Williams hat-trick eclipses magnificent Monareng four as Sharks edge Lions
The clash between the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks and the Golden Lions on the first day of the 20th annual u16 Grant Khomo Week, at St Alban’s College, in Pretoria, showcased exactly what makes u16 rugby so exciting.
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With only a handful of minutes to spare, it was still uncertain which side would be victorious in the third match of the day.
After a breathtaking first half an hour, during which three tries were scored by both sides, the Sharks and Lions exchanged heavy blows in a seesaw second half.
Rosco Williams, who played on the right wing instead of his usual position of fullback, was the first to cross the line, on his way to a hattrick in the match. His efforts helped KZN into a handy 24-7 lead at one stage.
The tide, however, turned swiftly as the Lions’ inside centre and captain, Blessing Monareng, surpassed Williams’ feat by dotting down a memorable four tries.
Monareng’s opposite number, and the man of the match, Elgenio Oersen, proved to be the difference between the sides, however. Like Williams, he ran rampant throughout a high-intensity contest, scoring a brace of tries as the Sharks scored a 44-35 victory.
The South Western District’s Eagles’ backline proved to be equally dangerous, scoring most of their side’s points in a 27-10 victory over Eastern Province.
Captain and lock, Logan Jacobs, led his troops well and helped to establish a solid foundation with his robust physicality. That sound platform allowed flyhalf, Tanwill Onkers, to release the agile SWD speedsters out wide.
Onkers’ orechestration of the Eagles’ attack earned him the honour of being named the man of the match.
Zimbabwe lit up Baloyi Field in their opener. They ran in 11 tries to thump Border Country Districts 71-3. Inside centre, Denzel Nyambo, dotted down three times for the first hat-trick of the 2025 week, while left wing, Tafara Gara, crossed for a pair of his own.
Border opened the first day, and their account, with a tightly contested 26-22 victory over the Leopards.
Inside centre and captain, Riley Hansel, led from the front and was justly rewarded with the winning try.
Scorers:
Moshate Field
Sharks 44 (27) – Tries: Rosco Williams (3), Elgenio Oersen (2), Ben Hughes. Conversions: Daniel Misky (2). Penalties: Misky (2). Golden Lions 35 (21) – Tries: Blessing Monareng (4), Ndzalama Mbhalati. Conversions: Mbhalati (5).
South Western Districts 27 (15) – Tries: Logan Jacobs, Luan Mortlock, Dorian de Wee, Rashan Claasen. Conversions: Tanwill Onkers (2). Penalty: Onkers. Eastern Province 10 (5) – Tries: Alexander Stewart, Anfred Jansen.
Border 26 (19) – Tries: Carlo Davids, Edward Malinzi, Caleb Smith, Riley Hansel. Conversions: Josh Wilkie (3). Leopards 22 (5) – Tries: Tebogo Msiza, Daniel Schoeman, Lerato Matlaisane, Lemarc Henry. Conversion: Dian Huisamen.
Baloyi Field
Zimbabwe 71 (36) – Tries: Denzel Nyambo (3), Tafara Gara (2), Ngonidzashe Buthu, Matthew Zinyemba, Victor Watama, Liam Britten, Tristan van der Merwe, Gray van der Merwe. Conversions: Gray van der Merwe (8). Border Country Districts 3 (3) – Penalty: Luke Groepe.
Griffons 32 (15) – Tries: Brinzley Bastiaan (2), Zak Steyn, Osego Mnyungula, Jayden-Daniel Bienas. Conversions: Theuns van Rensburg (2). Namibia 24 (17) – Tries: Zasha Steenkamp, Oliver Seager, Cayleb Buys. Conversion: Matthew Raubenheimer.
Valke 24 (5) – Tries: Jerado Tafel (3), Wimpie Maritz. Conversions: Tafel (2). Limpopo Blue Bulls 15 (12) – Tries: Jodan du Bruyn, Junaid Stevens. Conversion: Johan van Biljon. Penalty: Van Biljon.
