Hoërskool Die Anker se reuse dieselenjin het Saterdagmiddag op sy tuisveld in Brakpan verwoed voortgestoom om ‘n belangrike sege van 55-36 oor Heidelberg Volkskool te verseker.
Die span van Brakpan se welbekende agttal het onderstreep hóé gevaarlik hy is wanneer hy op alle silinders vuur en die grondslag gelê vir 33 punte in die tweede helfte.
Die Volkies het tot en met rustyd nog moedig verdedig om binne trefafstand te bly en met die omdraaislag slegs ‘n skrale agterstand van 19-22 in die gesig gestaar.
Die Anker se ramkat-agsteman en kaptein, Ruben Herbst, het egter ander planne gehad en Volkies na halftyd gekasty met genadelose stormlopies wat aan hom nogmaals ‘n driekuns aan drieë besorg het. Dit het die vuur onder die res van die pak aangesteek, met Brendan van Lutterveld (2) en Branden Sauerman wat ook gedruk het. Buitesenter, Arno Krugel, met ‘n tweekuns van sy eie, was die tuisspan se enigste agterspeler wat agter die doellyn gaan draai het.
JV Badella, wat met sy veelsydigheid beïndruk sedert sy insluiting in die Heidelbergers se beginspan, het hierdie slag vir Volkies uitgetroon op heelagter nadat hy vroeër in die seisoen ook op senter en vleuel uitgedraf het.
In Springs, het Hoërskool Lichtenburg, se agttal, nes Die Anker s’n, die septer geswaai met vier van die Liggies se vyf drieë wat deur voorspelers gedruk is om vir Hoërskool Hugenote met 31-17 die loef af te steek. Haker, David Passetti, en vaskopstut, Juan van Rhyn, het verál die lewe vir die Hugies moeilik gemaak, terwyl oopkantflank, MC Shanahan, ‘n doring in die los was.
Luan Pretorius, die tuisspan se haker, het self ‘n uithalervertoning gelewer en sy tweestryd met Passetti was beslis een van die hoogtepunte, terwyl kantmant, Migael Swart, regoor die veld te sien was.
Hoërskool Pietersburg het op Hoërskool Piet Retief se Jack Botes-stadion met 22-13 baasgespeel in Saterdag se “Pieties-stryd”. Dié oorwinning met nege punte was grotendeels toe te skryf aan ‘n uitstaande vertoning op verdediging in die tweede helfte, met oopkantflank, Andru de Beer, en kaptein, Juan Jansen van Vuuren, wat selde deurkomkans vir die tuisspan gebied het. De Beer het ook gewoeker by die afbreekpunte, om Piet Retief se momentum verder aan bande te lê.
St Stithians’ fullback Omphile Maphira goes airborne as he is hit in a tackle. Photo: Brad Morgan.
When the final whistle sounded on Stott Field on Saturday, St Stithians College might have been left wondering how they had lost. Kearsney College, though, celebrated a last-gasp 26-25 King Price Derby Series victory on their Founders Day.
“It was not a great performance, but a fantastic result,” Kearsney coach Grant Bashford told SuperSport Schools Plus afterwards.
“If I’m honest with you. that’s probably our worst performance of the season. To get out of jail and win like that shows character.
“It’s a young group. We’ve known it’s going to be like this this year, but a win like that does so much for next year. Also, for the four matrics that are in the team, that’s a nice way to send them off.”
After opening the scoring with a scintillating counterattacking try from deep in their half, which was finished behind the poles by Bukho Hlwatika, the One-Stripeended up playing catch-up for much of the contest.
Unfortunately for Kearsney, they lost their influential fullback and kicker, Lwazi Mbebe, to an injury shortly after taking the lead. That put pressure on the shoulders of vice-captain Doan Nel, who took over the kicking duties.
In the eighth minute, St Stithians struck back from a blindside move. Loosehead prop Ethan Coetzee was stopped just short of the try line, but he pulled off a fantastic pass inside to the big lock, Luke Thorrold, who spun and twisted his way over for five points.
Kearsney was struggling to string passes together, with Saints contesting every ball in the loose, which upset the home side’s rhythm. They looked out of sorts.
A couple of minutes before the break, Thorrold, a big man with a great engine, grabbed his second try, forcing his way over from close range after the St Stithians’ forwards had laid siege to the Kearsney line. It looked like a simple conversion kick, but it missed the target, leaving the visitors 15-7 to the good.
Right on halftime, Doan Nel had an opportunity to reduce the deficit to five points, but his kick was wide right.
Reflecting on his halftime talk, Kearsney coach Grant Bashford said: “I told them we had somehow played our worst half of the season. It felt like we had defended the whole time. We overplayed in the first 20 minutes, playing too much in our half and not turning them.
“The second half wasn’t that much better, to be honest with you. We showed bits and pieces. We had quite a few line breaks that we didn’t finish, but we hung in there.
“If we finished one or two of those line breaks, I think the result could have been a lot different. But we didn’t play well, and we won, which shows character.”
In the fifth minute of the second half, the One-Stripe had the old boys up on their feet cheering when they scored an electrifying try. It began with a scum on halfway, wide on the left.
