SA u18 sevens team face Fiji tonight for a spot in the final
The SA u18 Sevens team representing the country at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago got off to a flying start on Sunday, when they scored 63 unanswered points against Jamaica, before seeing away with the host nation 59-0 in the final match of the first day, with Northwood’s speedster, Siyanda Nkosi, getting over the line four times in that match.
We could then see away with Canada relatively comfortably on the second day thanks to a hattrick by James Nero, Hoërskool Durbanville’s pride this season.
Perhaps more impressive than our try-scoring abilities is the phenomenal defence they have shown to keep their first three opponents scoreless.
Our first hiccup came against Scotland last night.
With nothing to separate the two teams at 12-all at the break, our young flyers managed to pull ahead after another try by Nero, but the Flying Scots had one more trick up their sleeve, and a try in extra time by Watson Fergus, duly converted by Matthew Urwin, allowed them to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
This means South Africa will need to beat Fiji in the final match of the group stage at 16:28 today to qualify for the final, where they would have to face the mighty islanders again.
If we lose against Fiji, Scotland needs only to win their match against Trinidad & Tobago to qualify for the final. Should South Africa win their final game there is still a chance that they may not qualify for the final, but that would require Scotland making up a points difference of more than 123.
We wish the South African U18 Sevens team all the best for the pivotal encounter this evening.
The scorers so far:
Scotland 19 (12) – Tries: Fergus Watson, Jack Hocking, Ritchie Mitchell. Conversions: Hocking, Urwin. South Africa 17 (12) – Tries: James Nero (2), Samuel Badenhorst. Conversion: Luan Giliomee.
South Africa 38 (14) – Tries: James Nero (3), Gino Cupido, Fano Linde, Marno Stopforth. Conversions: Luan Giliomee (3), Siyanda Nkosi. Canada 0.
South Africa 59 (24) – Tries: Siyanda Nkosi (4), Thandolwami Ntshangase (2), Gino Cupido, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Bernardo Diedericks. Conversions: Giliomee (2), Ntshangase (2), Nkosi, Ndlozi, Diedericks. Trinidad & Tobago 0.
South Africa 63 (35) – Tries: Gino Cupido (2), Luan Giliomee (2), James Nero (2), Siyabongo Ndlozi (2), Lavela Pongolo. Conversions: Giliomee (5), Siyanda Nkosi (3), Pongolo. Jamaica 0.
The team is:
Siyanda Nkosi (Northwood), Stephanus Linde (Voortrekker), Jeffwin Wesso (Outeniqua), Luann Olivier (Garsfontein), James Nero (Hoërskool Durbanville), Thandolwami Ntshangase (Durban High School), Gino Cupido (Strand), Siybonga Ndlozi (Westville), Lavela Pongolo (Grey High), Bernardo Diedericks (Robertson), Samuel Badenhorst (Paul Roos), Luan Giliomee (Charlie Hofmeyr), Marno Stopforth (Grey College).
Remaining fixtures, Tuesday, 08 August:
15:00 – Trinidad & Tobago vs Scotland; 15:44 – Canada vs Jamaica; 16:28 – Fiji vs South Africa; 19:00 – 5th vs 6th; 20:00 – Bronze Medal Playoff; 21:00 – Final
