SACS tempo too much for Brackenfell, Charlie Hofmeyr sparkles against Hermanus
After a few tough losses against difficult opposition in recent matches, SACS found their rhythm and delivered a high-tempo game to defeat Brackenfell 43-25 on the Memorial A-Field on Saturday.
The hosts’ running rugby, which was best exemplified by centre Daniel Grant and wing Josh Gorgens, was a joy to watch, and they both crossed for braces.
It took SACS 15 minutes to open the scoring, and the first points came after they had sucked in the opposition defence at a breakdown just five metres from the visitors’ goal line. When Max Bester sent the ball out wide, Grant rounded the Brackenfell defence, thanks to a three-man overlap.
Momentum was with the home team and by halftime they had opened up a 24-6 advantage.
Brackenfell adapted to the game too late. Their first points came from number eight, Wade Fortuin, who dotted down after a maul from five metres out with 10 minutes to play. They did well to add another two tries before the end of the game, but SACS had long ago ensured their victory.
Next up, on 16 August, SACS visits Rondebosch.
In Ceres, Charlie Hofmeyr hosted Hermanus, and they turned it on for their home fans.
A strong team effort brought Charlies five tries from five different players, while flyhalf Jay Jay Janse and wing Keenan Nathan shared the kicking duties, tacking on 10 points and seven points respectively, to see their side to a 42-27 win.
A good day for the locals began with a fantastic try in the 12th minute. From 10 metres out, scrumhalf Phillip Boshoff feathered a pinpoint cross-kick over the opposition defence and wing Ainsley Prinsloo ran straight onto the ball, collected, and dotted down in the corner.
Charlie Hofmeyr dominated at the breakdown and in the aerial battles, which helped them build up a 25-10 lead after the first 35 minutes.
In the second half, the coastal visitors found their rhythm, putting up much tougher resistance. Within five minutes of the restart, they had twice breeched Charlies’ defences.
Their first five-pointer, scored in the first minute, came from an especially eye-catching period of play. A rip in a tackle jarred the ball loose and Hermanus pounced on the loose ball. Then, scrumhalf Christable Nutt nudged a box kick out wide where wing Elia Stevens claimed the ball off the bounce and ran through for a superb try.
Stung by those quick tries, Charlie Hofmeyr reasserted themselves and made sure of the victory by outscoring Hermanus 17-3 over the last half-hour of the contest.
It was a fun match of rugby, which appeared to be played on instinct a lot of the time. Somewhat chaotic in appearance, it made for very enjoyable spectating.
Scorers
SACS 43 (24) – Tries: Daniel Grant (2), Josh Gorgens (2), Quewinn Lackay, Max Bester, Siphokhanyo Dyanti. Conversions: Mikey Skeeles (3), Rob Boyes; Brackenfell 25 (6) – Tries: Wade Fortuin, Ruan van Tonder, Yibonge Malote. Conversions: Junior Louw, Jean Oosthuizen. Penalties: Junior Louw (2).
Charlie Hofmeyr 42 (25) – Tries: Ainsley Pedro, Keagan Kelly, Ivan Hanekom, Keenan Nathan, Phillip Boshoff. Conversions: Jay Jay Janse (2), Keenan Nathan (2). Penalties: Jay Jay Janse (2), Keenan Nathan; Hermanus 27 (10) – Tries: Jared Hunter (2), Gideon Scheepers, Elia Stevens. Conversions: Giano Da Kosta (2). Penalty: Giano Da Kosta.
Other Results
U19 – SACS II 33 Brackenfell II 14; Charlie Hofmeyr II 5 Hermanus II 10, Charlie Hofmeyr III 3 Hermanus III 5.
U16 – SACS A 89 Brackenfell A 0; Charlie Hofmeyr A 80 Hermanus A 3, Charlie Hofmeyr B 21 Hermanus B 14.
U15 – SACS A 50 Brackenfell A 0; Charlie Hofmeyr A 12 Hermanus A 22, Charlie Hofmeyr B 10 Hermanus B 19.
U14 – SACS A 73 Brackenfell A 0; Charlie Hofmeyr A 24 Hermanus A 28, Charlie Hofmeyr B 0 Hermanus B 47.
