SuperSport Schools Plus

Struggling Bennies seek to make it three in a row against St Alban’s


Photo Credit: Jessica-Walsh
Photo Credit: Jessica Walsh

With the midyear exams just around the corner, the last few fixtures are set to be played before learners gear up for some academics, while others prepare for the various national youth weeks taking place around the country in the school holidays.

One match that, unfortunately, won’t be played is that between St Stithians College and Northcliff High School after a miscommunication on a fixture date, which has resulted in the cancellation of the game. 

St Benedict’s will be hoping to replicate their success of 2023, when they beat St Alban’s College twice, both home and away. The scores last year were 25-20 and 17-14, with the Bedfordview boys stunning St Alban’s by converting a match winning penalty in the final minutes of the second encounter.

The Hoops, however, are firm favourites heading into the match, which kicks off at 12:30. Bennies have struggled mightily this season and have lost eight out of nine matches.

At least, as the underdogs, St Benedict’s won’t feel too much pressure ahead of the tie.

Both teams include players who featured in last year’s games. Perhaps those Bennies’ players can dig deep and use memories of those hard-fought wins to fuel and inspire the rest of their side.

Skipper Jason Cutler, who tasted victory against St Alban’s last year, has made a full recovery from his injuries earlier in the season, and he will lead the side from the front.

JJ Steenkamp and Joshua Verster, the St Alban’s halfbacks, will aim to make early inroads on their opposition, who have found it difficult to mount comebacks this season once a bit of scoreboard pressure has been applied. 

Meanwhile, down the road, Pretoria Boys High School hosts St John’s College. A close encounter is expected on Brooks Field. Kick-off is at 12:15.

Catch all the action on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Boys High has experienced an indifferent run of form recently, and has been handed several losses, including, most recently, a 27-34 defeat against Michaelhouse at Balgowan.

Pacy fullback Tumisho Motswi moves into the scrumhalf position, where he replaces nuggetty Cole Williams, who has worn the number nine jersey for most of the season.

The Blues are fresh off the back of a 30-67 loss against Jeppe High School for Boys last weekend. However, leading up to the difficult fixture against one of the top performing sides this year, the team had cruised to big victories over Parktown Boys’ High School (51-7) and St Andrew’s School (80-5).

Players to look out for include their hooker and captain Kyle Watson, as well as lock Dominique Kamangu.

Last year, the Candies walked away with the win when they travelled to Johannesburg, securing a comfortable 39-5 victory.

In Johannesburg, Parktown Boys’ High will come face to face with fiery St David’s Marist Inanda, away at La Valla Field, with kick-off taking place at 12:30.

St David’s narrowly beat St Stithians College last weekend, winning that fixture by one point, which has provided the team with a welcome morale boost ahead of the Independent Schools Rugby Festival (ISRF), which takes place at St Alban’s College, from 29 June to 3 July.

Throughout the season, Luca Cabion and Teegen Rossini have swapped the all-important number ten and fifteen jerseys for St David’s, and this weekend it’s Cabion at flyhalf.

Parktown has managed to turn around their fortunes by winning their past three matches, which included a 29-5 victory over St Benedict’s last weekend.

Fullback Calestin Fulkers shone, scoring two tries, and he will be eager to build on that form.

TEAMS

Pretoria Boys High School: 15 Itu Baloyi, 14 Londie Nemudzivhadi, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Tyler Mason, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Seth Venter, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Jeffery Singo, 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Stephen Adams, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Matthew Parrott.

St John’s College: 15 ⁠Bryson Walker, 14 Tino Munyurwa, 13. ⁠Gerald Van Wyk, 12 ⁠Malan du Plessis, 11 ⁠Jacob Smith, 10 Joe MacRobert, 9 Tom Kruger, 8 Kyle Watson, 7 ⁠Rohan Sheldon, 6 ⁠Grant Barnes, 5 ⁠Zain Newman, 4 ⁠Dom Kamangu, 3 Matthew Kaplan, 2 ⁠Kakuhle Tunguta, 1 Joshua Shannon.

St Alban’s College: 15 Matthew Nelson, 14 Aidan Kloppers, 13 Tumelo Mohale, 12 Enzo Olivier, 11 Sihle Msiza, 10 JJ Steenkamp, 9 Joshua Verster, 8 Patrick Weir, 7 Thabiso Mbembele 6 Ben Stevenson, 5 Keegan Dick, 4 Tim Garnett, 3 Neo Gama, 2 Craig Milne 1 Andreas Philippou.

St Benedict’s College: 15 Matthew Hovelmeier, 14 Tshegofatso Mojapelo, 13 Freddie Durrant, 12 Braeden Le Roux, 11 Wade Ramsay, 10 Declan Le Roux, 9 Iviwe Mlilo, 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Matthew Joubert, 6 Tebogo Phukuile, 5 Luke Carr, 4 Nicholas Moravec, 3 Matthew Rourke, 2 Thato Ntshangase, 1 Victor Goncalves.

St David’s Marist Inanda: 15 Teegen Rossini, 14 Tristan Lambe, 13 Theo Fonternel, 12 Elliot Skei, 11 Kuzivakwashe Majuru, 10 Luca Cabion, 9 Diego Ferreira, 8 Daniel Fellingham, 7 James Askew, 6 Tahin Patel, 5 Jack Brady, 4 William Allemann, 3 Marco Bitter, 2 Connor Mc Williams, 1 Siyabonga Nkomo.

Parktown Boys’ High School: 15 Calestin Felkers, 14 Owami Phambuka, 13 Promise Kanda, 12 Lisasa Mnukiso, 11 Kabelo Jwili, 10 Kelvin Kotey, 9 Tshepiso Tladi, 8 Kingsley Okonkwo, 7 Keith Mncube, 6 Vuyo Ndlovy, 5 Anashe Matuku, 4 Disema Mofokeng, 3 Azola Peter, 2 Lethoko Mallane, 1 Manuel Motsi.

FIXTURES

Pretoria Boys High vs St John’s College 

u14A: 9:00 – Pretoria Boys High (u14B) vs St Johns College (Dorey Near)
u15A: 10:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs St Johns College (Oehley Far Field)
u16A: 11:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs St Johns College (Oehely Near Field)
u19B: 11:10 – Pretoria Boys High vs St Johns College (Brooks Field)
u19A: 12:15 – Pretoria Boys High vs St Johns College (Brooks Field)

St Alban’s College vs St Benedict’s College

u14A: 09:30 – St Albans vs St Benedict’s  (Murray Field)
u15A: 10:30 – St Albans vs St Benedict’s (Baloyi Field)
u19B: 9:45 – St Albans vs St Benedict’s  (Moshate Field)
u16A: 11:00 – St Albans vs St Benedict’s (Moshate Field)
u19A: 11:15 – St Albans vs St Benedict’s (Moshate Field)

St David’s Marist Inanda vs Parktown Boys’ High School

u15A: 09:00 – St Davids vs Parktown (Gier C Field)
u14A: 10:00 – St Davids vs Parktown (Gier D Field)
u16A: 10:10 – St Davids vs Parktown (La Valla Field)
u19B: 11:20 – St Davids vs Parktown (La Valla Field)
u19A: 12:30 – St Davids vs Parktown (La Valla Field)

error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.