Rondebosch dominates southern suburbs derby
The honours went the way of Rondebosch Boys’ High as they scored a controlled 28-7 win over Bishops on the Tinkie Heyns Field on Saturday in a King Price Derby Series match.
The victory was by a similar margin to their 22-5 win over their rivals at home in 2024. Unfortunately for the visitors, that was their fifth loss in a row.
‘Bosch got the scoreboard moving early, thanks to their fullback Daniel Cooke. He fielded a downfield kick from Bishops’ outside centre Eljaron Geduld and ran it back, breaking the visitors’ defensive line before setting left wing Caleb Bell free to score in the corner. Flyhalf Sebastian Boshoff added the extras.
The speedy Cooke was in the thick of the action again in the 24th minute, when the home side extended their lead to 14-0, following another successful conversion kick from Boshoff.
Just two minutes into the second half, Rondebosch, playing in white, crossed for a third try. This time it came from a rolling maul, with hooker Ismaeel Conrad dotting down for five points. Boshoff added the extras with a precise kick from the corner of the 22 to open up a big lead.
Almost inevitably, ‘Bosch skipper, Josh Neill, got onto the score sheet. From a lineout deep in the Diocesan College 22, the home team mauled towards the try line. When their momentum was stopped, Neill shot out and scored. Boshoff made it four from four off the kicking tee when he added the extras.
Bishops showed their fight with a consolation try in the 69th minute of the game. After maintaining possession through numerous phases from a lineout just out the Rondebosch 22, inside centre Boytjie Fyfer picked up and dived over. Geduld tacked on two more points, but the day belonged to the hosts.
Both Rondebosch and Bishops return to action on 22 July against English opposition, with ‘Bosch hosting St Benedict’s and Bishops facing Sedbergh, traditionally one of the top sides in England.
Scorers
Rondebosch: Tries – Caleb Bell, Daniel Cooke, Ismaeel Conrad, Josh Neill. Conversions – Sebastian Boshoff (4); Bishops: Tries – Boytjie Fyfer. Conversions – Eljaron Geduld.
Other results
U19 – Rondebosch B 24 Bishops B 7.
U16 – Rondebosch A 40 Bishops A 29.
U15 – Rondebosch A 36 Bishops A 7.
U14 – Rondebosch A 17 Bishops A 19.
