this year’s fixture was exactly that.

The opening 10 minutes of the match was an arm wrestle between the two sides, with both sizing one another up.

The deadlock was broken in the 10th minute when Rondebosch’s forward pack flexed their muscle. The first try of the afternoon came from a well-set maul, where lock, Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, rumbled over to open his team’s account.

Flyhalf, David Simon, couldn’t add the extra two points. Rondebosch had an early lead of 5-0.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to reply. Three minutes later, Fullback, Lucca Mynhart stepped up to put his side on the board from 30 meters out. To some spectator’s surprise, the match-up so far was an even one. Rondebosch 5 Bishops 3.

Bishops found themselves in a period of good play with the bounce of the ball falling in their favour. With pressure mounting on the visitors’ try line, Bishops’ scrumhalf, Max Marr, found space as he sniped around the fringes of a ruck to dive over, uncontested, for his side’s first try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed. Bishops took the lead 8-5 with 22 minutes on the clock.

Bishops began to grow in confidence as the game went on with Rondebosch battling to get out of first gear. Their sustained pressure on the visitors paid off once more when they were awarded a kickable penalty. Mynhart’s boot added the three points. Bishops’ lead grew to 6 points with 28 minutes played.

This Rondebosch side, who have been notoriously slow starters this season fought back just before the halftime break against the run of play, once again using their forward pack to good effect. Hooker, Justin Amos’s impressive leg drive from the base of a ruck powered him over the try line. Simon converted his side’s second try to give his team a 1-point lead at the halftime break. Halftime – Bishops 11 Rondebosch 12.

Rondebosch came out firing in the second half, no doubt after getting a stern talking to by their coach. On paper and based on this season’s set of results, Rondebosch were the stronger side and they proved it in the second half.

Their pivot, David Simon finally found his rhythm as his side’s time in possession grew. Great inter-play between backs and forwards resulted in a try for tighthead prop, Matthew van der Merwe. The conversion was missed by Simon. Rondebosch 17 Bishops 11.

A barrage of attacks on the visitors’ try line was thrown the way of Rondebosch, which to their credit they absorbed incredibly well. This would prove to most onlookers to be the defining factor in this match. A turnover 3 meters from their line allowed Rondebosch to march downfield and they did.

The Rondebosch line out worked well all day and it bared fruit once more thanks to another well set maul. A well-timed break away down an unmarked blindside meant flanker and Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools Man of the Match, Joshua Neill could canter in for his team’s third try. The conversion by Simon was successful. Rondebosch 24 Bishops 11.

David Simon, the Rondebosch flyhalf had a game of two halves. The first half was fairly quiet. In the second half, however, he was in total control, pulling strings, managing where the game was being played thanks to an educated boot and providing his side with an “X” factor on attack.

Simon crafted his team’s final try of the afternoon with a chip kick in behind the Bishops’ defence for his fullback to chase. Dylan Miller regathered the ball thanks to a favourable bounce and ran in a spectacular try. Simon’s conversion was good. Rondebosch with a comfortable lead 31-11 with 20 minutes remaining.

Bishops sparked into life as they could sense this derby result running away from them. They replied with a score of their own within minutes of conceding.

A sharp quick tap allowed them to catch the Rondebosch defence on the back foot and gave their speedster, Alex Newton the chance to show off his pace, power and agility to score in the corner. The touchline conversion by Mynhart was missed. Rondebosch 31 Bishops 16.

Rondebosch managed the game to its completion with Bishops unable to add any more points to the scoreboard. A derby of two halves, the first tightly contested and the second an exhibition of free-flowing rugby. It really did have it all. There’s no doubt the return fixture in a few weeks at Rondebosch will once again be a blockbuster.

Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Joshua Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High)

Scorers: 

Rondebosch Boys’ High 31 (12) – Tries: Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, Justin Amos, Matthew van der Merwe, Joshua Neill, Dylan Miller. Conversions: David Simon (3). Diocesan College 16 (11) – Tries: Max Marr, Alex Newton. Penalties: Lucca Mynhardt (2).

Other teams: 

u19B – Rondebosch Boys’ High 26, Bishops 12.
u16A – Rondebosch Boys’ High 21, Bishops 18.
u15A – Rondebosch Boys’ High 21, Bishops 0.
u14A – Rondebosch Boys’ High 22, Bishops 10.

