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The first match of the St John’s College Easter Rugby festival, pitted St David’s against an Eye of the Tiger side that was full of spirit.

Before the game commenced, Eye of the Tiger performed a traditional Haka with a South African twist to it.

The game then got underway with St David’s not seeming to be bothered by the Haka, camping deep in the Eye of the tiger half for what seemed like eternity. The St David’s boys were however eventually rewarded for their hard work, scoring two quick tries through Gregory Kourie and Leo Michael.

St David’s Marcell Scheepers however only managed to convert one to give his side a 12-0 lead. Eye of the tiger did eventually get on the scoreboard at the stroke of halftime, through an unconverted try thanks to Sifiso Nhlapo.

The second half saw a more dominant display from St David’s in the first 15 minutes, running in two tries, to take the score to 24-5. Eye of the tiger however showed great character to eventually come to life inside the last 10 minutes, scoring 3 tries but in the end unfortunately losing out 24-19.

The second game of the festival, saw Paul Roos showcase some of the class they possess, when they powered to a mammoth 78-10 victory against the Golden Lions invitational team.

The game saw the Golden Lions Invitational team get off to a dream start in the match, when they crossed over very quickly thanks to winger Kwanele Notyawe, with Brendan Swart doing well to send the conversion through the sticks to earn a 7-0 lead. Paul Roos managed to bounce back 5 minutes later, with two quick tries both in the right hand corner to lead 12-7.

The Lions tried to move the ball swiftly through their backs but Paul Roos were always there to turn things around and clear. Paul Roos did soon add to the score board, when flyhalf Juan Mostert, sliced through the Lions defence to cross the whitewash and later convert his own try. The Lions then only managed to convert a penalty, with Paul Roos scoring one more try to end the half at 26-10 to the boys from Stellenbosch.

The second half really saw the rugby Paul Roos is famous for, using the physicality of their forwards and ferocious pace of their backs. The Golden Lions showed great fight but Paul Roos proved too much to handle, as they ran in 52 unanswered points, to seal the game 78-10.

In one of the most competitive matches at the St John’s College Easter Rugby festival so far, Hoerskool Florida enjoyed a lead for most parts of the game, only for HTS Daniel Pienaar to come at the end and snatch the victory, with two impressive tries at the death.

Hoerskool Florida enjoyed much of the opening exchanges between the two sides, even running in 15 unanswered points in the first 15 minutes. Many supporters would have then backed Florida to easily tug away with the game. Instead, HTS Daniel Pienaar slowly got into the groove of things with inside centre Brandon Boshoff landing their first points on the board with a wonderful try, converted by flyhalf Sachin Toring.

The resulting try, seemed to spur Daniel Pienaar on again and they dotted down a few moments later with Toring converting once more to cut the deficit to just 1 point at 15-14 to Florida going into the interval.

The second stanza of play, saw things completely turn around after Hoerskool Florida started the half with a well deserved converted try by Brink Bosman. HTS Daniel Pienaar started playing to their strengths, letting the backline express themselves.

A move that started in the Florida half, saw winger Denver Jacobs set off down the touchline with blistering pace to dot down under the poles for a converted try and leave the score at 22-21 to Florida with a few minutes to play.

In the last 2 minutes, Jacobs was on his way again down the same touchline, running past two defenders on his way to rounding off a great run under the poles, which Toring had no trouble converting and earning his side a valuable 28-22 comeback victory.

Scorers: 

Helpmekaar 7 (7) – Try: Francois Scholtz. Doelskop: Tiaan Botes. St John’s College 3 (0) – Penalty: Bismarck Olivier.

Hilton College 10 (7) – Tries: Niaan Taljaard. Conversion: Gareth Schreuder. Penalty: Schreuder. Nelspruit 8 (0) – Try: Jason Cornelius. Penalty: Tiaan du Plessis.

St. Alban’s College 26 (7) – Tries: Cambell Blane, Aidan Ridgway, Simon Miller, Siseko Mvenya. Conversions: Ronaldo Daniels (3). Windhoek Gimnasium 17 (10) – Tries: Mell Theunissen, Monré Meyer. Conversions: Wiks Tromp (2). Penalty: Tromp.

