1st XV

The local schoolboy season drew to a close on a sunny but chilly morning. The traditional end-of-season derby between Wynberg Boy’s High and the South African College High School (SACS) was a close fought encounter, which saw Wynberg pushed all the way by a determined SACS side before finally running out 32 -20 winners.

The second oldest school in the country after their archrivals SACS, Wynberg have had their best season in their long history. They have only lost two games locally to Boland Landbou and Diocesan College (Bishops) and three to Eastern Cape rivals, Grey (PE) twice and Dale College at the Cape Schools Week. Playing at home and having won the first round fixture 20-nil they went into the game overwhelming favourites.

They seemed a little nervous though and struggled to get any rhythm going for most of the first half. SACS played well, dominated possession and territory and should have been ahead at halftime.

The kickers Kieran Goss and Matthew Mohle traded penalties early on but SACS had two good scoring opportunities that went a begging. First centre Godfrey Tundube made an outside break but held on when should have passed and later lock Douglas Mylrea broke clear around the side of a ruck. He raced clear but made the wrong option as he entered the Wynberg 22-metre area and the opportunity was lost.

Wynberg scored on their first foray into SACS territory. Mohle having a clearance kick charged down by flank Josh Katzen, who gathered and scored. Goss made no mistake with the conversion and Mohle replied with another penalty. Crucially though Mohle then missed two penalties, which would have seen SACS take the lead.

Instead Wynberg extended their lead when SACS kicked a high ball out of their half. Mohle chased the kick but took his eyes off the ball and tried to play the man. The ball bounced back into the SACS half and was gathered by the Wynberg forwards who broke up field and set up a ruck in the SACS 22-metre area. Wynberg threw the ball wide via Goss and centre Ezra Williams to fullback Craig Munro scored in the corner. Goss was unable to convert from out wide.

SACS made a vital score just before the interval after scrumhalf Chris Roberts broke blind and played inside to his captain and No. 8 Matthew Mellville. Mellville was inches away from scoring but when the ball went wide the Wynberg defence was caught napping. Flyhalf Kyran Hawkins jinked his way through for an important try, which Mohle converted to leave SACS trailing 13-15 at the halftime break.

The early stages of the second half didn’t deliver much excitement as the teams slugged it out between the two 22-metre lines. Roberts did have one nice break but his linking pass went forward. The game caught alight though in the last fifteen minutes.

Wynberg extended their lead when Goss hit the blindside from a ruck on the halfway line. He put leftwing Rameesh Mentor into space. Mentor beat his man and broke upfield. When scragged by the cover defence Mentor made a good pass inside to his fellow wing Zingisa Ndiki who finished in trademark bullocking style in the corner. 

SACS scored immediately from the kick-off as Wynberg botched a clearance kick. The kick skewed infield and was gathered by SACS left-wing Nicholas van der Westhuizen who cut back inside and managed to run the ball back into the Wynberg 22-metre area. Roberts broke blind and fed Tundube who timed his pass to Mellville perfectly. Mellville straightened nicely and found himself in space. He crashed over to score right in front of the SACS crowd and Mohle converted to tie the game up at 20-points a piece.

The SACS fan sensed an upset but their players let them down by making a hash of the kick-off and again gifting Wynberg the lead. Three SACS players converged on the ball but no one called. The ball bounced and Wynberg gathered and charged up field. Scrumhalf Dylan Frylinck broke blind and scored to break the hearts of the SACS faithful. Goss converted to take the game away from SACS.   

Wynberg weren’t finished though and scored again on the final whistle. Skipping the ball wide Mentor again beat his man before feeding fullback Craig Munro who sealed the win with his second try of the day. It was an exciting climax to a quality game in which both teams played their part in providing the large crowd with good entertainment.