With the ball heading down the backline, Hlwatika was played into a half-gap and, as he was scragged, he released a chicken-wing pass to left-wing Lwandle Mkhize, who had looped around. He feinted in, then out, before hitting the gas and speeding clear of the covering tacklers to finish the move with a dive in the right-hand corner.
Lwandle Mkhize finishes off a sizzling Kearsney attack in the right-hand corner early in the second half. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Nel made the challenging kick count and St Stithians led by only one point. They were next to score, though.
With flyhalf Wilson briefly off the field, inside centre Reece Hubner sent a penalty between the posts to increase the gap to four points.
Kearsney, then, thought they were away for a try after the impressive Keanu Williamson sliced through the St Stithians’ defence, but his pass to flyhalf Jayden Jonsson was adjudged to be forward.
Instead, Saints struck again. An innocuous-looking chip from flyhalf Wilson, who was back on the field, sat up invitingly for outside centre Sicelo Sakawuli, who snatched it out of the air and spun away from Buhlo Hlwatika. The Kearsney wing recovered to drag down Sakawuli just inside the 22, but Wilson was on the centre’s shoulder to take a short pass and accelerate away for a try just to the left of the poles.
He also added the extras to make it 25-14 to the visitors.
With five minutes remaining, Kearsney gave themselves a glimmer of hope. Eighthman Nhlanhla Ndlovu was almost over from a five-metre lineout, but captain Simanye Mlakalaka provided the finish.
This time, though, Doan Nel was unable to convert from a position similar to where Mkhize had scored at the start of the half. There were six points in it.
With the scoreboard showing time up, Kearsney launched one last desperate attack. Just shy of the Saints’ 22, left-wing Mkhize was brought down. But, as he fell near the touchline, he flipped the ball up, out of the back of his hand.
Nel, on his inside, grabbed the pass. As he was tackled, he popped the ball nside to Williamson, who was met five metres out. He kept his legs pumping, extended his body as he was brought to ground, and forced the ball down over the try line in a tackle.
Kearsney centre Keanu Williamson scored at the death to give his side a chance at victory. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The pressure shifted to Doan Nel. He was faced with a challenging conversion.
When he struck the ball, it appeared to be to the left of the uprights, but then it faded left to right and bisected the posts. Nel raised his arms and Kearsney’s supporters charged onto the field in celebration.
Not so fast! Although time was up on the scoreboard, the referee said there was a little more to go. St Stithians won the ball back from the kick off, but when flyhalf Wilson tried a kick out wide to the left, the home side fielded the ball, and Jayden Jonsson put the finishing touches on an improbable victory by hoofing it into touch.
It truly was a great escape. It also brought to an end a run of four Kearsney losses against top opposition – Maritzburg College, Westville Boys’ High, Durban High School (DHS), and Michaelhouse – in matches in which the scores had probably not done Kearsney justice.
“College, at Goldstone’s, on their Old Boys’ Day was massive. There were probably 15 000 people there,” Bashford said.
“We were at Westville on their Old Boys’ Day. In both of those games, despite the final score, we were in them for long time, so this will hopefully galvanise us and give us a little more confidence going into next year.”
Looking back on the season, he concluded: “We haven’t had the power, so we have had to play a bit like Japan, but it’s exciting to play like that, as well.”
Scores
Kearsney College 26 (7) – Tries: Bukho Hlwatika, Lwandle Mkhize, Simanye Mlakalaka, Keanu Williamson. Conversions: Doan Nel (2), Lwazi Mbebe; St Stithians College 25 (15) – Tries: Luke Thorrold (2), Oliver Wilson. Conversions: Oliver Wilson (2). Penalties: Oliver Wilson, Reece Hubner.
Results
u19 – Kearsney I 26 St Stithians I 25; Kearsney II 31 St Stithians II 0; Kearsney III 75 St Stithians III 0; Kearsney IV 60 St Stithians IV 5; Kearsney V 57 St Stithians II 0.
u16 – Kearsney A 67 St Stithians A 12; Kearsney B 31 St Stithians B 14; Kearsney C 56 St Stithians C 12.
u15 – Kearsney A 40 St Stithians A 10; Kearsney B 26 St Stithians B 7; Kearsney C 35 St Stithians C 5.
u14 – Kearsney A 57 St Stithians A 3; Kearsney B 27 St Stithians B 5; Kearsney C 21 St Stithians C 19
The World Rugby u20 Championship 2025 will take place in Italy from 29 June to 19 July 2025.
Played over five match days in four cities across the Lombardia and Veneto regions, the u20 Rugby World Cup features the 12 best u20 nations competing for the world title.
