Hat-trick Heroics and Hilton brilliance light up Easter Festival
Hilton College ruled the roost in the final match of the first day at the Standard Bank St John’s College Easter Festival.
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The men in white delivered a dominant and entertaining performance, securing a 29–5 victory over the hosts, St John’s College, on Thursday evening.
Flyhalf, Liyema Nela, made Burger Field his own, expertly orchestrating play. Beyond his playmaking duties, Nela took on the home team’s defensive line himself on several occasions, catching the hosts off guard, and he also sliced through for a well-earned try.
In response, St John’s playmaker Gerald van Wyk, battled valiantly to spark his team’s attack in the crisp Johannesburg evening air. He handled distribution admirably under pressure and occasionally shifted momentum with clever chips and cross-field kicks that forced Hilton onto the back foot.
Up front, the loose forward clash was fierce. Hilton’s eighthman, Zander Muller – tenacious and tireless – was a standout. His defensive commitment and high work rate proved invaluable for the KwaZulu-Natal side. His opposite number, Mako Mandizha, carried with intent but struggled to breach Hilton’s solid defensive line.
Earlier, the curtain-raiser between Pretoria Boys High School’s Candies and Hoërskool Diamantveld’s Diamonds transformed into a try-fest in the second half. The Candies’ left-wing Neo Matlaletsa dazzled with the festival’s first hat-trick, punishing the Diamonds’ defensive lapses with his blistering pace in open space.
Diamantveld’s midfield maestro, Jonathan Harding, once again impressed, while vice-captain and lock Zuan Rautenbach gave his all in trying to generate momentum for the Kimberley side’s pack. However, a quickfire burst of tries from full-back, Blake Mager, and blindside flank, Pieter Lindeboom saw the Candies surge clear, ultimately sealing a 43–29 victory.
SCORERS
Hilton College 29 (15) – Tries: Liyema Nela, Ricky Adonis, Zander Vorster, Khazimla Makali. Conversions: Nela (2), Tristan Uys. Penalty: Uys. St John’s College 5 (0) – Try: Gerald van Wyk.
Pretoria Boys High School 43 (5) – Tries: Neo Matlaletsa (3), Michael Fourie, Blake Mager, Pieter Lindeboom, Reece Holman. Conversions: Blake Mager (4). Diamantveld 29 (5) – Tries: Dian Ellis, Jonathan Harding, Zuan Rautenbach, Penalty Try, CJ Meiring. Conversions: JG van Heerden (2).
