The SA Schools dominated from the start of the match and cruised to a 49-14 win over the SA Schools "A" team in Middelburg. However, this was a valuable hit out as both teams will be involved in a series against England U18, Ireland U18, Georgia U18 and France U18 in early August 2025.
The U18 SA Schools dominated early proceedings and scored their first try when Jadrian Afrikaner scored in the corner after less than two minutes of play. Liyema Nela converted to extend the SA Schools lead to 07-00.
The SA Schools used their powerful scrum to launch wave after wave of attacks, and after seventeen minutes of play, it was the individual brilliance of Zekhethelo Siyaya who secured the SA Schools' second try of the match. Nela added the extra two.
The SA Schools continued to dominate up front, and Altus Rabe scored off the back of a maul. Nela converted to extend the SA Schools' lead to 21-00.
With time up on the clock, Zekhethelo Siyaya cruised past the defence to score SA Schools' fourth try to go into the second half leading 28-00.
Both teams' coaches made several changes at the start of the second half.
Zekhethelo Siyaya once again showed why he is seen by many as the best backline player in South Africa when he toed a ball forward and collected it to score the first points of the second half. Ruben Groenewald added the extra two to extend the SA Schools' lead to 35-00.
Following several minutes on the tryline of the SA Schools, the SA Schools "A" hooker Thomas Muller scored of the back of a maul to cut the lead of SA Schools to 35-07.
With ten minutes to play, Clinton Agu scored off the back of a lineout-maul to extend the SA Schools' team to 42-07 following the conversion by Groenewald.
Gert Kemp added his name to the scoresheet before Pieter Cilliers scored for the SA Schools "A".
The SA Schools cruised to a 49-14 win after seventy minutes of action.
Scorers:
U18 SA Schools: Tries: Jadrian Afrikaner, Zekhethelo Siyaya (3), Altus Rabie, Clinton Agu, Gert Kemp. Conversions: Liyema Nela (4), Ruben Groenewald (3).
U18 SA Schools ‘A’: Tries: Thomas Muller, Pieter Cilliers. Conversions: Ethan van Biljon (2).
Teams:
U18 SA Schools: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Junaide Stuart, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Markus Muller (c), 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Morne Noble, 8 Jacobus de Villiers, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Chinedu Amadi, 5 AJ Meyer, 4 Lwandile Mlaba, 3 Luan van der Berg, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Kai Pratt. Replacements: 16 Clinton Agu, 17 Jordan Jooste, 18 Matthew van der Merwe, 19 Jayden Joubert, 20 Quintin Potgieter, 21 Gert Kemp, 22 Zirk Meyer, 23 Ruben Groenewald, 24 Nathan Aneke, 25 Lamla Mgedezi, 26 Thabiso Simelane.
U18 SA Schools ‘A’ : 15 Junade Pasensie, 14 Lucritia Magua, 13 Erin Nelson, 12 Christian Vorster, 11 Ncuthu Kepe, 10 Jeandre Uithaler (c), 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Stefan McDonald, 7 Briint Davids, 6 Caleb Koeberg, 5 Lian Terblanche, 4 Diaan Augustyn, 3 Bernhard du Toit, 2 Keenan Myners, 1 Andre Poulton. Replacements: 16 Thomas Muller, 17 Jeffrey Singo, 18 JG Badenhorst, 19 Juvan Burden, 20 Elwin Janse van Vuuren, 21 Mickyle Booise, 22 Ethan van Biljon, 23 Jeneall Davids, 24 Pieter Cilliers, 25 Toriq Schambreel, 26 Jadon Ocks.