Paul Roos Gimnasium 78 (26) – Tries: Jean-Jacques Kotze (2), Jarod Cairns (2), Tiaan Pretorius (2), Juan Mostert (2), Ruben Labuschagne, Kade Wolhuter, Cade Croy, Micardo du Preez. Conversions: Wolhuter (8). Golden Lions Invitational 10 (10) – Tries: Kwanele Notyawe. Conversions: Keegan van Schalkwyk, Brendan Swarts.

St. David’s 24 (12) – Tries: Gregory Kourie (2), Leo Michael, Oliver Hinton. Conversions: Marcell Scheepers (2). Eye of the Tiger 19 (5) – Tries: Sifiso Nhlapo (2), Keanu Martin. Conversions: Nhlapo (2).

HTS Daniël Pienaar 28 (14) – Tries: Denver Jacobs (2), Brandon Boshoff, Stephan Snyman. Conversions: Sachin Toring (4). Florida: 22 (15) – Tries: Brandon Roberts, Lizo Larakwang, Brink Bosman. Conversions: Tino Swanepoel (2). Penalty: Swanepoel.

Revenge is sweet.

That’s a feeling Jeppe High School for Boys’ will enjoy after they managed to defeat Ben Vorster of Tzaneen by 29-26 in a thrilling main match of the first day of the Standard Bank King Edward VII Easter Festival in Johannesburg. 

The boys from Tzaneen defeated Jeppe by 19-13 on the last day of 2017’s festival. They also defeated Jeppe’s best side of the last two decades, the side of 2016, by 34-19 on Ellis Park in a friendly match. 

Scorers:

King Edward VII 28 (15) – Tries: Ngia Selengbe (2), Ambrin Snyders. Conversions: Reece Botha (2). Penalties: Botha (3). Westville Boys’ High 20 (12) – Tries: Kyle Forsyth (2), Dylan Labuschagne. Conversion: Forsyth. Drop Goal: Forsyth.

Marlow Landbou 39 (14) – Tries: Claude Jacobs (2), Deandré van der Merwe, Danie Scheepers, Francois Jordaan. Conversions: Jacobs (4). Penalties: Jacobs (2). Marais Viljoen 10 (0) – Tries: Dhane Dippenaar, JJ Kruger.

Wynberg Boys’ High 49 (28) – Tries: De Livio van Wyk, Jason Alexander, Chase Hermanus, Kyle Lamb, Inga Halu, Luthando Woji, Matthew Damonze. Conversions: Van Wyk (7). Noordheuwel 7 (0) – Try: AJ Venter. Conversion: Renier Stander.

Hudson Park 47 (21) – Tries: Damian Morrow (2), Lwazi Gqamane, Marcelo Flemmer, Bulelani Ngaki, Khanya Somyo, Inganathi Bokolo. Conversions: Avuyile Mabece (5), Flemmer. Eldoraigne 26 (21) – Tries: Henry Kruger, Marvin Pietersen, Barend Bezuidenhout, Hilton Olivier. Conversions: Jason Prinsloo (2).

Northwood 50 (22) – Tries: Keane Fourie (3), Ranger Mfakadolo (2), Jeff Majola, Aston Sparks. Conversions: Cameron Miller (6). Penalty: Miller. Muir College 7 (0) – Try: Chuma Kalawe. Conversion: Duncan McFarlane.

Rondebosch Boys’ High looked quite good for a team in their opening match of a rugby season by defeating Parktown Boys’ High with ease by 35-12 on the first day of the St Stithians College Easter Festival in Johannesburg.

Rondebosch’s fullback, Dalvon Blood, scored a magnificent try from within his own half to give his side a 14-7 lead at the break. Rondebosch controlled most of the game and Parktown only opened their account with the final movement of the first half with No. 8, Paki Lawu, crashing over.

Rondebosch’s flyhalf, Ross Stone, also showcased his goal kicking ability by converting all five of his side’s tries.

