An exhilarating Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools derby between Hoërskool Waterkloof and Hoërskool Monument in Pretoria ended in Waterkloof taking a 26-22 victory to secure bragging rights and a spot in the SDC Noordvaal Cup semi-finals.
Waterkloof trailed 14-5 at half-time, but a clinical second-half performance, that included a blitzkrieg of three tries in 10 minutes, gave the boys in blue and yellow a deserved win.
It was a true see-saw encounter between the two first teams from Krugersdorp and Pretoria, with Monnas scoring three tries to Klofies’ four in a match that went over 74 minutes.
Klofies’ centre pairing of Reuven Ferreira and Riwan van Aswegen was immense in defence and attack and bagged three of their side’s tries.
Monument scrumhalf, Ceano Everson, also had a brilliant game for the visitors, with his sniping breaks and attacking play keeping defenders guessing.
Waterkloof had most of the possession and territory in the first half, but solid Monnas defence and flair in attack gave the visitors the edge with a 14-5 lead at half-time.
Monument showed ruthlessness in attack with a brilliant 40 metre run from fullback, Kealan Milton.
His storming run, where he danced past several Klofies defenders, put scrumhalf Ceano Everson through for the first try of the match. Daylon Myners converted the try to make it 7-0 for the visitors.
Discipline was also a factor that hampered both teams in the first 15 minutes with both teams down to 14 men. Waterkloof lost inside centre Reuven Ferreira, and Monnas lost hooker Tristan da Costa, to the bin.
Waterkloof kept territory and possession for the next 10 minutes and deserved to open the scoring with hooker Stephan Jacobsz going over after constant attacking persistence in the Monnas' 22.
Cronje missed the conversion and Monument kept a 7-5 lead.
The visitors made the most of Waterkloof’s mistakes, and made a crucial score just before half-time, with flanker Geoffrey French crashing over to grab his side’s second try of the match. Myners converted to make it 14-5 to Monument.
The hosts, buoyed on by fervent home support, were inches from securing their second try with the last move before half-time, but outside centre, Van Aswegen, was held up by desperate Monnas defence with the try-line calling his name.
The second-half started perfectly for Monnas with Everson scoring his second try of the match. Zain Henery got an intercept and made a speedy run before passing to Everson to finish in the corner to make it 19-5.
Waterkloof didn’t keep their heads down and responded immediately through superb play from openside flanker Jean Jooste, who made a world-class off-load to send an appreciative Reuven Ferreira over under the posts to reduce the deficit to 7 points.
Waterkloof tied the game with the try of the game from outside centre, Van Aswegen, going over after a superb build-up effort started from a 22 drop-off.
Waldemar Griesel caught the ball mid-air, beating a couple of defenders. He laid the ball off to Happy Makate, who in turn saw Van Aswegen in support on his left with a perfectly timed pass. Van Aswegen did the rest, as a Cronjé conversion levelled the score at 19-19.
Waterkloof took the lead with 20 minutes to go, after they took advantage of a Monument backline error. The crowd went wild as Ferreira made the most of an unclaimed bouncing ball from an up-and-under, to go through untouched. Cronje added the conversion and suddenly, Klofies had a 26-19 lead and momentum on their side in this see-saw match.
Monument narrowed the deficit to four points with two minutes to go with a Myners penalty giving the visitors a sniff.
They also had a five-metre scrum in the dying minutes of the game and one last chance to score as the game went down to the wire.
Waterkloof’s defence of 14 men held firm under immense pressure as a knock-on signalled scenes of wild celebration from the players, coaches and spectators who joined on the field with their heroes.
Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Riwan van Aswegen (Waterkloof)
Scorers:
Waterkloof: Tries: Stephan Jacobsz, Reuven Ferreira (2), Riwan van Aswegen. Conversions: Franco Cronje (3)
Monnas: Tries: Ceano Everson (2), Geoffrey French. Conversions: Daylon Myners (2). Penalty: Daylon Myners
Teams:
Waterkloof: 15. Hernus Marais, 14. Waldemar Griesel, 13. Riwan van Aswegen, 12. Reuven Ferreira, 11. Sjaan Steyn, 10. Franco Cronje 9. Francois Viljoen, 8. Dale Arlow, 7. Jean Jooste, 6. Happy Makate, 5. Stephan de Beer, 4. Dylan Knoetze, 3. Luan Brown, 2. Stephan Jacobsz 1. Marnus Maritz.
Monument: 15. Kealan Milton, 14. Hanu Fourie, 13. Jody Schambreel, 12. Zain Henery, 11. Ernesto Oerson, 10. Daylon Myners, 9. Ceano Everson, 8. Jamaal Feldman, 7. Nathan Erasmus, 6. Geoffrey French, 5. RJ Barnard, 4. Ruan Koekemoer, 3. Roelf Jacobs, 2. Tristan da Costa, 1. Muller van Reenen.
