Steenkamp caps off North/South Tournament with a hat-trick
Jordan Steenkamp ran in the 12th hat trick in the final match of the 2025 NMI Toyota North/South Tournament as the hosts, Paul Roos Gimnasium, held on for a 26-19 victory over Hoërskool Noordheuwel, in Stellenbosch, on Tuesday evening.
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Steenkamp, displaying pace and power out on the left wing, punished the Norrie Blues with his strong and determined runs. His ability to turn nothing into something was one of the highlights of the last match after four days of scintillating action.
His colleague on the opposite wing, big Tiaan Basson, sparkled on the attack, but especially on defence, putting in some massive hits.
Paul Roos’s winning effort, though, was powered by their impressive loose forwards. Gert Kemp, one of the front runners for the Western Province number eight jersey, led the way as the trio caught the eye with their outstanding work rate in all facets of the game.
A red card left the Maroon Machine a man short in the dying moments of the match, and that enabled the Blues to further capitalise on the momentum they had picked up in the second half. Noordheuwel’s hooker, Clinton Agu, was the standout player in their pack and set the tone with his physical runs.
Flyhalf Jeandré Uithaler continues to go from strength to strength, although he seemed slightly off his energetic best after a taxing showdown against Grey College on Saturday.
That same Grey College side put their demons to bed in the rematch of a 2024 North/South game against Jeppe High School for Boys. In 2024, Johannesburg school won 22-19, but the Bloemfontein boys romped to a 64-31 victory on Tuesday night with a sharp exhibition of clinical, running rugby.
Grey captain, Xander Smit, led from the front, with the flank’s excellent support play bringing him three tries in a true captain’s performance. In the backline, fullback Lamla Mgedezi was at his elusive best and caused Jeppe all kinds of problems.
Jeppe must be commended, though. Although Grey College controlled the game, Talent Sithole and his men never gave an inch and kept taking it to the Bloemfontein powerhouse. They were rewarded with the last try of the contest, their fifth, scored by their fleet-footed centre Lindelani Nkambule, who dotted down twice for the Zebras.
SCORERS
Paul Roos Gimnasium 26 (19) – Tries: Jordan Steenkamp (3), Tiaan Basson. Conversions: Travis Pheiffer (3). Noordheuwel 19 (0) – Tries: Clinton Agu, Raheem Schiefer, Stefan Bezuidenhout. Conversions: Jeandré Uithaler (2).
Grey College 64 (33) – Tries: Xander Smit (3), Tian Fourie (2), Penalty Try, Sherwin Buys, JG Badenhorst, Siyabonga Kenny, Eddie Mabena. Conversions: Jan-Hendrik van der Linden (5), Darius Erwee (2). Jeppe High School for Boys 31 (10) – Tries: Lindelani Nkambule (2), Kuhle Shitlangu, Phano Letsie, Talent Sithole. Conversions: Nehemia Hollenbach (3).
