6 October 2023
(Feature photo: Thando Luthuli, Akahlulwa Boqwana, Adriano Jackson and Zenkosi Mthiyane, all of DHS. For highlights from the KZN Sevens season, please visit Pinnacle Schools – YouTube)
The Sharks walked away as runners-up at the recent Inter-provincial Sevens Rugby Tournament in Bloemfontein where, arguably, they were the best team on show. Their 14-15 defeat to the Free State in the final was their only loss of the event.
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Throughout the pool stages and the playoffs right up to the final, the boys from KZN set the standard. However, in the title-decider, the home team delivered their best performance of the event to record a one-point victory.
Pool play
Playing in Pool B, the Sharks beat Boland, who ultimately finished fourth, 26-19, thumped the Limpopo Blue Bulls 45-0, and crushed the Griffons Invitational 46-0. The eventual champion, Free Staters, though, suffered a 12-20 loss to Griquas in Pool D, with the team from the Northern Cape narrowly missing out on the Cup semis on points’ difference after a 17-17 draw with the Blue Bulls.
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Playoffs
In the Cup quarterfinals, the Sharks had no trouble dispatching the Griffons 17-0, while the defending champions, Eastern Province, were comfortably handled by Free State, who won 22-0. The Golden Lions advanced with a 19-14 win over the Blue Bulls, and Boland cruised to a 33-5 success against South Western Districts.
With a place in the final on the line, the Sharks delivered an emphatic 31-14 victory over the Golden Lions, while the Free State edged Boland 12-10.
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Final
In the final, the hosts, starting well, went two tries up, through Junior Titoti and Philip Mclaren, but Saint Charles’ Matthew Fick tore through the Free State defences with a stunning long-range score to bring the Sharks to within three points.
Ruben Cilliers went over to extend the Free State lead after the break before Zekhethelo Siyaya of Westville crossed for another converted Sharks’ try, which left the boys from KZN just one point shy of their opposition.
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Pool A
Eastern Province 17-14 Leopards, Golden Lions 36-5 Namibia, Golden Lions 33-12 Eastern Province, Leopards 17-7 Nambibia, Eastern Province 40-12 Namibia, Golden Lions 42-19 Leopards
Pool B
Sharks 26-19 Boland, Limpopo Blue Bulls 33-19 Griffons Invitational, Boland 45-0 Griffons Invitational, Sharks 45-0 Limpopo Blue Bulls, Boland 31-10 Limpopo Blue Bulls, Sharks 46-0 Griffons Invitational
Pool C
SWD 41-0 Falcons, Free State Invitational 17-7 Griffons, Friffons 19-12 SWD, Falcons 19-17 Free State Invitational, SWD 24-18 Free State Invitational, Griffons 31-12 Falcons
Pool D
Free State 26-14 Blue Bulls, Pumas 19-12 Griquas, Blue Bulls 31-12 Pumas, Griquas 20-12 Free State, Blue Bulls 17-17 Griquas, Free State 29-12 Pumas
Quarter-finals
Cup
Golden Lions 19-14 Blue Bulls, Free State 22-0 Eastern Province, Sharks 17-0 Griffons, Boland 33-5 SWD
Bowl
Pumas 27-0 Leopards, Griquas 45-22 Namibia, Limpopo Blue Bulls 38-17 Falcons, Griffons Invitational 33-14 Free State Invitational
Semi-finals
Cup
Sharks 31-14 Golden Lions, Free State 12-10 Boland
Plate
Blue Bulls 38-12 Griffons, Eastern Province 26-7 SWD
Bowl
Limpopo Blue Bulls 12-10 Pumas, Griquas 22-17 Griffons Invitational
Shield
Leopards 24-10 Falcons, Namibia 5-0 Free State Invitational
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Finals
Cup
Free State 15-14 Sharks
Golden Lions 26-10 Boland (3rd/4th)
Plate
Blue Bulls 31-5 Eastern Province
SWD 21-17 Griffons (7th/8th)
Bowl
Limpopo Blue Bulls 43-7
Pumas 33-5 Griffons Invitational (11th/12th)
Shield
Leopards 31-19 Namibia
Falcons 38-17 Free State Invitational (15th/16th)
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