Clifton of Durban experienced no trouble in beating Graeme College by 26-0 in their encounter. Clifton enjoyed a narrow lead of 5-0 at the break thanks to a try by fullback, Cole Reed.

After the break it took Clifton less than two minutes to double their lead with No.8, Josh Brown, crossing the try-line. Graeme College looked out of sorts and need to regroup before their next match on Saturday against Parktown Boys’ High.

More to follow as the #SaintsFest2018 unfolds….

Scorers:

St Stithian’s College 30 (21) – Tries: Matthew Tam, Tyron Golding, Jared Grant. Conversions: Deon Fourie (3). Penalties: Fourie (3). Kingswood College 30 (15) – Tries: Onika Mgijima, Anele Makongolo, Abongile Klaas, Alutha Tonjeni. Conversions: Makongolo (2). Penalties: Makongolo (2).

Diocesan College 27 (13) – Tries: Harry Newman, Tim Sharples, Ano Ntubeni, Alexander Castle. Conversions: William Rose (2). Penalty: Rose. Grey High School 10 (0) – Try: Dumisa Ngivana. Conversion: Matt Easton. Penalty: Easton.

St Andrew’s College 24 (14) – Tries: Ant More (2), Andrew Coxwell, James Plumbridge. Conversions: Guy Rushmere (2). Michaelhouse 15 (3) – Tries: Andrew Holt, Christian Opperman. Conversion: Liam England. Penalty: England.

SACS 35 (21) – Tries: Ethan Burger, Shukuru Nahimana, Joshua Barrett, Storm Balchin, Matthew Hayes. Conversions: Michael Abrahams (4), Hayes. Maritzburg College 7 (0) – Try: Nthuthuko Mchunu. Conversion: Mchunu. 

Clifton 26 (5) – Tries: Cole Reed, Michael Goedeke, Josh Brown, Connor Simpson. Conversions: Goedeke (3). Graeme College 0.

Rondebosch Boys’ High 35 (14) – Tries: Jordan Strauss, Dalvon Blood, Jaco Barnard, Thoubaan Gabriels, Mihlali Mgolodela. Conversion: Ross Stone (5). Parktown Boys’ High 12 (7) – Tries: Tshepo Kalyamdimo, Paki Lawu. Conversion: Cameron Carruthers.

On Wednesday, 28 March 2018 thousands of young athletes made their way to St Stithians College in Sandton for #SaintsFest2018. These players will together compete in 259 fixtures of cross country, football, hockey, netball, rugby, squash, tennis between Wednesday, 28 March 2018 and Monday, 2 April 2018.

Ahead of the various capping dinners the Saints Festival teams came together on St Stithians College’s Baytopp field to take a commemorative group photo. This field is the main rugby field for the festival.

The players and their coaches assembled, sang the South African national anthem led by a St Stithians College student singers and the St Stithians College marimbas and then they smiled for a large group photo (attached).

The Festival action picks up on Thursday, 29 March 2018 and runs on Saturday, 31 March and Monday 2, April. On Wednesday young athletes participated in football, hockey, squash, and tennis. On Thursday, 29 March 2018 rugby and netball join the list of sports and the first cross country fixture is scheduled for Saturday. The festival will see teams from Gauteng, Bokone Bophirima, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, and Namibia competing in seven sporting codes and playing the sports they love.

The football tournament began today and the MEC for education in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi was there to celebrate the opening of the football tournament and show his support for the players. The football tournament is part of the Saints Sports Festival for the second time in 2018 and features eight schools from Gauteng, and Bokone Bophirima. Unlike many of the other festival sports, this tournament is a competitive one and the winning team will take home a trophy, bragging rights, and the joy of playing the game they love over the weekend.

Download the Saints Sports Festival app for all the latest fixtures, scores, player profiles, and more. Visit www.saintsfestival.com for the app QR code, and to access the live stream of the rugby.

In 2017, St Stithians College welcomed over 40 000 people at their festival and this year promises to be just as exciting.

Festival tickets cost R40 at the gate.

