Bishops and SACS in Exciting Stalemate

The match lived up to expectations and was a real humdinger with the lead changing hands three times before SACS scored and converted at the death to claim a 24-all draw (half-time: 12-3 to Bishops).

Bishops started like a house on fire dominating possession and territory for the first quarter of the match. In true Bishops tradition, they played with tempo and width asking questions that the SACS defence failed to answer on two occasions. Their stand-out players on the day, left-wing Ross Goodwin and hooker Ghaalieb Kenny, dotting down for early tries. Scrumhalf William Rose converted the second try.

SACS needed to get their hands on the ball and build some pressure but they continued to be harassed and forced into errors by a fired-up Bishops side who contested the breakdowns furiously. SACS did manage linebreaks through flyhalf David Hayes and left-wing Aaron Zeederberg but on both occasions, they failed to finish.

With half-time approaching SACS were reduced to thirteen men (two yellow cards) so captain Lucky Dlepu decided to slow the game down and take the three points on offer. SACS had another good chance to narrow the lead just on half-time but, in what became a recurring theme for them, the final pass didn’t go to hand.

SACS needed to score early in the second half to build belief and get themselves back into the match. They did just that when three minutes in Hayes floated a pass to flank Sujai Ikemefuna who burst inside and past a number of Bishops defenders to score. SACS went straight back onto the attack when Zeederberg again cut the line. Again he couldn't finish but minutes later SACS turned the resultant pressure into points when reserve flank Nishen Naidoo crashed over to see SACS take a 17-12 lead ten minutes into the second half.

The game was far from over though as Bishops surged back onto attack using a variety of “out the back” balls and interesting running lines to torment the SACS defence. Once again patient build-up play was rewarded when space opened up on the left for inside-centre Matt du Plessis to score. Rose, who had a great all-round game, missed the conversion and the scores were locked at 17-all with just under twenty minutes to go.

SACS produced and excellent set-piece play to put flyhalf David Hayes through with only the fullback to beat but the referee Divan Uys ruled the pass to Hayes forward. Bishops were not to be outdone though and minutes later they produced an excellent piece of attacking play down the left flank. Kenny, who had a brilliant match as a ball carrier in the wide channels, was again prominent before two expert offloads put Goodwin into space wide on the left. He raced over, cleverly scoring almost under the poles. Rose set the conversion up very close to the SACS try-line and it was almost charged down. Fortunately for him it snuck over the crossbar!

With time running out SACS had it all to do. SACS have come from behind to win a number of matches this season. This time they were fighting for a draw. They dug deep and hung onto the ball. Captain Lucky Dlepu, hobbling around on a heavily strapped ankle, drove his team forward towards the Bishops line. Prop Ethan Burger carried prominently twice before hooker Anathi Kalipa flopped over fifteen metres in from the left hand touchline.

With time up on the clock the crowd fell silent as SACS fullback Michael Abrahams lined up the conversion. He struck it well and the light North-Westerly wind helped it curl in from right, much to the delight of the SACS crowd seated behind him.

It was an exciting end to a pulsating game. There were errors no doubt but the attacking intent that was evident from both teams would have pleased Basil Bey watching from above.

Scorers:

For Diocesan College (Bishops):

Tries: Ross Goodwin 2, Ghaalib Kenny, Matt du Plessis

Conversions: William Rose 2

For South African College High School (SACS):

Tries: Anathi Kalipa, Sujai Ikemefuna, Nishen Naidoo

Conversions: Michael Abrahams 3

Penalty: Lucky Dlepu

Teams

Bishops: 15 James Ipser, 14 Ross Goodwin, 13 George Spencer, 12 Matt du Plessis, 11 Murray Bruce, 10 Aydan Labuschagne, 9 William Rose, 8 Felix Burt, 7 Matt Norton, 6 Justin Muller, 5 Tim Sharples, 4 Ross Doyle, 3 David Courie, 2 Ghaalieb Kenny, 1 Benjamin Nel