World Rugby u20 Championship 2025 Final Standings
Winner
South Africa u20
Runner-up
New Zealand u20
Bronze
Argentina u20
4th Place
France u20
5th Place
Australia u20
6th Place
England u20
7th Place
Italy U20
8th Place
Wales U20
9th Place
Georgia u20
10th Place
Scotland u20
11th Place
Ireland U20
12th Place
Spain U20
PLAY-OFF STAGE FIXTURES
Monday 14 July 2025
9th Place Semi-Final
Georgia u20
43-12
Spain u20
15:30
5th Place Semi-Final
England u20
51-13
Wales u20
15:30
9th Place Semi-Final
Ireland u20
21-22
Scotland u20
18:00
Semi Final 1
France u20
26-34
New Zealand u20
18:00
5th Place Semi-Final
Italy u20
21-44
Australia u20
20:30
Semi Final 2
South Africa u20
48-24
Argentina u20
20:30
Saturday 19 July 2025
11th Place Play-Off
Spain u20
37-38
Ireland u20
15:30
7th Place Play-Off
Italy u20
31-23
Wales u20
15:30
3rd Place Play-Off
France u20
35-38
Argentina u20
18:00
5th Place Play-Off
Australia u20
68-40
England u20
18:00
9th Place Play-Off
Georgia u20
22-7
Scotland u20
20:30
Final
South Africa u20
23-15
New Zealand u20
20:30
GROUP STAGE FIXTURES
Sunday 29 June 2025
15:30
England u20
56-19
Scotland u20
15:30
Australia u20
17-73
South Africa u20
18:00
France u20
49-11
Spain u20
18:00
Ireland u20
35-28
Georgia u20
20:30
Argentina u20
34-27
Wales u20
20:30
New Zealand u20
14-5
Italy u20
Friday 4 July 2025
15:30
France u20
35-21
Wales u20
15:30
Australia u20
34-20
Scotland u20
18:00
England u20
22-32
South Africa u20
18:00
New Zealand u20
38-19
Georgia u20
20:30
Argentina u20
33-30
Spain u20
20:30
Ireland u20
16-18
Italy u20
Wednesday 9 July 2025
15:30
Wales u20
35-25
Spain u20
15:30
South Africa u20
73-14
Scotland u20
18:00
England u20
36-33
Australia u20
18:00
New Zealand u20
69-22
Ireland u20
20:30
France u20
52-26
Argentina u20
20:30
Georgia u20
19-19
Italy u20
GROUP STAGE POINTS TABLE
Pool A
P
W
D
L
PD
Pts
1
South Africa u20
3
3
0
0
+125
15
2
England u20
3
2
0
1
+30
10
3
Australia u20
3
1
0
2
-49
7
4
Scotland u20
3
0
0
3
-106
0
Pool B
P
W
D
L
PD
Pts
1
France u20
3
3
0
0
+78
15
2
Argentina u20
3
2
0
1
-16
11
3
Wales u20
3
1
0
2
-11
6
4
Spain u20
3
0
0
3
-51
2
Pool C
P
W
D
L
PD
Pts
1
New Zealand u20
3
3
0
0
+75
14
2
Italy u20
3
1
1
1
-7
6
3
Ireland u20
3
1
0
2
-42
6
4
Georgia u20
3
0
1
2
-26
4
The winners of each pool and the best-placed second-ranked team (fourth seed) will advance to the semi-finals.
A try right at the death saw St Andrew’s College to victory over Kingswood in a heart-stopping K-Day thriller. Photo: St Andrew’s College on Facebook.
In a finish which could not have been more frenetic, St Andrew’s College snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when Asante Chivere crossed for the winning try in the final minute of their King Price Derby Series clash with Kingswood College at City Lords, in Makhanda, on Saturday.
Although the conversion missed, the final whistle went straight afterwards for a 25-22 victory, which returned the bragging rights to St Andrew’s after a 22-22 draw last year.
The visitors trailed Kingswood by two points for most of the last quarter of the match after the home side took the lead for the first time in the 49th minute with a try by left wing Kevin Barnes.
That score by Barnes nearly ended in dismay for Kingswood when he was ever so close to being tackled into touch as he executed an extravagant dive over the tryline. But the referee ruled that the try was good and, although Praise Matsila missed the tough touchline conversion, Kingswood had edged ahead 22-20.
From there, it was a typical K-Day derby, full of passion and commitment by both sides as they fought to secure the victory.
St Andrew’s had an opportunity to retake the lead in the 65th minute, but the normally dependable Will Stevens pulled his kick just wide of the uprights.
However, the Andreans stayed in the hunt and in a brilliant period of control and precision in the last few minutes they worked their way deep into Kingswood territory through a number of phases.
As the home side’s players worked furiously to defend their line, eventually a skip pass to the right gave Chivere enough space to step past the cover defence to slam the ball down over the whitewash for a memorable, match-winning score.
Earlier, St Andrew’s had shown their willingness to run the ball, and they took their chances to lead 17-7 at halftime.
Hooker Amo Habi scored their first try after the forwards created momentum up front and later No. 8 Josh van Zyl went over from a lineout move, which outwitted the Kingswood defence and left Van Zyl with a huge gap to charge through at the back of the set piece.
Stevens added a penalty and two conversions in the first half.
Kingswood showed enterprise to score their first points. They took a quick tap, which eventually resulted in prop Junior Ndlazi bashing his way over, with Praise Matsila adding the conversion.
Four minutes after the break, Kingswood created one of their best moves of the match when wing James Mackenzie sent an inside pass to Matthew Paxton, who beat a few defenders and showed a burst of speed to score a superb try out wide on the right, converted by Matsila (17-14).
After Stevens and Matsila swopped penalties (20-17), Barnes went over for the Kingswood’s third try to put the spectators on the edge of their seats for the rest of the match.
