Flank Werno Ramsauer and hooker JP Lotriet put in impactful shifts for HTS Drostdy, as the hosts defeated Hoërskool Outeniqua 37-26 on Saturday.
In addition to it being their second consecutive win against the Kwaggas, after they won 38-36 last year, it was an enthralling way for them to end an outstanding season in which they won 10 of their 12 matches and averaged 43 points per match.
Both Lotriet and Ramsauer scored tries, while right-wing Tristin Syster and fullback Anwill Jacobs, regular names on the score sheet, also dotted down.
Flyhalf Jano van Deventer, who has arguably been the Donkies‘ best player this season, proved again how influential he could be by tallying 17 vital points from four conversions and three penalty kicks.
While the George locals had few answers on defence for the home side’s excellent offence, they struck back with four tries of their own.
Kwaggas‘ captain and outside centre, Gerrit Janse van Rensburg, delivered a strong performance, scoring a try and defending solidly. Unfortunately for him, Janse van Rensburg’s peers struggled to contain Drostdy’s electric distribution speed.
Outeniqua props, Keaton Olivier and Logan Jacobs, in the absence of Matthew Prins, who was on South Africa U18 A duty, fought hard and powered over for a try each.
Playing a tough schedule, Outeniqua ended the season with a mixed bag of results, winning seven, drawing one, and losing six.
Those results included a 22-26 hard-fought defeat to Paarl Boys’ High, while their triumphs include an impressive 30-29 victory over Maritzburg College at the ABSA Wildeklawer festival. Its mixed record aside, the Kwaggas were one of the season’s most competitive teams and also one of its most entertaining sides.
After going six and 10 in 2025, Drostdy’s turnaround in 2026 was a big boost for the Donkies’ rugby programme.
Also on Saturday, Worcester Gimnasium flank Sisekelo Dlamini bagged two tries in a complete performance to end the season, as the hosts overpowered Hoërskool Hermanus 54-15.
Scrumhalf Jerran Adams and fullback Matthew Fortuin exploited space well and took their opportunities to cross for tries. Dlamini’s fellow loose forwards, captain Arthur Kana and Amaan Adendorff, also scored a try each.
With the Whale Coast locals being overpowered at the breakdown and set-pieces, their forwards weren’t able to secure much possession. Nonetheless, locks Xalyn Bazier and Damien van der Berg both crossed the whitewash for tries, while utility back Elia Stevens scored a third for Hermanus.
It was a tough season for Hermanus, who mustered only two wins from 11 matches. They’ll head back to the drawing board to see where they can most improve their rugby in 2027.
Worcester Gimnasium ended well, but finished with a record that was slightly worse than their 2025 campaign. They’ll need to make significant improvements to challenge their arch-rival HTS Drostdy next year.
Scorers:
HTS Drostdy 37 – Tries: Werno Ramsauer, JP Lotriet, Tristin Syster, Anwill Jacobs. Conversions: Jano van Deventer (4). Penalties: Van Deventer (3). Hoërskool Outeniqua 26 – Tries: Gerrit Janse van Rensburg, Keaton Olivier, Logan Jacobs, Heilano Beukes. Conversions: Tylor Marais (3).
Worcester Gimnasium 54 – Tries: Sisekelo Dlamini (2), Matthew Fortuin, Leighcon du Plessis, Arthur Kana, Jerran Adams, Kieran Salie, Amaan Adendorff. Conversions: Luciun de Bruyn (7). Hoërskool Hermanus 15 – Tries: Xalyn Bazier, Damien van der Berg, Elia Stevens.
Other results:
U19
II: Drostdy 29 Outeniqua 14, Worcester Gimnasium 24 Hermanus 12.
U16
A: Drostdy 28 Outeniqua 36, Worcester Gimnasium 5 Hermanus 0.
U15
A: Drostdy 28 Outeniqua 22, Worcester Gimnasium 19 Hermanus 14.
U14
A: Drostdy 22 Outeniqua 21, Worcester Gimnasium 17 Hermanus 12.
