College too good for Pretoria Boys High, Parktown makes KES sweat
The King Price Derby Series match between Pretoria Boys High School and Maritzburg College on Saturday afternoon in Pretoria delivered on expectations and then some.
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After a scintillating performance by their pack, College was victorious by a 45-28 margin.
Captain and eighthman Vasi Vyambwera made it clear from the get-go that he would be ruling the roost among the big men upfront. His barrelling runs kept the visitors on the front foot for most of the game. They also brought him two tries, with his first being College’s opener.
Hooker, Theo Boshoff delivered a barnstorming performance, as he, too, shone with some impressive runs, while his lineout throw-ins were on the money.
The game was highlighted by the physical battle raging between the two packs, but the Red, Black, and White‘s outside centre, Amahle Hadebe, still managed to steal some of the limelight from the big boys up front. Running hard attacking lines at the Candies‘ defence, he exhibited skilful attacking prowess.
Like his skipper, Hadebe made the dive for five twice. He was, in fact, the only backline player to score a try in the match.
Boys High kept bashing away at College, and, with the home crowd firmly behind them up until the final whistle, they found some rhythm in the last 20 minutes. During that time, their driving mauls forced the KZN side onto the back foot and twice they paved the way for openside flank Tristan Heinz to bag a double of his own.
Another highlight of the fierce clash was the immaculate place-kicking of College’s scrumhalf, Dom du Toit, and the Candies’ fullback, Blake Mager. Both boasted perfect records at the end of the match, with Du Toit slightly outscoring Mager after landing six conversions and a penalty. Mager, meanwhile, converted all of Pretoria Boys High’s four tries.
At King Edward VII School, in Johannesburg, the Reds‘ captain, Sam Bruwer, led by example to help his side to a narrow three-point win over a game Parktown Boys’ High School team. In the end, the reliable kicking of fullback, Indibabele Mboniswa, proved to be the decisive factor between the sides. He contributed seven points towards the KES victory, banging over two conversions and a penalty as the home team scraped a narrow 17-14 win.
Bruwer and eighthman, Chenidu Amadi, produced industrious and effective performances for the home side, and they were rewarded with a try each.
The visitors certainly earned respect with their never-say-die attitude, which tested KES from the first whistle to the last. Parktown number 8, Siya Masinga, made sure that Amadi had his hands full on defence, while right wing, Oyisa Mjiwu, rightfully and deservedly, rounded off a practice-ground move from inside his half, to give Parktown a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t quite enough to steal a shock victory.
SCORERS
Maritzburg College 45 (21) – Tries: Wasi Vyambwera (2), Amahle Hadebe (2), Theo Boshoff, David Colenbrander. Conversions: Dom du Toit (6). Penalty: Du Toit. Pretoria Boys High School 28 (14) – Tries: Tristan Heinz (2), Queenton Mncube, Jeffrey Singo. Conversions: Blake Mager (4).
King Edward VII School 17 (7) – Tries: Sam Bruwer, Chenidu Amadi. Conversions: Indibabele Mboniswa (2). Penalty: Mboniswa. Parktown Boys’ High School 14 (7) – Tries: Siya Masinga, Oyisa Mjiwu. Conversions: Enrico van Coller (2).
Other Teams
u.16A: Maritzburg College 24, Pretoria Boys High 17
u.15A: Pretoria Boys High 30, Maritzburg College 15
u.14A: Pretoria Boys High 24, Maritzburg College 24