But, eventually, it was the blue jerseys of St Andrew’s that had reason to celebrate after the final whistle.
Scorers:
St Andrew’s College 25 (17) – Tries: Amo Habi, Josh van Zyl, Asante Chivere. Penalties: Will Stevens (2). Conversions: Stevens (2). Kingswood College 22 (7) – Tries: Junior Ndlazi, Matthew Paxton, Kevin Barnes. Penalty: Praise Matsila. Conversions: Matsila (2).
Fresh off a 40-0 win over Hoërskool Belville in their last outing, SACS faced a different beast in Cape Town on Saturday.
Their visitors were Paarl Gimnasium, widely regarded as the best team in South Africa in 2025. The previous weekend they had overrun Bishops 50-0.
Gimmies were the hot favourites and it didn’t take long for them to show why.
They opened the scoring in the third minute of play. After attempting a rolling maul just 10 metres from the SACS goal line, the maul went to ground, but the ball was knocked backwards. Scrumhalf Mickyle Booise snapped it up, saw an opportunity, and sped through space to score. Paarl Gim captain Markus Muller added the extras.
In the 14th minute, Gim again profited after a rolling maul. When the ball was knocked back to Booise, it went through a series of quick phases, which ended when the industrious lock Migael Turner was put through a gap for five. Muller added two points from the kicking tee.
In the 22nd minute, SACS got one back. Deep inside the Gim 22, the home side hit it up before their big tighthead QiraanHermans, ploughed through for five a try. As Mikey Skeeles attempted the conversion, the ball, for a second time, fell over. He picked it up and calmly slotted a drop kick to make it a seven-point play.
Gim was soon back to bossing the contest, however. Two minutes later, when Muller saw space, he went full throttle, running 60 metres to score a try.
Then, off a lineout on the SACS 22m line, Gimmies swiftly moved the ball flat down the line, where eighthman Alain Voges was put through a gap to score under the poles. Muller slotted the conversion.
With halftime imminent, SACS booted the ball downfield after turning over possession on their goal line. That didn’t turn out well.
The ball was collected by the speedy left-wing Thomas Saunders, who ran towards the opposition forwards, then grubbered the ball forward. He collected it and made it all the way to the five-metre line before offloading in the tackle for flank Jean Dreyer to stretch over for a try. With the conversion, Muller added another couple to his tally.
At halftime, Paarl Gim was large and in charge, leading 33-7.
It took Gimmies only 27 seconds of the second half to add to their tally. After SACS fielded the kick-off and booted the ball downfield, the visitors launched another scything counterattack.
Making the ball do the work, they fed it down the line. Muller, their talisman in the midfield, ran diagonally to draw in the defenders before popping a sweet inside ball to wing, Jeraahno Jagers, who stepped his man and ran in behind the poles. Muller made the easy conversion.
The hits kept coming for SACS. After receiving quick ball from a ruck inside the hosts’ 22m area, Saunders used his blistering pace to cut the line and score five. Yet again, Muller converted successfully in the 42nd minute.
Then, with a quick tap-and-go inside the SACS 22, Booise gave a short pass to Dreyer, who burst over the line with defenders wrapped around him. Muller’s good day with the boot continued.
In the 54th minute, from a scrum on the hosts’ five-metre line, Paarl Gim flyhalf Louis Koen ran a scissors move with the Muller, who raced down an inviting alley to score another try, which he followed with a quick drop-kick for the extras.
It was one-way traffic as Paarl Gim kept bolstering their total. From a scrum on the SACS 22, they sent the ball down the line, putting Saunders through a gap for his second. With another accurate kick, Muller made it 9 from 10 off the kicking tee, which rubbed further salt into the home team’s wounds.
A tap-and-go in the 64th minute brought further reward for Gim, who hit it up through a series of phases before again breaching the SACS try line through Christiaan Burger. Reserve fullback Divan Pieters, added the extras.
There was more to come in the last minute of the game, even though Gim had sent on their reserves by then. An attack that was started inside their half finished with the visitors crossing for their twelfth try, scored by reserve scrumhalf Nicolaz Burger. Pieters scored the last two points of the game from the kicking tee.
Full-time score: 82-7 in favour of Paarl Gim.
Gimmies shone with their individual brilliance and team chemistry alike, completely outplaying SACS. Boland Landbou will be weary of the Paarl Gim storm blowing their way next Saturday.
SACS faces another tough opponent next Saturday when they host WynbergBoys’ High.
Scorers
Paarl Gimnasium 82 (33) – Tries: Markus Muller (2), Thomas Saunders (2), Jean Dreyer (2), Jeraahno Jagers, Mickyle Booise, Alain Voges, Migael Turner, Christiaan Burger, Nicolaz Burden. Conversions: Markus Miller (9), Divan Pieters (2). SACS 7 (7) – Tries: Qiraan Hermans. Conversion: Mikey Skeeles.
Results
U19 – SACS I 7 Paarl Gim I 82; SACS II 7 Paarl Gim II 52; SACS III 5 Paarl Gim III 52; SACS IV 0 Paarl Gim IV 90; SACS V 0 Paarl Gim V 58; SACS VI 15 Paarl Gim VI 41.