Scorers:

Wynberg Boy’s High School

Tries: Craig Munro (2), Josh Katzen, Dylan Frylinck, Zingisa Ndiki

Conversions: Kieran Goss (2)

Penalty: Goss

South African College High School

Tries: Kyran Hawkins, Matthew Mellville

Conversions: Matthew Mohle (2)

Penalties: Mohle (2)

The South African College High School (SACS) played host to the Diocesan College (Bishops) on Saturday in what is the oldest schoolboy game in the country. The weather in Newlands was overcast and the field conditions were understandably yielding, given the huge amount of rain Cape Town has had this winter. Bishops struggled but eventually broke down a resolute SACS defence to run out 27-nil winners.

SACS came out strongly and from the outset put in some big hits. They also used the up-and-under well and pressurised Bishops fullback Paul Cohen into some uncharacteristic mistakes. SACS were rewarded for this strong start with a penalty which centre Michale Mohle was unable to convert from a relatively easy position.

Bishops then went onto the attack and were awarded a penalty wide out, which Cohen was unable to convert. Bishops ran the ensuing 22-metre drop out back at SACS and were awarded a penalty after a dangerous tackle from SACS fullback Abubaker Jappie. Bishops kicked to the corner and drove the lineout over, with loose-head prop Willem Gresse eventually dotting down. Cohen was unable to convert.

Bishops were slowly now beginning to get into their stride and they put together some nice moves. Centre Sam Lane cut through and linked up with his outside backs. Bishops were thwarted in the SACS 22m-area but from the ensuing scrum produced a slick backline move, which saw outside centre Dylan Luyts cruise through to score his first try. Cohen banged over the simplest of conversions to see Bishops 12-nil clear at the interval.

Bishops continued to make most of the play in the second half. Only dogged defence by SACS, with skipper Matthew Mellville and hooker Jason Dimio at the fore, kept Bishops at bay. The sustained pressure told though and ten minutes into the second half Dylan Luyts skipped through the SACS defence to score his second try.

The middle section of the second half was drab affair as SACS were unable to create any meaningful scoring opportunities. For their part Bishops tried but their backs never quite gelled and despite numerous elaborate moves and skip passes they never managed to put their wings into space. In fact more often than not they cut back inside into the heart of a waiting SACS defence.

In was only in the last ten minutes when SACS were down to fourteen men after prop Nicholas Vetsos had been yellow-carded for a high tackle that Bishops were able to add to their score. Flank Sean Patterson charged down an attempted clearance to score Bishops’ fourth try.

In the last minute of the game Bishops attacked blind from a ruck and unleashed their burly SA Schools flank Nizaam Carr who brushed off a few tired SACS tackles to crash over for the final score of the game. A game that was by no means a classic but one which was enjoyed by the sizable crowd of parents, old boys and friends in attendance.

Next Saturday is the final weekend of games in the Western Cape. SACS go over the hill to rivals Wynberg Boy’s High and Bishops play host to their archrivals Rondebosch Boy’s High.

Scorers:

Diocesan College (Bishops)

Tries: Willem Gresse, Dylan Luyts (2), Sean Patterson, Nizaam Carr

Conversion: Paul Cohen

 

On a sunny but chilly Saturday morning in Newlands the South African College High School (SACS) had a lucky escape against Bellville-Tech. Somewhat fortuitously for SACS they managed to hold out for a 12-7 win.

Reduced to fourteen men and leading 12-7 in the last minute of the game SACS sent the ball down the backline. A pass went awry and Bellville-Tech centre Aldre Kleuvis latched on the ball. SACS were playing without a fullback and Kleuvis appeared to have a straight run in. Instead of just running straight though he decided to try and go towards the poles and SACS’s substitute wing Nicholas van der Westhuizen was able to track back and make the match saving tackle three metres from the tryline.

Bellville were unable to recycle the ball and were awarded a five-yard scrum. From the scrum they went blind and were held up over the SACS line at which point the referee blew the final whistle. A draw or win for Bellville-Tech may have been a fair result as they played the better rugby for long periods in the game.

