Voortrekker in Pietermaritzburg looks set to host an awesome night series with KZN Tier-1 schools DHS, Maritzburg College and Westville all using the event as part of their preseason preparations.
VOORTREKKER – HOOFVELD / MAIN FIELD
Friday, 26 February / Vrydag, 26 Februarie
14:30 Linpark 1 vs Carter 1
15:35 Vories u/16 vs Sarel Cilliers u/16
16:40 Greytown 1 vs Sarel Cilliers 2
17:45 Westville 2 vs Sarel Cilliers 1
18:50 DHS 1 vs Westville 1
19:55 Vories 1 vs M/ College 1
Friday , 4 March / Vrydag, 4 Maart
14:30 Vories u/16 vs DHS u/16
15:35 Linpark 1 vs Treverton 1
16:40 Hillcrest 1 vs DHS 2
17:45 Westville 2 vs DHS 1
18:50 Vories 1 vs Westville 1
BE THERE FOR THE ACTION
MAAK SEKER JY MIS NIE DIE AKSIE NIE
ENTRANCE FEE: R10 pp INGANGSFOOI: R10 pp
Refreshments will be on sale Verversings sal te koop wees
Use entrance at Howick Road Gebruik ingang by Howickweg
Vories Night Series – Evening 1 Report
Apart from the challenge of trying to get back into the scheme of things, players participating in the evening games at the well-attended Voortrekker preseason Night Series in Pietermaritzburg had to deal with adverse weather conditions as well. A strong gust of wind during the second half of Sarel Cilliers-Westville 2nd XV game was later followed by heavy rain and an electric storm that resulted in play between DHS and Westville 1st XV being suspended until it was safe to play again and after that delayed game had concluded, the Voortrekker versus Maritzburg College 1st XV players had to contend with very wet underfoot conditions. All three Tier-1 teams fielded outfits that excluded key players still involved in summer sports.
Sarel Cilliers 1st XV 10–0* Westville 2nd XV
This match kicked off in warm dry weather. Westville looked very rusty and cohesion seemed difficult for the players to find. There is a lot of hard work ahead here. Considering they were playing against a 1st XV their effort was respectable and they had a few moments here and there. As in all the games penalties played a big part and Westville seemed reliant on these for meaningful ground gaining.
Sarel Cilliers’ team clearly had more match practice coming into the game. Their pack couldn’t gain an upper-hand in the forward exchanges as hard as they tried. They however produced the most attractive backline attacking play of the evening. It was old school stuff. Straight running backs lined deep, ran onto accurate passes and the ball got out to the wings in an efficient manner, affording them attacking space to work with. Both Sarel wings looked impressive on the night and accounted for several useful carries between them. Their no.8 was industrious and opened the score when he made good separation from the back of a maul near the Westville line. The Sarel right wing score the next try via a speedy counter initiated by their fullback after a poor exit.
Westville 1st XV 10–0 DHS 1st XV
This was a bit of a trench warfare battle played in the rain. Clearly the tempo was up from the previous game and certainly the defences of both teams looked a lot more urgent as well. The conditions seemed less suited to DHS’s style and they struggled to make inroads. The best passage of DHS play came midway through the first half during a torrential downpour. The wet ball seemed easier to grip and School strung together a series of good short passes to ball runners who found the lines to make small ground gains, continuity which got DHS all the way to near the Westville tryline before one of the numerous unforced errors ended their progress. Just as that momentum shift had kicked in, the match was postponed due to lightning and restarted as a second half kickoff instead of deep in the Westville redzone.
Before this much anticipated match, the feeling based on feedback was that DHS would be the sharper of the two sides however this was not evident as Westville looked to have a shape about them suggesting that they had been putting in the training ground hours. Westville appeared to have the upper-hand territorially. It wasn’t a pretty match, the wet ball was hard to control but one thing evident was that Westville have a few meaty physical players in their pack who look like they are going to be able to mix it up with the best that SA has to offer and thrive in contact situations this season – their upperbody strength advantage over their DHS opposite numbers was probably the difference in the score at the end. Westville kicked a penalty to take a 3-0 lead into the full length second half and scored a try via wing Dakota Pienaar after some scrappy play near the DHS line, to grow that lead to the full time score of 10-0.
