Oakdale and Marlow, two of the smallest competing schools in South African school boy rugby, continued their yearly battle in Riversdale. Marlow was however not treated in a similar way we are accustomed to in any farming community.
Both sides gave their all and that is clearly visible in the possession and territory statistics. Up front both teams gave as good as they got and the battle of the loose saw both teams gaining their fair share. Both backlines showed an eagerness to run with the ball but the back line of Oakdale played with a lot of precision and truth be told some "lucky bounces" helped them too.
As early as the fifth minute Qakdale centre van Eeden chased down his own kick and controlled it and scored.Then it was Swartbooi's chance to show his dancing skills to send flank Stiaan Wasserman over. Both conversions was missed and Oakdale led by 10 - 0. But Marlow's Lourens Oosthuizen showed his speed and hand off skills after 30 minutes.
Van Eeden grabbed his second "lucky try" when he followed up inside centre JC Nel kick, who ran the ball from his own goal line before kicking it forward. Marlow’s cover defence failed to control the ball in the in-goal area, and Van Eeden scored his second try. A successful conversion saw the score at 17 - 5 in the favour of Oakdale.
As the siren sounded to signal the end of the first half, Marlow gave away a silly penalty by diving over a ruck. Scrumhalf Zinedine Booysen needed no invitation and tapped to race clean through for a try under the posts. This bit off recklessness on the side of Marlow saw them trailing 24 - 5 at break.
Oakdale's flyhalf Xavier Swartbooi continued his first half performance after the break and was instrumental in the try of lock Daniel Victor, who powered over for the Oaks’ fifth try after one of those TV inside flip passes from Swartbooi.
Marlow on attack and dominating possession saw Swartbooi broke out from oakdale's 22 and after a series of offloads, finished with a try after a 35m run. Oakdale now leading 38 - 5 after another successful conversion by Booysen.
Late in the game first saw Jay-Cee Nel scoring Oakdal's sixth try after they attacked from their own half. Framesby then tasted success at last when centre Nelus van Wyk finally found a gap in the Oakdale defence and scored from a five metre scrum which Isaacs converted.
But Oakdale was not finished yet. Inside the Marlow half, massive André Posthumus rumbled towards the Marlow line. Oakdale bashed their way closer and Posthumous scored. 50-12, the final score
Scorers
Oakdale – Tries: Nicolus van Eeden (2), Stiaan Wasserman, Zinedine Booysen, Daniel Victor, Xavier Swartbooi, JC Nel, André Posthumous. Conversions: Booysen (5).
Marlow – Tries: Lourens Oosthuizen, Nelus van Wyk. Conversion: Vaughen Isaacs.
Teams
Oakdale: 15 Pietie Uys, 14 Alex Wallace, 13 Nicolus van Eeden, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Luke Hertz, 10 Xavier Swartbooi, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 WP van Heerden (captain), 7 Janu Krause, 6 Stiaan Wasserman, 5 JC Lourens, 4 Daniël Victor, 3 André Posthumus, 2 Marko van der Merwe, 1 Dian Bleuler
Marlow: 15 Enrico Saptoe, 14 Shawn Snyman, 13 Nelus van Wyk, 12 Ruan Pretorius, 11 Vivian Kapp, 10 Vaughen Isaacs (captain), 9 André Smith, 8 Dirkie Ferreira, 7 Lourens Oosthuizen, 6 JJ Human, 5 Herman Greeff, 4 Keanan Murray, 3 Marno Beyl, 2 Awalde Grobler, 1 Rechard Engelbrecht
Other Results
o.14A: 33-0 (Oakdale)
o.14B: 63-0 (Oakdale)
o.15A: 29-12 (Oakdale)
o.15B: 60-0 (Oakdale)
o.16A: 24-0 (Oakdale)
o.16B: 29-0 (Oakdale)
o.19A: (24) 50 - (5) 12
o.19B: 21-7 (Oakdale)
o.19C: 24-0 (Oakdale)
o.19D: 59-0 (Oakdale)