Bennies end season like a bullet train racing to victory
A determined and energetic St Benedict’s College beat St Stithians College in their final match of the season, winning in style 33-15.
For a second time this season St Benedict’s have beaten Saints, this time making sure that their final match of the season was one to remember.
The school from Bedfordview started the match in a convincing fashion, racking up 18 points before the halftime break, running away from the opposition and making sure that there was enough wiggle room should anything out of the ordinary happen in the second half.
Outside center Raymond Hassim, chipping in nicely scoring two important tries for his side and was supported by Byron Smit who also scored for the home team, and showed his versatility as he was strong in defence.
With the match sitting at 28-0, St Stithians needed to show a lot of grit to claw their way back into contention. Two tries from position Tashinga Chingonzo, looked promising but with the game moving away from the visitors, a minor miracle was needed.
Much has been said about Bennies fullback Onkgopotse Monaheng this season, he once again showed his talent, scoring an individual try and making sure that he converted five out of his six placement kicks.
An excellent 50m penalty capped off what has been a successful season for the fullback, who wears his heart on his sleeve.
Bennies end the season having racked up five wins out of six matches against the other independent saints’ schools, beating St David’s Marist and both St Stithians and St Alban’s twice.
For many of the matric boys it was the final match for their school, playing in front of a packed St Benedict’s stand would have been the send-off that most of the players would have wanted, a win at home in your final schoolboy fixture definitely ticks a box.
With eleven of the fifteen boys matriculating this year, St Benedict’s will be looking at rebuilding with a number of grade 11’s currently playing in the second XV.
St Stithian’s College are not quite done yet as they still have the Independent Schools Festival, taking place next week starting on Thursday 23 June 2023 hosted at St Andrew’s College.
Saints will be looking at a couple of their players to stick up their hands as they enter in the twilight phase of a long season.
St Benedict’s College 33 (18) – Tries: Raymond Hassim (2), Byron Smit, Onkgopotse Monaheng. Conversions: Monaheng (2). Penalties: Monaheng (3). St Stithian’s College 15 (0) – Tries: Tashinga Chingonzo (2), Mathula Sikhakhane.
The teams:
St Benedict’s College: 15 Onkgopotse Monaheng, 14 Ntelezi Mchunu, 13 Raymond Hassim, 12 Uche Ejike, 11 Nathi Beda, 10 Jason Pengelley, 9 Sabelo Shangase, 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Thando Jadezweni, 6 Byron Smit, 5 Declan Murphy, 4 Luke Carr, 3 Victor Goncalves, 2 Michael Mundove, 1 Daniel Walsh.
St Stithians College: 15 Lebo Mofolo, 14 Ben Parkinson, 13 Sean Strydom, 12 Gabriel Hore, 11 Tinashe Gweshe, 10 Nthabeleng Mafole, 9 Aidan Appalsamy, 8 Tashinga Chingonzo, 7 Ryan Zvinevashe, 6 Mathula Sikhakhane, 5 Thato Madziwanyika, 4 Francois Botes, 3 Keabetswe Mapukana, 2 Braedon Hollingworth, 1 Branden Lightfoot.
