Carlton-Van Heerden in big FNB Classic win
Too good for AJ Ferreira
Carlton-Van Heerden played AJ Ferreira in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday and won 35-0, scoring seven tries and not a single goal.
Part of the great occasion was the arrival of the Springbok star, Ashwin Willemse, South Africa's Player of the Year in 2004. FNB flew him to Upington for the occasion and he addressed both schools, stressing the importance of using opportunities.
Both schools gave him an excited reception.
At a function at AJ Ferreira on the day before the match Willemse presented the two teams with the new jerseys which FNB had provided.
It was a day that started cold and warmed up till it was hot when the first rugby teams kicked off.
The whole event was a result of wonderful co-operation between the two schools. They had an organising committee which ran events from eight o'clock in the morning, building up to the FNB Classic Clash in the afternoon.
The two schools played netball, soccer, basketball, baseball and volleyball and had other competitions. The impression was that AJ Ferreira fared rather better than Carlton-Van Heerden in these match-ups, but not when the two rugby sides met.
As expected Carlton-Van Heerden were two good for AJ Ferreira in this Upington derby on the Unievelde, but AJ Ferreira tried manfully, especially in the first half which ended 0-0.
In the second half Carlton-Van Heerden cut loose and it was especially their star left-wing Aithken Sharpley. He has been the main try-scorer for his side this season and scored a hat-trick of tries on Saturday as his team ran in seven tries in the second half and failed to kick a single conversion.
Flank Brutus de Bruin opened the scoring with the first try and with it the floodgates. Hooker Marco van Wyk was next to score and then Aithken Sharpley got his first try.
The other star of the match was captain and eighthman Ricardo Ross who scored the fourth try. Then Aithken Sharpley went over again.
Romano de Vee got try number six and then Aithken Sharpley ended the scoring with his third try.
Carlton-Van Heerden took great delight in celebrating their win and the handsome trophy they received.
Talking about the match the Carlton-Van Heerden coach said: "I was very disappointed in the first half. We made too many handling errors and gave away scrums. AJ Ferreira surprised us in the scrums. They were stronger than we had expected.
"The second half was much better. We had better control and created more chances.
"Aithken Sharpley was outstanding. In the first half he had little room to move but as the pressure came off him inn the second half he showed his class."
The whole day was one of good friendship, excellent organisation and wonderful co-operation.
Teams:
AJ Ferreira: 15 George Strauss, 14 Arnold Thys, 13 Fazel Beukes, 12 Rynold Peters, 11 Ashley Spannenberg, 10 Franklyn McKenzie (captain), 9 Rudolf Julie, 8 Prescious Kitzi, 7 Riaan Taks, 6 Elvis Booysen, 5 Eugene Klaaste, 4 Anthony Afrikaner, 3 Godfrey van Vuuren, 2 Lawrence de Bruin, 1 Gary Jansen (vice-captain).
Replacements: 16 Ian Smith, 17 Howard van Wyk, 18 Franklin Titus, 19 Pieter Visagie, 20 Bronwille Majima.
Coach: T Boer
Manager: E Visagie
Carlton-Van Heerden: 15 Jerome Masakwameng, 14 Ashley Marsala, 13 Romano de Wee (vice-captain), 12 Denver Visagie, 11 Aithken Sharpley, 10 Jesse Isaacs, 9 Lu-André Schreiner, 8 Ricardo Ross, 7 Brutus de Bruin, 6 Heinrich Matthys, 5 Jessie van Rooi, 4 Christie Bosman, 3 Nathan Witbooi, 2 Marco van Wyk, 1 Desmond Louw.
Replacements: 16 Abraham Mentloor, 17 Craig Scholtz, 18 Roswin Scott, 19 Stanley Eiman, 20 Immanuel Nghihalwa
Coach: JV Loubser
Manager: J Prins
Referee: Lukas Esau (Griqualand West)
