Hoërskool Bergvlam and Hoërskool Nelspruit spark up Noordvaal success
Hoërskool Bergvlam and Hoërskool Nelspruit's two first teams had a great day out in recent fixtures in the Noordvaal Schools Championship, both securing great wins over their opponents.
Lowveld school rugby enthusiasts had a feast on Saturday July 20 as Bergvlam, Rob Ferreira and Nelspruit all played some thrilling matches, with two of the three first teams emerging victorious in the Noordvaal Schools Championship.
Hoërskool Nelspruit participated in round-robin games in the SDC Noordvaal Cup, the top tier of the Noordvaal Schools Championship in which macroschools play. They took on Hoërskool Monument, ranked in the top 15 first rugby teams in SA, while they are ranked 38th.
The Nellies defied the odds, though, and riding on the wave of success from their triumph over Garsfontein the week before, they beat Monument 21-12. It was only one of two Nelspruit victories on the day.
Hoërskool Bergvlam and Hoërskool Rob Ferreira, meanwhile, participated in the group 3 (medium schools) and group 2 (big schools) play-offs respectively. Rob Ferreira hosted Hoërskool Ben Viljoen’s U15s and Hoërskool Ellisras’s first team.
In the U15 match, Ben Viljoen led the way throughout the game, and the boys from White River only really roared to life in the final 10 minutes of the match. This meant Ben Viljoen returned home to Groblersdal 21-12 victors to advance to the quarter-finals. The first team match was a cracker, with the lead constantly changing hands between Rob Ferreira and Ellisras.
The hosts scored what they thought was a match-winning try with two minutes to play through Bandile Zwane, sending supporters and players into delirium as they thought the win was theirs, but Ellisras fought hard and won a penalty after the hooter had gone. Their fly half duly slotted the kick and secured an incredible 19-18 victory for Ellisras to reach the quarters.
Over in Mbombela, Bergvlam had four teams playing in the medium schools play-offs. Their U14 and U16 teams faced Hoërskool Riebeeckrand, while the U15 and first teams took on Hoërskool Fochville, with all matches played at Bergvlam.
Unfortunately the day didn’t start well for the Vlammies as the U14s lost 12-43. Afterwards, the U16s earned redemption, though, beating Riebeeckrand 18-5 to advance to the quarters. The U15 match went the way of Fochville, who won 15-7.
The first team match was a thrilling encounter, much like the one in White River. The lead changed hands on a number of occasions and the match outcome was never really set until the final whistle. It was a high-scoring affair, too, with a total of seven tries scored between the two teams.
The two fly halves also put on a kicking exhibition, successfully kicking five penalties and converting four of the seven tries. The score ultimately finished on 32-26 in Bergvlam’s favour, ensuring their progression. Bergvlam’s U16 team will face Hoërskool Delmas and the first team will play against Hoërskool Stoffberg, both quarter-final matches on home turf this Saturday.
