Garsfontein B3re make it three Noordvaal Cup titles in a row

Garsfontein’s electric back three (the “B3”) turned the Cup final on its head with a scintillating second-half performance as the hosts powered to a 30-19 win — sealing their third successive Noordvaal Cup title in front of a roaring home crowd.

The opening points came with the assistance of one of the SA schoolboy players of the season, Garsies’ Luan “Proppie” van den Berg. The feared tighthead was key all year in denying opponents any front-foot ball at set piece, and in this final he once again showed his all-round value. Early on, his surging carry — the first of two telling plays that resulted in tries in the final — opened space for flanker Stefan van der Vyver to hammer closer to the line, before loosie JP Pieterse crashed over for the first try.

Helpmekaar hit back with a gem in the 28th minute. After a strong lineout drive, the ball was swung wide where young inside centre Ethan Lourens showed great skill to step through traffic and offload to flyhalf Wian Storm on his inside. Picking up pace from his own half, Storm, already a semifinal hero the week before, sliced through would-be defenders to finish an unforgettable solo try with power and good technique after a brilliant 50-metre dash.

The Bruin Reuse then grabbed the lead when replacement forward Zaiden Krige powered over from a close-range maul. The pack were determined in the build-up but before that much credit went to young scrumhalf Shaye Lourens, whose sharp kick from the base had forced Garsies onto the back foot and created the field position for Helpies to strike.

After the break, with the score at 13-12 to Garsies, Shaye’s boot delivered again — a useful kick allowed to bounce awkwardly, favouring flanker Jandre Botha who dotted down for Helpies’ third.

Not to be outdone, the Bere responded with a memorable kick of their own during the stanza. A booming clearance by replacement Dian van Aswegen went coast to coast. From inside his own 22, the massive punt rolled out millimetres from the corner flag over 90m away. After the resulting lineout, compliments of the 50:22, Garsies set the platform for prop Morne Coetzer to bulldoze over, making it 25-19.

The half, though, belonged to Garsfontein — and especially their lightning back three of Yuvrah George (22), Drewyn Baron (11) and Junaide Stuart (14), with Junaide Pasensie (15) having to shift position due to an injury.

It all got started when Pasensie sparked the first high-tempo strike, spotting space and slipping youngster George into a gap. George burst through the D-line and returned the ball, and with perfect timing Pasensie released Stuart to finish his opening try — a move executed at a speed too hot for Helpies to contain. The try left the score at 12-10 in favour of Helpmekaar at the time.

They were only warming up. Later in the half Stuart turned provider, creating space on the outside for Baron to scorch down the touchline. Baron fed back inside, Stuart gave it straight back, and Baron dived over for a try that showed their telepathic understanding. Baron was electric throughout and pushed Stuart hard for Player of the Match honours. This try closed the gap to 19-18 to Helpies.

Then came the icing on the cake — a final try to seal the victory with Garsies up 25-19. Stuart gathered a kick and sliced a clever line past the chasing defenders before linking with Baron. At full tilt, Baron drew in a tackler and, with a flash of skill, flicked a one-handed basketball-style pass over his marker back to Stuart. The wing finished with pace and style, completing his brace and sealing a 30-19 victory, as the Bere, coached by Johan du Plessis and assisted by Sylvester Booysen, wrote yet another dazzling chapter in young Garsfontein’s Cup history.

TEAM	GARSFONTEIN	TEAM	HELPMEKAAR
1	Morne Coetzer	1	Liam Devenier
2	Justin Blom	2	Gustav Grotius
3	Luan vd Berg	3	Dylan Engelbrecht
4	JJ Fourie	4	Diandro Botha
5	Derik Potgieter	5	Zian Smith
6	JP Pieterse	6	Jandre Botha
7	Kwagga vd Vyfer	7	Eugene de Lange
8	Lourenz de Jager	8	Lewellyn Vermaak
9	Derrick Kuhn	9	Shaye Lourens
10	Joshua Gouws	10	Wian Storm
11	Drewyn Baron	11	Michael Herbst
12	Keagan Knighton	12	Ethan Lourens
13	Xian Erasmus	13	Clinton Cloete
14	Junaide Stuart	14	Kean Butler
15	Junaide Pasensie	15	Ty Ax
16	Wihan Bezuidenhout	16	Jeandre vd Merwe
17	Matt Kleingeld	17	Sidney Nicholson
18	Brendon Brenford	18	Karlo Steenekamp
19	Jeandre Tredoux	19	Keanen Combrinck
20	JP Meintjies	20	Zaiden Krige
21	Dian van Aswegen	21	Ruben Coetzee
22	Yuvrah George	22	Daylan Greyling
23	Neo Ledwaba	23	Xander van Niekerk
Coach	JOHAN DU PLESSIS	Coach	RJ LIEBENBERG