Hoërskool Nelspruit u/16s bring home Virsekerbeker

The annual finals of the Virsekerbeker saw teams from far and wide take to the fields of Marais Viljoen in Alberton to compete not only for a trophy and medals, but for bragging rights for the next year.

It took place on August 17. The day was superbly well-organised by Virseker as well as the hosts, Marais Viljoen.
The Virsekerbeker is a real cherry on the top for both players and coaches as well as for rugby supporters. It ensures that strength plays strength in every division. The Virsekerbeker is a reward for making the finals in your own league, which would normally comprise at least five schools. You then have to play off against other league winners or runner-ups to get to the finals day. Every team that participated are true champions to even get this far.

Hoërskool Nelspruit (NHS) contested the plate final for the u/16 age group. It was quite obvious that Nelspruit had not gone all the way to Gauteng to go home empty-handed. They qualified for the finals by, first of all, winning their league, beating the likes of Rustenburg, Marais Viljoen, Zwartkop, Montana and Ben Voster. They then beat Rustenburg in the semi-final to compete against Zwartkop, which accounted for Marais Viljoen in their semi-final.

The game started off with NHS getting good possession of the ball and hammering away at the Zwartkop line, but the Zwartkop defence was up to the task and kept Nellies at bay. Then after a hoof up field from in the Nelspruit half that went over the dead ball line, the first attacking opportunity came for Zwartkop. The bounce of the ball and the wind played havoc at times, none more so than an attacking kick into the left-hand corner of Zwarties. The ball bounced away from the full back and two Nellies players were following up.

The second bounce took the ball back in field and evaded one Nelspruit player and the next bounce evaded another and took the ball to touch.
Nelspuit were keeping up the pressure and when Zwartkops did kick the ball up field they usually dealt with it well. Nelspruit kept bashing away at the line and after a missed penalty earlier were intent on getting reward for some good attacking play.

Henno de Beer eventually scored in the left-hand corner after a period of sustained pressure.
The conversion was good and NHS had a very deserved lead. Christiaan Gates succeeded with a penalty before half-time and at the break Nelspruit had a very handy 10-point lead.

The second half again produced extremely exciting rugby, as Zwartkops tried to bounce back. They started the better of the two teams and showed a lot more intent on the attack and counter attack. They drew first blood with a converted try to close the deficit to 10-7 and it was game on. Nellies were losing the territory and possession stakes in the second half. But like true champions they rose to meet the challenge.
They launched an all-out attack and the loose head prop rumbled towards the try line. As he went down to ground, Zwarties somehow gained possession but were under heaps of pressure.

Nelspruit eventually forced a five-metre scrum. From the base the they ran a wide angle to the line, taking a number of defenders with them. They were now under the poles and the scrumhalf Ewan Niewoud, dummied. Instead of throwing down the line where they probably would have scored, he went over under the sticks himself. Nelspruit stretched their lead with the conversion and another penalty from Gates to win 20-7. A fully deserved win.

The coach Chris Mans and assistant Dian Boshoff can be very proud. I cover a lot of rugby here in Gauteng, but this team stand out. The coach and principal Johan Hattingh pointed out that there is a fine line between winning and losing and that they had to be on top of their game to pull it off. I must just also, as they did, mention the spectators who showed so much commitment to come from so far the support. A really good effort from the parents.

I sometimes make correct predictions, sometimes not. I have followed the hosts Marais Viljoen for a while and have seen many games. Also having seen Zwartkops play, I predict that this team, if they stay together, can win the plate as a 1st XV.
Champions are made through dedication from both players and coaches. There is
no substitute.