St John's, Day 1

Before the game commenced, Eye of the Tiger performed a traditional Haka with a South African twist to it. 

The game then got underway, with St David’s, not bothered by the haka, camping deep in the Eye of the Tiger half for what seemed like eternity. The St David’s boys were however eventually rewarded for their hard work, scoring two quick tries through Gregory Kourie and Leo Michael. St David’s Marcell Scheepers however managed to convert only one to give his side a 12-0 lead. Eye of the Tiger did eventually get on the scoreboard at the stroke of halftime, through  an unconverted try thanks to Sifiso Nhlapo.

The second half saw a more dominant display from St David’s in the first 15 minutes, running in two tries, to take the score to 24-5. Eye of the Tiger however showed great character to eventually come to life inside the last 10 minutes, scoring 3 tries but in the end losing out 24-19. 

Teams

St David’s Marist, Inanda: Liam van Rensburg,  Motheo Moeng, Jordan Swart, Cameron Hyslop, James Macindoe, Khwezi Luthuli, Micael Farr, Simbainashe Kanyangarara, Andréw Cawood, Marcell Scheepers, Kieran Wrightson, Shawn Nayler, Gregory Kourie, Matthew Tollis,  Leo Michael, Yuvaan Naidoo, Jordan Harding,  Noah Pavlou, Ethan Breen, Braydon Gould, Sebastian Riva,  Oliver Hinton, Connor Ivins

Eye of the Tiger: Abrie Heyberg, Njabulo Dlangalala, Morné Smit, Zander Hamilton, Johannes Kruger, Anam Mngcambe, Ashley Geldenhuys, Endrico Claasen, Thabo Matiso, Sifiso Nhlapho, Simthembile Mahlathi, Marvin Loggenberg, Marshall Schreuder , Keanu Martin, Linda Qumpula, Chesnay Adams, Loyiso Dunjani, Waylin Arendse, Miyelani Ngobeni, Ruxario Martin, Ruben Daniels, Burton Booysen, Keegan Janse van Rensburg

Paul Roos vs  Golden Lions Invitation XV

The Invitation XV, drawn mainly from coed school in the Lions catchment area, were a late replacement for Filton College, a UK School. They were no match for Paul Roos, who one their other match of the season 101-0.

The Invitation side actually scored first and after three minutes led 7-0, By half-time they were lagging behind at 26-10 but then the side from Stellenbosch scored 52 points in the second half, and won 78-10.

Teams

Paul Roos: Robert Rodgers, Jean-Jacques Kotze, Joubert Grobbelaar, Jarod Cairns, Micardo du Preez, André Smit, Hermann Heins, Kobus Tubb, Xander Botha, Juan Mostert, Tiaan Pretorius, Brendan Venter, Regan van der Westhuizen, Cade Croy, Kade Wolhuter, Jan- Corrick van der Watt, Meiring Ebersohn, Mink Scharink, Johann Bouwer, Gerhard Cloete, Ruben Labuschagne, Remy Engelbrecht

Golden Lions Invitation XV: not available.

Florida vs Daniël Pienaar

The only time Daniël Pienaar were ahead in this 70-minute match was after 68 minutes. But, being the team who scored last they ended winners by 28-22 against the big Florida team.

Till the 68th minutes, Florida led, but somehow Daniël Pienaar kept coming back. The scoring went

5-0

8-0

15-0

15-7

15-14

22-14

22-21

22-28

Those last 14 points which own the match for the team from Uitenhage, were the result of long-distance tries by left wing Denver Jacobs.

The first was far out, but the second was ridiculously far out. Huge Florida centre, Brandon Roberts was stopped just before the Daniël Pienaar line, he lost the ball. The ball was immediately flicked to Jacobs who took off close to the touchline on his left. There was nobody between him and the posts and so he scored there.

There were two minutes to play. Florida attacked but two turnovers robbed them of useful possession and Daniël Pienaar kicked the ball out – a brave victory for a team that refused to accept defeat.

It was a thrilling match.