For more information on St Stithians College, visit www.stithian.com 

Paarl Gimnasium het die bo-toon met 54-32 teen EG Jansen van Boksburg op die eerste dag van die Barloworld Noord/Suid-toernooi in Pretoria gevoer.

Maklik was dit egter nie vir Gimmies nie. Die feit dat EG Jansen se binnesenter, Dylan Schwartz, vir sy vertoning as Speler van die Wedstryd aangewys bekleemtoon die feit dat dit ‘n strawwe tweestryd was.

Schwartz het ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal en sy tweestryd teen sy direkte teenstander, Dawid Kellerman, gewen. Kellerman het egter self ‘n indrukwekkende vertoning gelewer en self twee keer ‘n draai agter die doellyn gaan maak.

Dit was ‘n wipplankstryd tussen die twee spanne. Gimmies het rustyd net-net met 28-24 voorgeloop. Elke keer wat Jansies hulle agterstand laat krimp het, het Gimmies net te maklik weer punte aangeteken.

Die vleuel Stravino Jacobs het op ‘n slag vanaf ‘n afskop die bal voor EG Jansen se neuse weggegryp en net kort onder die pale platgetrek. Gimmies se slot Mark Etzebeth is vir sy goeie opvolgwerk met die drie na Jacobs se goeie werk beloon.

Gimmies se haker, Van Eeden Hanekom, het ook ‘n goeie wedstryd beleef.

Garsfontein het oor te veel skietgoed vir Outeniqua beskik en met 50-22 as oorwinnaars van die veld gestap. Die skrif was teen rustyd met die telling op 31-8 in Garsies se guns reeds teen die muur.

Garsies se agtsteman, Junior Snyman, het ‘n reuse vertoning vir die wenspan gelewer. Hy het ook dubelle driedruk-plesier ervaar. Buiten Snyman kan die skrumskakel, Jurich Claassens, die losskakel, Keagan Johannes, en die flank Ettienne Terblanche heel tevrede met hul vertonings voel.

Vir die Kwaggas het sy buitesenter, Darren Fortuin, blink vertoon. Die losskakel, Zinedine Robinson, verdien ook ‘n klop op die skouer.

Outeniqua se tweede span het wel vroeër in die dag sy eweknie van Garsfontein, die Grizzlies, hul eerste nederlaag in twee jaar met 28-26 toegedien.

Waterkloof het in die tweede helfte terug geveg om die Hoërskool Durbanville met 22-17 te troef. Durbanville het teen rustyd ‘n skrale voorsprong van 10-7 geniet.

Klofies se senter Jandré Pretorius was sy span se beste speler op die dag. Hy en sy sentermaat, Theunis Pretorius, het goed in die middelveld gekombineer. Vir Durbanville kan sy heelagter, Diagho Miggel, en senter Juanré de Klerk tevrede met hul vertonings voel.

Puntemakers:

Paarl Gimnasium 54 (28) – Drieë: Van Eeden Hanekom (2), Mark Etzebeth, Dawid Kellerman (2), Stravino Jacobs, Tiaan Swanepoel, Dean Nieuwoudt. Doelskoppe: Charl Jansen (7). EG Jansen 32 (24) – Drieë: Dylan Schwartz (3), Franco Enslin. Doelskoppe: Aurelio Philander (3). Strafdoele: Philander (2).

Garsfontein 50 (31) – Drieë: Drian Lerm (2), Junior Snyman (2), Kallie Calitz, Keagan Johannes, Jurich Claassens, Diego Appollis. Doelskoppe: Johannes (5). Outeniqua 22 (8) – Drieë: Ridge Gaffley, Zinedine Robinson, Darren Fortuin. Doelskoppe: Darren Fortuin (2). Strafdoele: Fortuin.

Waterkloof 22 (7) – Drieë: Jandré Pretorius, MJ Janse van Rensburg, Charl Knoetze. Doelskoppe: Ian Trollip (2). Strafdoel: Trollip. Hoërskool Durbanville 17 (10) – Drieë: Juanré de Klerk, Diagho Miggel. Doelskoppe: Mondrey Titus (2). Strafdoele: Titus.

