Sometimes a score on paper doesn’t tell the full story. Full marks goes to College for winning 30-8 and breaking a losing streak against KES. It would be unfortunate to describe the margin of victory as flattering. College deserves praise for playing “pressure into points” rugby that kept their score growing while KES failed to generate sufficient redzone opportunities and convert a handful of excellent initial breaks into any movements on the scoreboard. That said the game on the field was a closer in combat than a 22-point margin suggests.
Watching a KES team coached by Carl Spilhaus usually makes for good viewing and this game was no exception. Their open play style employed is bit like that used by the England side under Sir Clive Woodward pre-2004. Every move worked off a breakdown looks like a set move. The understanding between the players is good and often the execution is so well-orchestrated that it feels like restarts from setpieces. The angles and methods of attack are varied and they don’t all come off but as said they make for enjoyable rugby. KES prop Conor Lourens put in a good performance and his captain Godfrey Ramaboea had a couple of nice runs on the right wing but overall it was the visitors no.8 Sheldon de Robillard who was prominent in many of their attacks and could easily have walked away with the player of the match on the day.
Ironically shortly after KES had produced a ground gaining passage that lasted several phases, it was College that showed the worth of two equally valuable assets in rugby, the turnover and counter-attack. From well within their own half an alert College pressured a ball that came out the back of the ruck on KES’ side, won it and sent it down the line in a next to no time at all. The speed of Craven Week hopeful Lindo Ngcobo on the right wing punished KES and College had their first try.
The next College try was the initiated by a good carry from hardworking no.8 Darren Goodsen. By forcing his way past the defensive line, he laid the platform for a front foot attack. The recycled ball went through the hands into midfield where College’s best ball-carrier, captain Seko Buthelezi must have felt a bit like Moses when he saw a path open up for him in the sea of Red defenders. He needed no second invitation to move through it. The momentum appeared to be lost when he slung what looked like a wild pass to his left. It might not have been intended that way but it turned into a perfect pass to supporting flank Jacques Conradie who was sharp, doing ever so well collect and lay the ball off with soft hands to centre Simon Culverwell running off Conradie’s shoulder in space. Try time and College with the aid of conversions by centre Jordan Koekemoer and penalties by wing Marcel Coetzee during the half changed ends with a comfortable 20-3 advantage. The memorable features had been the home team’s killer instinct when taking opportunities, their domination of the T&P stats and their second line of defence that shut down two promising line breaks by KES. Not so good was the College kicking out of hand which hardly ever seemed to bring the desired results.
Coetzee extended the lead to 23-3 with another penalty after halftime. A persistent period of redzone attack eventually resulted in a KES try during the second half. Hooker Naas du Plessis succeeded with the pick and go. KES looked to have the slight upperhand in the second half during which the quality of play was not as good as the first half’s had been. At 23-8 down, KES again buckled under College pressure. As part of an attempt to run the ball from deep, KES turned to a suicidal grubber in an effort to breach the College defensive line. It backfired. The ball was charged down and Simon Culverwell scored an easy try, which with the help of Coetzee’s boot increased the lead to a final score of 30-8.
College hooker Masikani Mazwi has made a name for himself this year. The 100kg-plus under-17 player walked off with the official defender of the match award.
| # | College | # | KES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiaan Steyn | 1 | Ameer Williams |
| 2 | Masikani Mazwi | 2 | Naas du Plessis |
| 3 | Njabulo Gumede | 3 | Conor Lourens |
| 4 | Wiaan Jacobs | 4 | Brian Leitch |
| 5 | Seko Buthelezi (c) | 5 | Dylan Pieterse |
| 6 | Hayden Tharatt | 6 | Brendon O’Dnoghue |
| 7 | Jacques Conradie | 7 | Kyle Melville |
| 8 | Darren Goodson | 8 | Shelden de Robillard |
| 9 | Lucas Booysen | 9 | Trent Lucas |
| 10 | Jason Alexander | 10 | Brad Meyer |
| 11 | Marcel Coetzee | 11 | Keketso Maphate |
| 12 | Simon Culverwell | 12 | Calvin Hansell |
| 13 | Jordaan Koekermoer | 13 | Bradley Naude |
| 14 | Lindo Ngcobo | 14 | Godfrey Ramaboea (c) |
| 15 | Kelvin Elder | 15 | Khoro Makhesha |
Horsey you have gone missing. Explain your comment about grade 12 boys in the first team ???