Missing their captain Matthew Mellville and coming off tough matches against Paarl Boishaai and Tonbridge in midweek the SACS team looked flat on the day and produced an error-ridden display. Bellville-Tech started the game well and applied early pressure. They were unable to convert the pressure to points thanks to some solid SACS defence and poor kicking by fullback Clay Haupt who missed two penalties.

SACS also missed two penalties in the first half but from the second they scored their first try. Bellville kicked the ball back at SACS after Stuart Boliter was short with a long-range penalty kick. SACS produced a good counter-attack, which was rounded off by centre Godfrey Tundube. Michael Mohle failed to convert.

Just before the halftime interval Bellville responded with a good try of their own. Livewire Flyhalf Chesten Langenhoven, who had broken the line on a couple of occasion already with his nifty footwork, again broke clear. He timed his pass inside to his halfback partner Grant Alexander perfectly and he was able to race through for the score. Haupt was on target, this time from right in front, to see Bellville in the lead at the interval.

Just after halftime SACS created two good scoring opportunities. Both times the ball was worked right to wing Abduragmaan Wise but both times he was unable to get over the line. The first time his foot was adjudged to have gone into touch as he dived for the line and the second time the referee adjudged a previous pass to have been marginally forward. Piling on the pressure though SACS scored thanks to a well-executed set move from a scrum. Centre Godfrey Tundube running a good hard line off the shoulder of Mohle to score under the sticks. Mohle converted to see SACS 12-7 ahead.

SACS turned over a lot of ball in the second half and Bellville attacked with relish and at times is seemed inevitable they would sneak a win. Reduced to fourteen men after Chad Lawson was shown red for a tip-tackle the SACS supporters were willing the clock to run down. The game finish with a thrilling climax as Nicholas van der Westhuizen produced a moment of inspiration that will long be remembered by SACS supporters.

Scorers:

SACS

Tries: Godfrey Tundube (2)

Conversion: Michael Mohle

Bellville-Tech

Try: Grant Alexander

Conversion: Clay Haupt

Thanks to Graeme Wepener for this report.

Tonbridge School from South-West, England beat the oldest school in South Africa, the South African College High School (SACS), by twenty points to ten on Tuesday afternoon.

Playing into the wind in the first half SACS had their chances but were left clutching at straws as Tonbridge’s England Schools fullback cut them to pieces. SACS scored one try in the first half through replacement wing Blayne Tomlinson but three other good opportunities were squandered. Wrong options cost them the chance to stay in the game after Tonbridge’s fullback had made two telling runs which both led to long-range tries. Clearly an extremely classy player he used all is skills to show up the SACS defence. The score was 20-5 to Tonbridge at the interval.  

Tonbridge are an impressive outfit and are one of the more professional looking English sides to have visited our shores. The boys were well conditioned and their training methods are thorough and meticulous. SACS were flat on the day having tackled themselves to a standstill and sustained a couple of injuries against Paarl Boishaai on Saturday.

In the second half SACS were able to use the wind to pin Tonbridge in their half. Tonbridge played more of the rugby but playing most of it from deep positions were unable to breach the SACS defence. There was no “edge” to the SACS game but they managed to score a consolation try late in the game. Prop Nicholas Vetsos showing impressive pace when he found himself in space.

Tonbridge have one game left of their tour against Milnerton High, while SACS have four days to prepare for a visit by Bellville-Tech. 

From Graeme Wepener.

The South African College High School (SACS) gave the highly rated Paarl Boishaai team something to think about the week before the biggest game of their season against rivals Paarl Gimnasium. On a magnificent winters morning in Paarl SACS trailed 8-3 at the interval and were in the game throughout before finally succumbing 23-16.

Boishaai were the better team in the first half and only some determined scrambling defence by SACS kept them at bay. Applying wave after wave of attack Boishaai put SACS under a lot of pressure early on. Fifteen minutes in they were held up over the line but SACS had been offside at the previous ruck and fullback Edwin van der Walt put Boishaai ahead from right in front.