Teams

Daniël Pienaar: Jaryd Barnard, Franco Human, Julian Schoeman, Chaldon Kapp, Stephan Snyman, Marinus Barnard, Tiaan van Tonder, Marku Gouws, Xavier Myburgh, Sachin Toring, Denver Jacobs, Brandon Boshoff, Hannes Shemondrey, Siya Dyibishi, Clewin Brown, Luke van Wyk, Johndre January, Timothy van Heerden, Dean Kock, Kudzaizhe Chingoma, Darrion Edwards, Byron Fortuin, Lorenzo Japhta

Florida: Andries van Aswegen, Tyron McQuier, Damian Calitz, Johan Coetzee, Dyllan Deysel, Zack de Jager, Vijoen Botes, Brink Bosman, Temba Mcunu, Antonie Bezuidenhout, Lizo Larakwang, Brandon Roberts, Eugene van Biljon, Kevin Du Plessis, Tino Swanepoel, Kyle van Aswegen, JP Oberholzer, Brandon Jankowitz, Ricardo Brough, Micheal Deale, Pieter Viljoen, Ewan Janse van Rensburg, Devon Booysen

Helpmekaar vs St John's

There is something old fashioned about a score of 7-3 but that happened in this match which Helpmekaar won. There was just one try, one conversion and one penalty goal. Francois Scholtz scored the try, Tiaan Botes kicked the conversion and Bismarck Olivier goaled the penalty.

Teams

St John's: Kaelin Wills, Taine Walker, Daniel Archer, Alex Groves, Luke Clowes, Thomas Mortimer, Ntokoso Dlamini, Taine Maynard, Michael Bate, Bismarck Olivier, Jacques Bohlmann, William Davis, Jack Montgomery, Thomas Kilbourne, Ruben Engelbrecht, James Ives, Estiaan van der Walt, Luke Whitehouse, Liam Thomas, Brandon Henwood, Cameron Lengacher, Zedi Gondwe, Clayton Pather

Helpmekaar: André Stroiz, Jean Engelbrecht, Quintusz Geyser, Dean Potgieter, Michael Amiras, Hendri Hartzer, Zander du Toit, Alec Skudder, Marco van Staden, Frans Weideman, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Francois Jansen van Vuuren, Zach Boonzaaier, Wouter Louw, Tiaan Botes, Rikcardo van der Merwe, Ruben Knipe, Eugene Maritz, Brink Marx, Ruan Nortje, Francois Breytenbach, Christian Smith, Francois Scholtz

Hilton vs Nelspruit

Two excellent teams, two tries and victory by two points – that's the summary of this close encounter.

Teams

Hilton: Dylan Davies, Dylan Thomas, Henty Beukes, Niaan Taljaard, Andrew James, Mark Armstrong, Patrick Mcveigh (captain), Lorenzo Palacio Apez, Gareth Schreuder, Ruan Wilmans, Rob Mattison, Grant Cousins, Olav Aadnesgaard, Roger Ellis, Siya Xulu, Brendan Beukes, Leftheri Zigiriadis, Brendan Naudé, Stu Roy, Jared Venter, Michael Teichmann, Guy Gillham, Michael Booth

Nelspruit: Banele Mthenjane, Jason Cornelius, Wian Otto, Isak Swanepoel, Miga van der Nest, Henko van der Merwe, Andy Fourie, Le Roux Louw, Jacques Mcquier, Tiaan du Plessis, RiAndré van der Merwe, Stefan Smit, Jan–Rico Vermeulen, Gert Loubsher, Paul Rheeder, Chyle Van Zyl, Estian Schroeder, Cornel Broekman, Estian Potgieter, Rainder Spruyt, Timothy Townshend, Neil Henning, Anton Van Eijk

St Alban’s vs Windhoek Gimnasium 

This was a hard victory for St Alban's against the tough boys from Windhoek. In the end three tries to two won it for the boys from Pretoria.

Teams

St Alban's: Mashudu Muleya, Keelen Watkins, Luke Teixeira, Wilbert Munda, Campbell Blane, Ronaldo Daniels, Josh Strydom, Siseko Mvenya, Vium Gronum, Kian Turner, Simon Miller, Rhys Fulford, Tapiwanashe Katete, JP Bleeker, Sbewu Fipaza, Sam Stevenson, Jono Neubert, Cameron Davis, Luyanda Mpafa, Aidan Ridgway, Tafadzwa KumbiraiLuke Sweetlove, Gonzalio Tavidan

Windhoek Gymnasium Private School: Riyaruka Maurihungirire, Louw Steenkamp, Ethan Thiart, André van der Merwe, Michael Thuynsma, Monre Meyer, Lean Mostert, Christopher de Jager, Tyrese de Wee, Wiks Tromp, Jean-Pierre Steyn, Lianzo Cupido, Samuel Poulton, Lyle Beukes, Cornez Liebenberg, Zane Feris, Herschell van Wyk, Jaco Enslin, Jaun-Louis Zaayman, Aiden Louw, Jahno du Plessis, Mell Theunissen, Riduan van Neel