Weston too strong for Treverton
In the 49th match between the two schools Weston amply avenged their defeats of the last two years with a powerful performance and a 64-11 victory in their FNB Classic Clash played at Treverton on a lonely Saturday afternoon.
It was a wonderful Midlands setting for the match as Treverton 'called the whites' bringing out their team in their white uniforms.
Clearly the home side was up for the game getting stuck into the beefier farm boys but the beefier farm boys were clearly the stronger side – bigger, faster, more skilful and more cohesive. If any player epitomised the Treverton effort it was their scrumhalf Wiehan Weber, the smallest player on the field with the most energy and commitment but Treverton struggled greatly with their handling, especially passing. On the other hand Weston used short, quick passes to good effect. Losing determined flank Shane Coetzee to a ankle injury damaged Treverton's cause.
Things started off fairly even till Weston fullback, Keagan Francis-Pope, who had an excellent game, not least with his kicking, missing just one conversion in nine, goaled a penalty. 3-0 after 3 minutes. But Luke Richardson levelled the scores with a penalty five minutes later.
Treverton had two chances to score tries but it was Weston who got the first try when lanky flyhalf Michael Bauer did his clever dance routine and scored near the posts. 10-3 after 16 minutes. The flood that was to come was not obvious.
From a penalty-created line-out and maul, strong flank Dylan Rencken went over for the second try. Soon afterwards Michael Scheepers broke. Tackled he popped to Scott Wichamn who scored. From the kick-off Weston ran the ball off a turnover and Michael Scheepers scored. 29-6. In nine minutes, Weston had scored 19 points, and there was still time for one more before half-time. They had a five-metre scrum. Tristan Carter put the ball in on the 'wrong' side. Weston heeled and Michael Hutton raced over for the try on the other side. At half-time the score was 36-6.
Right at the start of the second half Weston attacked and from a scrum they went 8-9-11 for a try by James Duncan Anderson. When Weston won a Treverton line-out Michael Hutton ran straight through for a try and then completed a hat-trick off a tapped penalty after a great run by Michael Bauer.
Another Bauer break set up a try for replacement scrumhalf Kabelo Tsatsimpe who just got away from defenders to score.
Time was up on the clock when Trevertoan attacked with a five-metre line-out followed by two penalties and a try by captain Lebo Mdakane.
The referee, Zane Watson, did much to facilitate a free flowing match.
Scorers:
For Weston:
Tries Michael Bauer, Dylan Rencken, Scott Wichmann, Micahel Scheepers, Micahel Hutton 3, Duncan Anderson, Kabelo Tsatsimpe
Cons: Keagan Francis-Pope 8
Pen: Keagen Francis Pope
For Trevretton;
Try: Lebo Mdakane
Pens: Luke Richardson 2
Teams
Treverton: 15 Ivan van Zuydam, 14 Rylin Hennig, 13 Khalipha Ngwenya, 12 Luke Richardson, 11 Devon O'Brien, 10 Timothy Blaker, 9 Wiehan Weber, 8 Jarryd Brown, 7 Darren Garlick, 6 Shane Coetzee, 5 Kian Gogle, 4 Lungani Gumede, 3 Lebo Mdakane (captain), 2 Struan Cowie, 1 Tristan Pickering
Replacements: 16 Naverone Albers, 17 Johnathan Ogden, 18 Kyle Raubenheimer19 Stuart Shaw, 20 Cois Buys, 21 Andrew Tilbury, 22 Ruskin Fisher
Weston: 15 Keagan Francis-Pope, 14 William Blair, 13 Wesley Liversage, 12 Michael Scheepers, 11 James Duncan-Anderson, 10 Michael Bauer, 9 Tristen Carter, 8 Michael Hutton (captain), 7 Dylan Rencken, 6 Scott Wichmann, 5 Sean Adams, 4 Hadyn Geldart, 3 Sedge Bergsma, 2 Nic Junge, 1 Blake Theunissen,
Replacements: 16 Trysten Aldworth, 17 David Lemmer, 18 Ruan Enslin, 19 Meluswa Mthethwa, 20 Kabelo Tsatsimpe, 21 Duncan Hall, 22 Matthew Mc Gillan, 23 Brendon Phillips
Referee: Zane Watson (Midlands Rugby Referees)