Owls u-12A Valke Youth Rugby League champions

The Boksburg Rugby Club’s u-12A team humiliated Springs at their own turf in a 47-0 job during their semi-final clash of the league finals day on October 12 at the Springs Rugby Club.

Later in the day, the Owls juggernaut dismantled arch rivals Brakpan 27-0 in the final to avenge what was the Owls’ only loss during the round-robin phase at the hands of their foes.

Coach Duane Pretorius said of the crowning: “It means a lot to us but it’s not about us as coaches, we shouldn’t get the glory for the wins, the boys need to get it, the club needs to get it, we are just secondary as coaches.

“When that final whistle went, there were tears in my eyes, tears of joy because it means a lot to me for them to win, especially for the past four years, it means a lot.”

Pretorius’ assistant, Donovan Batt, echoed his sentiments.

“One thing that stood out for me is how the boys have grown as individuals and as people. Every night the boys come for practice and give it their all. Coach Duane has put some hard grits in place for them, especially leading up to the semis and the final.

“The passion that they showed on the day, when the final whistle went, they cried so hard you would think they were the losers, that’s the passion.

“The love that they’ve got for the game, the friendships, the brotherhood that they’ve built here, I think that for me is the key. I think it will take them far, and five to 10 years from now they will still remember what happened at this club level and they will remember the friendships and brotherhood that they’ve built here.”

The Owls, Brakpan, Springs, Kempton Park, Vereeniging, Benoni and the Owls B side were part of the league. Two teams pulled out with the initial number of nine teams watered down to seven.