Oakdale farm better

The win was probably more comfortable than the two-point margin suggests. Oakdale scored two tries to the one scored by Boland Landbou two minutes into injury time.

It was a match characterised by utter determination and deadly tackling. The small number of tries was not the result of stodgy rugby but of determined defence and a fierce contest for possession.

There were opening ceremonies with school songs and champagne queens.

Both packs were big but the Oakdale front row was massive. Prop-hooker-prop comes with a combined weight of 328 kg. A Springbok front row of Trevor Nyakane,  Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis weighs 355 kg. Chrisjan du Toit is heavier than Bismarck and just 2 kg lighter than Jannie. They are big and mobile. In fact the front row players scored both of Oakdale's tries.

The SA Schools scrumhalf, Jondré Williams, playing on the left wing, opened the scoring with a penalty goal for Boland Landbou. 3-0 after 4 minutes after their forwards had led an attack.

Then it was Oakdale's turn to attack and test the stern Boland Landbou defence. Boland Landbou were penalised five metres from their line and Oakdale tapped and bashed until hooker HP van Schoor twisted his way over to score. 5-3 after 10 minutes.

After Williams had a run down the left wing, Oakdale were penalised and Williams's kick reestablished the Boland Landbou lead. 6-5 after 12 minutes.

Oakdale rushed a maul downfield and they seemed on the way to scoring when the ball went to elusive Darren Adonis but the fullback kicked the ball dead.

Sergull van Niekerk had a good run and Oakdale were penalised at a tackle. Again Williams goaled. 9-5 after 25 minutes.

There was an astonishing, unforgettable moment after this.

There was a ruck on the half-way line and the ball came back to HP van Schoor. The prop threw a dramatic dummy, which Boland Landbou bought and off he raced, powerful pegs pumping, all 106 kg and 1,80 m of him. He went straight down the midfield and then threw his second dummy which fullback Luke Philander bought. Just when he seemed certain to score, Philander tackled him from behind and the massive hooker fell three metres short, but Oakdale won the ball back and prop Hermanus Botha forced his way over. Adonis converted. 12-9 to Oakdale after 28 mins.

Oakdale came close to scoring soon afterwards when lock Ewan Coetzee went striding down the  middle of the field. Boland Landbou went offside but Adonis's kick hit the upright and stayed out.

They attacked again – wide right and then wide left where Nicolus van Eeden had an overlap. He dived for the corner as Philander dived at him. The midair collision bumped the ball out of Van Eeden's grasp.

Boland Landbou were penalised at a maul and this time Adonis goaled. 15-9, which was the half-time score.

Boland Landbou played with the stiffening breeze in the second held and another Williams penalty took the score to 15-15 after 49 minutes.

Into the wind, Oakdale ran the ball, and it was nearly their undoing when Williams intercepted. There was nobody ahead of him as he raced some 25 metres down the left but a desperate ankletap by covering Boeta Hamman brought him down just outside the Oakdale 22 and Bertie de Bod was on hand to prevent further Boland Landbou action.

Two penalty goals by Adonis stretched the score to 21-12 with three minutes to go.

Time was up as Boland Landbou kept running. Oakdale were penalised and the visitors ran some more till Sergull van Niekerk sidestepped three defenders to score a try which Williams converted and which ended the match, which was a signal for blue-blazered Oakdale boys to flood the field with glee.

Scorers:

For Oakdale:

Tries: HP van Schoor, Hermanus Botha

Con: Darren Adonis

Pens: Darren Adonis 3

For Boland Landbou:

Try: Sergull van Niekerk

Con: Jondré Williams

Pens: Jondré Williams 4

Teams

Boland Landbou: 15 Luke Philander, 14 Sergull van Niekerk, 13 Janlu Steenkamp, 12 Henlo Marais, 11 Jondré Williams, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Deon Carstens, 8 Jandré Maree, 7 Johan Lubbe, 6 Heinrich Brendel, 5 Joppie du Pisani, 4 Christiaan Beukes, 3 Tristan Hill, 2 Heino Strümpher, 1 Bertus Smith

Replacements: 16 Christiaan Olivier, 17 Stefan Alberts, 18 Athi Magwala, 19 Reinhardt de Jager, 20 Louis Frylinck, 21 Lourens van Dyk, 22 Jaco Conradie

Coaches: Oloff Bergh, Deon Carstens

Oakdale: 15 Darren Adonis, 14 Alexander Wallace, 13 Kurt Eybers, 12 William Eybers, 11 Nicolus van Eeden, 10 Christo Hamman (captain), 9 Eckard Leicher, 8 Renaldo Ferreira, 7 Hanno Olivier, 6 Bertie de Bod, 5 Daniel Victor, 4 Ewan Coetzee, 3 Chrisjan du Toit, 2 HP van Schoor, 1 Hermanus Botha

Coaches: Malan du Plessis, André Otto

Referee: Jason Jaftha

Assistant referees: Charl Jacobs, Gershon van Rooyen