Paarl Gimnasium se jaarlikse o.16-toernooi bly steeds sonder twyfel die grootste rugbytoernooi vir die ouderdomsgroep in die land. Nie minder as 30 van die land se o.16-skolespanne sal van more af op Gimmies se velde in die Paarl in aksie wees nie. 

Die toernooi is in 1992 die eerste keer aangebied. 

Paarl Gimnasium kom in die hoofwedstryd van die eerste dag teen Grey-kollege van Bloemfontein te staan. Die wedstryd beloof om heelwat vuurwerk op te lewer. Paul Roos Gimnasium speel in die vernaamste voorwedstryd teen Menlopark. Die span van Pretoria het ‘n gedugte span.

Die wedstryd voor dit tussen die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl en die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria behoort ook vir heelwat opwinding te sorg.

Daar is ook ook tien o.14-spanne wat aan die toernooi in die Paarl deelneem.

Van die ander o.16-spanne wat vanjaar hul staal tydens die toernooi sal wil toon is EG Jansen van Boksburg, Diamantveld van Kimberley, HTS Middelburg, Durbanville, Michaelhouse, Boland Landbou, Hoërskool Rustenburg, Garsfontein, Marlow Landbou van Cradock, SACS, Eldoraigne, Oakdale Landbou, Hoërskool Nelspruit, Hoërskool Bellville, Noordheuwel, Centurion, Monument, Outeniqua, Framesby, Watekrloof, Kempton Park, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, Stellenberg en Duineveld.

Die bepalings is (o.16-spanne):

A-veld

08:30 – EG Jansen vs Diamantveld; 09:40 – Marlow Landbou vs HTS Middelburg; 10:50 – Durbanville vs Garsfontein; 12:00 – Hoërskool Bellville vs Eldoraigne; 13:10 – SACS vs Hoërskool Nelspruit; 14:20 – Oakdale Landbou vs Noordheuwel; 15:30 – Boland Landbou vs Hoërskool Rustenburg; 16:40 – Hoër Jongenskool Paarl vs Affies; 17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Menlopark; 19:30 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Grey-kollege.

B-veld

08:30 – Michaelhouse vs Kempton Park; 09:40 – Monument vs Framesby; 10:50 – Outeniqua vs Waterkloof; 12:00 – Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Duineveld; 13:10 – Stellenberg vs Centurion.

o.14-spanne:

B-veld

14:20 – Hoërskool Bellville vs Eldoraigne, 15:20 – Oakdale Landbou vs Kempton Park; 16:20 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Brandwag (Uitenhage); 17:20 – Framesby vs Hoërskool Nelspruit; 18:20 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Grey-kollege.

Exciting, exhilarating rugby will be on view at the 11th annual Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival starting this Thursday (29th). Twelve schools, all known for their rugby prowess, will each play three matches. Bumper crowds are expected at the Stott rugby field for the six matches each day.

Three KZN schools will be represented, Glenwood, Durban High School (DHS) and hosts Kearsney. There is one debutant team this year, Welkom Gimnasium from the Eastern Free State.

Other schools that are represented are HTS Drostdy from Worcester in the Western Cape, Pretoria Boys High, HTS Middelburg, Selborne from East London, Dale College from King Williams Town, Queen’s College from Queenstown, Hoërskool Framesby from Port Elizabeth and Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley.

Festival play days are Thursday, Saturday (31st) and Easter Monday (2nd), with kick-off at 9.30am each day.

Glenwood will be one of the favoured teams, having 12 players who were represented last year and, together with the convincing win in their only full match played against Maritzburg College last Saturday, could be the side to beat. If they had a weakness it was in the tight scrums but, with a heavy pack, this can be rectified. Glenwood locks are over 1,90 metres and this will make them competitive in the lineouts. The dynamic backline with pace and good handling will enthuse rugby lovers.

Their first match is against Drostdy, another that was one of the better sides last year. Together with Glenwood, they are the two top-ranked sides at the festival and so the match on Thursday will be a humdinger.