PRETORIA – Dit ly geen twyfel meer dat Hoërskool Garsfontein uiteindelik op alle silinders vuur nie.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Pretorianers het vir die tweede agtereenvolgende week hul spiere nét so ‘n bietjie ekstra gebult in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling om die besoekende Hoërskool Rustenburg met nóg ‘n reuse telling van 74-12 die loef af te steek.

Daarmee het die Bere nou 164 punte in hul afgelope twee wedstryde opgestapel, terwyl hy slegs 26 afgestaan het.

Saterdag het Garsies se veelsydige kaptein, Luan Olivier, die kollig gesteel. Olivier het die seisoen op oopkantflank begin, maar gedurende die tweede kwartaal sy weg na die middeveld gevind waar hy vir die Rusties dronk gehardloop het.

Hy het deurgaans die eerste linie van verdediging geklop om meters veld te wen en ook aan sy ervare buitesenter, Ruan Enslin, die spasie te bied waarna hy heel seisoen reeds smag.

Die drieëvraat op linkervleuel, Junaide Stuart, het sy vermoë om af te rond ook weer tentoongestel om twee keer agter die Rusties se doellyn te gaan draai.

Die Garsie-agttal, onderleiding van agtsteman, Aiden King, was ook, vir die eerste keer sedert hul kragmeting met Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, op hul stukke, en die meedoënlose druk wat hulle toegepas het té veel vir die besoekers. Dit het die grondslag gelê vir die Bere se verstommende vertoning in die tweede helfte.

Hulle het verbasend genoeg teen rustyd met 10-12 agtergeloop, maar voet in die hoek gesit na die omdraaislag om 64 punte in slegs 35 minute aan te teken.

In Alberton het Hoërskool Marais Viljoen se strawwe seisoen nog moeiliker geraak nadat hulle met 34-64 teen Hoërskool Monument vasgeval het. Teen rustyd was die tuisspan nog met slegs 15-22 agter, maar ‘n ewe indrukwekkende vertoning deur die Wit Bulle in die tweede skof het die uiteindelike wegholsege tot gevolg gehad.

Ernesto Oersen, normaalweg linkervleuel, het Saterdag op buitesenter uitgedraf en blitsig sy voete gevind. Oersen se vaart en venynige voetwerk maak van hom ‘n puik speler en hy het daarmee die tuisspan se middeveld deurentyd onder groot druk geplaas.

Steelkantflank, RJ Barnard, gaan ook van krag tot krag sedert hy in die Leeus se Cravenweekspan opgeneem is. Barnard het vir die soveelste keer vanjaar die opposisie laat les opsê met sy kragtige lopies in die middeveld en het uitstekende ondersteuning in die opsig ontvang van agtsteman, Vincent Roberts.

Die tuisspan se kaptein en steelkantflank, Dian Scheepers, was oudergewoonte uitstaande op die vedediging. Sy vermoeë om die spel te lees het ook gelei dat hy agter die besoekers se doellyn kon gaan kuier na hy twee keer onderskep het. Sy agtsteman, Rio Tshimbalanga, en slot, Bjorn Pieterse, het goeie ondersteuning gebied. Albei was uiters fisiek e het moedig probeer om hul span oor die voordeellyn te kry.

Puntemakers: 

Garsfontein 74 (10) – Drieë: Aiden King (2), Junaide Stuart (2), Ethan van Wyk, Justin Blom, James Schetler, Thinus Oosthuizen, Luann Olivier, Ruan Enslin, Handre Maree, Wihan Bezuidenhout. Doelskoppe: Junade Pasensie (7). Hoërskool Rustenburg 12 (12) – Drieë: Christiaan van der Bergh (2). Doelskop: Lorenzo Snyers.

Monument 64 (22) – Drieë: Ernesto Oersen (3), Jason Joubert (2), Geofrry French, RJ Barnard, Kealan Milton, Tasliem Guyan, Kiyan Pretorius. Doelskoppe: Cruz La Moer (4), Calum Schooney (3). Marais Viljoen 34 (15) – Drieë: Dian Scheepers (2), Rio Tshimbalanga, Devin Raubenheimer, Bjorn Pieterse, Brandon Els. Doelskoppe: Els (2).

