Paarl Boys’ High, Helpmekaar, Westville, Rondebosch, Selborne and St Benedict’s were the teams that impressed over the Easter weekend, writes THEO GARRUN.
The Easter rugby festivals in Joburg were disrupted by lighting and rain on two of the three days, with the third day of the King Edward festival cancelled entirely, and only two games possible at St John’s on Monday. At St Stithians one game was lost on Saturday, and two on Monday.
Down at Kearsney College, most of the matches were played, and there were also minimal disruptions at the St Dunstan’s festival in Benoni.
Paarl Boys’ were one of the few sides that got in three games at St John’s and they were very impressive in all of them. They put 60 points past the Golden Lions and Windhoek Gim and were well on their way to another 60 when play was stopped, 15 minutes short, against Neslpruit, with them leading 40-0.
Helpmekaar played twice at St John’s. They outmuscled Stellenberg 10-8 and beat St Alban’s 33-19. At KES, Westville Boys’ High was the standout side. They beat Nico Malan 34-0 and Queens 54-12. Northwood also had two wins – over Queens and Hentie Cilliers.
At Stithians, Rondebosch got three wins out of three. They beat St Andrew’s Grey High and Northcliff. Maritzburg College won their two games, beating Parktown and KIngswood.
Down at the Kearsney festival, Selborne finished unbeaten. They beat Noord-Kaap and Framesby. Their match against Glenwood was called off. The St Dunstan’s Festival was for second tier schools. St Benedic’t and Reddam House Bedfordview were the unbeaten teams.
The Wildeklawer Festival is on in Kimberley next weekend, so a number of top schools have taken this weekend off. There are, however, still a a few interesting clashes on the cards.
The two big Joburg Boys schools both face Pretoria opposition. KES travel to Affies, while Jeppe host Pretoria Boys’ High. The significant thing about both those fixtures is that there are going to be 24 rugby games and 16 hockey games between the schools involved on Saturday.
Selborne host Queens in the pick of the Eastern Cape action, while in KwaZulu-Natal DHS are at home to Kearsney and Westville gets a chance to extend their good run, away to Michaelhouse.
There is a full round of games in the Western Cape. Paarl Boy’s High host Drostdy, Paarl Gim travel to Oakdale, Rondebosch are at home to DF Malan and SACS meet DF Malan, at home.
Paul Roos Gim are not in action because they leave early next week for the SANIX tournament in Japan.
Picture: Kearsney College/Facebook