Hosts Kearsney traditionally play the first match of the festival and this will be against HTS Middelburg. The latter were not at their best in 2017 and will likely be a better combination this year.

If Kearsney can pull off a win in this first game, their confidence will increase. The hosts have played four matches this season, with a loss against Pionier in Vryheid, but a good win against Michaelhouse and a narrow one-point victory against Northwood, where they had to work hard to come from behind.

DHS have lost a number of their better players and will not be as competitive as they were last year. They have only played one full match and that was against Hilton, which they lost. DHS will play Selborne in their first match, always a very competent side, and the Durban team will do well to keep the score close.

Dale College, always a crowd pleaser with their unconventional rugby style, particulary by the backs, will be strengthened this year by some heavier forwards. If they win more of the ball they could surprise Framesby on the first day and Glenwood on Saturday.

There will be other matches where results should be close, but spectators will want to see fast movement, good hard and clean tackling, as well as good sportsmanship prevailing, no matter the result.

At the conclusion of the final match on Monday, three players will be identified as having great promise in the future and will be offered bursaries to the Sharks Academy. This comprises a contract to the Academy and a tuition bursary with an academic institution.

A primary schools’ fixture between Umhlali Prep, Hillcrest Senior Primary and Highbury against the KZNRU u13 Ibutho development team will kick off each day’s proceedings at 8.30am.

Gate entry is R25 per person. Ample secure parking will be available; as well as numerous food outlets, a beer tent and KidZone to ensure a fun-filled family-orientated Easter weekend.

Fixtures and festival information, including live streaming links for each game, are available on www.kearsney.com

FIXTURES:

Day 1 Thursday 29 March
09h30 Kearsney College vs HTS Middelburg
10h45 Queen’s College vs Pretoria Boys High School
12h00 Glenwood High School vs HTS Drostdy
13h15 Dale College vs Hoërskool Framesby
14h30 Selborne College vs Durban High School
15h45 Welkom Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap

Day 2 Saturday 31 March
09h30 Hoërskool Framesby vs Pretoria Boys High School
10h45 Durban High School vs Queen’s College
12h00 Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap
13h15 Glenwood High School vs Dale College
14h30 HTS Drostdy vs Welkom Gimnasium
15h45 Selborne College vs HTS Middelburg

Day 3 Monday 02 April
09h30 Glenwood High School vs Welkom Gimnasium
10h45 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vs Hoërskool Framesby
12h00 HTS Middelburg vs Queen’s College
13h15 Durban High School vs Dale College
14h30 HTS Drostdy vs Selborne College
15h45 Kearsney College vs Pretoria Boys High School

Daar is nie veel skolestryde wat meer fisiek is as ‘n kragmeting tussen Monument van Krugersdorp en Boland Landbou nie.

Die twee spanne sê mekaar vandag die stryd aan op die eerste dag van Barloworld se Noord/Suid-toernooi op Menlopark in Pretoria se hoofveld. Dié wedstryd beloof om die hoogtepunt van die eerste dag van die rugbyfees te wees.

Monnnas was reeds in twee wedstryd in aksie. Die Wit Bulle van Krugersdorp het gelykop teen Transvalia (31-elk) gespeel en die Hoërskool Pietersburg (73-3) behoorlik afgestof.

Boland Landbou was vanjaar nog net een keer in aksie teen die Hoërskool Garsfontein en moes toe die knie 20-24 buig. Die span van die Agter-Paarl het wel tydens die Blou Bulle se Prestige-dag vir Menlopark met 45-10 slae gegee.

Monnas se kaptein en haker, Morné Brandon, sal fyn deur Boland Landbou dopgehou moet word. Brandon het verlede jaar die SA Skole-span verteenwoordig. Hy is ‘n uitmuntende baldraer, maar sal aandag aan sy ingooiwerk moet gee indien hy vanjaar weer die nasionale skolespan wil haal.

Boland Landbou se binnesenter Erik Lambrecht asook die losskakel, Darren Hendricks, is sy vernaamste aanvalswapens.
Boland Landbou was die laaste keer wat die tween spanne ontmoet het, met 24-22 tydens die Wildeklawer-toernooi van 2017 baas. In 2015 het Monnas met 22-20 as oorwinnaars van die veld gestap.