U16 – SACS A 10 Paarl Gim A 30; SACS B 12 Paarl Gim B 20; SACS C 39 Paarl Gim C 7; SACS D 0 Paarl Gim D 40.
U15 – SACS A 0 Paarl Gim A 59; SACS B 14 Paarl Gim B 14; SACS C 12 Paarl Gim C 19; SACS D 12 Paarl Gim D 17.
U14 – SACS A 3 Paarl Gim A 29; SACS B 0 Paarl Gim B 71; SACS C 0 Paarl Gim C 48; SACS D 0 Paarl Gim D 78; SACS E 0 Paarl Gim E 48.
When their early afternoon game kicked off in Paarl, Boishaai were revving their engines with confidence after handing Boland Landbou a 69-12 trouncing last weekend.
Meanwhile, Bishops were seeking redemption for their 6-73 loss in Paarl last year and also aiming to make amends for a 0-50 setback against a ruthless Paarl Gim side last weekend.
The home side made an early breakthrough when right wing Jeneal Davids put in a short sprint before passing inside to his fullback Mark Grindlay, who then fed scrumhalf Liam de Villiers for the opening score in the sixth minute. Inside centre IwanJordaan added the extras.
De Villiers put his team back on the front foot with an excellent 50-22 in the ninth minute.
From there, after a series of phases, Mark Grindlay ran a hard line into contact and crashed over despite three defenders still hanging onto him. Jordaan narrowly missed the conversion attempt.
After a tough opening 10 minutes, the Cape Town school found some momentum. They had their chances with a few 22m entries, but the Boishaai defence was valiant, at times tackling the ball carrier into touch, and at other times pulling off turnovers at the breakdown.
At halftime, it was 12-0 in favour of the hosts.
From the start of the second half, Paarl Boys’ High exerted pressure on their white-clad opponents.
Just four minutes in, from the five-metre line, Boishaai hooker Tommy Muller took a tap-and-go and charged over the try line for five points. Jordaan made the conversion to extend the home side’s lead to 19-0.
Boys’ High was reduced to 14 players in the 42nd minute when their flyhalf, Francois van der Merwe, was sent to the sin bin for tackling a Bishops’ player off the ball. Four minutes later, Bishops had one of their forwards sin-binned for an off the ball incident.
A minute later, from a lineout, Boishaai performed a textbook rolling maul, carrying captain and eighthman Steph van der Merwe over the whitewash for a try. Jordaan was bang on target with the conversion.
The hosts continued to roll. After playing a series of phases from an overthrow at their lineout on the Bishops’ five-metre line, Boishaai fed the ball wide, where outside centre Tristan Joubert ran in from an overlap and Jordaan added a touchline conversion.
The visitors’ resilience finally reaped reward in the 61st minute.
From a ruck on the Paarl five-metre line, scrumhalf Rynard Gordon ran sideways with the ball in hand, then gave a short inside ball to centre Boytjie Fyfer, who burst through the gap and dived over the line for five. Outside centre Eljaron Geduld added the extras.
Bishops also had the final say with a try in the final minute of the match. After two phases from a lineout on the Boishaai five-metre line, the visitors’ captain Daniel van den Heever, picked up and charged over the line for a try. Geduld missed the tight-angled conversion.
Full-time score: 33-12 in favour of Boishaai.
Despite the defeat, Bishops put up a proud fight. They produced a much-improved result over last year’s fixture, and it was a character-filled response to last week’s thumping by Paarl Gim. They have a big clash awaiting them next week when they visit their rivals Rondebosch.
Paarl Boys will be satisfied with yet another home victory, which brought the curtain down on their second term commitments. They next host SACS on 26 July.
Scores
Paarl Boys’ High 33 () – Tries – Liam de Villiers, Mark Grindlay, Tommy Muller, Steph van der Merwe, Tristan Joubert. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (4). Diocesan College 12 () – Tries: Boytjie Fyfer, Daniel van den Heever. Conversion: Geduld.
Oom Polla’s boys, meanwhile, headed into Saturday’s showdown feeling confident after a sound performance in a 34-5 win over Stellenberg last Friday.
First blood went the way of the home side in the 12th minute. From a tap and go on the Paul Roos five-metre line, scrumhalf Morné Noble released a flat pass to the oncoming tank, tighthead prop Luqobo Makwedini, who powered over the line for five points. Inside centre Yaqeen Ahmed added the extras.
Then, in a fortuitous manner, the boys in black and white doubled their lead in the 18th minute. Flyhalf Achmat Behardien had the ball ripped from his grasp in a tackle. However, the fetching Gimnasium defender knocked the ball forwards, where it was collected by right wing ChadCampbell, who grabbed his chance and raced through to score. Ahmed again split the uprights to make it a seven-point play.
In the 32nd minute, Paul Roos finally got onto the scoreboard. About 25 metres out from the Wynberg try line, PRG scrumhalf Liam de Silva intercepted a pass. The visitors then carried the ball over the gain line for a number of phases until eighthman Gert Kemp barged his way through for a try. Scrumhalf Jan-Jan Nel knocked over the conversion.
At halftime, it was 14-7 in favour of Wynberg.
