Bishops, Rondebosch and SACS have everything to play for as the Cape Town Southern Suburbs season winds down to an exciting climax over the next three weekends. This Saturday a “title” contending elimination match of sorts takes place on the Memorial “A” where hosts SACS and Bishops will battle it out for the right to remain masters of their own destiny by staying in touch with “leaders”Rondebosch, UNLESS underdogs Wynberg have something else to say about in all starting with their visit to Bosch.
SACS BEAT STRAND WELL
The South African College High School (SACS) travelled up the N2 to play Strand High for the first time since 2013. SACS won comfortably in the end by 55 points to eight, but full credit must go to the hosts who put together some impressive passages of play and actually dominated the first twenty minutes of the second half.
SACS started well, held onto the ball and built phases. They were rewarded with an early try by debutant No. 8 Lukhanyo Gqokoma who ran a lovely inside line off his flyhalf David Hayes. Michael Abrahams missed the easy conversion. SACS struck again five minutes later with a beautiful set-piece try from a lineout. Ben Mazzullo, playing at outside centre, ghosting into space and finishing himself. Abrahams was again off target.
SACS were penalised twice soon after as Strand got into the game. Both the shots at goal were missed but when SACS restarted from the 22 metre line Strand started a counter-attack , which resulted in a brilliantly taken try by scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht. The conversion was also missed.
SACS got a bit loose and lateral for a while but when they tightened up they extended their lead again via tries from prop Ethan Burger and left-wing Aaron Zeederberg, who once again ran the classic “Gregan”- line he has used all season. Both tries were converted to see SACS take a 24-5 lead after twenty-five minutes.
On the stroke of half-time SACS started a counter-attack from on their own tryline. They reached the halfway line where play became static before flank Craig Bylin spotted a mismatch, beat his oppose man and ran through to score. SACS went into half-time 31-5 to the good.
The second half was a forgettable affair. SACS raked a tight-head after twelve minutes and replacement loose-head prop Ethan England barged a few phases later. The next fifteen minutes were dominated by Strand who showed some neat touches to test the SACS defence. SACS missed touch on a number of occasions giving the dangerous Strand backs the opportunity to counter-attack. Unfortunately, despite some positive play, all Strand could get for their efforts were three points via the boot of flyhalf Marco Anderson.
SACS finished with a flourish scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to push the score over the half-century mark, Zeederberg completing a brace.
Strand High are in the process of rebuilding their rugby and will have enjoyed testing themselves against SACS. With sponsors on board and an impressive line-up of passionate coaches they will soon be a force in Western Cape rugby circles again.
SACS have three matches left in their season against their traditional Southern Suburb rivals. First on the menu are a resurgent Bishops in what promises to be an exciting encounter at SACS next weekend. With SACS having drawn to both Bishops and Rondebosch in the first term some serious bragging rights are up for grabs over the next two weeks.
Scorers:
Strand High School
Try: Hugan Engelbrecht
Penalty: Marco Anderson
SACS
Tries: Aaron Zeederberg (2), David Hayes, Ben Mazzullo, Ethan Burger, Storm Balchin, Ethan England, Lukhanyo Gqokoma, Craig Bylin
Conversions: Michael Abrahams (5)
@BoishaaiPa: …Or don’t have unions dictating terms to schoolboys, and have every kid who wants to play, play.
@BoishaaiPa: @Playa: If they make it an u17 tournament, most of the CW and AW players will not be available anyway, as most (but not all) are u18. They could try to ensure that it does not clash with GK to allow the u16 provincial players to participate. That said, as it’s not the 1st teams participating, I think that the schools will not feel the same pressure to play all their provincial players, but rather, use it for development. It could yield some exciting rugby with less pressure to win.
@Playa: Make it an u/17 tournament..or make the rules the same for everyone..No provincial players to represent their teams.
@BoishaaiPa:
fair enough. I would also honestly prefer July…just sick and tired of hearing the Wes-Kaapies go on about their missing AW & CW players 
@Playa: Rather keep it in July holidays…we have other plans for end of season.
@Vleis: That may work. Just worried that Grant Khomo may have the same effect that Craven Week currently has on the festival. But ideas are needed if CSW is to survive.
@Guido: They also asked to clear the pavilion as was the case at the Piley when Bishops played HJS?
@Playa:
@Playa: I’m reading it!
Ok, then I would make the Cape Schools week coincide with the ISRF, so that the schools are on equal footing. A stayers tournament (even if it’s in July) would involve a lot of u16s and 2nd/3rd team players, who play less festivals…so would help reduce fatigue.
@Vleis: Cape Schools Week is held every 2 years. It’s not an annual event. To add to that, games were decreased from the traditional 3 to 2 this year for exactly that reason
.I agree with you on having it as a “stayers”/end of season week – both EC and WC schools traditionally end their season on the last weekend of August, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have CSW the following week with games played on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
*If anyone out there is reading this*
@Guido: In fact, Bishops had more games than SACS last year due to the ISRF tournament. SACS had more this year due to their two additional Cape Schools Week fixtures. As Cape Schools Week clashes with CW, I think that they should make it a stayers tournament, plus they could consider hosting it every second year like the ISRF. That way, the players would be less drained.
I really believe that SACS are playing too much rugby these days. Come the second half of the season the boys are jaded, semi injured and just plain old tired. Bishops, on the other hand, refrained from playing all the traditional festivals earlier in the year, and it is paying dividends. It gave me huge delight to see Bishops down SACS this weekend in front of their partisan crowd ***. Their supporters ***