Diamantveld take bragging rights
Hoërskool Noord-Kaap was the host of this year’s Classic Clash and there was a huge crowd present at the game. The atmosphere was electric and the visiting Diamantveld learners made it even louder. In some ways it felt like a home game for the Diamantveld players on the team.
Noord-Kaap played with the strong wind at their backs in the first half and scored the first try within five minutes. Diamantveld absorbed the pressure and on the half-hour mark scored their first try through No.8 Johan Joubert. The teams went into the break at 10 -5 in the favour of Noord-Kaap.
In the second half Diamantveld dominated territory and played 95 percent of the game in Noord-Kaap's half. The pressure was building and that led to a 60 metre penalty by flyhalf Gerco Nortje. Joubert scored his second try of the match in the 59th minute and that gave Diamantveld the lead for the first time in the game. Another penalty by Nortje in the final minute gave Diamantveld a 16 – 10 victory.
Diamantveld captain Janco Cloete said the win was something he will never forget.
"I'm very proud of our team and our school. To win the Classic Clashes in Kimberley is one of the best experiences of my rugby career. It was a great result for our school and a huge effort form a special group of players. The support from our leaners and parents was unbelievable.
"Thank you to FNB for this big school event. This event is always a special weekend to the community of Kimberley," said Cloete.
Diamantveld head coach Jean Stemmet said: "It was a tough game, but the team showed guts and character to win at Pirates, (Northern Cape, A-field) where Northerns have a great record. It's a good win for us and we look to take the momentum into the Kovsie League semifinal on Saturday against Sentraal from Bloemfontein. It will be the final match at home for all the matric players and we want to make it count."
By Niel Marais
Scorers:
For Noord-Kaap:
Try: Hufke
Con: Bowers
Pen: Bowers
For Diamantveld:
Tries: Joubert 2
Pens: Nortjie 2
Teams:
Noord-Kaap: 15 Wilfred Bowers, 14 Gladwin Niewenhuysen, 13 Zayne Farmer, 12 Daniello Huyster, 11 Cameron Hufke, 10 Cleo Adams, 9 Brandon de Melim (captain), 8 Gerhard Holtzhausen, 7 Damian van der Bergh, 6 Juandre Smit, 5 Rian Kotze, 4 Lihan Viljoen, 3 Stephanus Smit, 2 Willbritte Uys, 1 Schalk Smit.
Replacements: 16 Conrad van Aswegen, 17 Arthur Jones, 18 Algurnand Heyns, 19 Duan Steenkamp, 20 Marc Aitken, 21 Howard Lottering, 22 Ewan Markus, 23 Wynand Bester.
Diamantveld: 15 Keaton Gordon, 14 Gert Coetzee, 13 De-an Ackerman, 12 Nico Roets, 11 Etdeon Greyvenstein, 10 Gerco Nortjie, 9 JP Roets, 8 Johan Joubert, 7 Jan-Willem van Niekerk, 6 Janco Cloete (captain), 5 Bernard Jansen, 4 Corne van der Merwe, 3 Michael Rodriques, 2 Anton van Rohmburg.
Results Down the Years:
2003: Noord-Kaap won 18-13 and Diamantveld won 24-22
2004: Noord-Kaap won 22-20 and 13-10
2005: Diamantveld won 26-18
2006: Noord-Kaap won 11-10 and Diamantveld won 48-16
2007: Diamantveld won 17-11 and 28-0
2008: Noord-Kaap won 27-24
2009: Noord-Kaap won 24-13
2010: Noord-Kaap won 21-12
2011: Noord-Kaap won 44-7 and 27-20
2012: Noord-Kaap won 22-15
2013: Noord-Kaap won 27-19
2014: Diamantveld won 24-12
2015: Diamantveld won 16-10
*Photo supplied by Louis Botha Photography
