29 April 2023
A blistering start by Stellenberg set Maritzburg College on the back foot in their clash at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley on Saturday, and while the red, black and white produced some good passages of play in spurts they couldn’t quite make it all the way back, going down 24-36.
Opening score
Within the first five minutes, Stellenberg scored on the counter-attack after College had presented a ragged defensive line while following up a clearance kick. The Cape Town team’s fullback Dehan Neethling put in a fine run and almost got through, but Tyron Labuschagne benefitted from the number 15’s work, taking the final pass to score out on the left. Stefan Roux converted to put Stellenberg seven points clear.
College had Stellenberg’s number in the set scrums, but the referee didn’t think it was all legal and penalised the KZN side on a couple of occasions.
Damon Pereira’s team then doubled their lead after a driving maul took them right up to the College try-line. They were stopped, but were awarded a penalty because College had strayed offsides. From a tap, they forced their way over through tighthead Herman Lubbe and Roux’s conversion made it Maritzburg College 0-14 Stellenberg.
From the restart, however, College immediately won a penalty inside the Stellenberg 22. They chose to set up a lineout and then destroyed the Stellenberg maul defence, resulting in Elbie Mouton crashing over for a try. Luc du Toit was wide with his conversion attempt.
Stellenberg, though, hit back quickly. They were almost blown off the ball by the powerhouse College scrum, but managed to get the ball down the backline to the right. Then, bringing the ball back the other way, Stefan Roux made a half-break, drawing two players into a tackle, before offloading for the big lock, Marco Ferreira, who had space ahead of him and raced through to score Stellenberg’s third try. Roux was on target with his conversion again.
Commenting on his charges’ play in the early part of the game, Maritzburg College coach Tim Orchard said to Pinnacle Schools: “Frustrating, frustrating. I think we were a bit flat. The guys weren’t up for it in the first half, and then we got into the game only late in the half, when the damage had been done.”
Untouched under the posts
With half-time approaching, right wing Langelihle Makhatini, running off flyhalf Luc du Toit’s left shoulder, took a short pop pass and raced through untouched to scores under the posts for College. Du Toit’s conversion made it Stellenberg 21-12 Maritzburg College.
The scrums were a little untidy and College changed Codi Robinson for Aiden Botha, which created a steadier platform, while College still maintained their advantage at the set piece, with Phiwayinkosi Kubheka moving to tighthead.
The momentum had swung the red, black and white’s way, but the half-time whistle threatened their dominance.
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Sweet steal
There was a bit back-and-forth in the early part of the second half, with momentum swinging one way then the other when both sides conceded penalties on the ground. Hooker Almero Keizer came close to breaking through for Stellenberg, but Sasha Kadira executed a sweet steal to stop the threat.
Stellenberg managed to stay on the offensive but, with the Cape school pressing, Aytron van der Linde read their play down the backline beautifully to intercept inside the College 22 and sprint clear to score left of the uprights. Luc du Toit’s successful conversion reduced the deficit to just two points at Maritzburg College 19-21 Stellenberg.
College looked confident once more. They were managing to string phases together and were mixing it up nicely with drives off of the rucks and quick ball down the backline. However, a penalty for being offsides while they were on the attack, allowed Stellenberg to once again play the game in the Maritzburg half.
Ferreira’s second
Marco Ferreira eventually benefitted, diving over for his second try of the game after Stellenberg opted for a quick tap when they were awarded a penalty close to the College try-line. Ruben Thompson took the kick at goal, but his effort shaved the right upright on the wrong side, and it was Maritzburg College 19-26 Stellenberg.
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Within minutes, though, College crossed the Stellenberg whitewash. A loose pass from the Capetonians was snatched up by Langelihle Makhatini, who pinned his ears back and went over to the right of the uprights. Swelihle Mbatha took the kick, but it was narrowly left of the mark, leaving College just two points behind once more.
Sucker punch
But then came a sucker punch. College launched a counter-attack from the kick-off, but Stellenberg fullback Dehan Neethling, recognised that the red, black and white had an overlap wide on the left, so he got between the ball and the receiver to pull off an intercept, preventing a potential try, and he was quickly through for his second five-pointer. A simple kick made it Maritzburg College 24-33 Stellenberg.
A string of penalties kept College pinned deep in their half, and another one, with mere minutes remaining, presented Stellenberg with a chance to run down the clock by kicking at goal. Ruben Thompson was accurate and Stellenberg went on to a 36-24 victory.
College had been undone by the Cape Town team’s fiery start and Stellies’ success at turning over possession in the rucks. A long list of penalties conceded by Sasha Kadira and his side also prevented them from staging a late fightback in the second half.
Questioned about the feedback he had received from his side, College coach Orchard said: “The boys were disappointed in themselves and the effort they brought to the game.” No doubt, they’ll start better on Monday, 1 May, when they face Framesby at 12:40.
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