In die hoofwedstryd van die eerste dag sal die gasheer, Menlopark, vir Stellenberg pak. Menlopark is nog onoorwonne vanjaar, maar moes hard werk om Hoërskool Rustenburg (32-28) en Hoërskool Nelspruit (17-14) die loef af te steek. Die span van die Jakarandastad het wel Saterdag vir Eldoraigne met 74-5 verneder.

Waterkloof kom teen die nuweling, Durbanville, in die eerste wedstryd tussen eerstespanne op die fees te staan. Durbanville het vanjaar teen Paarl Gimnasium met 0-38 in die stof gebyt. Klofies het ook nog nie op alle silinders gevuur nie.

Paarl Gimnasium behoort oor te veel skietgoed vir EG Jansen van Boksburg te beskik, maar moet nie verwag dat die Jansies net die stryd gewonne sal gee nie.

Die Garsie Bere het sy eerste nederlaag van die seisoen verlede week teen Transvalia (31-48) op die lyf geloop. Die Bere sal teen die Kwaggas van Outeniqua uitdraf. Dit sal die Kwaggas se eerste wedstryd van 2018 wees.

Garsfontein se tweedespan, die Grizzlies, spog met ‘n onoorwonne rekord sedert 2016 en kom vanmore teen Outeniqua se naasbestes te staan.

Die bepalings is:

07:40 – Waterkloof II vs Durbanville II; 08:50 – Garsfontein II vs Outeniqua II; 10:00 – EG Jansen II vs Paarl Gimnasium II; 11:10 – Monument II vs Zwartkop II; 12:20 – Menlopark II vs Stellenberg II; 13:30 – Waterkloof vs Durbanville; 15:00 –Garsfontein vs Outeniqua; 16:30 – EG Jansen vs Paarl Gimnasium; 18:00 – Monument vs Boland Landbou; 19: 30 – Menlopark vs Stellenberg.

Jeppe High School for Boys won their second game in a row on Saturday, but they were given an almighty scare by a plucky St Alban’s College.

Jeppe took one of the few games played in Joburg on the day 33-27 after being 27-12 down at half time, outscoring St Alban’s 21-0 in the second half.

Just about every other fixture in Gauteng was called off after two solid days of rain on Wednesday and Thursday on the Highveld left fields waterlogged. Jeppe and St Alban’s left their decision to Friday afternoon and were vindicated when Saturday morning in Joburg dawned clear and the fields dried rapidly, making for an open, running game of rugby.

St Alban’s were first on the board via a penalty by flyhalf Ronaldo Daniels in the 2nd minute, but Jeppe struck back with tries in the 10th and 11th minutes, by Sipho Vayise and Sibu Shongwe. Muzi Manyike converted the second of them and with Jeppe leading 12-3, they looked set for a comfortable victory.

St Alban’s started to see more of the ball, however, and their elusive backs began to make inroads, leading to tries by centre Luke Texeira and by Daniels, both converted by the flyhalf, who added a second penalty, taking them into a 20-12 lead.

Shortly afterwards St Alban’s lock, Simon Miller, who was impressive in the lineouts and on the run, stole the ball in a maul that Jeppe seemed to have under control and ran 35m to the tryline. Daniels converted and the teams changed ends with the visitors 27-17 up

Jeppe coach, Carl Spilhaus must have read the riot act to them during the break because they came out a changed team in the second half and they scored three goals to clinch the game.

They tightened up their defence and began to take the ball up through the phases instead of trying to move it wide every time and that paid dividends immediately when hooker Karel Zowitsky went over in the second minute of the second half.

Minutes later, scrumhalf Kabelo Mokheti hurdled a pile of players on the ground to touch down, and Jeppe were back in the game at 26-27 down.

The winning try was scored by replacement hooker Wellington Motaung who went over under a pile of bodies from a lineout drive.

