The schoolboy rugby season heated up last week with two mouth-watering encounters that saw Kingswood and St Andrew’s College’s 1st rugby sides take on the touring St Stithians.
The schoolboy rugby season heated up last week with two mouth-watering encounters that saw Kingswood and St Andrew’s College’s 1st rugby sides take on the touring St Stithians.
Kingswood faced the Joburg visitors last Thursday, beating them 37-23, having led 20-13 at half-time. St
Andrew’s hosted them on Saturday, beating them 59-24.
For Kingswood, captain Ollie Lasaba led from the front for the hosts with two tries, along with Matthew Takeloo – who scored a scintillating hat-trick. Athi Halom managed a try of his own and Weston Potgieter added 7 points with the boot through two conversions and a penalty.
Lasaba was left in no doubt that his team deserved the win. After the match, he said, “Saints were a good team. However they did come in underestimating us. They were very physical on defence, but they couldn’t stop our forward pack.”
However, the captain also conceded that he was not yet entirely satisfied, saying, “There is still a lot to work on, but we are getting better and better day by day. Overall, it was a good game, and the Joburgers just didn’t have what it takes.”
Gareth Shaw, Kingswood’s coach, was happy with what he saw. He said, “The match was played under lights for the first time and both teams brought excitement and a willingness to entertain.”
Kingswood will look to carry their good form into Saturday’s away fixture at Union. Currently sitting 20th in SA School Sports 1st XV rankings, they will hope to leapfrog St Andrew’s (ranked 18th) in the race for Grahamstown’s top spot.
In their clash with St Stithian's, St Andrew’s gained the upper hand and managed to run in five tries to build a commanding 33-7 lead – the pick of the tries being a 50m solo effort from Tim Bloem as he swerved and beat numerous would-be defenders on his way to the try line.
The second half started with St Andrew’s under early pressure as Saints started with a new fire.
After an early score from the visitors it was Bloem who went on to score his hat trick. St Andrew’s ran in three more tries before the end.
As well as the three from Bloem, Chris Benjamin, Sazi Sandi, Tom Stevens, Rourke Broad and Byron Sharwood (two) scored tries while Benjamin kicked over seven conversions.
