Fantastic fullback Monaheng builds on weekend heroics

St Benedict’s College won an absolute nailbiter in the dying minutes of their most recent match against the home team, Parktown Boys’ High School, 22-18.

Parktown were off to a flying start with their hard-running forwards. St Benedict’s College defended as best they could, however, eventually conceding two tries.

A pickup and go try from Parktown’s prop Karabo Phokwane as well as an opportunistic try from the fast winger Reval Meth ensured that the home team had points on the board.

St Benedict’s were nursing a few injuries after the fixture against St Alban’s. Hero from the previous match, fullback Onkgopotse Monaheng started on the bench but made heads turn when he was eventually brought on to the field.

Being brought on at halftime, he opened the game up with his electrifying runs and long kicks. This ignited a spirited comeback from St Benedict’s, who were sitting 13-0 down at halftime.

A superb forward’s try by Daniel Walsh brought the game to 12-13, after fullback Onkgopotse Monaheng scored and converted his kick earlier in the half.

Parktown recovered and scored a try against the run of play to take the game to 12-18, failing to convert their kick.

With two minutes on the clock, Jason Pengelley scored a try to take things to 17-18, with the conversion being missed. Enough time for a kickoff, St Benedict’s put several phases together before flanker Thando Jadezweni broke the line and put away Onkgopotse Monaheng, who had several defenders to beat. The fullback scored in the corner, taking the game to 22-18, ensuring that his heroics continued.

The try after time was up resulted in St Benedict’s securing a great comeback win and putting their season back on course.

St Benedict’s College earned a second hard-fought win over rivals St Albans College, leaving the boys in blue and grey reflecting back on a crucial missed opportunity. 

With a few minutes left on the clock, St Albans were awarded a penalty opportunity to take the lead, but scrummie Joshua Verster failed to capitalise on the possibility of putting his side into a winning position.

Not long afterwards, Bennies converted a penalty off the boot of fullback, Onkgopotse Monaheng, who sent the ball sailing through the poles. It was a well-judged placement kick, which ultimately sealed the deal for the home team. 

The match started out very slowly, with both sides not allowing the other to break the shackles. Both teams were happy to play a more defensive style of play, ensuring that they did not allow for the floodgates to open up.

It took 25 minutes for the first points of the day to be scored. The Hoops took advantage of a handling error by St Benedict’,s which saw them score the first try of the match from flyhalf Druan Visagie, who made the most of a mistake from the Bennie backline.

Inside centre Uche Ejike scored on a short line from a scrum, which was won after Bennies were awarded a penalty. 

At the halfway mark the score sat 7-7, a very similar position as the previous match, which reflected an 8-8 scoreline at the same stage of that game. 

For the second half of the game, it was much the same as it was in the first half, with both teams looking to try and score a few more points and find a way to create a result. 

Flanker Patrick Weir added a try to the St Albans scoresheet and then winger Nathi Beda from St Benedict’s added shortly after, keeping the scoreline even. 

Upcoming Fixture – St Benedict’s College vs St John’s College – 03 June 2023

Looking ahead St Benedict’s will be entering into this weekend’s fixture against St John’s College full of confidence.

The first XV kicks off at 12:30 pm on Saturday at St Benedict’s College.

The Blues are coming off a considerably large loss against King Edward VII who were on the day the better of the two sides, winning 31-6.

St John’s have shown in the past that they have some strong fighting spirit and will provide Bennies with some stiff competition, but are going into this fixture as the underdogs.

Can the comeback kings make it three straight wins in a row?

Scorers:

St Benedict’s College 22 (0) – Tries: Onkgopotse Monaheng (2), Jason Pengelley, Daniel Walsh. Conversions: Onkgopotse Monaheng (2). Parktown Boys High’ School 18 (13) – Tries: Reval Meth (2), Karabo Phokwane. Penalties: Sebastian Sekoto. 

St Benedict’s College 17 (7) – Tries: Uche Ejike, Nathi Beda. Conversions: Onkgopotse Monaheng (2) Penalties: Onkgopotse Monaheng.

St Albans College 14 (7) – Tries: Druan Visagie, Patrick Weir. Conversions: Josh Verster (2).

The teams: 

Parktown Boys’ High: 15 Sihle Mncube, 14 Karabo Phokwane, 13 Bhukosi Moyo, 12 Lisassa Mnukiso, 11 Reval Meth, 10 Sebastián Sekoto, 9 Thembela Foli, 8 Busisiwe Mngomezulu 7 Olwenkosi Sibeko, 6 Joshua Yoane, 5 Sibusiso Stefaans 4 Sandziso Sithole, 3 Karabo Mbakota, 2 Chris Junior Maile, 1 Junior Shongwe.

St Benedict’s College: 15 Jason Pengelley, 14 Ntelezi Mchunu, 13 Raymond Hassim, 12 Braeden Le Roux, 11 Nathi Beda, 10 Charlie Panteli, 9 Sabelo Shangase (captain), 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Thando Jadezweni, 6 Tebogo Phukuile, 5 Declan Murphy, 4 Luke Carr, 3 Jack Brewer, 2 Victor Goncalves, 1 Daniel Walsh (vice-captain). 

27 May 2023

St Benedict’s College: 15 Onkgopotse Monaheng, 14 Ntelezi Mchunu, 13 Daniel Koen, 12 Uche Ejike, 11 Nathi Beda, 10 Jason Pengelley, 9 Sabelo Shangase (captain), 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Thando Jadezweni, 6 Byron Smit, 5 Declan Murphy, 4 Luke Carr, 3 Jack Brewer, 2 Victor Goncalves, 1 Daniel Walsh (vice-captain). 

St Albans College: 15 John-Joshua Steenkamp, 14 Michael Rider, 13 James Edwards, 12 Luke Sass (vice-captain), 11 Nkosi Malaza, 10 Druan Visagie , 9 Josh Verster, 8 Daniel Bouwer, 7 Matthew Peirce, 6 Patrick Weir, 5 Alex Yeatman, 4 William Von Broembsen, 3 Craig Milne, 2 Luke Webber (captain), 1 Cody Petersen. 

Results:

31 May 2023

u19B – Parktown Boys’ High School 26, St Benedict’s 7
u16A – Parktown Boys’ High School 41, St Benedict’s 0
u15A – Parktown Boys’ High School 0, St Benedict’s 7
u14A – Parktown Boys’ High School 38, St Benedict’s 7

27 May 2023

u19A – St Benedict’s 0, St Albans 34
u19B – St Benedict’s 18, St Albans 3
u16A – St Benedict’s 0, St Albans 34