Captain Malherbe scores last minute winner in epic BishBosch derby
Rondebosch Boys’ High finished the season strong with three straight wins over their peninsular rivals after their captain, Matthew Malherbe (centre), scored in the 70th minute to give his winger, Ethan Gordon, a chance for the game-winning conversion, which he knocked over expertly to steal a 36-35 win against Diocesan College on the Piley Rees field.
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In a classic, high-scoring, southern suburb derby, Rondebosch got their revenge after Bishops got the better of them by 13-8 in the first match, earlier in the season.
This was the 202nd time these two great rivals had met, and with an average points difference of only three and a half points coming into the match, it was always going to be close.
It was also the last match many of these boys would play in their school jerseys, making the occasion even more special as they faced their great rivals for one last time.
The home team’s flyhalf, Shaywan Blankenberg, continued doing what he had been doing so reliably for his team all season and converted a penalty early on to open the scoring.
Rondebosch’s dynamic winger, Ethan Gordon, replied almost immediately and the pace was set for another epic encounter between the neighbouring schools.
The visitors’ fullback, David Simon, crossed the line twice. He scored the first try of the day to give his team the lead, a lead that changed hands five times throughout the match as the great rivals pushed each other to the limit.
Simon’s second came after he ran a brilliant line and stepped inside to be one of the very few players to get around Bishops’ fullback, Gilermo Mentoe, this season.
Diocesan College’s scrumhalf, Haashim Pead, also scored a brace.
The agile halfback has been a revelation this year. He is one of three SA Schools players representing Bishops in the elite squad. His fullback, Mentoe, and eighth man, Aidan Norris, also made the cut after their achievements at the Craven Week in George earlier this year.
Norris also powered over for a try to draw a line under what has been an exceptional season for the big loose forward.
The Rondebosch pack of forwards were on top of their game. After a strong carry by Carl Geddie (lock), Sunday Mailoni-Burns (flanker) was alert to get the ball to his other big lock, Tom Barnard, who powered over for another try.
By half-time, there was still only two points separating them at 22-20 and no indication of anyone gaining the upper hand.
In the second half, Pead’s second try and another by Bishops’ flanker, Olo Sepotela, saw them stretch their advantage to 35-22 with 20 minutes left on the clock, but the Rondebosch boys never looked like hanging their heads, as they continued patiently working away at the home team’s defensive line.
A late try by Juma Amissi, Rondebosch Boys’ High’s winger, meant that Bishops had to defend a six-point lead for the final nine minutes.
Gordon and Amissi started every match for Rondebosch on the wings this season, not missing any of their 17 games.
With neither team slowing down to catch their breath for a second, it was non-stop action as the fierce competitors battled it out for the final minutes before Malherbe, who had led from the front all day, broke the home teams’ hearts with a try in the final minute of play.
Gordon’s kicking was spectacular throughout the game, but he showed a real level head to convert the final try with all the excitement around him to steal a victory for the visiting side that will long still be remembered as one of the classic victories on the Piley Rees.
This completes the Triple Crown for Rondebosch Boys’ High in the second leg of the southern suburb derbies after also getting by SACS (29-21) and Wynberg Boys’ High (21-20) after the holiday break.
Their only loss in the first round came against Bishops.
The Rondebosch group looks well set up to dominate next year as well when returning players who were already standout performers this year like Simon, Barnard, Justin Amos (prop) and Dylan Miller (flyhalf) will form the core of their next campaign.
Scorers:
Rondebosch Boys’ High 36 (22) – Tries: David Simon (2), Tom Barnard, Juma Amissi, Matthew Malherbe. Conversions: Ethan Gordon (4). Penalty: Gordon. Diocesan College 35 (20) – Tries: Haashim Pead (2), Aidan Norris, Olo Sepotela. Conversions: Shaywan Blankenberg (3). Penalties: Blankenberg (3).
u19 – Diocesan College 10, Rondebosch Boys’ High 5.
u16 – Rondebosch Boys’ High 42, Diocesan College 7.
u15 – Rondebosch Boys’ High 15, Diocesan College 6.
u14 – Rondebosch Boys’ High 24, Diocesan College 16.
