It is that time of the year when most of the top rugby schools in the country travel to Kimberley to claim bragging rights at the Wildeklawer Sports Festival. Many claim to host the best Rugby Festival; however, if you are not invited, you still need to work to join this exclusive group of schools.
Day one's fixtures were wisely scheduled to ensure front-of-the-seat excitement with the battle for the temporary 1stXV crown at 19:00, setting the brilliant festival on fire.
Wildeklawer - 30 April 2025
A Field
Affies 20-18 Paul Roos
Paul Roos started like a house on fire; however, Affies patiently built their attack wth their hard-running pack of forwards and eventually scored their first try after ten minutes of play in the first half to lead 05-00. Five minutes later, Affies attacked from an overthrow at a lineout by Paul Roos and scored their second try to lead 10-00. Not to be outdone, Paul Roos launched wave after wave of attacks and crashed over to cut Affies' lead to 10-07. Affies continued their dominance up front and scored their third try of a driving maul to lead 17-07. With time running out, Paul Roos and Affies converted a penalty each. Affies led 20-10 at the halftime break.
Paul Roos added an early penalty before the sky opened up, sending the players running for cover. Following a mandatory thirty minutes, the teams continued the battle on a soaked pitch. A mistake by Affies gave Paul Roos a lineout five meters from the Affies tryline, from which Paul Roos mauled to score an easy try. Affies led 20-18 with five minutes to play. Both sides played until the final whistle, with Affies winning 20-18.
Diamantveld 26-54 Waterkloof
This was the first match in which there was a bit of a mismatch, with Diamantveld not having any answers to the driving mauls and brilliant interplay by the backs and forwards of Waterkloof. Waterkloof cruising to a 35-07 lead at the halftime break.
Despite a spirited fightback in wet conditions by Diamantveld, Waterkloof did enough to beat Diamantveld 54-26.
Nico Malan 41-39 Glenwood
Nico Malan scored after the first five minutes of play in the first half, when they burst off the front of a five-meter maul to crash over in the corner. However, Glenwood attacked from the kickoff, and their flyhalf outsmarted the defence of Nico Malan to score next to the uprights to level the scores at 07-07. Thereafter, the teams traded scoring opportunities, with the two closely matched teams going into the second half 24-22, with Nico Malan leading.
Nico Malan started the second half like a house on fire and added a converted try and a penalty to extend their lead to 34-22 after ten minutes of play in the second half. Glenwood started to claw their way back into the game, and scored two converted tries to lead 36-34 with twelve minutes to play in the second half. Glenwood added another try to lead 39-36, however, Nico Malan scored a brilliant try with time up on the clock to edge Glenwood 41-39.
Marlow 25-22 Welkom Gim
Welkom Gim dominated the early proceedings and converted a penalty to lead 03-00 after 10 minutes of play. Twelve minutes later, Welkom Gim attacked off the back of a lineout and following great handling and interplay, it was the seven flanker who bulldozed his way over Marlow's tryline to extend their lead to 10-00. Marlow did convert a penalty, however, Welkom continued their dominance and scored two tries during the final ten minutes of the first half, leading 17-03 at the halftime break.
Marlow started like a house on fire and scored three unanswered tries during the first fifteen minutes of the second half to trail 17-15. Following the initial onslaught, Welkom Gim clawed their way back into the match, and with ten minutes still to play, Welkom scored their fourth try to extend their lead to 22-15. With time running out, Marlow set up camp in the red zone of Welkom and, following wave after wave of attacks, Marlow scored in the corner to cut Welkom's lead to two points. With two minutes to play, Marlow's loosie cut through the defence from his half to feed the inside centre, who scored the winning try. Marlow won 25-22.
