Day 1 of the 2023 Wildeklawer Rugby Festival promises to excite schoolboy rugby supporters with brutal, fast and suspenseful rugby.
Grey College 23-09 Garsfontein
Grey was awarded a penalty on the halfway line within the first minute of the match, which they kicked to take an early 03-00 lead. They were awarded another penalty 2 minutes later just inside the Garsfontein half, which they also kicked to extend their lead 06-00. Garsfontein then forced Grey into their half but conceded several penalties, which allowed Grey to, in turn, force Garsfontein into their half. Grey then conceded several penalties, which allowed Garsfontein to attack into the Grey half. Garsfontein then kicked a penalty to take the score to 06-03.
Grey charged down a kick just after the restart and scored a converted try to increase their lead to 13-03 with 15 left to play in the half. Both teams ran the ball at pace and used tactical kicks to gain territory. The hard-hitting defensive lines from both sides resulted in both sides committing errors. Garsfontein was awarded a penalty just inside the Grey quarter, which they kicked to close the scoreline gap 13-06 with 5 minutes left in the half. Both teams managed to attack each others' try lines but were unable to score. The halftime score was 13-06 in favour of Grey.
The start of the second half saw Garsfontein applying pressure on Grey in their half. They managed to gain good territory with their backline speedsters. Their efforts paid off when they were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to close the scoreline gap to 13-09. Grey responded by attacking the Garsfontein try line with good forward ball carries, however, Garsfontein turned over the ball and took play back to mid-field, where they launched several attacking runs, putting the Grey defence under severe pressure and pinned in their half for a very long period.
The possession then kept on changing hands through penalties conceded by both sides and the game became a mid-field battle. With 7 minutes left to play, Grey managed to get more possession and attacked into the Garsfontein quarter, where they scored a converted try from a strong driving maul to extend their lead to 20-09 with 4 minutes left to play. Grey was awarded a penalty just inside the Grasfontein half, which they kicked to take the score to 23-09. Grey was the deserved winner with the final score of 23-09.
Paarl Gim 25-14 Helpmekaar
Paarl Gim opened the scoring after 10 minutes of play to which Helpmekaar replied almost immediately to score under the poles to lead 07-05.
Paarl Gim scored from the resulting kickoff as the game showed early signs of degrading into a try fest, where defence is optional to stretch their lead to 10-07.
The final 15 minutes of the first half did not add any points to the scoreboard with Paarl Gim going into the second half leading 10-07.
Paarl Gim took advantage of a mistake made by Helpmekaar following an up and under to score their third try and stretched their lead to 17-07 after eight minutes of play in the second half. Seven minutes later Helpmekaar stepped up their attack and scored their second try of the match.
A converted penalty and try during the final 10 minutes of the match secured a deserved 25-14 win for Paarl Gim.
Outeniqua 19-07 EG Jansen
Outeniqua opened the scoring with a try, using their massive forwards to maul their way over EG Jansen's tryline after just two minutes of play to lead 05-00. Outeniqua's handling and passing unsettled the defence of EG Jansen, which lead to a second try for Outeniquaa with seventeen minutes still to play in the first half.
A brilliant break through the midfield by EG Jansen led to the best individual try of the day with EG Jansen closing the gap to trail 07-12 with ten minutes still to play in the first half. EG Jansen started to attack with purpose following the try, unfortunately, a yellow card shown to EG Jansen allowed Outeniqua to take control back and score their third try to lead 19-07 which was also the score going into the second half.
EG Jansen dominated territory doing the early stages of the second half, however, brilliant defence by Outeniqua kept EG Jansen from scoring deserved points.
No points were scored in the second half with Outeniqua winning 19-07 which was not a true reflection of the on-field action.
Affies 29-00 Oakdale
The first ten minutes of play were even with Affies maybe just the more dominant side. Affies used their big forwards with good effect, slowly breaking down the defence of Oakdale until they scored the first try of the match to lead 07-00 with 20 minutes still to play.
Affies played their high-speed gameplan, spreading the ball wide at every opportunity until the gap eventually opened up wide to score their second try. Affies led 14-00 with ten minutes to play and were in control at that stage of the match. A dominant Affies later added a further two tries and a converted penalty to lead 29-00 at the halftime break.
A yellow card shown to Affies early in the second half cost them their first-half momentum. However, as soon as Affies was back at full strength they resumed their dominance. Oakdale absorbed the initial pressure from Affies and started to claw their way back into the match.
With 10 minutes to go in the match, there were still no points added to the scoreboard in the half, with Oakdale setting up camp in the Affies' 22m. The last quarter of the match degraded a bit into a dull affair with both teams accepting the result with Affies winning 29-00.
Paul Roos 21-14 Durban High School
DHS drew first blood early in the half when they scored a converted great try after running the ball from within their quarter to open the score 07-00. DHS then forced Paul Roos into their half with good ball carries, however, handling errors cost them the possession and allowed Paul Roos to counter-attack into their quarter, from where they scored a converted try to equalise the score 07-07 with 15 minutes left to play in the half. The possession then kept changing hands in the mid-field as both teams turned the ball over and defenced like demons. Both teams used their driving mauls to gain good territory.
