SACS win derby against Rondebosch
On a beautiful winters morning in Cape Town, SA College High School (SACS) beat their local rivals Rondebosch Boy’s High by 14-7.
Despite the 11.20am kick-off the temperature was touching 30-degrees. The Rondebosch A-field is in excellent condition and we looked set for a classic display of attacking schoolboy rugby in front of a more than decent crowd.
Unfortunately the teams couldn’t get going and the first fifty minutes of rugby were poor. The game was played around the half-way line with neither set of backs or forwards able to stamp their authority. The error rate was far too high for this level of rugby and both backlines were guilty of running across the field.
SACS took the lead half way through the first half when flank Dugald Robertson intercepted a pass on the Rondebosch 10-metre line. He had the pace to make the line and scored under the sticks. Tim Carr did the necessary and SACS led 7-0 at the interval. Carr missed one penalty in the first half as did his opposite number, Rondebosch flyhalf Dean Grant. SACS had the better of the game in the first half and should have converted the pressure they exerted into more points.
One hoped that after stern words from the coaches the teams would come out and play better rugby in the second half but the first fifteen minutes again produced nothing noteworthy.
With 20 minutes to go Rondebosch eventually started playing. Using their forwards positioned in midfield they got over the advantage line and were able to string together some decent passages of phase play. Like SACS in the first half though they were unable to convert their chances into points. It didn’t help that Dean Grant had an off day with the boot and missed another three penalty kicks at posts.
SACS began to counter nicely late in the game and centre Aaron Jacobs went close to scoring from a flowing attacking move. He was halted close to the line by Bosch flyer Shafiek Nordien but from the ensuing Rondebosch scrum SACS got a turnover, which flyhalf Tim Carr ran in next to the left-hand upright. He duly converted to give SACS an unassailable 14-point lead.
Bosch wanted to give their supporters something to cheer and were not finished trying. After a tapped a penalty on the SACS 10-metre line they took the ball wide for their big right-wing Justin de Kock to run in a consolation try. Dean Grant converted from in front as the final whistle brought an end to the match.
Both teams and coaches would have been disappointed with their performances. The teams meet again at SACS in the third term and will be hoping to produce a better spectacle for their loyal supporters.
By Graeme Wepener