SACS were under all sort of pressure in the scrums as Boishaai tighthead and skipper Frans Malherbe, capped for SA Schools just last week, asserted his authority. Boishaai put in some massive shoves but in so doing they injured SACS tighthead Kurt Jaggers, who had to leave the field with a concussion. With a number of frontrow injuries SACS unable to field a suitable replacement the scrums became uncontested.

Boishaai weren’t happy but from the first of these uncontested scrums they scored their only try of the first half. A slick backline move saw them bring right-wing Curt Ruiters in on the opposite side of the field. He cut though to score virtually unopposed. van der Walt was unable to convert from out wide. SACS flyhalf Michael Mohle converted a penalty shortly before the interval to give SACS some hope going into the second half.

SACS came into the game after the break and began putting together some good passages of play. The introduction of the lanky Shaun Colclough saw their lineouts improve markedly. Their rucking became more aggressive and when keeping the ball close to the forwards SACS looked competitive. Unfortunately they were playing this rugby from a little deep and when going wide lacked penetration. They were able to convert pressure to points though as lock Stuart Boliter kicked a long-range penalty to bring them within two points.

The realisation that one week from the biggest game of their season they were stuttering seemed to jolt Boishaai into action and they visibly upped the tempo from the kickoff. They turned SACS over on the halfway line and were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to the corner. The lanky Wilhelm van der Sluys brought the ball down and the pack were clinical in their execution of the maul. Hooker Neil Rautenbach orchestrated proceeding from the back before diving over for the score. van der Walt was on target and things seemed to again be going according to script for the hosts. 

SACS never lay down though and within minutes were right back in the picture. A fluffed clearance by Boishaai was gathered on the 10m-line by SACS wing Bradley Kayton. He ran the ball up the touchline and chipped head. The ball took a nasty bounce and the Boishaai cover defence were unable to gather. Stuart Boliter had followed up well and dived on the ball to score. Mohle kicked the conversion to once again set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Boishaai had to pull something out the bag and fortunately for them livewire winger Ruiters was on hand to again put them clear. Boishaai attacked wide the left and set the ball up. Moving the ball swiftly across the field to the right they were able to give Ruiters time and space to have ago at his opposite number. Like Boishaai’s favourite son, the “Prince of Wings” Carel du Plessis, Ruiters didn’t need a second invitation and he executed a classic in-out to score in the corner. Fittingly the great man himself was on hand to applaud.

A week away from destiny Boishaai wanted to finish strongly and they applied more pressure as the game drew to a close. They set Ruiters up again but this time his opposite number was up to the challenge. SACS had been offside though and van der Walt put them 23-13 ahead with ten minutes to go. SACS weren’t finished though and came again. Again Boliter was on target from long-range and SACS were back in the game and going for a draw. Boishaai held out until the end and would have been satisfied to have overcome a tenacious SACS side. Maybe just the wake up call they needed before the big game!

Scorers:

Paarl Boishaai

Tries: Carl Ruiters (2), Neil Rautenbach

Conversion: Edwin van der Walt

Penalties: Edwin van der Walt (2)

SACS:

Try: Stuart Boliter

Conversion: Michael Mohle

Penalties: Stuart Boliter (2), Mohle

Sport can be such a cruel teacher. This was no more evident than in the final seconds of the match between Dale and SACS on Monday afternoon at the Cape Schools Week. With Dale having all but sealed a hard earned win against SACS on their home field, the referee awarded the host team a penalty in a very kickable position. With the score at 12-11 to Dale, Matthew Melville, the SACS captain had no hesitation to indicate his flyhalf would have a final crack at posts and of course the win.

As the Dale team stood dejected under the posts, the crowd could hardly watch as Matthew Mohle struck the ball, hoping to raise the flags. But as it became apparent that the ball was flying left of the upright, the Dale players seemed to already celebrate the win, losing concentration for a few seconds. That’s all it took for SACS centre Godfrey Tundube to rush up and claim the ball for an unlikely last second try. It was duly converted by Mohle and SACS walked away 18-12 winners.

