Red Army makes Boishaai sweat in main game of KES Easter Festival
Paarl Boys’ High managed to overcome a Red Army onslaught, beating King Edward VII by 10-8 in a thriller of a game on day two of the Standard Bank KES Easter Festival.
There was not an empty seat in sight as the Joburg faithful attended the annual Easter sporting bonanza en masse in support of the home team.
Catch all the action on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
The King Edward VII boys did not disappoint their loyal supporters, putting in a heroic effort against the powerhouse from Paarl, managing to stun their opponents, even if they were not able to come away with a win.
This is the first time Boishaai is attending the festival, and they have already left their mark, beating Selborne comprehensively 48-5 on day one.
It was the home team who looked like the dominant side in the first half though, applying early pressure with a penalty conversion by their flyhalf, Simphiwe Moyo.
Moyo had a brilliant day, leading the KES attack with ball in hand and pinning the Paarl boys in their own half with some spectacular kicks.
The continued pressure exposed some cracks in the Paarl game that they will need to address before they face their remaining rivals for the top position in SA schools rugby this year.
In a show of solidarity with the Boishaai player, Chris Jordaan, who recently suffered a serious injury during a match at last weekend’s North/South tournament, the KES no. 8, Kebotile Maak, played without a number on his back.
Maak also had an outstanding game, leaving everything on the pitch for his side.
The match was so physical and hard-fought, that it took 21 minutes for the first try to be scored.
The Paarl defence flinched first, as big Esethu Mnebelele, the hooker, powered over the line to the delight of the crowd, supported by his tighthead prop, Joshua Aube.
The first half ended with the home team in the ascendency, leading 8-0.
Boishaai showed champion’s grit, never dropping their heads even after more of their attacks were laid to waste by an immovable KES defence.
It took 40 minutes of play for Boishaai to score their first points when they finally decided to attempt to take a shot at goal.
Their fullback, JC Mars, who was also excellent in defence, converted the penalty for the visitors.
Boishaai stuck to their structures and were finally rewarded for their endless pressure when their stalwart hooker, HD Odendal, managed to drive over the try line at the back of a well-set maul. Daniel van der Merwe, on at flyhalf for Boishaai, kept a cool head and managed to add the conversion that would ultimately decide this epic battle.
The KES crowd nearly burst at the seams with excitement as their lightning-quick winger, Timi Oluwole, darted down the touchline, only to be denied by a brilliant defensive effort by Mars.
Boishaai have one final hurdle, in Northwood, to navigate on Monday to end their week unbeaten. Northwood has also not lost this week though and will be looking to cause a major upset.
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Selborne also managed to pull off a win against an energetic Parktown attack.
The Selborne captain and vice-captain, Grant Day (flanker) and Amani Somane (fullback) led by example, scoring the first two tries for the Border team.
Parktown were defending for most of the first half but managed to score with their first real opportunity to attack when Karabo Phakwane (winger) finished off an acrobatic try in the corner.
Parktown launched a comeback attempt with two late tries in the game by Thombela Folo (scrumhalf) and replacement, Sejoto Olwenkosi, but it was too little, too late for the Parktownians, and Selborne managed to hold on to win 23-17.
Selborne are facing a wounded KES on Monday and will need to seriously improve on their performance to avoid disaster. They were not able to convert any of their tries and they left numerous opportunities on the field. KES will punish them if they repeat their mistakes on Monday.
Queen’s College put in a stellar performance to outplay the big boys from Ben Vorster.
Spurred on by the Gwijo chants of the Queen’s College supporters, the forward pack stepped up to match the Buffels, allowing their backline to do their magic.
Sisipho Mpaka, the open-side flanker, crossed the whitewash twice, and flyhalf, Turshaan Hare, was inspirational with his contribution, also adding ten points off the tee.
Queen’s College head boy and no. 8, Axola Khatshwa, played phenomenally and acted like an extra centre when he slid into the backline on the attack and Jade Zindlu controlled the game from the scrumhalf position after coming on at halftime.
On defence it was their winger, Siya Konki, who excelled, standing up to his much larger opponents and delivering a try-saving tackle at the end of the first half, just as Ben Vorster seemed to be gaining momentum.
For the Limpopo boys, the big lock, Aldo Blignaut, stood out, carrying the ball well and driving back the Queen’s players in every collision. He also contributed to his team’s only try on the day, paving the way for the loosehead prop, Meyer Jacobs, to get over the line.