College 1st XV 26-17 Voortrekker
College started very well. Their high tempo left Vories with very few answers defensively. Slick hands, a creative touch and super speed soon had the score at 12-0, as in-form right wing Xolisa Guma scored the first two tries of his hat-trick. Ruben van Blerk’s kicking was by far the most impressive on the night and although he missed a sitter, the acute angled conversions were no trouble for the left-footer, who’s dink over the top had resulted in Guma’s second try.
As the score suggests Vories didn’t go down without a fight. In fact for a so-called Tier-2 school, they have what looks like a very useful first team and they displayed good character to come back into contention. First their replacement (no.20) made an explosive burst around the side of an uncontested 5m attacking lineout after the throw-in didn’t go to hand and powered his way over in the left corner. Later a rolling maul crashed over the College line and Vories via the conversion, reduced the gap to 12-10.
Guma aided by his footwear and outstanding pace then produced the individualistic x-factor moment of the night to help extend the lead to 19-10.
Vories bounced back again, this time after a bit of controversy near the College line where they appeared to have elected a scrum but after the ref gave the College captain a timeout to talk to his troops about a repeated infringement warning, Vories changed their minds. When play resumed they took the quick tap near the touchline and worked the ball nicely away from the point of contact to score fairly close to the uprights and converted as well.
At 19-17 there was everything to play for but with time against them Vories had to take risks. When they lost possession at a breakdown near close to halfway, it was College replacement Durang Atembe who seized the opportunity with a break away that caught the home team’s defence structure off guard. The big forward showed good speed as he carried the ball all of 40m to put the result beyond doubt.
DHS 17 – 0 Westville 2nd XV
With Maritzburg College having opted against playing a second game at Vories, finding suitable opponent for DHS 1st was a bit of a problem. Westville 2nds stepped up to the plate and did themselves proud, starting well, initially forcing DHS to use scrambling defence to prevent a try and holding them to just 0-7 in the first half. With DHS struggling to find their jumpers, they spent most of this first half encamped in their own half. DHS were looking to play some rugby but their enthusiasm to do so led to a few unnecessary offloads on the day which stifled their attack in the first half as well.
The School scrum, under the watchful eye of new forwards coach, Ronnie Uys, dominated their counterparts and gave the DHS backs the platform to run from deep, which they did with aplomb. They looked dangerous out wide, but will need to maintain patience if they are to be a threat during the regular season. Ultimately the pace and intensity that DHS played with was the deciding factor and had them run out comfortable winners in the end. The final score flattered Westville a little as DHS were unable to finish a host of glaring opportunities.
Westville 22-0 Voortrekker (Pmb)
Just like College the week before, Westville came up against a very resilient KZN Tier-2 team and had to break them down slowly to achieve a convincing win. Also like in College’s case, refereeing calls caused a bit of frustration at times, however it didn’t mar a good occasion and well done to the hosts Voortrekker for putting on a worthy preseason event. The Westville coaching staff seemed pleased with the way the team played. Although there’s some areas still needing attention, one of the big positives has to be that Westville didn’t concede any points in two matches.
The Highway Derby is this weekend at Kearsney. I am sure both teams will be wanting to impress. The boys I am sure will be up for it.
I see the Mercury reports that Hillcrest 1stXV lost to DHS 2nds 6 – 10.
Wasn’t there- so not other results
I wonder if Durang Atembe came on as a hooker. With Richardson also probably playing hooker for Kearsney, Prinsloo will have his hands full. I am sure though that he will more than rise to the challenge
What was pleasing for me to see – is that even in the poor conditions of soggy pitch and wet ball – the teams were keen to throw the ball and run at the opposition. A pleasing aspect of SBR.