@Westers: Ellse is a great player! Really rate him, he put in some huge hits against Outenique and does not seem scared of the opposition – he did well in keeping Galant relatively quiet in that game.
Looking forward to watching him at CW, whether it be 12 or 13
@beet: You are spot on about both McHardy and Ellse and this is what is keeping Anderson out. In addition, Braithwaite has been playing really well at 9.
@beet: I also know him more as a 10 from last year’s U16A and funny you mention, I thought his biggest asset was his distribution and ability to read the game and choose the correct option 9 times out of 10.
He is struggling to play his way into the team. McHardy is playing flyhalf and Ellse at inside centre. Word I am hearing is that he is considered a bit selfish. I have witnessed this on occassion in the 2nds.
I can tell you he seems to be putting in a lot of hard work. I see him at school on many mornings putting in extra hours of training. He is very talented and if he can get over the selfish tendencies he will play flyhalf in the 1sts next year, IMHO.
Out of interest, Schlemmer has been keeping him out of the flyhalf berth in the 2nds – justifiably. I have said before, I think this guy should have been given a chance in the 1sts this year. Saturday was a great opportunity. Braithwaite (No 9) got injured in the first half and they brought Schlemmer on in his place. Would have been great to see him go to 10 and McHardy play at 9 but they passed up the opportunity. This would have also given McHardy game time at no 9 where he is playing at trials tomorrow.
@Westers: @GreenBlooded: I really liked Juan as a flyhalf last year. I’m not exactly sure what the hold up is but I hope he can work on his line kicking and distribution skills in the offseason and come out as a 10 in 2014. He’s a decent 12 as well but I also feel that there is a lot more balance to the Westville line with Ellse at 12 instead of 13. Bradley actually plays a lot better when he doesn’t have time to over think things and has to be instinctive.
I also wanted to say that like many others I rate McHardy at 9. I’m one of those of the opinion that he is the best u18 #9 in KZN this year. However I think some tend to underestimate his value at 10 for WBHS. I think he gives a lot direction that seemed be missing before he moved into the role.
@Westers: Nope – other than I really rate him as a player and thought he would have at least got to the first round of CW trials. Perhaps next year. I though he did well at Kearsney which is the only Westville games I’ve seen.
@GreenBlooded: As beet says, he is playing inside centre for the 2nd team. Do you have thoughts on this?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Explain your comment…………please
@GreenBlooded: Anderson was Westville 2nd XV inside centre last time I watched.
@Westers: What has happened to Juan Anderson? Injured?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Not sure who you are referring to in the Westville 2nds as there are quite a few matrics in that team as well.
@Grasshopper: College on Goldstones is always tough. I would rate Westvilles chances at less than 50% because of this. But in recent times this is probably their best chance.
Methinks College will take Westville. They are certainly a better side in my opinion .
Westville have some of their best players in the 2nd side because the school seems to prefer matrics in the 1st side.
2014 will be good, I think it’ll see Kearsney drop form from this year and the big 3 dominating again. Also think DHS will provide more of a challenge than they have this year.
Great write up again Beet, exactly how I saw it. It was not a great game though, both sides making plenty of mistakes. College are obviously very young and not the finished article, seems 2014 will be the year for most if these lads. Probably the same for KES. I don’t see College beating Kearsney, Westville or Glenwood but with College on Goldstones you never know. KES will have a tough day against Monnas methinks.
A decent result . well done. not amazing. cannot wait for us to play you. You won at home. take the credit and enjoy but it will end. IMO