St Alban’s launched a ferocious late attempt to salvage the match, but the Jeppe defence held out and they go into the Easter Festival at KES next week with some confidence.

Jeppe won all the other rugby fixtures on the day quite comfortably, but it was clear that this St Alban’s 1st team, under the coaching of former Zimbabwean international Kennedy Tsimba, is a cut above the rest of the school. They are going to win some big games this year.

Scorers: 

Jeppe High School for Boys 33 (12) – Tries: Sipho Vayise, Sibu Shongwe, Karel Zowitsky, Kabelo Mokhethi, Wellington Motaung. Conversions; Muzi Manyike (4). St Alban’s College 27 (27) – Tries: Luke Texeira, Ronaldo Daniels, Simon Miller. Conversions: Daniels (3) .Penalties: Daniels (2). 

Grey High capitalised on their opportunities in ruthless fashion to run out comfortable 34-5 victors over Graeme College in the 20th Pam Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day in Grahamstown on Saturday (March 24).

The result in the day’s feature game capped another excellent festival of schoolboy rugby, with thousands of spectators surrounding the Somerset field to witness a series of well-contested matches.

Besides Grey’s solid performance, Brandwag were impressive in overpowering Queen’s College 43-27, while St Andrew’s College and Selborne College were both pushed hard by Marlow Agricultural and Hudson Park High respectively.

Kingswood also gave a spirited performance against Framesby before going down 22-13.

After an early penalty by LJ du Preez, Grey took a 13-0 lead into the break with tries by Du Preez and Ryan Adams.

Although they dominated territorially, it was a workmanlike rather than a dominant performance and Graeme lifted the home spirits when Dylan Rielly crossed for a try early in the second half to make it 13-5.

However, Grey were able to spend most of the time in their opponents’ half and this led to the home side often trying moves which were fraught with danger.

Twice the PE team were able to score tries through a Matthew Easton interception and a strong run by big lock Dumisa Ngcivana when Graeme coughed up possession. With Du Preez adding the conversions, the lead was stretched to 27-5.

Graeme defended courageously throughout the match, but Grey’s ability to maintain pressure when on attack told in the end. It allowed Ngcivana to add another try and Du Preez completed the scoring with his third conversion.

Brandwag’s attacking instincts and strong forward play set up their win over Queen’s after a closely contested first half in which the Uitenhage side led 17-15.

They took control after the break with two tries to lead 31-15 and although the Queenians never gave up the fight, each time they hit back, Brandwag found the extra gear to maintain the 16-point gap.

Lively Brandwag wing Octavian Muller again impressed, crossing for a hat-trick of tries.

St Andrew’s were given a tough examination by Hudson Park and led only 8-7 at the interval. They then watched the East London side take the lead 14-8 before the pressure created by their attacking intent resulted in two more tries to give them a hard-earned 22-14 win.

Kingswood were looking down the barrel early in the second half against the organised Framesby outfit, trailing 19-3, but showed great spirit to have the better of the second half.

A highlight was the remarkable solo effort by fullback Jarred Marnus, who fielded a kick on his own 10-metre line and then bamboozled multiple defenders to race through for a superb try.

Kingswood added a second try to close the gap to 19-13, but Framesby held firm and kicked a penalty to create a buffer the Grahamstown side could not close.

Marlow showed plenty of courage to keep Selborne on their toes, but the East London side controlled enough of the match to win 27-18, while Dale were similarly extended by a gutsy Nico Malan side.

The Kingwilliamstown side were up 14-0 in no time but were eventually forced to hang on for a 14-13 win.

Similarly, Union High held on for a 17-14 win over Cambridge, while Pearson had too much in the tank for the brave Muir outfit, taking the day’s opening match 34-19.

The results were:

Pearson High bt Muir College 34-19
Union High bt Cambridge High 17-14
Brandwag High bt Queen’s College 43-27
Dale College bt Nico Malan High 14-13
Selborne College bt Marlow Agricultural 27-18
St Andrew’s College bt Hudson Park 22-14
Framesby High bt Kingswood College 22-13
Grey High bt Graeme College 34-5