Bishops dig deep to draw with Wynberg
To quote the American poet, Walt Whitman: “Oh Captain, my Captain!”
Two weeks ago, Bishops‘ hooker and captain, Daniel van den Heever, scored a hat-trick of tries to lead a magnificent second half comeback against Milnerton. On Saturday, he bagged a brace to help his team to a 26-26 draw with favoured Wynberg Boys’ High.
Diocesan College trailed 14-19 at the break. However, like most of their games this season, the team grew in strength and finished the match strongly.
Although it wasn’t a victory, it was a fantastic reversal of fortune for Bishops, who went down 5-34 to Wynberg in May.
By closing the 29-point differential, Bishops produced further evidence of their evolution and improvement throughout the season.
Wynberg’s challenge was led by their flyhalf Achmat Behardien. Often, he is the one putting his teammates over the line for tries. On Saturday, on the Piley Rees, he crossed for two of his own and added three conversions.
Looking back on the clash, both sides will think about what could have been. Bishops hit the posts with a conversion attempt, while Wynberg missed a late penalty which could have won them the game.
Wynberg will be frustrated with the draw. They were dangerous all over the field.
Prop Luqobo Makwedini scored the direct way, ploughing his way over for a try, while centre Kunene Gadu did it with guile, slicing through the Bishops’ defence to add five of his own.
Credit to the hosts, though, they matched Wynberg’s offensive ferocity.
Perhaps, the takeaway from Saturday’s draw was a rivalry lesson that has stood the test of time: “In big games, there are no underdogs”.
Scorers
Bishops 26 (14) – Tries: Daniel van den Heever (2), Jack Venter, Max Marr. Conversions: Alex Laspatzis (3); Wynberg 26 (19) – Tries: Achmat Behardien (2), Kunene Gadu, Luqobo Makwedini. Conversions: Achmat Behardien (3).
Other Results
U19 – Bishops II 7 Wynberg II 17, Bishops III 12 Wynberg III 25, Bishops IV 12 Wynberg IV 29, Bishops V 14 Wynberg V 24, Bishops VI 5 Wynberg VI 35.
U16 – Bishops A 14 Wynberg A 12, Bishops B 14 Wynberg B 21, Bishops C 31 Wynberg C 10, Bishops D 25 Wynberg D 0.
U15 – Bishops A 8 Wynberg A 29, Bishops B 0 Wynberg B 43, Bishops C 5 Wynberg C 15, Bishops D 0 Wynberg D 63.
U14 – Bishops A 14 Wynberg A 29, Bishops B 0 Wynberg B 35, Bishops C 0 Wynberg C 40, Bishops D 5 Wynberg D 40.