After the break, Paul Roos came out guns blazing. They levelled the scores in the 39th minute, thanks to a textbook rolling maul, which came from a five-metre lineout.
Kemp put the finishing touch on the attack, dotting down for his second try, and when Nel coolly slotted the conversion from a narrow angle it was 14-14.
In the 52nd minute, Paul Roos right wing Divan Lamprecht, was sent to the sin bin for blocking a Wynberg back from chasing a kick. The home side opted for a shot at poles and Ahmed tacked on three points from the kicking tee.
They trailed 14-17, but the Maroon Machine turned to their power game to take them to victory.
Utilising their maul, they drove deep into the Wynberg 22. When the maul went to ground, the referee reached into his pocket and showed flank Tjeripo Karuhumba a yellow card. He also awarded the visitors a penalty try. Those proved to be the winning points.
Full-time score: 21-17 in favour of Paul Roos Gimnasium.
The biggest winners were, in many ways, the spectators, who were richly rewarded with an even contest that neither side deserved to lose.
SACS will have to watch out, when this wounded Wynberg side visits them next Saturday. Paul Roos, meanwhile, will begin a long break. They next host Rondebosch Boys’ High on 26 July.
Scores
Wynberg Boys’ High: Tries – Luqobo Makwedini, Chad Campbell. Conversions – Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Penalties: Yaqeen Ahmed; Paul Roos (PRG): Tries – Gert Kemp (2), penalty try. Conversions: Jan-Jan Nel (2).
Results
U19 – Wynberg I 17 Paul Roos I 21; Wynberg II 13 Paul Roos II 30; Wynberg III 3 Paul Roos III 17; Wynberg IV 7 Paul Roos IV 47; Wynberg V 0 Paul Roos V 43; Wynberg VI 5 Paul Roos VI 36; Wynberg VII 0 Paul Roos VII 81.
U16 – Wynberg A 7 Paul Roos A 36; Wynberg B 0 Paul Roos B 47; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 59; Wynberg D 0 Paul Roos D 85.
U15 – Wynberg A 18 Paul Roos A 50; Wynberg B 21 Paul Roos B 28; Wynberg C 9 Paul Roos C 48; Wynberg D 18 Paul Roos D 22; Wynberg E 9 Paul Roos F 54.
U14 – Wynberg A 0 Paul Roos A 26; Wynberg B 10 Paul Roos B 42; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 41; Wynberg D 7 Paul Roos D 77; Wynberg E 12 Paul Roos G 36.
Action at the Soweto Uprising Basketball Tournament heated up on Saturday as a number of teams made moves that identified them as potential title contenders.
Boys Competition
Pool A
In Pool A of the boys’ competition, the host team, Soweto Basketball Academy, continues to lead with four points after securing victories in their first two games of the tournament.
They’ve demonstrated exceptional basketball skills on the court and are undoubtedly a strong contender, although day two of the tournament has revealed several other teams, including the Montana Vikings from Cape Town, who captured the spotlight in Pool B.
On Saturday, the Soweto Basketball Academy claimed another victory, defeating Wolves, 40-31.
In second place in Pool A is the Young Warriors, who won one and lost one on Saturday. They went down to Wolves, losing 36-41, but rebounded in their second game with a 38-15 win over Norkem Park.
The Soweto Basketball Academy tops Pool A, with the maximum four points from two wins, while Young Warriors are a point adrift. Wolves, in third place, also have three points. Norkem Park has been eliminated from title contention after losing their first two matches.
On Sunday, Norkem Park takes on Wolves in their final group match, hoping to grab a consolation win. Wolves, meanwhile, will be focused on securing a place in knockout stage of the tournament.
Pool B
The Montana Vikings, from the Mother City, are showcasing their cool demeanour, positive energy, and competitive spirit in Pool B, and are an intriguing team. On Saturday, they bagged two wins.
Photo. Soweto Basketball Academy
The Orlando Basketball team was the first to fall to the Montana Vikings, with the Capetonians cruising to a 41-11 victory. They followed up that 30-point win with a 46-28 victory over Phoenix.
In other Pool B matches, Orlando rebounded with a win against The Glen High School, coming through with a narrow 36-31 victory in a closely contested game.
It was a challenging day for The Glen. They were also beaten by Phoenix, going down 25-35.
Those back-to-back losses mean The Glen is out of the running for the championship.
The Montana Viking, though, will be out to complete their Pool B assignments with a flawless record on Sunday.
Pool C
Only three games were contested in Pool C on Saturday.
After going two for two, the Elite Basketball Academy (EBA) leads the group with four points. They opened their challenge on Friday with a tight 50-47 win over the Eagles. It was tight again on Saturday, but they defeated the Sandton Bulls 46-42.
After suffering a defeat in their opening match on Friday, the Eagles returned revitalised on Saturday to take down the Hotshots Basketball Club, from Cape Town, by a 41-31 margin.
Hotshots were also beaten by the Sandton Bulls, who recorded a 31-21 win.
Pool D
Photo. Soweto Basketball Academy
The Jozi Stars continue to demonstrate their championship ambitions and illustrate why they pose a significant threat to their competitors in the Soweto Basketball Uprising Tournament with a strong showing in Pool D.
