Saints march on with an opening day victory at Saints Easter Festival

St Stithians College kicked off its 41st annual Standard Bank Saints Easter Festival on Thursday with an emphatic 32-0 victory over Clifton College. The hosts enjoyed a healthy 25-0 lead at the break.

Saints‘ flyhalf, Oliver Wilson, played a major part in his side’s success as they also enjoyed front-foot possession thanks to their pack of forwards. Wilson’s distribution was on point, as well as his kicking from hand.

This allowed inside centre, Tyler MacLennan, to tear up the midfield at will and cause Clifton College’s defence a heap of problems.

The home side’s fullback, Sicelo Sakawuli, also enjoyed a good day at the office, delivering rock-solid defence as well as some exciting attacking plays from the back.

Up front, Saints’ hooker, Oliver Groves, and flank, Sipho Cele, produced solid performances.

Clifton College will face Hoërskool Windhoek in their second clash on Saturday. The team from Durban is coached by former Springbok prop Heinke van der Merwe.

St Andrew’s College, of Makhanda, proved too strong for Northcliff, of Johannesburg. In a high-scoring clash, St Andrew’s opened their Easter Festival account with a comfortable 54-26 victory.

Marais Viljoen, of Alberton, was supposed to play against Northcliff but withdrew from the festival.

Northcliff put up a good fight in the first half and St Andrew’s College led only 26-12 at the break. Wing Christian Adams opened the scoring for Northcliff with a superb run down the sideline.

The team from Makhanda shifted a gear in the second half with fullback, Will Stevens, leading the charge. He, together with Aphindile Ngcuka (inside centre) and Oliver Johns (flyhalf), pried open gaps in Northcliff’s defence that weren’t there during the first half.

Northcliff’s Connor Venter (replacement hooker), Matthew Hunt (fullback), and Declan Diesel (lock) deserve pats on the back for their wholehearted efforts.

In the opening clash of the festival, Rand Park High lost 20-31 against the second stringers from the UK’s Hartpury College.

SCORERS

St Stithians College 32 (25) – Tries: Oliver Groves (2), Cade Elsey, Louis McAslin. Conversions: Oliver Wilson (3). Penalties: Wilson (2). Clifton College 0.

St Andrew’s College 54 (26) – Tries: Connor Malan, Amohelang Habi, Coel Trollip, Joshua van Zyl, Will Stevens, Myles Sansom, David Chaarley, Adam Nurse. Conversions: Stevens (4), Daniel Arnold (3). Northcliff 26 (12) – Tries: Christian Adams, Michael Nwogwugwu, Connor Verster, Ryan Niemand. Conversions: Matthew Hunt (3).

Hartpury College II 31 (19) – Tries: Hendry Packham, Arthur Shrimpton, Ellis Bowman, Jackson Bowles, Edward Collins. Conversions: Dylan Davies (3). Rand Park High 20 (10) – Tries: Cian de Jongh, Aston Billson, Siphelele Nonjola, Nkosana Nkosi.

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Hannes Nienaber

Hannes Nienaber covered schools' rugby in South Africa for Volksblad, Beeld, and Rapport for 11 years. He also created the biggest school rugby website in South Africa - School of Rugby - back in 2007. It eventually morphed into Supersport Schools Plus. He still occasionally milks cows.

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