Classic Clashes wrap - August 6

Cradock avoided a fifth successive defeat at the hands of Gill College when they ran out 36-24 victors while Bergrivier Secondary School ensured a second consecutive over Weltevrede Secondary when they cruised to a 26-8 win.

Union High School produced an amazing result as they beat neighbours Hoër Volkskool 29-6 in Graaf-Reinet and Zweliyandila Secondary School ended their season on a high when they edged Nstonkotha Secondary School 19-14.

We look at all the Classic Clashes action!

Cradock 36-24 Gill College

In the opening minutes of the match, it was clear that the hosts were out for blood as they dominated much of the proceedings in the early minutes. Cradock was the first to score though and continued to pile on the pressure as they accumulated 16 points in the first half.

Before the break, Gill College dug deep and scored a try of their own, thanks to some relentless attacks as the visitors put their first points on the board.

Cradock went into the break holding a 16-7 advantage.

The second half delivered much of the same intense rugby. The hosts opened their second half account to extend their lead. It was a tit-for-tat match-up as Gill College took the battle to the hosts. Despite Cradock's dominance in the second half, Gill College gave as good as they got.

Both teams played beautiful running rugby, much to the appreciation of the crown. Cradock added 20 points in the second half while Gill College got 17 points of their own. It proved too little for Gill though as they succumbed to the defeat.

Bergrivier SS 26-8 Weltevrede SS

A crowd of more than 5000 pitched up for the much anticipated Wellington derby. Both teams sized each other up in the opening minutes, but the hosts were the ones to register the first points on the board thanks to a successful penalty by Deswill Barend, 3-0.

Minutes later, captain John-Paul Heugh levelled matters with a successful penalty of his own. In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Bergrivier broke the deadlock with an additional penalty and a try. The hosts absorbed much of the pressure on their own try line and snatched up a loose ball as the talisman Barend scored the first try of the match.

Bergrivier emerged with a 13-3 lead at the interval

Early in the second half Weltevrede found themselves on the back foot and conceded another penalty, Barend was all too happy to step up and extend his side's lead to 16-3. The relentless onslaught by Bergrivier continued as they scored two unanswered tries thanks to captain Shandrey Pietersen and Curtley Swanepoel. The hosts proved too strong as they marched to a 26-3 lead.

Weltevrede's never-say-die attitude was rewarded on the stroke of full-time. A rolling maul saw the tighthead prop Nazeer Solomons dot down for the visitors' only try of the match.

Hoër Volkskool 6-29 Union High School

Throughout the years, the Classic Clash between these two schools could never be predicted with certainty, and this year was no different.

Both schools headed into the match expecting a tough battle but the hosts' struggles with injuries proved too much, as Union High school took control of the match in the early stages.

After 70 minutes of play, there could only be one victor in the great Graaff-Reinet derby and this year it went to Union as they secured a comfortable win.

Zweliyandila 19-14 Nstonkotha

It was an intense battle with none of the schools wanting to lose the crucial match in East London. The hosts drew first blood thanks to a penalty kick. Soon after they extended their lead by adding two additional penalties.

Just before the break, the visitors scored a try thanks to Dyosi Siseko, who received a pop-pass and went over for the first try of the match, and trailed Zweliyandila 5-9.

The second half opened up as both teams started to find their groove. Zweliyandile again doing the business with a well-taken penalty which extended the lead to 12-5.

However, the game proved still far from over as Zweliyandila added another try to their tally, while Nstonkotha were successful with two drop goals and a penalty kick to ensure the narrow five-point victory.