Power versus pace. Physicality versus panache. When Oakdale and Westville locked horns on day two of the Absa Wildeklawer, it was a classic clash of contrasting styles, and when the dust settled, it was Oakdale’s raw muscle that won the day with a 40-24 victory.
But don’t let the 16-point margin fool you. Westville threw everything at their opponents, showcasing breathtaking attacking rugby that had the crowd gasping. They just couldn’t land the knockout punch when it mattered most.
Oakdale came out with a game plan carved in granite. Keep it close. Keep it physical. Play to your strengths. And boy, did they execute.
Within the opening 10 minutes, they’d ground out two tries through sheer brutality and forward dominance. 14-0, and Westville were reeling under the onslaught.
But the Durban boys aren’t built to panic. What happened next was a masterclass in counter-attacking rugby. Deep in their own territory, Westville spotted a small gap and decided to attack it. What followed was pure magic – Bukho Sotaka, Luxolo Sonkononkono and Jadrian Afrikaner combined with beautiful interplay, covering 80 metres in a passage of play that had the crowd on their feet. The move culminated with Jade-Will Koopman finishing brilliantly in the corner. 14-7, and Westville were back in it.
A minute later, Koopman wasn’t done. He slotted a long-range penalty with ice in his veins, clawing back more precious points. 14-10. Game on.
Oakdale needed to respond, and they did. A wide play found fullback Nathan-Lee Gordon in space, and he crossed in the corner. 21-10, breathing room restored.
But Westville had another gear. Jadrian Afrikaner produced a spectacular line break, weaving through the Oakdale defence before delivering a sublime offload to Luxolo Sonkononkono, who dotted down with three minutes left in the half. 21-17. Oakdale might be bigger, but Westville were showing exactly how much class and speed they possessed at the back.
Just as Westville threatened to snatch the lead, Oakdale crashed over as time ran out on the half. 28-17 at the break, but this match was far from over.
Westville struck first after the restart, and once again it was their talisman Jadrian Afrikaner orchestrating the magic. He ran a brilliant switch with Curtis Fenton, showed his class in the contact zone, and dotted down under the sticks. 28-24. Four points in it, and Westville were breathing down Oakdale’s necks.
Oakdale needed to steady the ship, and they turned to their pack. A well-worked scrum move created the platform, and Luan Mortlock powered over. 35-24, cushion restored.
Then came Zivan Grobelaar, crashing over with typical forward ferocity. 40-24, and Oakdale’s physicality was starting to take its toll. The Westville physio was having a busy afternoon, testament to the brutal nature of Oakdale’s approach.
Credit where it’s due, Westville never stopped trying to play rugby. They weren’t afraid to give the ball some air, showing serious attacking intent and ambition that was a joy to watch. But the final pass wouldn’t stick, the final gap wouldn’t open, and Oakdale’s defence held firm when it needed to.
The final whistle blew. Oakdale 40-24 Westville.
Oakdale identified their strengths, size, power, forward dominance, and played to them relentlessly. When Westville threatened to overwhelm them with pace and skill, Oakdale simply tightened the screws and ground them down.
But let’s not gloss over Westville’s performance. Jadrian Afrikaner was magnificent, a constant threat with ball in hand. Their willingness to attack from anywhere, to give the ball air and back their skills, was admirable.
In the end, Oakdale’s power trumped Westville’s flair, but this was no walkover.