Ander spanne: 

o.16: Hoërskool Rustenburg 13, Garsfontein 10; Monument 80, Marais Viljoen 0.

o.15: Garsfontein 57, Hoërskool Rustenburg 7; Monument 63, Marais Viljoen 5.

o.14: Garsfontein 24, Hoërskool Rustenburg 10; Monument 61, Marais Viljoen 14.

BOKSBURG. – Daar is steeds twee onoorwonne spanne oor in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling.

Die twee onoorwonne spanne, EG Jansen en Waterkloof, het Saterdag in Boksburg met 32-elk gelykop gespeel. Albei spanne het ook ‘n bonusput vir vier drieë verdien.

Die Jansies se vaskopstut, Duwan Potgieter, tel sonder twyfel onder die voorste skolespelers in sy posisie vanjaar. Hy het weer sy span van voor gelei en sy werksverrigting is sonder weerga.

Buiten Potgieter het die slot Gerhard van Aswegen en die haker, Danré Pike, ook skitterende vertonings opgedis.

Die Klofies het vroeër vanjaar in Boksburg vir EG Jansen met 45-38 in die doodsnikke van hul NWU-reeks kragmeting verslaan.

Waterkloof se binnesenter, Happy Makate, was op sy stukke, terwyl die agtsteman, Marko Kok, ook elke keer met die bal in die hand ‘n hele paar verdedigers besig gehou het.

Garsfontein het sy mojo terug en het 64 punte in die tweede helfte ingeryg om vir Hoërskool Rustenburg met 74-12 af te ransel.

Die Rusties het teen lemoentyd ‘n voorsprong van 12-10 op Bere-park geniet. Watookal die Turkoois Bere se hooafrigter, Johan du Plessis, aan sy span gesê het, het gewerk.

Die span se kaptein en binnesenter, Luann Olivier, begin al meer sy voete in die middelveld vind. Hoewel hy die Ligbloues vir ‘n tweede agtereenvolgende jaar as flank op die Cravenweek sal verteenwoordig lê sy toekoms dalk in die middelveld.

Voorlangs het die flank, Stefan Pretorius, asook die flank Thinus Oosthuizen ook uitmuntend vertoon.

Helpmekaar-kollege het met ‘n sege van 33-17 oor Noordheuwel in Krugersdorp getoon dat hulle ook nog aanspraakmakers in die reeks is.

Die wenspan se vaskopstut, Ulrich van der Merwe, het met sy stormramlopies sy span deurgans op die voorvoet gehou. Indien hy sy vertonings op die Cravenweek later die maand voortsit sal hy ‘n sterk aanspraakmakers op ‘n SA Skole-trui wees.

Agterlangs het die buitesenter, Ty Ax, ‘n uitstekende wedstryd teen die hoog aangeskrewe Cheswill Jooste beleef. Jooste was verlede jaar een van die voorste heelagters op skolevlak in Suid-Afrika, maar kon nog nie dieselfde spelpeil in die middelveld herwin nie.

Hopelik kan hy tydens die Cravenweek op heelagter weer uitsonderlike talent ten toon stel.

Monument het in Alberton vir Marais Viljoen met 64-34 kaf gedraf. Die span van Krugersdorp se flank RJ Barnard het saam met die agtsteman, Vincent Roberts, voorlangs die pap dik aangemaak.

Ernesto Oersen het op buitesenter ook gewys dat hy ook hier deur sy afrigter, Tjaart van der Walt, ingespan kan word indien nodig. Oersen, wat gewoonlik op vleuel uitdraf, se dartellopies is net so effektief in die middelveld.

In die Kaap se suidelike voorstede het SACS met ‘n naelskraapse sege van 30-29 oor Wynberg Boys’ High sake goed deurmekaar gekrap. Die wenspan se heelagter, Jack Benadé, het met twee drieë ook vir oulaas tong vir die Westelike Provinsie se keurders uitgesteek.

Rondebosch Boys’ High het vir Bishops met 31-16 die loef afgesteek. Bishops het wel moedig vertoon en Rondebosch het teen rustyd ‘n naelskraapse voorsprong van 12-11 geniet.

In die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Groep 2 begin sake na die besigheidskant toe staan.

