School rugby always provides loads of entertainment. (Photo: Charmaine Visser)
The early autumn sun shone warmly on the action of the Pretoria Boys High (PBHS) Easter Tournament on Monday and, as usual, the school rugby stars frolicked in its rays.
The tournament is a celebration of the school’s 125th anniversary and the final day’s matches were almost a festival for school rugby connoisseurs.
After all, there was something of everything – from enthusiastic supporters and Chino-wearing coaches blaring instructions over two-way radios, to rock-hard paint jobs and spectacular tries on the field of play.
The Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) made up for its defeat against Michaelhouse on the first day when it overwhelmed Gray High School 66-19.
Affies is back on the winning track. (Photo: Charmaine Visser)
Affies’ speedsters – Joshua Gouws and Dandré Brink – were at their most dangerous and together they scored five of their team’s tries.
As usual, however, it was the forwards who set the table for the backline blitzes to frolic and the Affies eight were pretty much on their pieces.
The very Michaelhouse did indeed beat Jeppe High School for Boys 40-36, but he almost left the door too wide open for the Johannesburgers in the second half.
Jeppe’s players played significantly better in the second half after facing a half-time deficit of 26-5.
The team scored a series of tries in the last half and it made one involuntarily think of a well-known sports expression: “If the game had only been five minutes longer, there might have been another winner.”
However, the Johannesburgers must regret that they did not play with the same urgency earlier.
The festival was in celebration of Pretoria Boys High’s 125th anniversary. (Photo: Charmaine Visser)
In the other matches, Martizburg College and Selborne College won their duels, while the host school went down against Rondebosch Boys’ High in the final clash.
The final score was 43–20 in the Capetians’ favour.
PBHS has come a long way with some of the participating schools. Five of the ten teams – Affies, Jeppe, Parktown, Maritzburg and Michaelhouse – were also part of the school’s centenary celebrations 25 years ago.
It seems that school rugby players in South Africa only get more talented, bigger and stronger every year. They let the tape measure stretch and the scale groan – according to the official statistics, Rondebosch’s Sebastiaan Vermeulen, for example, stands 2.06 m in his socks and weighs 140 kg.
Mr. However, Gregary Hassenkamp, head of PBHS, summed things up nicely in his welcome.
“While we enjoy the two days of rugby, let us remember that it is not our task as schools to train professional sportsmen. It is our responsibility to cultivate a love for the game and respect for opponents, rules and officials. Winning is indeed important, but it is also not the most important,” he said.
(Photo: Charmaine Visser)
Monday (day two):
Rondebosch Boys High 43–20 Pretoria Boys’ High
Affies 66–19 Grey High School
Michaelhouse 40–36 Jeppe High School for Boys
Maritzburg College 24–7 SACS
Selborne College 26–5 Parktown Boys’ High
Saturday (day one):
Pretoria Boys High 35–34 SACS
Maritzburg College 35–12 Jeppe High School for Boys
Michaelhouse 29–27 Posters
Rondebosch Boys’ High 57–17 Selborne College
Grey High School 40–18 Parktown Boys’ High