Two of the Western Cape’s premier boys’ schools renewed their fierce rivalry on a splendid winter’s day in the southern suburbs at the weekend.Â
Wynberg played host to the traditional season-ending affair, welcoming SACS who made the four kilometre jaunt from Newlands.
Both sides, having failed to set the Cape rugby scene alight this season, were desperate to salvage some pride and local bragging rights.
The visitors made all the early moves in this contest on a dry, albeit soft Hawthornden pitch. Outside centre, Rihaz Fredericks cut through the Wynberg line on two occasions, with the would-be tacklers seemingly stuck, lead-footed where they stood.
After weathering that initial storm, Wynberg were able to put together a number of encouraging phases, including some devastating ball carries from their big units.
Man-of-the-match, Cormac Faul was at his wrecking ball-like best and was able to get his side that all-important front-foot momentum.
It was on the back of one of these strong carries, this time by prop Taliep Essau, that Wynberg opened the scoring. Livewire halfback, Matthew Damonze showed sharp vision to steal away around the fringe of a breakdown inside the SACS 22 to dot down unopposed.
Less than ten minutes later, Wynberg had their second with Reece Brice diving over the tryline.
After that double blow, the SACS players rallied and made their way into the host’s territory.
Their reward was a penalty within kicking distance of the Wynberg uprights which was missed.
Wynberg hooker Kamva Mgwali continued the theme of the day and embarked on an effective carry of his own, drawing in several defenders. A left-handed offload expertly put Lezane Davis away on the right-hand touchline and he did the rest, sprinting 60 metres to dive over the whitewash.
Captain, Devon Pretorius, made the score 21-0 with this third conversion as Wynberg went into the break fully deserving their lead.
Any hopes of a SACS comeback were dashed when, five minutes into the second stanza, Davis pounced onto a loose ball spilled by an errant backline move. He trotted over and after Pretorius added the extras, the match was effectively over as a contest.
Both sides had their chances to add to the score but, despite an unshackled Wynberg playing with absolute abandon and SACS striving for their first points of the match, the scoreboard remained unmoved at 29-0.