Die titel as Puma-kampioen sal aan die Hoërskool Ermelo of Lydenburg behoort. Die Erries het sy plek in die eindstryd met ‘n sege van 25-13 oor Ferrum van Newcastle bespreek.

In die ander halfeindstryd het Lydenburg vir Rob Ferreira met 34-27 verslaan.

In Limpopo het Ellisras vir Frikkie Meyer van Thabazimbi in ‘n titaniese stryd met 25-22 getroef. Albei dié spanne gaan ook vanjaar sterk aanspraakmakers op die Noordvaal-titel wees.

Die verdedigende kampioen, Midstream College, het in die Blou Bulle-liga vir Overkruin met 33-27 geklop.

Al die uitslae:

Skolerugby-uitslae – 1 Junie 2024  

SDC NOORDVAAL CUP

Groep 1

Beker: EG Jansen 32, Waterkloof 32; Helpmekaar 33, Noordheuwel 17; Garsfontein 74, Hoërskool Rustenburg 12; Monument 64, Marais Viljoen 34.

Groep 2

Blou Bulle: Midstream College 33, Overkruin 27; Centurion 32, Hoërskool Tuine 20; Bergsig Akademie 25, Pretoria-Noord 22; Wonderboom 25, HTS John Vorster 22. Limpopo: Ellisras 25, Frikkie Meyer 22; Hans Strijdom 29, Nylstroom 17; Frans du Toit 33, HTS Tom Naudé 24. Pumas: Ermelo 25, Ferrum 13; Lydenburg 34, Rob Ferreira 27. Valke: Oosterlig 43, Hoërskool Sasolburg 14; Brandwag (Benoni) 29, Leeuwenhof 19; Hans Moore 50, Driehoek 7.

Groep 3                                                                                           

Limpopo: Piet Potgieter 31, Northern Academy 21; Louis Trichardt 38, Curro Heuwelkruin 7.

KWAZULU-NATAL

Durban High School 23, Michaelhouse 10; St Charles College 32, Glenwood 19; Kearsney College 48, Clifton 0; Maritzburg College 26, Hilton College 20; Northwood 30, Westville Boys’ High 27.

NOORDVAAL

Pretoria Boys’ High 36, St John’s College 24; St Alban’s College 42, St Benedict’s College 7; Parktown Boys’ High 24, St David’s Marist 19; Cornwall Hill College 8, St Andrew’s (Bloemfontein) 3; Warmbad 76, Stanford Lake College 16.

OOS-KAAP

Graeme College 31, Dale College 0; HTS Port Rex 21, Cambridge 15;  Mary Water 0, Kingswood College II 25.

WES-KAAP

Rondebosch Boys’ High 31, Diocesan College 16; SACS 30, Wynberg Boys’ High 29.

BOKSBURG – Na ‘n strawwe stryd in Boksburg is daar steeds nie duidelikheid oor wie van Hoërskool Dr. EG Jansen of Hoërskool Waterkloof as voorloper in die wedloop beskou kan word nie.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die wipplankstryd tussen hierdie twee Noordvaal-reuse het vir ‘n volle 70 minute van opwinding gesorg, maar toe die eindfluitjie blaas moes hulle blad skud met die telling op 32-32.

In teenstelling met die vorige ontmoeting tussen die twee spanne, was dit die Jansies se Arende wat vinnigste uit die blokke was met hul indrukwekkende oopkantflank, Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar, wat na skaars drie minute die bal van Divan Francis ontvang het om oor te bars vir die eerste drie. Slot, Gerhard van Aswegen, het kort daarna sy bedrieglike vaart tentoongestel om dieselfde te vermag.

Die Jansies se stormverdediging het heelwat druk op die besoekers geplaas wat, vernaam in die eerste helfte, aanleiding gegee het tot ongedwonge foute en swak besluitneming deur die Klofies. Dit was eers kort voor rustyd dat Waterkloof bresse in die verdediging kon slaan deur linkervleuel, Jayden Badenhorst.

Die twee agttalle het mekaar goed opgedreun, met reuse duikslae en fisieke barslopies wat die toeskouers telkens na hul asem laat snak het. Die Arende se vaskopstut en kaptein, Duwan Potgieter, het van voor gelei in dié opsig, met ‘n paar van sy plettervatte wat die Klofies traag laat opstaan het.