Dale will have hopefully learned that no game is safe until it is completely shut out, while SACS would have realised that every ball is worth chasing. Both these teams put on a great spectacle of a game, and contributed to another successful day of rugby at the Cape Schools Week.

Wednesday sees SACS take on Queens who will be looking to raise their spirits after 2 defeats so far.

JOHN MULLINS.

In really icy conditions with rain sweeping across the Memorial fields at regular intervals, SACS managed to draw against a very determined and hardworking Kings Hospital team from the UK. Continue

The much-anticipated FNB Classic Clash between the South African College High School (SACS) and Wynberg Boy’s High School was won 20-nil by the pre-match favourites, Wynberg.

 

Playing at home SACS dominated territory and possession for most of the game but did not have the firepower to break down the Wynberg defence. Wynberg looked the far superior team when they had ball in hand in opposition territory but they didn’t get into that position often enough. The four times they visited the SACS 22-metre area they came away with tries, apart from that they didn’t produce much rugby. Wynberg flyhalf Kieran Goss missed with all four conversions.

 

The opening stanza of the game summed up proceedings. SACS got the ball and plugged way at the gain line without really putting it in much danger. Wynberg turned SACS over and kicked downfield. From a scrum in the SACS half Wynberg put the ball through a few phases before skipping it wide to their burly wing Zingisa Ndiki. Ndiki revved up and waltzed over for the score with his opposite number Bradley Kayton not making much effort to stop him. Wynberg looked slick and classy and their supporters must have been salivating at the prospect of revenging the huge defeat they suffered at the same venue last year.

 

After some off-the-ball play by SACS hooker Jason Dimio Wynberg were awarded a penalty soon after. Goss kicked to the corner and Wynberg, with No. 8 Ryan Lok in control of the ball, easily drove the SACS pack over. Goss continued to play for territory and when Wynberg turned over a SACS scrum ball soon after they virtually produced a carbon copy of their first try. Wide to Craven Week wing Ndiki and over! Ndiki is a sight to behold in full flight and it’s going to interesting to see how he goes at Craven Week in a few weeks time.

 

Wynberg were in control and having all but put the game to bed should have been looking to rub salt in the wounds of their archrivals. SACS continued to produce the plucky play that has seen them run superior opposition close over the last few weeks though and were awarded a penalty kick at poles before the interval. Flyhalf Michael Mohle was off target, leaving the score at 15-nil at the half.

 

Mohle’s kicking and general play were not up to scratch all day and from an errant clearance Wynberg left-wing Rameesh Mentoor produced a good counter-attacking run. From this Wynberg produced a sustained period of pressure. Eventually a well-executed backline move from a five-yard scrum saw fullback Dylan Frylink cruise in virtually untouched next to the uprights.

 

SACS got the better of the penalty count in the second half and attacked on a number of occasions from lineouts in the Wynberg 22-metre area. SACS tried first to run and then to drive but were again unsuccessful in breaking Wynberg down. Wynberg had one last shot at extending their lead after SACS fullback Abubaker Jappie botched a switch with Kayton but they were for once unable to score.

 

Both teams would not be entirely happy with their performances but have an opportunity next week to rectify things when they face Eastern Cape opposition at the Cape Schools Week to be hosted by SACS.

 

Scorers:

Wynberg Boy’s High

Tries: Zingisa Ndiki (2), Dylan Frylink, Ryan Lok

The Rival Schools have named their teams to play in the Classic Clash this Saturday:

Teams:

South African College High School (SACS): 15 Abubaker Jappie, 14 Bradley Kayton, 13 Godfrey Tundube, 12 Jordan Morris, 11 Zaid Dames, 10 Michael Mohle, 9 Chris Roberts, 8 Mathew Mellville (captain), 7 Angel Khangale, 6 Francois Strauss, 5 Shaun Colclough, 4 Sebastian Zanasi, 3 Sebastian van Oudenhove, 2 Jason Dimio, 1 Nicholas Vetsos.