Paul Roos set up a good try-scoring opportunity after they drove the ball up to the DHS try line, from where they scored a converted try to take a 14-07 lead. DHS responded by scoring a blitzkrieg converted try from the restart of play when they cut through the PaulRoos defence to equalise the score 14-14, which was the halftime score.
The tight arm wrestle continued in the second half with no team willing to give an inch. DHS managed to gain territory into the PaulRoos quarter a few times, but the strong Paul Roos defence prevented any try-scoring opportunities. Paul Roos set up a good driving maul and managed to play up to the DHS try line for the first time in the 2nd half. They then launched good attacking phases and scored a converted try to take a 21-14 lead with 9 minutes left to play. The battle then shifted into the PaulRoos half, however, Paul Roos managed to absorb the pressure and won the match 21-14.
Diamantveld 13-15 Drostdy HTS
Drostdy applied pressure on Diamantveld from the start of the match. They played into the Diamantveld quarter and were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to open the score 03-00. Diamantveld took control of the possession from the restart of play and attacked Drostdy in their half. The solid Drostdy defence, however, prevented them from gaining any good territory or scoring. The match then became a mid-field arm wrestle. With 3 minutes left to play in the half, Diamantveld was awarded a penalty in the Drostdy quarter, which they kicked to equalise the score 03-03. The half ended at 03-03.
Diamantveld was the first team to score in the second half when they collected a hap-hazard kick and beat the Drostdy defence out wide to score a converted try in the corner. This put them in the lead at 10-03. They extended their lead to 13-03 with another penalty kick soon thereafter. Drostdy responded with good pressure play in the Diamantveld quarter from where they scored a converted try by beating the Diamantveld defence out wide. This closed the scoreline gap to 13-10. Drostdy had the final say in the match when they scored a try in the corner to win the match 15-13.
Stellenberg 36-24 Maritzburg College
Stellenberg drew first blood when they collected an up-field by kick and ran through the Maritzburg defence to score a converted try, opening the score 07-00. Stellenberg then kept Maritzburg pinned in their half for the first 10 minutes with good pressure play and defence. They then used their big forwards to launch a strong driving maul and attacked the Maritzburg try line, where they scored another converted try. This extended their lead to 14-00. Maritzburg responded by playing into the Stellenberg quarter for the first time in the match, where they launched a strong driving maul of their own and scored a try to take the score to 14-05.
Stellenberg again used their big forwards to break through the Maritzburg defence in the mid-field, from where they scored another converted try taking the score to 21-05. Stellenbertg continued to dominate the play with possession and territory. Maritzburg managed to score a converted try against the run of play when they sniped through the Stellenberg mid-field defence, taking the score to 21-12, which was the halftime score.
Stellenberg continued their dominance in the second half. They kept Maritzburg pinned in their half for the first 9 minutes and came close to scoring another try, however, the resolute Maritzburg defence held fast. Maritzburg then scored a try against the run of pay when they intercepted a pass and ran from within their quarter to score. This closed the scoreline gap to 21-19. Stellenberg forced Maritzburg back into their quarter and relentlessly attacked the try line. They scored another try with their forwards to extend their lead to 26-19 with 11 minutes left to play.
The match then became a scoreboard arm wrestle, when Maritzburg scored another intercept try from the restart of play, which closed the scoreline gap to 26-24. Stellenberg scored an intercept try of their own soon thereafter, which took the score to 33-24 with 7 minutes left to play. Stellenberg again forced Maritzburg into their quarter. They were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to extend their lead to 36-24. The match ended with Stellenberg the deserved 36-24 winners.
Framesby 19-54 Welkom Gim
Welkom Gim started like a house on fire and led 10-00 after just four minutes of play. Framesby replied after 10 minutes of play with a try to which Welkom Gim replied with two tries of their own to lead 20-05 with ten minutes left to play.
Framesby clawed their way back into the match and scored their second try following sustained pressure to trail 12-20 going into the second half.
Framesby continued their dominance, however, a long-distance try by Welkom Gim opened their lead to 12-25. A quick second try by Welkom Gim saw the momentum shifting in favour of Welkom Gim after just seven minutes of play in the second half.
Although Framesby had their moments during the final 20 minutes of the match, Welkom continued their dominance and scored a further three tries to one of Framesby to win 54-19.
Boland Landbou 26-37 Monnas
Monnas started like a house on fire, however, Boland Landbou absorbed the pressure and opened the scoring with a try following a sustained period of physical attack on the Monnas tryline Boland Landbou led 05-00 after twelve minutes of action.
Monnas immediately stepped up their intensity and scored their replying try to lead (09-05) with ten minutes left to play in the second half. Monnas added a converted penalty to which Boland Landbou answered with a try to lead 12-10 with four minutes of play left in the first half.
Monnas started like they did in the first half, however, scored almost immediately as the game opened up. Monnas two tries and lead 31-12 with 15 minutes still to play. Monnas hard and direct game plan at this stage proved to be too much for the defence of Boland Landbou.
With 10 minutes of play left in the second half, Monnas was shown a yellow card, which Boland Landbou immediately took advantage of to score their third try of the match. A converted penalty by Monnas increased their lead to 34-19. However, Boland Landbou were not finished as they took advantage of the failing defence of Monnas to score in the corner to cut Monnas' lead to 32-26 and four minutes to play to which Monnas replied immediately with a try of their own.
Monnas the deserved winner with 37-26.