Coaches: Richard Smith, Wes Chetty

SACS: 15 Michael Abrahams, 14 Ben Mazzullo, 13 Zolani Masembathe, 12 Chad van der Loo, 11 Aaron Zeederberg, 10 David Hayes, 9 Vusile Dlepu (captain), 8 Oliver Schuurmans, 7 Sujai Ikemefuna, 6 Craig Bylin, 5 Storm Balchin, 4 Jean Minnaar, 3 Joshua Barrett, 2 Anathi Kalipa, 1 Ethan Burger

Coaches: Nick Maurer, Matthew Currie

Referee: Divan Uys (Western Province Referees' Society)

Results Down the Years

There is little record of early matches and at the time when the records start both the South African College and the Diocesan College had university classes. In those days both institutions were a mixture of school and university with all the boys eligible for any team, as were the masters. The second principal of Bishops played for the 2nd XV. boys were chosen on ability regardless of age.

That all stopped after 1910 when Bishops ceased its university classes and its students and the university students of SACS joined to form the University of Cape Town. From then on the results here are those between schools.

In the early matches there were no points; only goals counted. Points would vary. A try, for example, went from 1 to 3 to 4 to 5.

1873: SACS won 2 goals to nil

1874: SACS won the first one & the second match 1 goal to nil.

1876: Bishops won goals to nil and 1 goal to nil

1877: Draw

1879: Draw 0-0 & Bishops won 5 goals to nil.

1882: SACS won

1883: SACS won

1885: Bishops won 11-0

1886: SACS won 11-0

1887: SACS won 4-1

1888: Draw 0-0 & SACS won 1-0

1889: SACS won 3-1

1890: Draw 2-2 & SACS won 2-1

1891: Bishops won 4-0 and 11-0

1892: Bishops won 8-0, 24-2 & 20-7

1893: Bishops won 17-0

1894: Bishops won 19-0 & 17-0

1895: Bishops won 11-0 & 11-0

1896: Draw 0-0 & Bishops won 6-0

1897: SACS won 16-7 & 6-0

1898: SACS won 8-0

1899: Draw 3-3, SACS won 10-3 & 5-0

1900: Draw 0-0, SACS won 7-0 & Bishops won 6-0

1901: Bishops won 10-0, SACS won 11-5 & Bishops won 13-0

1902: SACS won 6-5 & 19-6

1903: SACS won 9-0

1904: SACS won 12-0 & 11-3

1905: SACS won 10-3 & Bishops won 7-0

1906: Bishops won 6-5 & SACS won 5-3

1907: Bishops won 9-4 & 10-0 & SACS won 8-5 & 13-3

1908: Bishops won 8-3

1909: SACS won 19-3, 9-3 & 14-3

1910: SACS won 12-4 & 15-5

From now on the competition is between school teams.