Wynberg Boys’ High School: 15 Dylan Frylinck, 14 Zingisa Ndiki, 13 Ashbey Williams, 12 Ezra Williams, 11 Rameesh Mentor, 10 Kieran Goss, 9 Jonathan Halliday, 8 Ryan Lok, 7 Alistair Mullhallond, 6 Josh Katzen, 5 Devin Cunningham, 4 Russel Steyn, 3 Tjino Tjirare, 2 Nick Mitchell (captain), 1 Butler Dube.

KICKOFF: 12h30. Memorial A Field at SACS.

After a week of heavy rain the sun eventually came out in Newlands on Saturday morning. The South African College High School (SACS) came close to lighting up the lives of all their supporters by producing another gutsy defensive effort to frustrate the highly-rated Paul Roos Gimnasium side. After holding Boland Landbou to 6-nil with a sound defensive effort last week the final score this week was 12-8 to the visitors.

 

This traditional fixture between the SACS and Paul Roos, the school’s who were the forerunners to the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch respectively, is always preceded by the singing of the school songs. Both groups of supporters sang with great vigour and the teams took the field roused by their anthems.

 

SACS started well and applied early pressure resulting in an opportunity to kick at posts and take the lead. SACS flyhalf Michael Mohle missed the kick and Paul Roos kicked deep from the ensuing 22-metre drop out. SACS counter-attacked well and were rewarded with a penalty and a then a lineout close to the Paul Roos line. SACS rumbled towards the line but the referee blew them up and Paul Roos were able to relieve the pressure.

 

Paul Roos marched SACS down the field with some good phases of play and were eventually awarded a penalty of their own which they kick into the SACS 22-metre area. They produced a simple back of the lineout peel, which freed up flanker Constant Strydom who crashed over for the score. Wouter van Niekerk was unsuccessful with the conversion. 

 

With a breeze at their backs Paul Roos dominated territory but were unable to break down a fired-up SACS defence.  Paul Roos produced some wonderful moments, particularly on the counter-attack, but just before the interval SACS broke out with winger Zaid Dames leading the charge. SACS were awarded another penalty on the stroke of halftime but Mohle was again unsuccessful leaving the score at 5-nil to Paul Roos at the interval. Those two, relatively easy, missed first half penalties proved vital in the final scoreline.

 

Playing with the wind now SACS piled on the pressure early in the second half. They were awarded a penalty bang in front of the sticks and this time Mohle almost couldn’t miss. The score then remained at 5-3 for most of the half and the SACS supporters began to sniff an upset. With ten minutes to go SACS were running everything trying to secure the winning score. Although it was from a long way out SACS had one great opportunity but fullback Abubaker Jappie inexplicably chose to kick ahead with SACS most potent attacking threat Zaid Dames unmarked on his outside. Trying to have another go from inside their own half SACS were finally punished by one of Paul Roos’s star players Craig Barry, who intercepted an inside pass from SACS winger Bradley Kayton to run 30 metres to secure the winning score. Van Niekerk landed the conversion from right in front and Paul Roos were safe.

 

SACS, who had been industrious all day, deservedly scored on the stroke of time. SACS tapped a penalty and some fluent passing amongst the backs freed up Dames who raced over in the corner. The conversion was missed from out wide and the final whistle blew. 

 

No one likes losing but the SACS boys can take great heart from another good performance. Coming over the hill in two weeks time are the form team in the Western Cape, Wynberg Boy’s High. SACS smashed Wynberg by 40 points when the teams met at the end of last season so it’s going to be a highly charged affair. Wynberg will be favourites but it won’t be a tag they wear easily given the events of the last few years. 

FINAL SCORE: SACS 8-12 PAUL ROOS