Marko Kok, die Klofies se agsteman, is beslis iemand vir die groot oomblik en dit was die skitterende individuele lopie waarmee hy die doellyn oorgesteek het, wat in die tweede helfte die momentum meer in die besoekers se guns geswaai het.

In die “moet-wen” kragmeting op Krugersdorp was Helpmekaar Kollege met ‘n telling van 33-17 té goed vir die tuisspan, Hoërskool Noordheuwel. Dié kritieke oorwinning hou vir die span van Johannesburg in die wedloop om die uitspeelrondes te haal.

Die Helpies se voorspelers het ‘n goed afgeronde vertoning gelewer, en nie bloot in die vaste fasette gewoeker nie maar soms die bal ook lekker lug gegee en ‘n soliede grondslag vir die agterlyn gelê. Vaskopstut, Ulrich “Baksteen” van der Merwe, was voor in die koor met sy energieke vertoning op sowel die aanval as verdediging.

Agterlangs was Helpies se losskakel, Michael Benzien, uitstaande en het ál 13 die besoekers se punte voor rustyd aangeteken. Dit het ‘n drie, doelskop en twee strafdoele ingesluit. Hy het puik ondersteuning ontvang van buitesenter, Ty Ax, wat se drie die finale spyker in die Nories se kis was.

Die Blues se Andrew Lambert, wat in die plek van die beseerde Brad Brown op agsteman diens gedoen het, het sy hand opgesteek en sy hoë werkverrigting, verál op verdediging, is kort voor rustyd met een van sy span se drie drieë beloon.

Puntemakers:

Dr. EG Jansen 32 (24) – Drieë: Gerhard van Aswegen (2), Zade-Leigh Rippenaar, Ettienne Smit. Doelskoppe: Matthew Bergman (2). Strafdoele: Bergman (2). Waterkloof 32 (15) – Drieë: Jayden Badenhorst, Marko Kok, Dennis Obi. Doelskop: Ronan Bastiaanse. Strafdoele: Bastiaanse (3).

Helpmekaar Kollege 33 (13) – Drieë: Michael Benzien, Delano Maritz, Eugene de Lange, Ty Ax. Doelskoppe: Benzien (2). Strafdoele: Benzien (4). Noordheuwel 17 (0) – Drieë: Andrew Lambert, Ethan Smith, Jared Coetzee. Doelskop: Jade Muller.

Ander spanne: 

o.16: Dr. EG Jansen 26, Waterkloof 17; Noordheuwel 33, Helpmekaar 14.

o.15: Dr. EG Jansen 38, Waterkloof 29; Noordheuwel 42, Helpmekaar 14.

o.14: Waterkloof 13, Dr. EG Jansen 3; Helpmekaar 26, Noordheuwel 15.

Forty-five years.

That’s the experience Marais Viljoen will benefit from when Hans Coetzee or “Oom Hans“, as he’s known among those who’ve been coached by him, takes up a position at the Alberton school. He’s been welcomed with open arms.

Kearsney College put together a clinical performance as they romped to a 3-0 win over Clifton, while Michaelhouse upset DHS in a five-goal thriller, edging out their highly regarded opposition 3-2, at The Coliseum.

Kearsney headed into their match against Clifton upbeat following a 4-0 demolition job against Glenwood. In that game, their captain and talisman, Matthew Mendes de Oliviera, scored twice. They needed more of that from him when they walked onto the Riverside Sports Club Astro against Calvin Price‘s charges.

From the first pass back, it was Clifton who controlled the early exchanges. They made forays into the Kearsney half, searching for an opener.

A mere 10 minutes into the encounter, Kearsney, who had enjoyed only about 10 percent of the possession, latched onto a ball and drove up into the Clifton half. It was their first attack of the match, and it brought them a goal, scored by Bonga Mapanga, who executed a classy back-stick finish into the bottom corner from the top of the circle.

“Clifton were all over us for the entire first quarter, but we were able to keep them out of our scoring area. This allowed us to play quite expressively in the second period of play,” Kearsney coach Ashley Kemp said.

In the second chukka, Kearsney won a penalty corner, which provided De Olivera with an opportunity to add another goal to his growing tally. The Kearsney captain dribbled past Clifton’s first-wave runner and flicked the ball past Clifton goalkeeper Georg Wolhuter to double Kearsney’s lead.