1911: SACS won 6-5

1912: Draw 3-3 & Bishops won 19-5 & 10-0

1913:  Bishops won 21-0 & 6-0 & SACS won 6-3

1914: Bishops won 11-8 & SACS won 3-0

1915: Draw 0-0, SACS won 12-9 & 3-0 & Bishops won 9-4 & 11-5

1916: Bishops won 13-0 & 8-0

1917: SACS won 25-0

1918: SACS won 14-0

1920: SACS won 11-0

1921: Draw 12-12

1922: Draw 8-8

1923: SACS won 9-8

1924: Bishops won 10-3 & 19-5 & SACS won 10-0

1925: Bishops won 16-3 & 16-6

1926: Draw 3-3 & SACS won 19-5

1927: Bishops won 18-3

1928: Bishops won 8-3

1929: Bishops won 14-0

1930: SACS won 8-3 & Bishops won 13-0

1931: Bishops won 23-6 & SACS won 8-6

1932: Draw 13-13, Bishops won 12-7

1933: SACS won 12-0

1934: Bishops won 24-9 & SACS won 25-3 & 29-7

1935: Bishops won 16-6 & 26-3

1936: Bishops won 16-0 & SACS won 15-7

1937: SACS 12-11 & 11-9

1938: Bishops won 12-3

1939: Bishops won 11-0 & 36-3

1940: Bishops won 31-8 & 6-3

1941: Bishops won 19-3

1942: Bishops won 20-5 & 12-0

1943: Bishops won 13-0 & 3-0

1944: Draw 3-3 & Bishops won 14-6

1945: Bishops won 9-3 & 3-0

1946: Bishops won 37-0 & 6-3

1947: SACS won 12-11& Bishops won 9-0

1948: Bishops won 32-3 & 22-11

1949: Bishops won 57-0

1950: SACS won 14-8 & Bishops won 11-5

1951: Bishops won 17-3 & 8-0

1952: Bishops won 18-3 & 13-11

1953: Bishops won 32-0 & 15-3

1954: Bishops won 17-3 & 6-0

1955: Bishops won 20-3

1956: SACS won 8-5 & 10-6

1957: Bishops won 9-0 & SACS won 12-3

1958: Bishops won 11-0 & 19-3

1958: Bishops won 16-6 & 18-0

1960: Bishops won 11-0 & 12-3

1962: SACS won 11-0

1963: Bishops won 9-0 & 11-3

1964: Bishops won 26-3 & 6-5

1965: Bishops won 29-3 & 18-0

1966: Bishops won 17-15 & SACS won 6-3

1967: Draw 6-6 & SACS won 8-6

1968: Bishops won 8-3 & 6-3

1969: SACS won 12-6

1970: Bishops won 18-9 & 16-6

1971: SACS won 15-13

1972: SACS won 8-4 & 3-0

1973: SACS won 11-6 & 29-0

1980: Bishops won 14-0 & SACS won 9-0

1975: Bishops won 4-3 & SACS won 8-7

1976: SACS won 9-7 & Bishops won 12-8

1977: Bishops won 37-6 & 23-6

1978: Bishops won  26-9  & SACS won 18-13

1979: Bishops won 15-0 & 23-12

1980: Bishops won 34-7 & 19-9

1981: Bishops won 12-10 & 21-10

1982: Bishops won 23-6

1983: Bishops won 14-3 & 20-7

1984: Draw 10-10 & Bishops won 24-4

1985: Bishops won 29-3 & 34-0

1986: Bishops won 40-3 & 15-3

1987: Bishops won 46-3 & 26-4

1988: Bishops won 36-6 & 31-9

1989: Bishops won 12-7 & 38-3

1990: SACS won 12-10 & Bishops won 16-10

1991: Bishops won 41-6 & 35-3

1992: Bishops won 35-6 & 13-6

1993: Bishops won 64-3 & 20-9

1994: Bishops won 29-19 & 27-11

1995: Bishops won 9-3 & 10-7

1996: Bishops won 6-3 & SACS won 25-8

1997: Bishops won 44-17 & 26-15

1998: Bishops won 29-7 & 34-12

1999: Bishops won 20-19 & 27-15

2000: SACS won at Bishops and Bishops won at SACS

2001: Bishops won  

2002: Bishops won 32-19 & SACS won 15-13

2003: Bishops won 43-12 & 22-14

2004: Bishops won 10-0 & SACS won 32-3

2005: Bishops won 50-3 & 26-7

2006: Bishops won 26-14 & 20-10

2007: Draw 22-22 & Bishops won 41-17

2008: Bishops won 56-19 & 40-27

2009: Bishops won 27-0. The second match was cancelled because of the weather.

2010: Bishops won 43-18 & 46-17

2011: Bishops won 68-27 & SACS won 20-13

2012: SACS won 34-3 & 21-8

2013: SACS won 22-5 & 21-16

2014: Bishops won 26-12 & 80-5

2015: SACS won 26-17 & 14-7

2016: SACS won 38-19 & Bishops won 43-28

2017: Draw 24-24

By Graeme Wepener of SACS

Photo credits: Snapsport