Siyanda Nkosi (centre) set the tone for the game by scoring two equally impressive tries early on in Northwood’s romped to victory over Hudson Park.
The Durban side’s lock, Vuyo Gwiji and no. 8, Siyanda Mabuza, also excelled for their team and their flyhalf, Cade Latham contributed with some difficult conversions.
Diamantveld rallied to earn an important win over Nico Malan. The team from Kimberley struggled in the first half, as they have been struggling this season, but their core leadership group managed to take control of the game and come back after trailing at halftime to win 37-21.
Their lock, JJ Fourie, scored the try to give them the lead, which was a just reward for his role in their play.
Durbanville put on a masterclass in the first game of the day, scoring eight tries to their opponents’ four in an action-packed match that was the perfect way to kick off the day’s activities.
Almost all twelve of the tries could make the festival’s highlight reel with both teams playing exhilarating running rugby.
James Nero (centre) scored two of Durbanville’s tries and Shaun Klein scored a try and converted all eight of their tries, adding a massive 21 points to his team’s total by himself.
They beat Kemptonpark 61-21.
Eldoraigne proved too strong for St David’s Marist. Though a brace of tries by the St David’s centre, James Pearson, and ten points off the boot of flyhalf, Jayden Jafta, gave their team a respectable score, Eldoraigne were in control throughout the match.
The Centurion side’s captain, Johan Coetzee (no. 8) finished off an electric piece of play to score the final try of the match, after a world-class pass by his scrumhalf, Donnevin Naude.
Naude was integral to the Eldoraigne game throughout and the team will be happy with a solid performance by some of their younger players and a good win.
While all the action was taking place on the field, KES old boys Dylan Curtis and James Gerber were in action off the field, where they were virtually cycling up Mt Everest in a bid to raise money to benefit a student who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend an institution such as KES, another fitting gesture by the hosts, in line with the spirit of these events.
Scorers:
Paarl Boys’ High 10 (0) – Try: HB Odendal. Conversion: Daniel van der Merwe. Penalty: JC Mars. King Edward VII 8 (8) – Try: Esethu Mnebelele. Penalty: Simphiwe Moyo.
Selborne College 23 (13) – Tries: Grant Day, Amani Somana, Boitumelo Selonyane, Chad de Beyer. Penalty: Page Fennel. Parktown Boys’ High 17 (5) – Tries: Karabo Phakwane, Thombela Folo, Sekoto Olwenkosi. Conversion: Sebastian Sekoto.
Queen’s College 32 (15) – Tries: Sisipho Mpaka (2), Thina Fenako, Axola Khatshwa. Conversions: Turshaan Hare (3). Penalties: Hare (2). Ben Vorster 10 (3) – Try: Meyer Jacobs. Conversion: Divan Spangenberg. Penalty: Tihandre Reyneke.
Northwood 31 (19) – Tries: Siyanda Nkosi (2), Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, Luthando Makula, Siyanda Mabuza. Conversions: Cade Latham (3). Hudson Park 13 (8) – Tries: Sqalo Gwagwa, Liyabona Madikane. Penalty: Jacqyl Wright.
Diamantveld 37 (6) – Tries: JJ Fourie, Marno Greef, Kyle Taute, Flip du Randt, Diwan Muller. Conversions: Marco Mathewson (3). Penalties: Mathewson (2). Nico Malan 21 (14) – Tries: Tiaan de Klerk, Mias Bierman, Ryan Killian. Conversions: Dominic Malgas (3).
Durbanville 61 (35) – Tries: James Nero (2), Cayden Louw, Naldo Klein, Shaun Klein, Shadwell Engelbrecht, Evert Bouwer, Monray Daars, Divan Gravett. Conversions: Shaun Klein (8). Kempton Park 21 (7) – Tries: Divan Francis, Zander de Jongh, Kyle Botha. Conversions: Tiaan Delport (3).
Eldoraigne 36 (10) – Tries: Christion du Toit, Anroux du Plessis, JP Meyer, Divan de Jager, Johan Coetzee. Conversions: JP Meyer (3), Reynier Kidson. Penalty: Meyer. St David’s Marist 20 (7) – Tries: James Pearson (2). Conversions: Jayden Jagga (2). Penalties: Jagga (2).
