Klofies dominate Garsfontein

Waterkloof’s coaches Jan Mollentze, Burger Lindeque and Naas Botha have really taken time to nurture and develop Waterkloof’s first team. The coaches are now reaping the rewards with a string of good results.

Waterkloof's biggest secret is, of course, that core of the Klofie side has been playing together since Under-14 and coach Jan Mollentze is very proud of that achievement.

"A few Grade 11s joined the squad to add depth to the side, but 80% of the players have come through the ranks together from Under-14s," Mollentze told rugby365.com.

The big surprise of the match was Waterkloof’s relatively small forwards' dominating Garsfontein at the scrums every time. Garsfontein’s big tighthead prop Johan Bannink struggled in the scrums against loosehead prop Xander van Wyk. Van Wyk was injured in the first 10 minutes, to be replaced by Klofie Dimitri Ttappous. Ttappous stood his ground and with tighthead prop Nico Steenkamp they dominated the collisions. With quick ball from the base they had Garsfontein scrambling unsuccessfully on defence.

The first half was evenly matched with no definite team dominating but the half-time score favoured the home team: 25 for Waterkloof and 23 for Garsfontein.

Garsfontein stood their ground but the last 20 minutes of the second half belonged to Waterkloof’s centres. Waterkloof’s inside centre Lourens Boddington scored one try and big outside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored three tries. Janse van Rensburg had the final say of the match when he drove his way past the defenders of Garsfontein with precision and crossed the tryline. Janse van Rensburg has been compared to Danie Gerber with his potent stepping and acceleration to break through tackles. He kept Garsfontein’s defence busy the entire match.

Coach Mollentze was full of praise for his charges. "Their work-ethic, creativity and good relationship amongst the team members gave the team the edge.

"As a team, they are prepared to learn and they are not afraid to try new moves on the field and they always treat their opponents with respect," Mollentze said.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg, the captain of the Waterkloof side, said: “Waterkloof wanted the win more... ”

Waterkloof did remarkably well against Garsfontein in this much-anticipated Beeld Trophy clash. 

All the scores:

Waterkloof vs Garsfontein

First XV: Waterkloof won 61-35

Second XV: Waterkloof (Torries) won 17-14

Third XV: Waterkloof won 28-14

Fourth XV: Garsfontein won 5-0

Fifth XV: Garsfontein won 15-5

Under 16A: Waterkloof won 29-16

Under-16B: Waterkloof won 35-13

Under-16C: Waterkloof won 22-17

Under-15A: Waterkloof won 38-3

Under-15B: Waterkloof won 10-7

Under-15C: Waterkloof won 15-7

Under-14A: Waterkloof won 67-7

Under-14B: Garsfontein won 20-15

Under-14C: Waterkloof won 15-7