HTS Middelburg's Triumph
It took the Rooibulle a while to get going but when they did there was no stopping them - and their captain JC Pretorius - running away with the match. They scored 42 points in the 35 minutes of the second half.
The drab day was certainly made brighter by both sides' willingness to run with the ball. Middies took every chance to run, even from deep inside their own 22, sometimes to their eventual detriment, but they knew that their salvation was in avoiding the big (796kg) HTS pack.
The Middies were brave and it took the Rooibulle 25 minutes to get their first try.
True big Boet Heyl had a strong run and Riekert Barnard was over off his inside pass, but the pass was forward. And the vastly impressive flank JC Pretorius had a strong run but just put a foot out and Ryan Cloete was over but Viljoen's pass to Cloete was forward.
Two penalties by Barnard put HTS up 6-0 after 18 minutes.
Rooibulle attacked, scrumhalf Uys du Preez ran across and then flipped an inside pass to hooker Ruben Cross who cut clean through and, untouched, scored the opening try. 11-0 after 25 minutes.
Two minutes later Morné Sonnekus goaled a penalty for Middies. 11-3.
Back came the Rooibulle and Pretorius gave to Barnard who seemed about to score when Wandile Shabangu, the energetic Middies flank, tackled him put at the corner. But Middies overthrew the line-out and the ball went straight to Pretorius who powered through three defenders to score. Barnard converted. 18-3 after 31 minutes.
From the kick-off HTS attacked with many passes down the left till Pretorius cut inside and raced 40 metres straight at the posts. 25-3 after 33 minutes, which was the half-time score.
Early in the second half Sonnekus kicked his second penalty. But HTS were soon on the attack and from a scrum on the right Cloete came into the line, sidestepped and scored. 32-6 after 41 minutes.
Just after the kick-off Mpumi Matias had an astonishing run but HTS came back and would have scored a try had they not lost the ball in the right corner. That led to a scrum for Middies but Cross won a tighthead and Waldo Conradie scored.
From the kick-off Pretorius raced ahead and kicked ahead but brave Thys Potgieter saved for Middies. From the ensuing line-out the Rooibulle mauled, and Cross broke away and scored. 46-6 after 55 minutes.
From a line-out versatile HTS Middelburg went on a pick-'n-drive and Henco van Heerden scored. 53-6 with 10 minutes to go.
From the kick-off long-striding Japie Kleynhans raced downfield and gave to Pretorius who scored again. 60-6 with four minutes to play.
Again Kleynhans went on a long, swerving run. He gave to Bernard de Wet who sent eighthman Ruwaan Muller charging over near the posts. This move started at HTS's own line.
Scorers:
For HTS Middelburg:
Tries: Ruben Cross 2, JC Pretorius 3, Ryan Cloete, Waldo Conradie, Henco van Heerden, Ruvaan Muller
Cons: Riekert Barnard 8
Pens: Riekert Barnard 2
For Hoërskool Middelburg:
Pens: Morné Sonnekus 2
1st XVs
Hoërskool Middelburg: 15 Henrico Storm, 14 Thys Potgieter, 13 Ryan Phiri, 12 Telvin Mhlongo, 11 Mpumi Mathias, 10 Morné Sonnekus, 9 Shane Botha, 8 Shannon Cappa, 7 Dewald Coetzee, 6 Wandile Shabangu, 5 Ruan Wohlitz, 4 Jacques le Roux, 3 Mario Leemans, 2 Loyiso Masinyane, 1 Steven Pieterse (captain)
Replacements: 16 Delmaine Pieterse, 17 Anton Hoogenboezem, 18 Dylan Saunders, 19 Stephan Kempen, 20 Nathan Mey, 21 Cornel Els, 22 Barend Ditle, 23 Zama Mhlongo
HTS Middelburg: 15 Ryan Cloete, 14 Japie Kleynhans, 13 Zander Joubert, 12 Boet Heyl, 11 Waldo Conradie, 10 Riekert Barnard, 9 Uys du Preez, 8 Ruvaan Muller, 7 Henco van Heerden, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Louis du Preez, 4 Tiaan de Beer, 3 Tiaan Espach, 2 Ruben Cross, 1 Armando Lubbe.
Replacements: 16 Duart Willemse, 17 JP Cilliers, 18 Heinrich Cronje, 19 Masen van ver Wath, 20 Bernard de Wet, 21 Viljoen, 22 Andries Coen, 23 Jovner.
Referee: Christopher Allison (Blue Bulls Referees' Society)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (Blue Bulls Referees' Society), Thabo Motau (Blue Bulls Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1935: Hoërskool Middelburg won 16-6
1945: Hoërskool Middelburg won 10-8
1950: Draw
1950: HTS Middelburg won 9-3
1963: HTS Middelburg won 11-0
1964: Hoërskool Middelburg won 8-3
1965: Hoërskool Middelburg won 3-0
1966: Hoërskool Middelburg won 11-6
1969: HTS Middelburg won 12-5
1976: HTS Middelburg won 11-9
1977: Hoërskool Middelburg won 10-6
1978: Hoërskool Middelburg won 12-3
1979: Draw 4-4
1983: Hoërskool Middelburg won 31-3
1987: Draw 13-13
1989: HTS Middelburg won 13-4
2009: Hoërskool Middelburg won 33-10
2010: HTS Middelburg won 25-10
2011: HTS Middelburg won 21-18
2012: HTS Middelburg won 30-27
2013: HTS Middelburg won 29-16
2014: HTS Middelburg won 44-12
2015: HTS Middelburg won 41-26
2016: HTS Middelburg won 67-6