31 March 2024
Durban High School (DHS) posted another shutout in a big win over Hoërskool Rustenburg on Saturday at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. Westville Boys’ High leaned on their defence, too, to beat Pearson, but Glenwood and Kearsney College came up short against quality opposition in the form of Dr EG Jansen and Rondebosch Boys’ High respectively.
There were also wins for Nico Malan High School over Hoërskool Noord-Kaap, and Monument over Hoërskool Framesby.
Durban High School vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
After initially starting slowly, Durban High School (DHS) hit their straps against Hoërskool Rustenburg on Saturday at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, brought to you by Standard Bank, running in six tries in a 45-0 rout.
DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldow, commented after that excellent performance: “Sometimes you have to be patient, and we spoke about New Zealand finishing teams in the last 20 minutes. It’s a mental shift and we like to build scoreboard pressure. Sometimes, it is not going to go our way. But if we stay in the fight, eventually we will break through. We did well today.”
Engeldow said the Horseflies had been error-prone in their matches against Kearsney and Nico Malan, both of which they won without conceding a point, but they tallied 35 errors in the former and 37 in the latter. Reflecting on the improved performance, he said: “It was about building one or two phases, just building momentum, and today we started achieving that.
“That’s how we want to play. We want to play attractive rugby, and we want to express ourselves. We believe, if we can get it right, it is the kind of rugby that people enjoy.”
The victory was built upon another robust performance from the DHS forwards, who are not the biggest, but they hunt together as a unit. Engeldow praised the work done by forwards’ coach Ronnie Uys, whose packs routinely get on top of bigger opposition in the set pieces.
“Ronnie’s worked really hard there, and the boys have come together. It was a really good effort,” Engeldow reckoned.
He also had good things to say about Aka Boqwana, whose accurate kicking built up scoreboard pressure on Rustenburg.
“You’re proud to see someone come through, and Aka come through today. Even against Nico Malan, in the warm-up, it was like watching a good golfer in rhythm, and he is effortless, and it’s flowing. That first penalty gave him confidence,” Engeldow said.
He finished by giving his seal of approval to the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival and its impact on DHS rugby. “Kearsney is always good to us,” he explained. “It gives us a time to come together, and the DHS staff has been amazing and engaged with the boys a lot and learning a lot about them.
It’s nice when it comes off on the rugby field, but there’s a bigger picture with their development and how they grow as young men.”
Durban High School 45 (17) – Tries: Adriano Jackson (2), Mahle Sithole, Khanyisa Stamper, Zenkosi Mthiyane, José Lottering. Conversions: Aka Boqwana (6). Penalty: Aka Boqwana. Hoërskool Rustenburg – 0.
Westville Boys’ High vs Pearson High School
Westville Boys’ High started out strongly against Pearson, forcing the festival newcomers onto the defensive with hard-hitting tackling, but their efforts were too often undone by unforced errors.
“Similar to the Rondebosch game, it was a good start, but just way too many errors,” coach Njabulo “Jabz” Zulu said afterwards. “Our lineout let us down again. It was inconsistent.”
“Defensively, I thought we had some soft moments. We struggled to stop their maul. We have a lot of things to work on.”
It was a win, but Zulu was candid in his assessment of his charges’ performance after they had battled their way to an 18-11 win over a good team. “I want us to be driven by performance, and I think we are not consistent enough to hurt the really good teams. Rondebosch is proof of that,” he said.
Westville crossed for two tries, scored by Michael Satede and Jadrian Afrikaner, with Satede’s long range effort being the highlight of the game. Unathi Mlotshwa added the extras, with two penalties and a conversion.
Pearson managed two Caleb Friskin penalties and a try from Denilo Jordaan in response.
They face a massive challenge on Monday, going up against a DHS side that is now hitting its stride. Westville, meanwhile, continues one of the toughest schedules in the country with a clash against Monument.
Westville Boys’ High School 18 (10) – Tries: Michael Satade, Jadrian Afrikaner. Conversion: Unathi Mlotshwa. Penalties: Unathi Mlotshwa (2). Pearson High School 11 (3) – Try: Denilo Jordaan. Penalties: Caleb Friskin (2).
Glenwood High School vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen
Glenwood put together a whole-hearted effort against Dr EG Jansen, but they were outplayed by a very well drilled and skilful team.
Jansies don’t appear to have any weakness, and Matthew Bergman masterfully directed their attack from flyhalf to keep Glenwood under pressure. Try as they might, the Green Machine found few gaps in the Boksburg boys’ defences.
When they tried to relieve pressure with kicks, EG Jansen comfortably dealt with them and immediately went back onto the offensive.
They scored three tries in the first half, through TK Ngobese, Danré Pike and Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar, with Glenwood mustering only a Leo Weber penalty in response.
Scrumhalf Riekus van der Merwe added a fourth for EG Jansen before Glenwood finally crossed the whitewash in the last movement of the game, when Caleb Reeding dived over in the left-hand corner.
Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen 20 (15) – Tries: TK Ngobese, Danré Pike, Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar, Riekus van der Merwe. Glenwood High School 8 (3) – Try: Caleb Reeding. Penalty: Leo Weber.
Kearsney College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High School
Kearsney College came out roaring against Rondebosch Boys’ High, forcing them deep into their own half, and One-Stripe skipper Anele Cele made it clear to the ‘Bosch boys from the start that it would be a battle in the set scrums with a powerful first effort from tighthead.
‘Bosch, however, defended effectively and Kearsney eventually settled for a penalty by Daniel Eager.
As he did against Westville, Rondebosch flyhalf David Simon made good decisions and controlled the game well.
