Windhoek High and Hartpury College end Saints Easter Festival with wins
Two international visitors, Namibia’s Windhoek High and the UK’s Hartpury College, claimed victories on Easter Monday, the third and final day of the Saints Easter Rugby Festival in Johannesburg.
In a high-scoring clash, counterattacks down the blindside were a key tactic in Windhoek High’s 47-35 victory over the Mzwandile Mali XV.
Lock Keanan Louw was influential for the Namibians, crossing for two tries while also providing good ball from the lineouts.
As they had done all festival long, the Mali XV showed admirable fighting spirit throughout the match. Windhoek was never allowed to feel comfortable, not even when they held a two-score lead.
Mali XV flyhalf Sibabalwe Gwinsta delivered yet another eye-catching performance, using his fast feet and quick thinking to create space line-breaking opportunities for his teammates, which led to a number of tries. The playmaker even bagged himself another try.
Mzwandile Mali XV eighthman Bongolethu Mxoli was again on the score sheet, going over for his fourth try of the festival, thus joining a small group of players who scored in every match they played at the festival.
While Windhoek High claimed the spotlight with their win, the festival also made the Mzwandile Mali XV winners, serving as a big stage upon which the Eastern Cape side could exhibit the talent to be found in the province.
After a loss to Hoërskool Middelburg on the opening day of the festival, Gloucestershire’s Hartpury College stepped up to the plate and won their next two matches, ending their festival with an emphatic 54-20 victory over Northcliff High.
Arguably, the try of the festival occurred after the hooter had blown in their last outing on Monday. It started with a tap-and-go on the Hartpury’s five-metre line, then turned into a line break for fullback Luca Stickings after the ball was moved swiftly down the backline.
Stickings produced a magnificent run, weaving and outpacing five defenders with an 80-metre sprint before popping the ball up in the air while being tackled on Northcliff’s five-metre line.
Scrumhalf Theo Rogers‘ effort in running 90 metres in support was rewarded when he caught the offload and finished a spectacular attack.
Rogers was one of Hartpury’s standouts, providing his side with quick ball from the base of rucks, which allowed them to play with good tempo, resulting in the tourists’ wings scoring some highlight reel tries.
He finished with two tries in Hartpury’s last match, which was a fair reflection of the positive influence he exerted.
Northcliff was unfortunate to draw the short straw in their final game. The Randburg locals earned respect with their performances across the three days. They were formidable in an opening win over St Charles College on Thursday, and contributed greatly to one of the festival’s most memorable games, a 40-35 victory over Windhoek High.
Scorers:
Windhoek High 47 (19) – Tries: Keanan Louw (2), Xavier Bampton, Carlos Florian, Damian Klein, Luthando van Wyk, Kalipa Mbuenda. Conversions: MC-Rein van Wyk (6). Mzwandile Mali XV 35 (14) – Tries: Sibabalwe Gwinsta, Clayton Ludick, Ilita Mkapa, Bongolethu Mxoli, Likhona Mxoli. Conversions: Sibabalwe Gwinsta (5).
Hartpury College 54 (21) – Tries: Theo Rogers (2), Callum Lettie (2), James Siberry (2), Beau Wareham, Alex Orehawa. Conversions: James Siberry (7). Northcliff High 20 (6) – Tries: Luke Bloomberg, Dayne Van Wyk. Conversions: Jonothan Haw (2). Penalties: Haw (2).