The Greyhounds’ third goal came in the final quarter when Keagan de Jager sent a flick flying into the top corner of the goal box.

“We got better and better as the game progressed. We defended really well and didn’t give them many opportunities to score. And when they did get an opportunity, our ‘keeper was good enough to stop them,” Kemp said afterwards.

DHS has been one of the form teams this season and is loaded with provincial and national players. Ahead of their showdown with the Horseflies, Michaelhouse coach Nick Bérichon had prepared his charges well.

“We were really organised offensively and defensively. Our approach was extremely structured, which was important against a DHS team that likes to go forward on the counterattack. We wanted to make sure we had our cover and defence well organised,” Bérichon said.

The preparation paid off as Michaelhouse, after going a goal down, took the initiative and scored their opening goal when Thandanani Zuma converted a penalty corner. Soon, they had edged in front. Then, West Mitchell-Innes, who has developed a knack for finding the back of the net this season, scored ‘House’s third.

With a two-goal cushion, the result looked done and dusted. DHS was not done, however, and they kept searching for another goal, which would give them a shot at a draw, and maybe even a win.

They were rewarded with a second goal late into the fourth period. Unfortunately for them, it was too little too late to turn the match.

The victors, Kearsney and Michaelhouse, have set the stage for a potential humdinger when they clash next week.

RESULTS

Michaelhouse 3-2 DHS
Clifton 0-3 Kearsney

Northwood pulled off a 1-0 win over Westville in a lively encounter under the night sky on Friday. Then, on Saturday morning, Glenwood grabbed a 5-4 win over St Charles, while Maritzburg College shared the spoils with Hilton College.

Justin Collins’ charges took advantage of an energetic start to their clash with Westville to take the lead through an Isaac Phiri goal in the first chukka, after a superb assist from Andrew Deeb. That goal, however, brought Westville to life.

Cameron Mackay’s boys were keen to put on a show for their old boys, which would require that they bounce back from adversity. The Griffin launched wave upon wave of attacks on the Northwood goal but found no joy.

The Knights had not assigned themselves the role of sitting ducks. They didn’t sit and wait for the home side to come at them. They launched their own forays into the Westville half, where they were met by an equally robust defence.

“Both teams played a really good game. It was good to play in front of the Westville old boys. Well done to Cam Mackay and his boys for a great game,” Collins said afterwards.

“They were good tactically and we did well to keep them out when they attacked. I am happy with our defensive effort, really pleased that we kept a clean sheet.”

On Saturday morning, at the 3 Schools Astro, Glenwood squeezed out a victory over St Charles in a high-scoring encounter that saw nine goals being recorded. It was a morale-boosting win for the Durban side after a challenging season in which their progress has been visible without producing wins.

They stuck five goals past Saints, whose strikers responded with four of their own. The home team was boosted by the inclusion of a number of juniors who were drafted into the first team, including 16-year-old Kayden Henderson, who scored a brace.

“We fought hard. Our programme is heading in the right direction,” Glenwood coach Braydon Naidoo said. “We needed that win. Our juniors stepped up well.”

In Pietermaritzburg, on Pape’s Astro, Maritzburg College settled for a draw with Hilton College.

Both sides were slow and shaky in the early going. College, who have developed a habit of starting strongly and controlling the tempo of the game, were slow out of the blocks against their opponents from the top of Town Hill. Kyle Emerson’s charges committed too many unforced errors. As a result, they failed to string together phases of play.

Neither team was at their best. “The mistakes we made meant that we couldn’t build momentum,” Emerson explained.

The College team that everyone had been expecting emerged in the second half. They took control of the contest and played with better connections, creating chances. However, it was Hilton who scored the first goal, midway into the fourth chukka and against the run of play, through a flowing counterattack.

College replied almost immediately, setting up an opportunity through a good build-up and then piling pressure on Hilton’s defenders inside the visitors’ circle, where they turned over possession and turned that into a goal.

Emerson’s boys kept pressing and they came close to taking the lead when they hit the crossbar from a penalty corner. Three minutes later, they won another PC and got off a shot on target, but the ‘keeper dealt with it and the game ended 1-1.

RESULTS

Friday
Northwood 1 – 0 Westville.

Saturday
Maritzburg College 1 – 1 Hilton
Glenwood 5 – 4 St Charles