Being early in Kimberley and a friend being headmaster of a primary school attending the u13 Wildeklawer Festival being held at Newton Laerskool I was easily forced to attend. Taken back to when my children played barefoot ruggas I enjoyed day one and must admit I want to attend Saturday also but unfortunately can not as the big boys will be in action.
Results Day 1 27 April 2017
Wildeklawer | 17 | - | 17 | Seodin |
Paarl Gim | 55 | - | 0 | Magalieskruin |
Grey College | 36 | - | 5 | Durbanville |
Sunridge | 7 | - | 45 | Rustenburg |
Kenmare | 62 | - | 0 | Eikestad |
Outeniqua | 17 | - | 33 | Gene Louw |
Newton | 24 | - | 12 | Worcester |
The first match between Wildeklawer and Seodin from Kuruman provided plenty of action with Wildeklawer scoring first and seemingly run away with the match, just for Seodin to come back late in the first half to lead up to 10 minutes before the end. Two players from Seodin impressed, at ten Dolf Hohis control the match like a true general and the hard running 8th man JP Vorster continuously put his team on the front foot.
Paarl Gim completely overpowered Magalieskruin with the same boring game plan that their big brothers overpower and rule the 1stXV scene. And admittingly they do it spectacularly as their big brothers do. Their biggest boy on the field Liam Koen was their star at fly-half. This boy broke the line literally and figuratively, possesses of a canon foot and is able to kick left and right. His teammate loosie, Aduan Kotze was a livewire in the loose and also carried the ball with great results. In a team as overpowered as Magalieskruin one seldom can name a boy that stood out but eighth man Zander Therion can hold his head up high. This boy just refused to give up making a lot of metres ball in hand and was BIG in defence. It must be noted that during the Grey College week Paarl Gim was the champion beating Kenmare in the final.
Durbanville scored the first try in the match against Grey College and initially surprised all by not only keeping up with Grey College but controlling the game in the first 15 - 20 minutes of the game. AJ Burger tight head of Grey stood out as this boy that is suppose to just scrum caught the ball from the air like a fullback, distributed like a flyhalf, and scrummed like a prop is supposed to do. Other boys that impressed was Christo J.v. Vuuren and hard running James Pringle at wing, James was excellent and beat his opponents with feet and speed.
Sunridge was on the receiving side from Rustenburg Laerskool and was never in the game. To name a boy from Rustenburg is not only unfair but very difficult as all the boys combine as a unit with everyone playing their heart out. Ryan Coetzee at eight-man does, however, deserve to be mentioned.
Then the second giant of primary schools Kenmare entered and unfortunately it was Eikestad who had to stand and watch this perfectly coached team. Kenmare was crowned Super 12 champions earlier in the week and lost to Paarl Gim in the final at the Grey week. There is not much to say except for Sjoe. As this is primary school boys I may not use a more descriptive word. Here the name of the new Bakkies Botha Morne Venter must be mentioned, this boy is the one that takes the big Kenmare pack forward and is the fire in its belly. Marcey de Waal the massive centre had 3 to 4 boys attempting to stop him every time he touched the ball and was also excellent. The wing Hanno Venter also impressed.
Outeniqua initially was leading but Gene Louw was like slow working poison eventually scoring an easy win. Gene Louw's inside centre Mikael Lombard was the star of their team.
The last match of the day was between hosts Newton and Worcester with Worcester controlling the first half. Newton clawing their way back into the game and only managed to secure the game in the last ten minutes. Marcus Maree the number 7 was immense in the loose causing several turnovers in the first half often when Worcester was on the attack and threatening to score. The star at the back was inside centre Curtly Felix who is apparently the regular scrumhalf. He scored a try in the second half from the back of a loose scrum and showed his value as a nine.
A lovely day of rugby and looking forward to day two with the match of the day the one between Grey College and Paarl Gim.
Fixtures Day 2 - 28 April 2017
Gene Louw | vs | Seodin | ||
Durbanville | vs | Kenmare | ||
Wildeklawer | vs | Outeniqua | ||
Worcester | vs | Rustenburg | ||
Magalieskruin | vs | Eikestad | ||
Newton | vs | Sunridge | ||
Paarl Gim | vs | Grey College |