Thrilling end to Wildeklawer

It was a match of great skill and a wonderful sense of adventure. For the record Boys' High came from 14-5 down to win 19-14, taking the lead for the first time with just seven minutes to play.

It was a good day for southern schools, winning seven of their eight matches. Their winners were Stellenberg, Oakdale, the SARU Invitation team which was also referred to as Hugenote, Paarl Gim, Paul Roos, Paarl Boys' High and, eventually, Boland Landbou.

Stellenberg were better than Noord-Kaap in every department of rugby. The Kimberley side were determined but they could not plug all the holes in the dyke to keep the team from Durbanville out.

Stellenberg led 17-5 at time and eventually 52-12.

Scorers

For Stellenberg:

Tries: Eugene Bosman 2, Josh Muller,  Keegan Joubert, Mika Cowley, Conwill Conradie, Nahum Johannes

Cons: Nivan Petersen 7 

Pen: Nivan Petersen

For Noord-Kaap:

Tries: Jacquin van Wyk, Romain Godwill

Cons: Elzandro Fredericks

In the second match Dr EG Jansen of Boksburg were brave but no match for the all-round strength, skill and zeal of the Oakdale side. 

At half-time the boys from Riversdale led 31-15 and finally 46-22.

Scorers

For Oakdale:

Tries: Janco Klinck 2, Karel Kleinhans 2, Joaquin Taute, Henco Beukes, Hendrik Victor, Hannes Gouws

Cons: Jan-Daniel Strydom 3 

For Dr EG Jansen:

Tries: Dian Coetsee 2, Lesley October

Cons: Aurelio Philander 2 

Pen: Aurelio Philander

Smaller than their opponents, Hugenote thoroughly deserved this victory. Their tenacity was admirable.

At half-time, the invitation side led 23-5. Diamantveld fought back to 23-17 before Lionel April of Hermanus High scored a try to make the final score 28-17.

Scorers:

For Hugenote:

Tries: Ethinique Adams, Michael Cloete, Brent Manuel, Lionel April 

Cons: April. Penalties: April 2

For Diamantveld:

Tries: Victor Hugo 2, Sello Maketlo 

Con: Handré Bruwer

Outeniqua were brave but Glenwood's running of the ball from all over the field took its toll and brought a 27-13 victory. That the score was 19-6 at half-time tells how even the second half was.

That Glenwood's tighthead, Rynhardt Jonker, scored two tries tells how encompassing their running was.

Scorers

For Glenwood:

Tries: Rynhardt Jonker 2, Joe Jonas, Penalty Try. 

Con: Jaden Hendrikse 

Pen: Jaden Hendrikse

For Outeniqua:

Try: Braam van Huysteen

Con: Darryn Fortuin

Pens: Darryn: Fortuin 2 

Paarl Gim, presently ranked No.1 on the FNB Top 20, did not have it all their own way against rugged Welkom Gim, who did a good deal of the attacking in the match.

At half-time Paarl Gim led just 12-7. Eventually they won 24-7 in a fascinating match.

Scorers

For Paarl Gimnasium:

Tries: Francois Marais, Dawid Kellerman, Mark Etzebeth, Dylan Alexander

Cons: Charl Janson 2

For Welkom Gimnasium:

Try: FC du Plessis

Con: Ryan Davids

Paul Roos have a special, all-round side this year, one with no weaknesses. Their huge 63-12 win over Waterkloof confirms this.

At half-time, the elegant Stellenboschers led 28-0.

Scorers

For Paul Roos:

Tries: Jarod Cairns 3, Brendan Venter, JJ Kotze, Hanru Jacobs, Mink Scharink, Juan Mostert, Cade Croy

Cons: Kade Wolhuter 9

For Waterkloof:

Tries: Ian Trollip, Shaun Grobler

Con: Ian Trollip

Grey College of Bloemfontein vs Monument of Krugersdorp was a match to look forward to, and it did not disappoint as both sides attacked whenever they got the ball.

