St Benedict's turn up the heat

Saturday was a beautifully clear and hot day in Johannesburg, and the weather seemed to foreshadow the rugby on display as Marais Viljoen hosted St Benedict's College.

Last year the two schools met for the first time in many years which resulted in an enthralling 26-26 draw at St Benedict's. This year produced much of the same with over 100 points being scored.

There was much concern in the St Benedict's camp that the attitude of players was wavering after their great performance the week before against Pretoria Boys High. In the players mind there was no such problem however and they proved this with an emphatic display of running rugby.

From the outset it was clear that they were up for yet another big clash and were not scared to meet and better the physicality of the Marais Viljoen boys.

From the kick off Marais Viljoen tried to bully the Bedfordview boys by taking route one but they were met with some ferocious defence, highlighted by a bone crunching Mason Greef tackle, causing a knock on. The resultant scrum saw winger Senkie Mafuma dart way down the touch line leaving his opposite number and the cover defence in his wake as St Benedict’s took an early 7-0 lead.

Within minutes Bennies fullback Keagan Baigent crossed for his sides second. With a 12-0 lead the tone had been set.

The Bennies boys had arrived with a point to prove and a score to settle after letting the game slip last year.

They dominated the collisions, the breakdowns and took meters every time with their rolling maul. This platform gave their dangerous backs all the room and ball they needed to show their impressive skills and pace. This all resulted in a dominant first half performance which saw St Benedict’s lead 44-7 at the break with Mafuma scoring a hat trick as well as tries from Baigent, Tarusenga, and Smit.

The only response that Marais Viljoen could muster was off the ball foul play as the frustration told and they duly received two yellow cards.

The second half started much the same as the first half did with the Bennies boys' straight back on attack. Some beautiful interplay between backs and forwards saw a textbook show and go from Bennies vice-captain and lock Brandon Burger, who revisited days of his younger past as a hurdler when he showed some impressive pace to dot down under the sticks. Marais Viljoen managed to pull a try back before Brandon Pickup crossed once again for the boys in white.  

With a comfortable 58-14 lead and 25 minutes remaining in the game, the drama then began. The Bennies boys must have believed the game was all sewn up and had one foot on the bus back home, Marais Viljoen on the other hand are a proud rugby school and were not done yet.

They began what threatened to be one of the legendary come backs of school boy rugby as they ran in three unanswered tries to close the deficit to 58-35 and suddenly the entire momentum shifted towards the home side.

Some harsh words were said behind the poles and this seemed to be a temporary cure as Bennies finally managed to stem the blue Marais Viljoen tide. The pressure of the Bennies defence soon told as Marais Viljoen dropped the ball and right wing TT Tsotesi swooped on the loose ball. He showed some magical foot work as he turned the cover defence inside out before dotting down under the poles.

From the resultant kick-off St Benedict’s were caught sleeping once again as they were still enjoying their wingers try while Marais Viljoen gathered the kick-off and dotted down in the corner. The conversion was successful and that was the last score of the game as it ended in an entertaining 65-42 win to St Benedict's College