Hoërskool Elspark’s U16 rugby team was crowned the winners of the Virsekerbeker Cup.

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The Germiston learners walked away victorious after they took to the field at Hoërskool Carletonville for the finals and faced off against Northern Academy High School.

Coach and Hoërskool Elspark rugby organiser, Dauw Steyn, said Elspark won 43-19 on August 20.

This is the second trophy the U16s won this month. At the start of August, the team won their first trophy while competing in the Virsekerbeker Cup.

They beat Eric Louw High School, the Limpopo Bulls champions, in Musina.

“Following our victory, we are now the best U16 team in South Africa in the Section Four league,” said Steyn.

He said winning the cup was a massive accomplishment for the team and the school.

Steyn highlighted that the U16s also won the last 14 games they played.

“They have done the school, Elspark, Germiston and the community incredibly proud.”

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Speaking about the learners’ reaction to their victory Steyn said the realisation had not sunken yet.

“Winning the Virsekerbeker Cup is not an easy feat. Over several weeks the learners travelled across the country competing against numerous schools.”

Steyn said the victory of the cup was made more special because of the impact of Covid-19 on the learners.

Because of Covid-19 regulations school, sports were severely impacted meaning many learners never got any game time.

Steyn said despite the impact of Covid the team, under the leadership of captain Lebogang Makgeta and vice-captain Mfanelo Ncube, excelled.

“When I started working with the team, I knew they had a soccer background so I used this to my advantage,” said Steyn.

“Combining their soccer training with rugby training we were able to create a recipe to bring out the best of the team.”

Steyn said a turning point for the team was when members turned their lives to God and spread the Word among themselves.

“Throughout my years of coaching I haven’t seen it at a school level and I believe it helped.”

Throughout the season key areas that the team focused on besides rugby included discipline, neatness and respect.

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Steyn said as the mechanisms in the team started to grow and develop they began producing results.

In addition to thanking the learners and coaching staff, Steyn complimented the school’s principal for his leadership of Hoërskool Elspark.