North-West locals, Hoërskool Rustenburg, were crowned the Clover High Schools Sevens Series’ Champion of Champions winners on Saturday in Potchefstroom after a thrilling 19-17 win over the title-defending Westville Boys’ High.
Rusties played with the kind of grit and heart that defines a champion side.
They looked impressive when they won all their pool stage matches, but their dark horse status really began to show when they defeated Hoërskool Monument 24-19 in the Cup quarterfinals.
They then made everyone sit up and take notice when they overcame Grey College 17-10 in the Cup semifinals.
Grey, Monnas, and Westville had all looked like potential winners until their ambitions came crashing down after meeting the North-West side.
The Griffins may not have retained their title, but they posted the biggest win of the weekend, dominating Hoërskool Middelburg 45-0 in their opening match.
Grey College came close to matching Westville when they overran Dale College 43-0 in another pool stage game.
Hoërskool Kempton Park was the only side to tally 50 points or more, which they did when beating Potchefstroom Gimnasium 55-17 in the 21st/22nd place playoff.
Durban High School (DHS) was also extremely competitive. They finished third after a comfortable 28-12 win over Grey College.
Monument and Hoërskool Waterkloof put on a good show in their playoff clash, with Monnas clinching fifth after a thrilling 29-26 victory.
Welkom Gimnasium caught the eye and finished seventh after a 21-7 defeat of Die Hoërskool Menlopark. Their only loss came against Grey College, who won 36-21, which impacted Welkom Gim’s chances of progressing beyond the Cup quarterfinals.
RESULTS
U17
Pool A
Westville 45-0 Middelburg
Sentraal 29-10 Middelburg
Westville 30-12 Sentraal
Pool B
Nelspruit 35-5 Goudveld
Menlopark 31-5 Goudveld
Menlopark 17-14 Nelspruit
Pool C
Helpmekaar 35-17 Hentie Cilliers
DHS 42-5 Hentie Cilliers
DHS 27-24 Helpmekaar
Pool D
Queen’s College 26-5 Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Waterkloof 40-5 Queen’s College
Waterkloof 47-5 Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Pool E
Dale College 27-10 Wesvalia
Grey College 43-0 Dale College
Grey College 44-5 Wesvalia
Pool F
Welkom Gimnasium 31-12 Clover Forward Foundation
Zwartkop 12-10 Clover Forward Foundation
Welkom Gimnasium 21-19 Zwartkop
Pool G
Potchefstroom Volkskool 22-5 Kempton Park
Moonument 35-19 Potchefstroom Volkskool
Monument 32-10 Kempton Park
Pool H
Rustenburg 37-10 Fichardtpark
Rustenburg 21-10 Northwood
Northwood 27-7 Fichardtpark
Bowl Quarterfinals
Middelburg 29-14 Goudveld
Clover Forward Foundation 17-14 Wesvalia
Hentie Cilliers 29-12 Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Fichardtpark 19-17 Kempton Park
Plate Quarterfinals
Nelspruit 29-0 Sentraal
Zwartkop 28-19 Dale College
Helpmekaar 31-7 Queen’s College
Northwood 33-14 Potch Volkskool
Cup Quarterfinals
Westville 29-0 Menlopark
Grey College 36-21 Welkom Gim
DHS 33-22 Waterkloof
Rustenburg 24-19 Monument
Bowl Semifinals
Hentie Cilliers 28-17 Middelburg
Clover Forward Foundation 31-26 Fichardtpark
Plate Semifinals
Helpmekaar 28-24 Nelspruit
Zwartkop 28-26 Northwood
Cup Semifinals
Westville 24-12 DHS
Rustenburg 17-10 Grey College
23rd/24th Place
Wesvalia 33-15 Goudveld
21st/22nd Place
Kempton Park 55-17 Potchefstroom Gimnasium
19th/20th Place
Middelburg 45-17 Fichardtpark
17th/18th Place
Clover Forward Foundation 28-21 Hentie Cilliers
15th/16th Place
Dale College 31-12 Queen’s College
13th/14th Place
Potchefstroom Volkskool 30-17 Sentraal
11th/12th Place
Northwood 35-15 Nelspruit
9th/10th Place
Helpmekaar 24-21 Zwartkop
7th/8th Place
Welkom Gimnasium 21-7 Menlopark
5th/6th Place
Monument 29-26 Waterkloof
3rd/4th Place
DHS 28-12 Grey College
Final
Rustenburg 19-17 Westville
