Wynberg's Festival keenly contested
Results – Day 1
In brilliant sunshine on a perfect field with autumn colours marching up the hill and the side of Table Mountain in clear splendour, the Wynberg Boys' High 165 Rugby Festival kicked off on the afternoon of Freedom Day.
The matches were all closely contested, whatever the scores may suggest.
St John's vs Rondebosch, 22-10
St John's of Johannesburg, physically more powerful than Rondebosch, got off to a good start and by half-time led 11-0, which was enough to win the match.
The Johannesburg side was generally stronger and attacked for the early part of the game but they met great resolution from the Rondebosch side. Flyhalf Dimitri Catrakilis opened the scoring with a long penalty and then the match settled to St John's attack and Rondebosch's defence.
After a sustained attack St John's out Omphile Ramela clear and he scored in the corner. Catrakilis then goaled a second penalty from the half-way line.
The best bit of individual rugby in the held was a break by centre Lachlan Niven, the St John's captain.
After Niven had dropped a smooth goal, Rondebosch fought back strongly and battered at the St John's line before flank Nick Sheard scored a try, which Dean Grant converted. Grant added a long penalty and the score was suddenly 14-10.
St John's then made the match safe with a penalty and then a strong try by scrumhalf Kyle Wickens who was at Rondebosch last year and is doing a post-matric at St John's.
Scorers:
For St John's:
Tries: Omphile Ramela , Kyle Wickens
Con: Dimitri Catrakilis
Pens: Dimitri Catrakilis 3
Drop: Lachlan Niven
For Rondebosch:
Try: Nick Sheard
Con: Dean Grant
Pen: Dean Grant
Westville vs Noord-Kaap, 20-3
The final score flattered Westville for the Kimberley side played with great determination. Their tackling was the best of the day, but they incurred far too many penalties to pose a real threat to the Durban side.
It seemed that there would be no tries at all in the first half as Westville kept cutting back and Noord-Kaap kept tackling. But the first time Westville played wide to their left Wicus du Randt scored a try in the corner to make it 8-0 at the break.
Centre Divan van Zyl goaled a penalty early in the half to make the score 8-3 but two quick tries by Westville late in the half made the game safe, the first by fullback Gareth Jollands and then at the end a dubious try by Neville Talbot.
The best individual moment of the match was a break by Brandon Hart, playing flyhalf for Westville,.
Scorers:
For Westville:
Tries: Wicus du Randt, Gareth Jollands, Neville Talbot.
Con: Cameron Innes
Pen: Cameron Innes
For Noord-Kaap:
Pen: Divan van Zyl
St Stithians vs Wynberg, 24-15
Two gift tries made life hard for Wynberg, the first from a woeful clearing kick from which enterprising Bongani Ngema scored and the second from a charge-down in midfield from which Ngema again scored. Those two errors were worth 14 points to the side from Randburg.
A penalty by Marco Talotti gave Wynberg an early lead. Nick Cameron kicked a ;penalty goal and then converted a try by Chris Jacobs to make the half-time score 8-3. In this half Michael Webb, the scrumhalf, dummied, broke and raced down the field quite brilliantly.
Ngema's first try took the score to 17-3 before Wynberg attacked in phase after phase till centre Zahier Isaacs scored under the posts.
When Ngema got his second try, Wynberg seemed dead and buried but they came back with great spirit and big prop Tim Terblanche barged over from close quarters. The conversion was missed and there was not time enough left for Wynberg to gain the victory.
Scorers:
For St Stithians:
Tries: Chris Jacobs, Bongani Ngema 2
Cons: Cameron Innes 3
Pen: Cameron Innes
For Wynberg:
Tries: Zahier Isaacs, Tim Terblanche
Con: Tim Vann
Pen: Marco Talotti
Fixtures for Saturday 29 April
14.00: Noord-Kaap vs St John's
15.15: SACS vs St Stithians
16.30: Wynberg vs Westville
