The Jade Brigade return to winning ways against feisty Rondebosch
After a tough 7-29 defeat to Paarl Boys’ High last weekend, Stellenberg High grabbed a hard-fought 33-26 home victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High on Saturday.
The Jade Brigade unleashed a blitzkrieg of attacks in the first 28 minutes to race into a 28-0 lead from four converted tries, including from their big tighthead prop Janu van Deventer and hooker Liam Joubert, who ploughed over the line.
Similar to a try that Springbok blindside flank Pieter-Steph du Toit scored against the All Blacks in the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, loose forward Yanos Molnar went in to cover the ball at a breakdown and sneakily picked it up from beneath his feet to run in under the posts for five.
The pendulum then swung to‘Bosch, who dominated the next 28 minutes of play with four tries of their own. Lock Bjorn Morkel was again among the try scorers. With his large and powerful frame, it’s rare to see fewer than three players needed to bring him down.
Left-wing, Caleb Bell, another regular try-scorer, filled in at scrumhalf on the halfway line, then sniped down the blindside. Faced with a defender, he grubbered the ball through, collected it himself and scored a phenomenal try that covered 50 metres. Bell’s been superb this season and is clearly in the upper echelon of wings.
After 56 minutes, an absorbing contest favoured Stellenberg by only two points, 28-26. It was anyone’s game, but centre JC Swart ensured victory went Stellies’ way with a try in his first game back from injury.
Worcester Gimnasium’s left-wing Joyce Baningela continued his rich try-scoring run – which began with a hat-trick against Hoërskool Brackenfell – in Gim’s 43-36 home victory over Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington) on Saturday.
He and outside centre Bjorn van der Westhuizen both dotted down twice as Worcester Gimnasium won for the third successive match after starting the season with six losses.
Scrumhalf Jerran Adams played a major part in his side’s victory by converting five of their six tries and adding a penalty for a personal haul of 13 points.
Gim’s fighting spirit is admirable. They’ll need to tap into it again if they are to upset HTS Drostdy in the Worcester derby next Saturday.
Hoërskool Brackenfell not only scored their first win in three games, but they also ended Hoërskool Strand’s three-match winning streak after squeezing out a 30-29 victory at home.
Brakkies mainly scored with direct carries through their powerful forwards. However, perennial try-scorer and left-wing Migile Carelse still found his way over the try line. But he was the only Brackenfell back to dot down on the day.
Lock Manya Prayer put in a heavy shift for his side. His diligent efforts in the lineouts and on defence were rewarded with a try.
Mr Consistent, Strand captain and eigthman Rohan Bezuidenhout, again bagged a try. Despite his side’s narrow loss, he delivered a standout all-round performance with his work rate and physicality.
The visitors’ scrumhalf Jason Hartogh also had a solid game, distributing the ball with gusto and earning a try of his own. He’s trusting his running more and, as a result, is getting onto the scoresheet more consistently.
Brackenfell faces a tough challenge next weekend. They take on Hoërskool Parel Vallei, who fell to their first loss of the season at SACS on Saturday. Strand hosts Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington).
Scorers
Stellenberg High 33 (28) – Tries: Liam Joubert, Janu van Deventer, Ethan van Biljon, Yanos Molnar, JC Swart. Conversions: Van Biljon (4). Rondebosch Boys’ High 26 (7) – Tries: Bjorn Morkel, Kelebogile Nkwana, Jayden Wyngaard, Caleb Bell. Conversions: Shellvon Mabooi (3).
Worcester Gimnasium 43 – Tries: Joyce Baningela (2), Bjorn van der Westhuizen (2), Sisekelo Dlamini, Jerran Adams. Conversions: Adams (5). Penalty: Adams. Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington) 36 – N/A.
Hoërskool Brackenfell 30 – Tries: Migile Carelse, Jason Joseph, Hanré van Dijk, Manya Prayer, Joshua Wallace. Conversion: Yusuf Hannibal. Penalty: Hannibal. Hoërskool Strand 29 – Tries: Rohan Bezuidenhout, Schalk Beukes, Joshua Lourens, Brant Nel, Jason Hartogh. Conversions: Leathon Lewis (2).
Other Results
U19 – Stellenberg I 33 Rondebosch I 26, Stellenberg II 34 Rondebosch II 10; Worcester Gim I 43 Hugenote I 36, Worcester Gim II 26 Hugenote II 14, Worcester Gim III 5 Hugenote III 27; Brackenfell I 30 Strand I 29, Brackenfell II 14 Strand II 10, Brackenfell III 25 Strand III 15, Brackenfell IV 17 Strand IV 15.
U16 – Stellenberg A 20 Rondebosch A 20; Worcester Gim A 38 Hugenote A 22, Worcester Gim B 17 Hugenote B 0; Brackenfell A 14 Strand A 29, Brackenfell B 7 Strand B 21.
U15 – Stellenberg A 29 Rondebosch A 14; Worcester Gim A 22 Hugenote A 18, Worcester Gim B 24 Hugenote B 21; Brackenfell A 5 Strand A 24, Brackenfell B 8 Strand B 19.
U14 – Stellenberg A 6 Rondebosch A 12; Worcester Gim A 12 Hugenote A 7, Worcester Gim B 17 Hugenote B 24.
