Boland draw first blood
The 50th birthday celebrations will have started in earnest out at Windmeul with Boland Landbou recording a hard-fought but well-deserved 15-6 victory over hosts Augsburg Gym in Clanwilliam on Wednesday, 7 March.
The fierce rivalry between agricultural schools was evident throughout a closely contested fixture, with the hosts showing early promise in the tight phases.
However, as the game progressed, Boland gradually gained the upperhand, even if all they could muster in the second period was a Tian Nel drop-goal.
In the first half outside centre Keagon Gordon and flyhalf Tian Nel dotted down tries for the visitors, one of which Nel converted. Augsburg had to be content with a penalty by pivot Corné Sharp and a drop goal by fullback Kenneth de Kock.
All this should, of course, add some spice to the Mutual and Federal Day out at the Farm this Saturday, 10 March, with lots of sides playing shortened matches in a festival atmosphere.
Malmesbury’s Schoonspruit won’t be there as Vos de Jager’s lads look to stretch their winning start to the season to three games.
A 26-17 triumph over Argentinian visitors Cirano on 20 February and last Saturday’s 62-0 destruction of Waveren from Tulbagh have focused the spotlight fully on them. Left wing Valentino Wellman and inside centre Anzo Stubbs have already notched four tries apiece, while the former has also landed four conversions.
On Saturday Hawston come to Fortress Wesbank in what should the ‘Spruit’s toughest match so far.
Before it gets forgotten amongst all the other goodies, there is also the Lutzville Sports Day to be added to the forthcoming attractions for next Saturday, 17 March.
There will be lots of sides from the town’s immediate area playing, but the two really interesting prospects are Augsburg Gym against the enormous resources of Stellenberg and Vredendal versus Monument Park, both of which should provide biltong-chewing action.
Let’s just hope the programme doesn’t suffer its all-too-common fate of having games cut short to meet later commitments. That factor alone has probably cost the organisers a couple of big names over the last couple of years.
By Tony Stoops
