Results – St. John’s College Easter Festival 2022 – Day 1
The Rhinos from Hoërskool Nelspruit put up a dominating performance in the first half of the main match of the opening day of the 25th Standard Bank St. John’s College Easter Festival against the hosts on the Burger Field to secure a comfortable 26-5 victory.
The Rhinos already managed to build up a 19-0 lead at the break thanks to their forward enjoying the upper hand. It was the prop Stefan Veldman, eighthman, Leonard Bornman, and flanker Francois Odendaal who made sure that Nelspruit had the upper hand in the physical exchanges.
St. John’s College’s inside centre, Joel Leotlela, scored a try late in the match to turn the home side’s efforts into some points on the scoreboard. Saints will face Graeme College of Grahamstown on Saturday.
Paul Roos Gimnasium eased to a comprehensive 50-6 victory over Welkom Gimnasium in the main curtain-raiser for the main match on the opening day of the festival. The team from Stellenbosch could only manage to build a 17-6 lead by half-time with elusive winger Luke Graham, scoring a brace of tries within the first ten minutes of the match.
Graham completed his hat-trick in the second half to bag his second successive hat-trick in as many weeks. He also starred with a hat-trick in Paul Roos’ victory over Grey High School in their Premier Interschools clash in Gqeberha last Saturday.
The team from Stellenbosh’s captain and flanker, Herman Lourens, had a huge impact in securing the victory. The replacement prop, Cameron Miell, also enjoyed a good day at the office as he bagged a brace of tries in the second half.
Welkom Gimnasium deserved more points on the scoreboard but somehow couldn’t manage to round off the opportunities they did create. Their captain and Nr.8, Wian Fourie, as well as inside centre, Julian Samuels, could feel happy with their performances.
Paul Roos will face Nelspruit on Saturday in which promises to be an exciting encounter. The team from Welkom will try to get back to winning ways against Hilton College.
Noordheuwel of Krugersdorp came close to claiming a major scalp and surprise during the opening day of the festival. They drew 25-all against Boland Landbou.
The team from Paarl was in control early on in the match as fullback, Jandré Genis, sliced through Nories defence. Boland Landbou led by 20-11 at the break with a try by winger Matthew Gaamane late in the half keeping Nories hopes alive.
In the second half Noordheuwel took control with their halfback paring of Coen-Lee Koekman and JT Kapank where directing their team’s efforts. Nories produced some magic from within their own 22 in the 56th minute with eighthman, Marco Maree, rounding off probably the most spectacular try of the opening day of the festival to draw the scores level after Kapank’s conversions.
Nories had their chances to cause an upset. Boland Landbou recently returned from touring through Ireland so the jet lag as well as playing on the Highveld definitely had an impact on the side’s performance. Their captain Jaccus Pretorius put on a very impressive performance.
Hilton College looked like an impressive outfit as they cruised past St. Benedict’s College with 60-3. Hooker, Murray Brink, scoring a brace of tries from line-out mauls. Brink also performed well in loose.
Hilton’s flanker Jonathan Horak and flyhalf, Christopher Horak, is brothers and the sons of former English international fullback, Michael Horak. The latter represented Grey College of Bloemfontein in his school career and was part of the unbeaten side of 1995.
Hilton’s starting flyhalf for the match, Ivan Lockem, scored 16 of his side’s points via a try, four conversions and a penalty goal.
Helpmekaar-kollege of Johannesburg managed to bag a victory at the death thanks to a try from a sniping break by scrumhalf, JP Meyer. Helpies led 3-0 at the break thanks to a penalty by fullback, Jordan Jordaan. The try was scored in the final movement of the match.
Graeme College’s centre, Licebo Ngwentle, sliced through the defence in the second half to get his side ahead with the conversion by winger Asemahle Mbanga adding extra pressure on Helpies.
The difference between St. David’s Marist of Johannesburg and St. Charles College of Pietermaritzburg was the boot of the former’s fullback, Cullen Massey. He contributed 14 of his side’s points via the boot in their 19-12 victory over the visitors from KwaZulu-Natal.
Massey recorded four penalties and converted his side’s only try by flanker Max Nader. He also missed a few opportunities which would’ve given his side more breathing room in the end.
St. Charles’ College’s captain and flanker, Chinoso Ukwuoma, opened his side’s scoring after a penalty kick hit the uprights. He completed his brace just before half-time to bring his side back into the game. Before his first try, his side was trailing by 16 to nil. After his brace, they were back in the game with the score 16-12 in favour of St. David’s at half-time.
Ukwuoma was sent to the sin bin in the second half after which his side chances dwindled.
Paarl Boys’ High had too much fire-power for the Golden Lions Invitational XV. They smashed them by 83-0 with fullback, JC Mars, completing a hat-trick of tries as the team from Paarl scored 13 tries en route to the thrashing.
#SJCRugbyFest #SBSchoolsFest #StJohnsEasterFestival
Scorers:
Hoërskool Nelspruit 26 (19) – Tries: Stefan Veldman, Brent de Villiers, Ethan van der Westhuizen, Leonard Bornman. Conversions: Danny van Staden (3). St. John’s College 5 (0) – Try: Joel Leotlela.
Paul Roos Gimnasium 50 (17) – Tries: Luke Graham (3), Cameron Miell (2), Herman Lourens, Reno Hirst, Keehan Etson. Conversions: Christoff de Bruyn (5). Welkom Gimnasium 6 (6) – Penalties: Nathan Goeda (2).
St. David’s Marist 19 (16) – Tries: Max Nader. Conversion: Cullen Massey. Penalties: Massey (4). St. Charles College 12 (12) – Tries: Chinoso Ukwuoma (2). Conversion: Jehan Adonis.
Boland Landbou 25 (20) – Tries: Jandré Genis, Andries Truter, Albie Bester. Conversion: Genis (2). Penalties: Genis (2). Noordheuwel 25 (11) – Tries: Matthew Gaamane, Keaton van Deventer, Marco Maree. Conversions: JT Kapank (2). Penalty: Kapank (2).
Hilton College 60 (27) – Tries: Murray Brink (2), HJ Pienaar, Chris Roy, M Stewart, Ivan Lockem, Thomas Roy, Qhawe Soji, Olwethu Kweyama. Conversions: Lockem (4), Christopher Horak (2). Penalty: Lockem. St. Benedict’s College 3 (3) – Penalty: Jason Pengelley.
Paarl Boys’ High 83 (31) – Tries: JC Mars (3), Shah-Jehaan de Jongh (2), Robert-John du Preez (2), Neil Hansen, Scott Nel, Hugo-Ben Horn, Jo Himmelstutzer, Bryan Burger, Jameel de Jongh. Conversions: Marno Pretorius (7), Thurlon Williams (2). Golden Lions XV 0.
Helpmekaar 10 (3) – Try: JP Meyer. Conversion: Jordan Jordaan. Penalty: Jordaan. Graeme College 7 (0) – Try: Licebo Ngwentle. Conversion: Asemahle Mbanga.
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