On Friday, they held off Jenny Wu Sports Academy (JWSA), coming out 58-53 winners after an intense clash.
On Saturday, they further asserted their dominance by defeating the Equestria Giants 42-20.
In the aftermath of their loss on Friday, JWSA rebounded with a 29-23 victory against Rand Tutorial on Saturday.
Rand Tutorial, after that setback, posted a victory over the Equestria Giants in their second outing, winning 53-42.
Girls’ Competition
Pool A
In the same vein as the boys’ team of the hosts, the Soweto Basketball Academy A girls’ team has been soaring high. They bear the weight of championship aspirations.
After securing a second consecutive victory on Saturday, 31-21 over Rand Tutorial, they’re atop Pool A.
Beaten by the Soweto Basketball Academy, Rand Tutorial rebounded with a 26-18 victory against Wolves. Wolves, in turn, returned with a win, taking down Norkem Park 44-23.
Pool B
Happy smiles from the Alexandra Basketball Club girls’ team at the Soweto Uprising Basketball Tournament. Photo. Soweto Basketball Academy
In Pool B of the girls’ competition, the Soweto Basketball Academy B team has lost both of their matches.
Their first defeat was against the Young Warriors, who powered their way to a comfortable 34-7 win. It didn’t get any better for the home side in their second game, which the Alexandra Basketball Club (Alex) won 40-4.
Alex added another victory in their second match, outplaying The Glen 32-9.
It’ll come down to a Sunday showdown between Alex and the Young Warriors for the top spot in the group.
RESULTS
Boys
Pool A
Wolves 41-36 Young Warriors
Young Warriors 38-15 Norkem Park
Soweto Basketball Academy 40-31 Wolves
Pool B
Montana Vikings 49-11 Orlando Basketball
Phoenix 35-25 The Glen High School
Orlando Basketball 36-31 The Glen High School
Montana Vikings 46-28 Phoenix
Soweto Basketball Academy A 31-21 Rand Tutorial
Rand Tutorial 26-18 Wolves
Wolves 44-23 Norkem
Pool B
Alex 32-9 The Glen High School
Young Warriors 34-7 Soweto Basketball Academy B
Young Warriors 62-6 The Glen High School
Alex 40-4 Soweto Basketball Academy B
Sunday 15 June
Boys Competition
Jabavu 1
Pool B
10:40 – Orlando Basketball vs Phoenix
Pool C
09:20 – Sandton Bulls vs Eagles
Jabavu 2
Pool B
10:40 – The Glen High School vs Montana Vikings
Pool C
09:20 – Hotshots vs Elite Basketball Academy
Morris 1
Pool A
09:20 – Soweto Basketball Academy vs Young Warriors
Pool D
10:40 – Jozi Stars vs Rand Tutorial
Morris 2
09:20 – Norkem Park vs Wolves
Pool D
10:40 – JWSA vs Equestria Giants
Girls Competition
Jabavu 1
Pool A
08:00 – Rand Tutorial vs Norkem Park
Jabavu 2
Pool A
08:00 – Wolves vs Soweto Basketball Academy A
Morris 1
Pool B
08:00 – The Glen High School vs Soweto Basketball Academy B
Die heelagter van Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen was in een van sy vernietigende buie en het drie keer deurgewals vir drieë in die Jansies se sege van 34-22 oor Die Hoërskool Menlopark in die Beker-afdeling van die Noordvaal Cup.
Pietersen het na ‘n strawwe eerste 18 minute van die wedstryd vir die eerste keer sy venynige voetwerk tentoongestel, waarna, hy nie té lank gewag het om die Parkies weer met ‘n stukkie puik individuele spel te looi vir sy tweede drie nie.
Die Pretorianers het egter geweier om bes te gee en kort voor die rustydfluitjie teruggekap. Die dryfmaalbeweging was vir die soveelste keer vanjaar hul grootste wapen en het vir agsteman, Ruan Strydom, in staat gestel om die Jansies met twee drieë van sy eie te kasty.
Agterlangs het die stryd behoorlik vlamgevat. Benewens Pietersen se uitstaande vertoning op die aanval, het die Jansies se binnesenter, Nathan Delport en regtervleuel, Otlatleng Zulu, ook telkens die Parkies na lug laat gryp. Zulu het, vanaf die afskop ná Delport se kuier agter die doellyn, gaan afrond vir die drie van die dag.
Die Parkies se binnesenter, Dylan Stumke, was self ‘n uitblinker in die middeveld en het onder druk dikwels die besoekers op die voorvoet probeer plaas met sy kranige lopies. Oopkantflank, Nathen du Plessis, verdien ook ‘n klop op die skouer en was oudergewoonte ‘n doring in die los.
Pietersen se derde drie, kort voor die eindfluitjie, het egter die uitklophou toegedien en ‘n derde sege vir die Jansies in vanjaar se reeks verseker.
In Johannesburg het Helpmekaar Kollege se onbesonge held, steelkantflank, Zaiden Krige, die span in bruin se aanslag gelei. Krige het twee keer agter die doellyn van Hoërskool Waterkloof gaan draai in sy span se sege van 52-43.
Albei spanne het die skare wat na die Helpies se tuisveld opgeruk het, met aanskoulike hardlooprugby beloon.
