After being down 7-21 at the break on Thursday afternoon, the SA Schools A team fought with a never-say-die spirit and eventually came away with a 34-33 victory over SA Schools on the Kolisi Field at Grey High in Gqeberha.
In the 68th minute, Hoërskool Nelspruit right-wing Rhandzu Mkhabela scored the winning try in the right corner, rounding off a scintillating counterattack that had begun in his side’s 22-metre area.
Earlier, Grey College centre Ruan Roux had opened the scoring for the A side, dotting down their sole try in the first half. That score, though, imbued the SA Schools A team with confidence.
The second half had a few momentum shifts. SA Schools and Wynberg Boys’ High flyhalf, Achmat Behardien, was responsible for one of those in the 60th minute, when he stabbed through a grubber for Westville Boys’ High left-wing Luxolo Sonkononkono to collect and score.
Utility back Nathan Aneke, from Durban High School (DHS), scored a brilliant individual try with an intercept down the middle of the field in the 65th minute, which shifted the momentum in favour of the SA Schools A side, bringing them to within striking distance with only five minutes remaining.
Both sides excelled when mauling, with loose forward Stefan van der Vyfer crossing for a try for the SA Schools side and prop Aphelele Chamane powering over for the SA Schools A side.
SA Schools and Maritzburg College hooker Theo Boshoff was another top performer. He was a constant threat at the breakdowns, regularly contesting possession, and he burst through from the base of a ruck to garner five points.
While there was disappointment for the SA Schools side, the result reflected favourably on the depth of South African schools’ rugby, shining a spotlight on the excellent depth in the game.
Scorers:
SA Schools A 34 (7) – Tries: Ruan Roux, Aphelele Chamane, Lucritia Magua, Nathan Aneke, Rhandzu Mkhabela. Conversions: Jaydon Viljoen (2), Ruan Fluks. Penalty: Viljoen. SA Schools 33 (21) – Tries: Ethan van Biljon, Theo Boshoff, Mickyle Booise, Stefan van der Vyfer, Luxolo Sonkononkono. Conversions: Travis Pheiffer (3), Achmat Behardien.
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