KES Easter Rugby Festival (19 April)
KES 20-17 Rondebosch
Rondebosch started like a house on fire, and captain Joshua Neill ended off a great run by their loosehead to extend Rondebosch's lead to 05-00. KES attacked from the kickoff and attacked from a lineout to score in the opposite corner to lead 07-05 after five minutes of play. Seven minutes later, a patient build-up by Rondebosch led to them scoring their second try when Shellvon Mabooi crashed over in the corner to retake the lead 10-07. Not to be outdone, KES attacked with their forwards and backs combining, pressuring the defence of Rondebosch until KES's scrummy, Regan McGurk, crashed over in the corner to retake the lead 14-10, which was also the halftime score.
KES converted a penalty early in the second half, whereafter, Rondebosch patiently built their attack, but a great defensive effort by KES helped them to absorb everything that Rondebosch could throw at them. After fourteen minutes of play, KES converted a second penalty to extend their lead to 20-10. KES continued to pile on the pressure with great aggressive defence, until Rondebosch scored a late try by Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen to cut KES' lead to 20-17, which was the final score.
Jeppe 38-17 Selborne
Selborne opened the scoring with a converted penalty. After six minutes of play, Jeppe spread the ball wide from a dominant ruck and winger Lethabo Mashao scored in the corner to put Jeppe 07-03 in the lead. Jeppe converted a penalty, whereafter they attacked using the forwards and backs. Sustained pressure by Jeppe eventually forced gaps in the defence of Selborne through which Gradi Ngui burst for Jeppe's second try to lead 17-03, which was also the halftime score.
From the kick-off, Jeppe charged down a clearance kick by Selborne to force a five-meter scrum. Brilliant work by the winger Lethabo Mashao, who cut the defence of Selborne in two to score his second try, extending Jeppe's lead to 24-03. Two minutes later, Jeppe's outside centre, Lindelani Nkambule, scored their second try in the second half to extend their lead to 31-03. Jeppe were not done yet, and winger Oliver Samuel crashed over in the corner to extend Jeppe's lead to 38-03. Two late tries during the final seven minutes of the second half by Selborne made the score respectable as Jeppe deservedly won 38-17.
Noordheuwel 27-43 Affies
Jeandre Uithaler converted a penalty for Noordheuwel after two minutes of play. Following a brilliant linekick by Affies' flyhalf, the mauled from the lineout and scrummy Fourie Roberts sniped down the side of the maul to score Affies' first try. Eight minutes later another brilliant linekick led to a lineout which Affies pouched and hooker Bauke Swart crashed over to extend Affies' lead to 14-03. Not to be outdone Noordheuwel attcked from the kickoff and following two penalties against Affies, hooker Clinton Agu scored off a lineout bulldozing his way to reduce Affies lead to 14-10. With ten minutes to play, Affies attacked and spread the ball wide to put Joshua Gouw in space to score Affies' third try. Noordheuwel replied five minutes later, scoring off a lineout maul to cut Affies' lead to 19-15. Affies flyhalf Ruben Groenwald once again launched a 40m kick, securing a 50/22 own line-out from which Affies attacked and eightman Stefan McDonald crashed over the whitewash to extend Affies' lead to 26-15, which was the halftime score.
Affies started the second half like a house on fire, starting to dominate Noordheuwel physically. Affies' scrummy scored the first try of the second half, whereafter, Noordheuwel's scrummy replied with a try of his own. Affies led 31-22 after eight minutes of play. Nine minutes of play later, Noordheuwel's hooker Clinton Agu scored his second try to reduce Affies lead to 31-27. However, Affies showed they know how to close off a game, with Stefan McDonald and Joshua Gouws scoring their second try each in the match, securing a 43-27 win for Affies.
Queen's College 47-15 Parktown
Parktown were the first the score when they converted a penalty to lead 03-00 after seven minutes of play in the first half. Queen's replied two minutes later when hooker Bulumko Manqina crashed over the tryline to claim the 07-03 lead for Queen's college. Four minutes later, Queen's converted a penalty, followed by a brilliant try by Boikaho Mothlohi to extend Queen's lead to 17-03. With twenty minutes played in the first half, Queen's winger Ncutu Kepe scored their fourth try, extending Queen's lead to 22-3. Minutes later, Queens attacked from their tryline and winger Boikaho Mothlohi scored his second try of the match. Parktown attacked off the kickoff and scored off a lineout maul when Kingsley Okwonkwo crashed over in the corner to trail 29-08 at the halftime break.
Queen's opened the scoring in the second half with two early converted penalties, whereafter Parktown scored the first try of the half off a lineout maul when Sbusiso Jiyane scored to cut Queen's lead to 35-15 with fifteen minutes still to play. Not to be outdone, Queens replied with a "silly" try to extend their lead to 42-15. With four minutes to play, Queens took a quick tap and number 24 scored his second try of the match to secure a Queen's College 47-15 win.
Hudson Park 32-26 Eldoraigne
Hudson Park showed their determination when flyhalf Lindile Gide converted a penalty to lead 03-00 after five minutes of play in the first half. Eldoraigne attacked from the kick-off and set up camp in the twenty-two of Hudson Park, however, it was Hudson Park who was awarded a penalty try after twelve minutes of play to lead 10-00. Two minutes later, inside centre Ukhona Kama scored Hudson Park's try. Hudson Park attacked from within their half, and following brilliant interplay, Kama scored their third try. After twenty four minutes of play Landile Gidi converted a penalty for Hudson Park who was at that stage in complete control to extend their lead to 20-00. With three minutes to play Eldoraigne attacked off a line-out and following great handling at interplay it was winger Hugo theron to go over in the corner, cutting Hudson Park's lead to 20-05 which was the halftime score.
After just two minutes of play Eldoraigne's hooker Jean de Villiers crashed over following the 22m kickoff by Hudson Park charged down, and de Villiers crashing over following great play by Eldoraigne. Ten minutes later Hudson Park struck back when hooker Kwazokuhle Pasha scored off the back off a line-out maul to extend their lead to 27-12. Hudson scored their last points when Zearaen Booysen pounced on a grubber in the corner to extend Hudson's lead to 34-12 and fifteen minutes still to play. Eldoraigne scored tries by Darren Bruwer and Kevin Earle during the final ten minutes of play. Hudson Park did enough to win 32-26
Pearson 26-61 Northwood
Northwood scored the first points after just four minutes of play and dominated the rest of the half. Northwood led 26-00 with time up on the clock in the first half before Peason opened their scoring with a great move down the touchline. Northwood led 26-12 at the halftime break.
Northwood opened the scoring in the second half, after which Pearson replied after seven minutes of play to cut Northwood's lead to 33-14. Thereafter, Northwood was unstoppable and led 61-14 before Pearson's great wing #11 scored his third try of the match to cut Northwood's lead to 61-19. A brilliant effort by Pearson's scrummy after time was up, made the score a bit more "respectable" with Northwood the deserving winner by 61-26.