Grey led 31-0 at half-time but determined Monnas came back to 31-21 before Grey scored again to make it 36-21.

The most dramatic try of the day, the last one of the match, was scored by Ian Small-Smith when he chased a grubber into in-goal and slapped hands on it just as it was about to roll over the dead-ball line.

Scorers:

For Grey College:

Tries: George Cronjé, Werner Gouws, Wyclef Vlitoor, WJ Steenkamp, Ian Small-Smith

Cons: Zander du Plessis 4

Pen: Zander du Plessis

For Monument:

Tries: Douw Scheepers, Byron-Lee Wentink, Tristan Dullisear 

Cons: Byron-Lee Wentink 3

It was a match to savour, a match to remember.

Just when it seemed that Affies would become the first South African team to beat Paarl Boys' High since Marlow in 2014, Paarl came hammering back with force and desperation and a try as a reward for an effort reckless of personal safety while Affies defended with the same grim intent.

Boys' High scored first when captain Adrian Alberts led the charge and popped a pass to bulky prop Rhynhardt Rijnsburger who charged for the line. 5-0 after 17 minutes of enthusiastic rugby.

From a line-out, Affies wing Eric Sherman, cut through, swerving around a defender to score a thrilling try. Flyhalf Regard Roets, a member of the Blue Bulls Craven Week side last year, converted.

At half-time Affies led 7-5, a lead they kept for 23 minutes of the second half.

In fact they increased it with an excellent try by Dian Nordier who beat one defender on the outside and the next on the inside to score. 14-5.

This got Boys' High dander up and they attacked again and again. After one attack of 14 phases, Boys' High were on the line where lock Emile van Heerden, son of Springbok Fritz, dabbed the ball over the line for a try. 14-12.

Again and again, Boys' High attacked. They were as close as a fingertip from scoring when flyhalf Kian Meadon grubbered for the line and in grabbing the bouncing ball knocked it dead.

Affies kicked clear of their line and Boys' High counterattacked. Eben Roos had a strong burst and Boys' High were again bashing at the line till Vian van der Sandt darted ahead and scored well in. Meadon converted and Boys' High won a thriller.

Scorers

For Paarl Boys’ High:

Tries: Rhynhardt Rijnsburger, Emile van Heerden, Vian van der Sandt

Cons: Kian Meadon 2 

For Affies:

Tries: Eric Sherman, Dian Nordier

Cons: Regard Roets 2

Boland Landbou picked themselves up from Friday's shock with a convincing win over Helpmekaar who have been just above them on the FNB Top 20.

Scorers

For Boland Landbou:

Tries: Armand Adendorf, JJ Wiggins, Schalk Bezuidenhout, JN Snyman, Thys Kitshoff. 

Cons: Gavin Mills 5

For Helpmekaar:

Tries: Brink Marx, Michael Amiras, Ruan Nortjé 

Con: Tiaan Botes 3

Results at a Glance

Day 1, Friday, 27 April 2018

Grey College vs Drostdy, 47-5 

Affies vs Boland Landbou, 38-14 

Day 2, Saturday, 28 April 2018

Paarl Boys' High vs Waterkloof, 53-10 

Outeniqua vs Dr EG Jansen, 56-24

Glenwood vs Stellenberg, 52-10

Welkom Gimnasium vs Hugenote, 31-10 

Paul Roos vs Menlopark, 47-17 

Paarl Gim vs Monument, 34-31

Oakdale vs Noord-Kaap, 56-24

Diamantveld vs Helpmekaar, 27-26

Day 3, Monday, 30 April 2018

Stellenberg vs Noord-Kaap, 52-12 

Oakdale vs Dr EG Jansen, 46-22

Hugenote vs Diamantveld, 28-17 

Paarl Gim vs Welkom Gimnasium, 24-7 

Glenwood vs Outeniqua, 27-13  

Paul Roos vs Waterkloof, 63-12 

Grey College vs Monument, 36-21  

Paarl Boys' High vs Affies, 19-14 

Boland Landbou vs Helpmekaar, 35-21