The Cape Town school, down by three, soon took the lead when lock Carl Geddie went over for a converted try.
It was 7-3 at the break, but ‘Bosch then opened up a double-figure advantage, thanks to a try from Randall John Davids.
Kearsney kept banging away at Rondebosch and a good kick and chase forced the Western Cape side into a hurried clearance kick, down the middle of the field. Eager caught the ball and burst through the ‘Bosch defensive line, outstripping the cover defence to go over in the right-hand corner for a One-Stripe try.
Rondebosch soon replied with a David Simon penalty, and Ismaeel Conrad added a try to secure a convincing 22-8 win.
Rondebosch Boys’ High School 22 (7) – Tries: Carl Geddie, Randall John Davids, Ismaeel Conrad. Conversions: David Simon (2). Penalty: David Simon. Kearsney College 8 (3) – Try: Daniel Eager. Penalty: Daniel Eager.
Nico Malan High School vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap
Nico Malan had played DHS tough in their showdown on day one of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, going down 0-21, while Noord-Kaap had been crushed 59-7 by EG Jansen. Based on those results, it seemed Nico Malan would cruise to victory in their Saturday showdown. That’s not what happened.
While Nico Malan impressed with their cohesive and physical 15-man approach, Noord-Kaap created danger with their creative running.
They started strongly, too, pinning Nico Malan deep in their territory and the Kimberley side was rewarded when Elrin Morkel got in for the first five-pointer of the day.
The boys from Humansdorp replied with a penalty from Ruan du Preez and a try from Edrich Klue to take a 10-5 lead into the break.
In the second half, the game opened up. Francois Smit and Tequine Koopman went over for Nico Malan, while Jayden Potgieter and Jonaden Links replied for Noord-Kaap.
With time running short, it looked as if the Eastern Cape team had the match sewn up after Koopman’s try, but Ambijorn Vraagom leapt high, plucked the ball out of the air from the kick off, and raced through to pull Noord-Kaap back into the contest.
Nico Malan responded well, however, with Gelden van Niekerk adding another try to secure the win for his side.
Nico Malan 31 (10) – Tries: Edrich Klue, Francois Smit, Tequine Koopman, Gelden van Niekerk. Conversions: Jean Joubert (3), Ruan de Preez. Penalty: Ruan de Preez. Noord-Kaap 22 (5) – Tries: Elrin Morkel, Jayden Potgieter, Jonaden Links, Ambijorn Vraagom. Conversion: Themba Koopman.
Worcester Gimnasium vs Hoër Landbouskool Marlow
After two matches, Worcester Gimnasium have scored only two points more than their opponents, but they have also won two out two.
On Saturday, they followed up their 26-25 win over Hoërskool Rustenburg with a 38-37 victory over Hoër Landbouskool Marlow, which was actually a little bit more comfortable than it might appear to be, with two late tries bringing Marlow close, but not close enough.
The farmers from Cradock started out well, structuring their play nicely and forcing Worcester onto the back foot. They soon turned that pressure into points, with a penalty from Gideon Jordaan and a try by Zeiss Jordaan.
Worcester then showed how dangerous they could be by striking twice within a matter of minutes with some superb running rugby, which led to Daren Murphy and Vuyolwethu Bavuma going over for tries.
Marlow, however, found a response from Theuns Botha, whose try put his team into a 17-12 lead at half-time.
Worcester, though, were causing their green-jerseyed opposition problems when they moved the ball wide. Bavuma added a second try and Valentino Nomadluka‘s five-pointer put the Boland boys into the lead.
Two more tries, from Elrenzo Swartz and Waylan Pienaar put Worcester well clear, but Marlow kept battling to the end, with tries from Wilco Nel and Albrey Rudman bringing them to within a point of Worcester at the final whistle.
Worcester Gimnasium 38 (12) – Tries: Vuyolwethu Bavuma (2), Valentino Nomadluka, Elrenzo Swartz, Waylan Pienaar, Daren Murphy. Conversions: Aiden Abrahams (4). Hoër Landbouskool Marlow 37 (17) – Zeiss Jordaan, Theuns Botha, Wilco Nel, Albrey Rudman. Conversions: Gideon Jordaan (4). Penalties: Gideon Jordaan (3)
Hoërskool Monument vs Hoërskool Framesby
Hoërskool Monument went into their clash with Hoërskool Framesby as the favourites, but it took a hard fightback to overcome the plucky team from Gqeberha, who got up into Monnas’ face from the first whistle.
Facing a monster pack, Framesby didn’t back down and tigerishly went directly at them. It unsettled the big boys from Krugersdorp, who were robbed of space to build up momentum.
Johan van Zyl got the Eastern Cape side on the board, with Logan Muller converting, and an interception try by Damion Witbooi, converted by Muller, put Framesby 14-0 ahead.
Monument, though, started to finish some rhythm and reduced the half-time deficit to seven when Geoffrey French went over for a try.
Framesby scored first in the second half, however, with Muller landing a penalty. Monument, though, began to make inroads and it wasn’t through their big pack. It was by getting the ball out wide to their speedy wingers, and through some well-judged tactical kicking from flyhalf Justin Viljoen.
The rapid left-wing Ernesto Oersen flew over for two tries and flank RJ Barnard added another to move Monnas into the lead. Their improved tactical approach kept Framesby at bay, and the Krugersdorp boys claimed a five-point victory.
Hoërskool Monument 22 (7) – Tries: Ernesto Oersen (2), Geoffrey French, RJ Barnard. Conversion: Justin Viljoen. Hoërskool Framesby 17 (14) – Tries: Johan van Zyl, Damion Witbooi. Conversions: Logan Muller (2). Penalty: Logan Muller.
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