Bishops Have Too Much Skill For SACS

The scene was set for another epic derby encounter as The South African College High School (SACS) hosted Diocesan College (Bishops) for another installment of this historic fixture. There was a Southerly breeze blowing on a chilly early winters morning in Newlands but this did not deter a large crowd who gathered for the first of the Southern Suburb derbies. Bishops proved too good on the day and were deserved 39-21 winners (half time: 15-7)

Bishops scored as early as the third minute as they spread the ball to the left where hooker Keagan Blanckenberg was waiting in the trams. He beat his defender on the outside, drew the SACS fullback before feeding the Bishops fullback Joe Kirsten who scored. Flyhalf Matthew Lennett nailed the conversion as he did all seven of his kicks on the day.

Ten minutes later SACS struck back as a kick for territory by centre Robin Aspeling was partly changed down. It bounced awkwardly for Kirsten and into the hands of SACS’s best player on the day, wing Duran Koevort. He just beat the cover tackle of Bishops scrumhalf Liam Kloosman to score. Fullback Matthew Hayes converted from wide out.

Bishops retained the kickoff and came straight back onto the attack. They had a lineout drive repelled and earned another penalty, which Lennett duly converted. Hayes missed an easy shot to level the scores soon after.

Bishops always looked dangerous on attack and were constantly asking questions of the SACS defence. With twenty-five minutes gone prop Aidan Macdonald surged for the line. He was held up but from the ensuing scrum Kloosman went blind and on the next phase fed his ever present skipper and No.8 Isaiah Wharton who crashed over for his first try.

SACS had two good chances to narrow the gap before the interval. Good patient build-up play was spoilt by a dropped pass and then soon after centre Rihaz Fredericks cut through from first phase. It looked for all money like SACS would score only for him to be dragged down by the cover defence.

From the second half kick-off SACS kicked the ball back to Bishops. Kirsten gleefully accepted and had a crack. He cut through and linked only for Bishops to once again be held up over the line. In almost a carbon copy of their second try Kloosman played the ball blind and then once phase later Wharton came on a hard line driving in low. He duly scored and extended the Bishops lead to 22-7.

Midway through the half SACS executed a brilliant lineout variation which saw Koevort get over for his second try and bring the hosts back within range. Both teams were guilty of conceding to many turnovers in contact but when Bishops held onto the ball they were excellent.
Their big locks backing up Wharton with strong gain line carries. After another surge by Connor Evans the ball was brilliantly flipped wide by centre Mike Ford. Blanckenberg set off another superb run, this time scoring himself to put the result beyond doubt at 32-14.

Bishops were physically superior in contact and had more pace than SACS on the outside. It wasn’t long before their other lock Samuel Rudston was on the scoresheet. SACS kept fighting to the end and pulled back another score through hard-working flank Nicholas Boden.

Bishops were deserved winners on the day and will take great confidence from this result as they head out to the Farm next week to face Boland Landbou. SACS in turn host Brackenfell and will be looking to gain some confidence and momentum before the arrival of Paarl Gim the week after!

Scorers

For SACS:
Tries: Duran Koevort 2, Nicholas Boden
Cons: Matthew Hayes 2, Robin Aspeling

For Bishops:
Tries: Isaiah Wharton 2, Joe Kirsten, Keagan Blanckenberg, Samuel Rudston
Conversions: Matthew Lennett 4
Penalties: Matthew Lennett 4

Teams

SACS: 15 Matthew Hayes, 14 Duran Koevort, 13 Rihaz Fredericks, 12 Robin Aspeling, 11 Thomas Doyle, 10 Josh Whittingdale, 9 Alistair Kretzschmar, 8 Brent van Niekerk, 7 Ian Paterson, 6 Nicholas Boden, 5 Jordan Thomas (captain), 4 Enos Ndaio, 3 Peter Choi, 2 Chris Hattingh, 1 Neal Lategan

Bishops: 15 Joe Kirsten, 14 Luca Liebenberg, 13 Ollie James, 12 Mike Ford, 11 Sam Martinussen, 10 Matthew Lennett, 9 Liam Kloosman, 8 Isaiah Wharton (captain), 7 Jono Bird, 6 Charlie Yates, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Samuel Rudston, 3 James Bolton, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Aiden Macdonald

Referee: Nathan Barry (Western Province Referees’ Society)

Bishops vs SACS Down the Years

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: Bishops won
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 match at Bishops 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 & Bishops won 15-12
2018: Bishops won 19-7 & 22-20
2019: Bishops won 39-21

Report from SACS