The SA Schools teams faced each other at the Hamilton Rugby Football Club in Cape Town on Saturday. The first half was initially a tight and closely contested battle, however, the SA School team got the total ascendancy in the second half and convincingly beat the SA Schools A team 57-27.
The SA Schools team opened their scoring tally very early in the first half with a converted try after the ball was played wide at pace which stretched the SA Schools A team's defence. This put them under pressure in their quarter which created the try-scoring opportunity. The A team soon found themselves defending in their quarter again, however, a good break by their backline created a good attacking opportunity for them in the SA Schools team's quarter. The ball was however turned over by good defence by the SA Schools team.
The battle in the scrums was fairly even and both sides struggled to get good momentum going due to errors committed. The A team managed to open their scoring tally after 21 minutes with a penalty kick which they soon followed up with another penalty kick which closed the scoreline gap to 6 points. They took the lead for the first time after 30 minutes with a very good converted try, however, the SA Schools team soon retook the lead with a converted try, which they increased with another converted try right at the end of the half. The halftime score was 26-13 in favour of the SA Schools team.
The A team scored a converted try right after the start of the second half after they intercepted the ball. This kept them in the hunt on the scoreboard. The SA Schools team, however, responded with good attacking pressure play which resulted in a converted try. They used their forwards to get across the game line with powerful carries, as well as good interplay between the backs to find gaps in the A team's defence. They managed to score another converted try which increased their lead to 20 points with about 25 minutes left to play in the match.
The SA Schools team started to dominate the match in all aspects especially in the scrums which resulted in penalties conceded by the A team. With 11 minutes left to play the SA Schools team increased their lead to 50 points with another converted try. Although the A team gallantly fought back with a consolation converted try close to the end of the match, the SA Schools team scored another converted try to win the match 57-27.
Scorers:
SA Schools: Tries: Luca Bakkes (DHL Western Province), Joel Leotlela (Golden Lions), Joshua Boulle (Golden Lions), Sibabalwe Mahashe (Border), Jack Waterhouse (Sharks), Caleb Abrahams (Free State), Thomas Dyer (Sharks), Ruan Swart (SWD). Conversions: Thurlon Williams (DHL Western Province) (3), Stehan Heymans (Blue Bulls) (4). Penalties: Stehan Heymans (Blue Bulls).
SA Schools A side: Tries: Antonio Bruiners (SWD) (2), Dewald Gerber (SWD). Conversions: Bradley Giddy (Free State) (3). Penalties: Bradley Giddy (Free State) (2).
Teams:
SA Schools: 15. Michail Damon (Blue Bulls), 14. Alfondso Isaacs (Free State), 13. Litelihle Bester (Sharks), 12. Joshua Boulle (Golden Lions), 11. Joel Leotlela (Golden Lions), 10. Thurlon Williams (DHL Western Province), 9. Steven Nel (Blue Bulls), 8. Sibabalwe Mahashe (Border), 7. Lukas Meyer (Free State), 6. Matthew Fick (DHL Western Province), 5. JF van Heerden (Free State), 4. Thabang Mpafi (Golden Lions), 3. Zachary Porthen (captain – DHL Western Province), 2. Luca Bakkes (DHL Western Province), 1. Sifiso Magwaza (Golden Lions). Replacements: 16. Ethan Bester (Sharks), 17. Ruan Swart (SWD), 18. Casper Badenhorst (Free State), 19. Jack Waterhouse (Sharks), 20. Thomas Dyer (Sharks), 21. Caleb Abrahams (Free State), 22. Stehan Heymans (Blue Bulls), 23. Sha Jehaan de Jongh (DHL Western Province).
SA Schools A: 15. JT Strydom (SWD), 14. Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), 13. Antonio Bruiners (SWD), 12. Alec McIntyre (Free State), 11. Jameel de Jongh (DHL Western Province), 10. Bradley Giddy (Free State), 9. Emrique Liedeman (DHL Western Province), 8. Camden Schoeman (captain – SWD), 7. Wandile Mlaba (Sharks), 6. Max du Pisani (Eastern Province), 5. Keanu Coetzee (DHL Western Province), 4. Daniel Botha (DHL Western Province), 3. Nic Snyman (Sharks), 2. Christian Everitt (Sharks), 1. Liyema Ntshanga (Sharks). Replacements: 16. Hanro Venter (Blue Bulls), 17. Willem Loubser (DHL Western Province), 18. Bradley Stanfliet (DHL Western Province), 19. Ulrich van der Westhuizen (Golden Lions), 20. Dewald Gerber (SWD), 21. Onelisiwe Fani (Border), 22. Sesethu Mpaka (Border), 23. Jaden Bantom (Valke).
Article by Francois du Toit