Good to see a few guys in the College team like Squires, Mjara and Truter really looking like they belong.
@star:
One of the first rugby memoirs which ever came out was that of Wynand Claasen after the 1981 Bok tour of New Zealand. 1981 was only a few short years after TC came out in SA – I was 11 years old at the time and still remember clearly waking up at 4am to watch the games, the flour bombs and the cruel denial of a series draw by a ‘showman with a whistle’. I digress. One of the things he said early on in that fine book was the ‘Springboks breed Springboks’. I can’t help but wonder how many examples there have been and are still to come. Schalk Burger, Ruan Pienaar, Flip vd Merwe, Jan Serfontein to name a few. I think we may see one of the Du Preez brothers follow suit sometime soon.
Trix Truter had 2 sons Anton and Morne. Morne is in Durban but children are a lot younger. I think they are at DPHS. Anton lives in London. Both DHS old boys. Maybe another relative.
@GreenBlooded: Must be the grandson. My father is 81. You must remember that another famous grandson of that team is non other than Pat Lambie. I have a picture of the magnificent 7.( the only survivors) Would it not be great to have one with their grandsons. What is that old saying about apples and trees?
@star:
Just done the math – his father’s name is Trix and they are from Northern KZN. But if he played in 1960 that would make him about 75-80 years old at least. Might be a grandparent. I’ll find out. By all accounts the lighty has the natural talent to go all the way – a natural ball player and game reader.
@star:
Same dude. Farmer from Newcastle.
@Griffonfly: I am glad things are settling down. I am looking forward to the first big hit out against Kearsney on the 12th March. We need to reclaim ascendancy on Stott.
@GreenBlooded: I am a great lover of the history of things. My family have had 4 generations of Natal rugby representation. The current Kearsney captain’s grandfather was the fullback in 1960 when he played with my father and Natal drew with the All Blacks( their finest hour). The wing that day was a Trix Truter who hailed from Northern Natal. I wonder if he is related to your Jaco Truter.
College managed to beat Voortrekker 26-17 in a very closely fought match. It should be noted that College were without their waterpolo and cricket players (Glover, Johnson, Reintjies etc). Some of last year’s U16 boys are looking great – I though Jaco Truter was outstanding in the 1st half. Let’s hope his consistent knee trouble doesn’t prevent him gaining higher honors this year. A classy player and one to watch.
@star: Front row worked well. Westville had the measue of DHS in most scrums. DG had a good first outing at loose head. At half back LM and KW started. LM had to come off due to cramp. KW moved to SH and MM replaced KW at FH. All combinations need more time to a get a better view.
@Griffonfly: How did the front row and halfback combinations travel? I have been a little bit concerned about these areas of play for Westville.
Wins for Sarie Cilliers, Westville 1 and College. The weather played its part disrupting the Westville 1 vs DHS game. I am sure the coaches managed to get a good look at a few players and combinations. The boys were excited and some nervous to get onto the field and to get a good run.
Wins for Sarie Cilliers, Westville 1 and College. The weather played its part disrupting the Westville 1 vs DHS game. I am sure the coaches managed to get a good look at a few of players and combinations. The boys were excited and some nervous to get onto the field and to get a good run.
Hectic lightning storm here but the game goes on. Crazy.
Is there a beer tent at the Voories festival? It’s been a hectic week!
Getting close to the first evening rugby – any news on teams yet?
Westville have announced their 2 sides for the 26th Feb. A few CW and AW players out due to the inbound Jeppe tour over the same weekend and also a couple of injuries. With 2 Westville sides playing it will give the coaches a great opportunity to see them play.
@h2o: Unfortunately i was not there myself but the neighbours son plays for sarel this year. Apparently it was played in 4 chukkas with unlimited replacements and DHS “won” by six tries to three(but again i am not sure about score).
@upcountry: what was the score? Any one worth mentioning?
DHS already had a good run against sarel
College only in action on 1st weekend?