Wynberg Boys’ High 1st XV, well coached by Justin van Winkel, are limelighting on the national stage in 2023. They are recognised as one of the top schoolboy rugby teams in the country his year. It’s the sort of form that creates expectations of a triple crown in the Cape Town Southern Suburbs at some point this year. But its proving to be extremely tough going, as nothing can be taken for granted when facing their fierced rivals. Now they are nought from two after tight four-point defeats to Bishops and Bosch. It will now take a really big reversal of fortunes in the third term, if Berg are to come out on top in these derbies like they did in 2022 when they only lost one out of their six matches.
I agree that Wynberg did enough to win, however, with Berg up by 8 points & in control the ref disallowed an intercept try for offside. The incident occurred on the halfway line (where the camera was positioned) & I have watched the video at least 3-4 times & I can’t see any way that the Wynberg defensive line was offside in the build up to the intercept. That would’ve put Berg 15 points up & contest would’ve been done & dusted. On the other hand, the Bosch intercept try was after a high tackle had not been given. Matches unfortunately turn on small incidents like this but congrats to Bosch for never giving up. We will see each other again.
Not a great day for Wynberg. I was at the game and towards the end of the first half Wynberg failed to convert an opportunity, or two and we felt it could come back to bite Wynberg. Struggled in the scrums in the first half but when I saw the starting 15 it looked like we had front row injury/ies and X factor centre Adams was out. Wynberg did enough to win the game but it did not reflect on the scoreboard and with two yellow cards in the last ten minutes the Bosch comeback was scripted. Also throughout the game, the Wynberg tactic of running the ball out of their own 25 was high risk. I was shouting for an exit kick plenty of times. Well done to Bosch, never gave up. Was a great game of rugby and I thought the referee was also excellent. Consistent with his calls and the two yellow cards at the end were the correct decisions.
Durban could easily form a similar sort of set up, DHS, Westville, Glenwood & Northwood, round Robin twice a year. To survive I think it’s needed. The 4 biggest schools supporting each other & providing the depth of fixtures for as many teams as possible.
These kind of rivalries are so mutually beneficial