Underdogs deliver drama at St John’s Easter Festival
Day two of the Standard Bank St John’s College Easter Festival kicked off bright and early on Saturday morning with an upset, courtesy of the Golden Lions XV.
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The combined side, made up of players from smaller schools within the Golden Lions region, stunned St David’s Marist Inanda, claiming a gritty 20–16 win after 60 minutes of fiercely contested rugby.
Flyhalf Gaviel Gaff orchestrated the upset with a composed and commanding performance.
Not only did he direct his backline with authority, but he also delivered the decisive blow, sprinting down the right-hand touchline to cross the whitewash in dramatic fashion. His personal tally of 15 points, made up of a try, two conversions, and two penalties, earned him the Man of the Match accolade.
Deserved winners, the Lions XV played with fierce intent. Their committed defence made St David’s graft for every metre. Leading the charge was blindside flank Daniel Kruger, of Krugersdorp High School, whose bone-crunching tackles set the tone up front.
Hoërskool Diamantveld’s Diamonds bounced back in style following their 29–43 loss to Pretoria Boys High on Thursday evening. This time, they overwhelmed Welkom Gimnasium 50–33 in a high-scoring encounter that saw the Kimberley outfit return to winning ways, while Welkom Gim will head home empty-handed after two losses.
The Free Staters’ standout performer, outside centre Nathan Muller, again impressed with his incisive running lines, which repeatedly exposed gaps in the Diamonds’ defence. He was, however, outshone by his opposite number, Jaco Beukes, who played a pivotal role in the Diamonds’ resurgence.
The Kimberley school’s success was built upon a solid platform laid by their dominant forward pack. Vice-captain and lock, Zuan Rautenbach, delivered yet another eye-catching performance, highlighted by a brace of tries. Blindside flank, Waylon Schwemmer, the Man of the Match, matched that feat, bagging two tries of his own.
SACS capped off their debut appearance at the St John’s Easter Festival with a second win, grinding out a hard-fought 21–8 victory over Bethlehem Voortrekker. The Western Cape side was made to battle for every point, with the Trekkers putting in another resolute defensive effort.
True to their pedigree, SACS made their opportunities count, turning to their forwards to record their three tries. Openside flank, Siphe Mbungendlu, crashed over for the final score and his second try of the weekend.
The dependable Mike Skeeles slotted all three conversions with clinical precision to close out the match.
SCORERS
Golden Lions XV 20 (6) – Tries: Gaviel Graff, Khaye Mukhanda. Conversions: Graff (2). Penalties: Graff (2). St David’s Marist Inanda 16 (8) – Tries: Matthew Scott, Ben Archer. Penalties Luca Cabion (2).
Diamantveld 50 (17) – Tries: Waylon Schwemmer (2), Zuan Rautenbach (2), Driaan Jacobs, Bernard Däniels, Jaco Beukes, Jaydrian Jacobs. Conversions: JG van Heerden (4), Ezlin Swartz. Welkom Gimnasium 33 (11) – Tries: Nathan Muller, Ruan Theron, Vusi Ndayi, Leano Williams. Conversions: Jadewyn Solomons, Leano Williams. Penalties: Solomons (3).
SACS 21 (14) – Tries: Harrison Bell, Qiraan Germans, Siphe Mbungendlu. Conversions: Mike Skeeles (3). Voortrekker 8 (3) – Try: Wessel Hattingh. Penalty: Nolen du Plooy.