Die tweede helfte het ‘n gesamentlike totaal van 59 punte opgelewer, nadat die Helpies met slegs ‘n twee-punt buffer (19-17) rustyd binnegegaan het. Francois Tonkin, terug op linkervleuel, het die spasie aan die buitekant terdeë geniet en, nes Krige, ook twee keer gedruk, terwyl binnesenter, Ethan Lourens, weer gewys het hoekom hy een van die Helpies is wat die Johannesburgers se fakkel by die Cravenweek in Middelburg gaan dra.
Vir die Klofies het vuurvreter-agsteman, Marko Kok, weer uitgetroon. Kok, ‘n bekende baldraer in die Noordvaal-kompetisie, het telkens die eerste verdediger met brute krag geklop. Oopkanflank, Divan Botha, het ook moedig probeer om die Klofies in die wedloop te hou, terwyl losskakel en kaptein, Ronan Bastiaanse, persoonlik 18 punte bygedra het.
Dit was egter nie genoeg om die Helpies se kliniese afronding en vermoë om die Klofies se foute in punte te omskep, af te weer nie.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel het, danksy 27 onbeantwoorde punte in die tweede helfte van sy stryd met Hoërskool Rustenburg, homself met ‘n waardevolle sege beloon op die vooraand van die skoolvakansie.
Voor rustyd was die Nories hulle eie grootste vyand, met ongedwonge foute wat hul ritme totaal in die wiele gery het. Dit was egter grotendeels ook te wyte aan die Rusties se uitstaande verdediging, gelei deur vaskopstut, Jayden Minnie, wat ‘n aantal reuse duikslae uitgevoer het.
Dié aggressiewe verdediging het ook geleentheid geskep vir die tuisspan se haker en kaptein, Xavier Steenkamp, nóg ‘n uitblinker op die dag, om deur te bars vir ‘n drie wat sy span met 7-0 laat voorloop het met die omdraaislag.
Steenkamp se eweknie, Clinton Agu, het egter kort na rustyd teruggeslaan om die momentum te begin terugswaai en namate die Blues stelselmatig ritme gevind het, vernaam in gebroke spel, het die blitsige Aiden Bester en Armand van Eck ook elk gaan druk. Van Eck het vir die soveelste keer ‘n uitstaande vertoning gelewer op agsteman, terwyl loskoptut en kaptein, Skuttie Bezuidenhout, uiters stewig vertoon het in die vaste fasette en los.
Dit was die Nories se tweede sege oor die Rusties vanjaar, nadat hulle vroeër ‘n opwarmingswedstryd met 40-14 gewen het.
Die Ras van Rooyen, Hoërskool Monument se tuisveld in Krugersdorp, het in die Wit Bulle se laaste tuiswedstryd vanjaar ‘n absolute drieëfees opgelewer. Monnas en Hoërskool Nelspruit het gesamentlik 11 keer die doellyn oorgesteek, met die tuisspan wat sewe daarvan aangeteken het om uiteindelik met 41-34 koning te kraai.
Die wedywering agterlangs, vernaam in die middeveld, was besonder fel en ‘n hoogtepunt op die dag. Monument se buitesenter, Ruan Genis, wat in die Goue Leeus se Akademieweekspan opgeneem is, het sy vaart en vermoë om af te rond weer uitgestal. Genis en linkervleuel, Ewan van der Walt, wat spasie aan die buitekant puik benut het, het elk ‘n tweekuns aan drieë behaal.
Op binnesenter, het die Wit Bulle se Juandré Ehlers en Nelspruit se Rian Botha, wat albei verlede jaar aan die Grant Khomo-week deelgeneem het, mekaar behoorlik die stryd aangesê. Ehlers gaan eenvoudig van krag tot krag , terwyl Botha gewys het hoekom hy die Pumas by die Cravenweek in Middelburg sal verteenwoordig. Nellies se vleuels, Tinyiko Silubane en Kamo Monkwe, het ook uitgehaal, maar dit was nie genoeg om die “nuwe” Wit Bulle te tem nie.
Op Berepark het Hoërskool Transvalia vir die verdedigende kampioen, Hoërskool Garsfontein, al sy dae gegee. Die Bere het egter, soos dit ‘n kampioenspan betaam, ‘n manier gevind om met 43-41 as oorwinnaars uit die stryd te tree.
Valia se fisieke, direkte benadering deur die grootmanne voorlangs het die Bere behoorlik laat les opsê en ook aan haker, Wihandré Kruger, nóg ‘n driekuns vanaf kragtige dryfmale besorg.
Die Bere se Luan van den Berg, terug van ‘n besering, en agsteman, Lourenz de Jager, het egter daarop geantwoord met ‘n drie elk, terwyl die giftige Junaide Stuart agterlangs die opposisie telkens gelooi het wanneer hy spasie aan die buitekant gegun is. Sy twee drieë, tesame met vier doelskoppe en ‘n strafdoel deur losskakel, Joshua Gouws, het uiteindelik die verskil tussen wen en verloor beteken.
Wynberg Boys’ High kicked off at 12:30 against Paul Roos Gimnasium on Hawthornden Field, on Saturday, intent on pulling off a home win.
