Hosts hang on for dramatic win

Aug 31 • General News, Premier Schools • 1966 Views • Comments Off on Hosts hang on for dramatic win

Oakdale 21-19 Boland Landbou

Despite a late comeback charge by Boland Landbou, Oakdale had just enough win a keenly contested Interschools derby. In a typically hard fought forward battle, it was the solid defence of both teams that allowed only three tries all afternoon.

Boland opened the scoring via the boot of SA Schools star Jondrè Williams, who slotted a penalty for the home side to lead 3-0 after five minutes.

Oakdale immediately went on the attack after that and drove the ball up in the middle. Their reward came with a penalty five metres out from the goal line when Boland were too eager in the ruck. From a quick tap, hooker HP van Schoor forced his way over to put Oakdale ahead.

Play was then interchanged as the teams took the ball up from set phases, only for the defensive lines to hold firm. During this time, Williams added a further six points via two penalties for Boland to lead 9-5.

Van Schoor then had a brilliant run up field, throwing two dummy passes before being stopped just short of the line by Boland fullback Luke Philander. From the resulting ruck, prop Hermanus Botha powered his way over for the try. Darren Adonis converted to restore Oakdale’s lead after half an hour in what was becoming a game of cat and mouse.

The hosts had a further pair of opportunities to score points when Adonis hit the uprights from a penalty, before left wing Nicolas Van Eeden dived for the line, only to lose the ball in the tackle. Adonis did, however, add a penalty on half-time to give Oakdale a 15-9 lead.

Williams added another penalty to reduce the deficit early in the second half. Williams then intercepted and raced for the line, with only a desperate ankle tap by Oakdale flyhalf Boeta Hamman preventing him from scoring.

The sure foot of Adonis then added a further two penalties for Oakdale to give them the cushion of a comfortable 21-12 lead with only three minutes left to play.

Despite time being up on the clock, Boland wouldn’t stop running at Oakdale and left wing Sergull van Niekerk crossed over for a try that was just too little, too late. The successful conversion made the gap all the more agonising for the away side, but Oakdale deserved their win.

Scorers:

For Oakdale:

Tries: HP van Schoor, Hermanus Botha

Conv: Darren Adonis

Pen: Darren Adonis (3)

For Boland:

Tries: Sergull van Niekerk

Conv: Jondrè Williams

Pen: Jondrè Williams (4)

Teams:

Boland Landbou: 15 Luke Philander, 14 Sergull van Niekerk, 13 Janlu Steenkamp, 12 Henlo Marais, 11 Jondré Williams, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Deon Carstens, 8 Jandré Maree, 7 Johan Lubbe, 6 Heinrich Brendel, 5 Joppie du Pisani, 4 Christiaan Beukes, 3 Tristan Hill, 2 Heino Strümpher, 1 Bertus Smith.

Replacements: 16 Christiaan Olivier, 17 Stefan Alberts, 18 Athi Magwala, 19 Reinhardt de Jager, 20 Louis Frylinck, 21 Lourens van Dyk, 22 Jaco Conradie.

Oakdale: 15 Darren Adonis, 14 Alexander Wallace, 13 Kurt Eybers, 12 William Eybers, 11 Nicolus van Eeden, 10 Christo Hamman, 9 Eckard Leicher, 8 Renaldo Ferreira, 7 Hanno Olivier, 6 Bertie de Bod, 5 Daniel Victor, 4 Ewan Coetzee, 3 Chrisjan du Toit, 2 HP van Schoor, 1 Hermanus Botha.

Referee: Jason Japhta.