Klofies land crucial blow ahead of Noordvaal Cup play-offs
WRAP: Waterkloof strengthened their bid for the Noordvaal Cup title with a timely win over Monument, while Garsfontein banked valuable psychological points ahead of their semifinal showdown with EG Jansen.
The schoolboy rugby season is winding down. Some teams have concluded their respective schedules, while others are preparing for important games that could make or break their year.
Oakdale claimed a stunning 21-13 win at Boland Landbou this past weekend to end their season on a high. Queen’s College hung on for a 30-27 victory at Dale, while plucky Milnerton, who beat Rondebosch and Bishops earlier this year, finished with a resounding 43-10 win over DF Malan.
Over the next two weeks, the focus will shift to the Noordvaal Cup playoffs, as well as the clash between Paul Roos and Grey College – the two top-ranked teams in the country.
With regards to the tournament in the north, Waterkloof could not have asked for a better set of results in the final round of the league phase.
Klofies started the round four points behind log-leaders EG Jansen. The attack-minded side proceeded to claim a 53-45 bonus-point victory – with centre Happy Makate scoring a hat-trick – and improve their chances of finishing at the top of the Noordvaal Cup standings.
EG Jansen needed one log point from the fixture at Garsfontein to consolidate their position and secure home ground advantage for the playoffs. As it happened, they went down 15-39, and ultimately dropped to third position on the log.
The upshot is that EG Jansen will travel to Garsfontein once more for the coming semi-final.
Waterkloof have earned the right to host Monument.
Klofies have had a season to remember, winning 15 of their 19 matches. Their three losses came against Paul Roos, Affies and Noordheuwel (their sole Noordvaal Cup defeat), while they had one draw against EG Jansen.
Their record against the other Noordvaal Cup semi-finalists certainly bodes well for the coming play-offs.
Klofies beat Jansies 45-38 in March before drawing 32-32 with the same side in June. Earlier this season, they claimed a convincing 47-36 victory over Garsfontein.
Garsies are peaking at the right time, though. After losing six of their first seven games, they’ve won seven of their next eight.
Down in the Western Cape, Bishops snapped a 10-game losing streak when they edged SACS 12-10.
It remains to be seen whether they will go one better against Rondebosch this coming Saturday, with the latter favourites to secure yet another win against their old rivals – as well as a clean sweep of the top schools in Cape Town’s southern suburbs.
The Western Cape and indeed the wider schoolboy community may be more concerned with the contest out in Stellenbosch.
Top-ranked Paul Roos are undefeated in 2024, while Grey College have beaten all opponents bar Jeppe.
The showdown at the Markotter Stadium this Saturday will determine which of these teams finishes the season as the top side in the country.
The depth of both schools will be put to the test, given that a host of their star players will be representing SA U18 in the international tournament staged in the Western Cape over the next two weeks.
Both could be boosted in the coming days, however, when several players representing the SA ‘A’ side are released from national duty.
The tournament has been restructured since the withdrawal of France – who have been rocked by the tragic disappearance of one of their players – and SA ‘A’ will play only one fixture, against Georgia Under-18 on Monday.
As a result, three Grey College and two Paul Roos players should be available for what promises to be the game of the schoolboy season.