Many spectators have posed the question, how on earth do you beat Garsfontein in the Virseker Noordvaal Cup? Based on their latest masterclass at the Ras van Rooyen grounds in Krugersdorp over the weekend, the answer might just be, in their beds while they sleep, with a stick.

Because when Garsfontein are awake and on a rugby field, they’re virtually unbeatable.

The Pretoria powerhouse stamped their authority all over the competition’s marquee clash on Saturday, dismantling Monument 61-32 in what was billed as the match of the season. This wasn’t just any fixture, it was a collision between the two undefeated juggernauts of the Noordvaal Cup, a potential dress rehearsal for the August final, and a statement opportunity for both schools.

Garsfontein made their statement loud, clear, and utterly emphatic. The Bere are now firmly in the driver’s seat to claim their fourth consecutive Noordvaal Cup title, and after this performance, you’d be hard-pressed to bet against them.

Monument fire early but Garsies have the answers

The opening exchanges at Monnas’ fortress were exactly what the packed crowd had hoped for, end to end, high octane attacking rugby from two sides unafraid to let the ball breathe.

Within four minutes, Garsfontein’s powerful pack bludgeoned their way through the Monument defence as JJ Fourie barged over for the opening try. But Monument, playing with the confidence of a side unbeaten at home, hit straight back. A Viljoen penalty cut the deficit before a perfectly timed line from Lood Ehlers gave Monnas the lead.

The Witbulle had their tails up, and when Ryno van der Westhuizen scored barely a minute after Ehlers’ five-pointer, Monument had surged to a 17-7 advantage inside the first 15 minutes. Scrumhalf Morné Noble’s tactical kicking kept Monnas playing in the right areas, pinning Garsfontein deep in their own half.

But here’s the thing about Garsfontein, when their set-piece clicks into gear, they’re almost impossible to stop.

In the 25th minute, a slick training-ground strike from a lineout sent Drewyn Baron racing over out wide, cutting the deficit to 17-14. The match had become a thrilling game of trading blows, and for a while, it looked like Monnas and Garsies would simply take turns posting points.

A minute after Baron’s try, Monument barrelled over for another score of their own to extend the lead to 24-14. Then came a crucial moment, Noble received a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown as Garsfontein threatened on the attack. The Bere capitalised immediately, with Baron grabbing his second try from a well-worked scrum move to make it 24-21 at halftime.

Monument had edged a breathless first 35 minutes. What followed was total Garsfontein domination.

Second half blitz puts Monnas to bed

The opening minutes of the second half were tense, cagey, both sides probing for the first opening. Then Neill de Kock found space out wide, and suddenly Garsfontein had the lead back.

That score flicked the switch. The Bere lifted their tempo considerably, spreading the ball wide at every opportunity and keeping it alive through multiple phases. A minute later, Drewyn Baron completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish out wide, extending the lead to 33-21.

Garsfontein were now playing with frightening fluidity. Their ability to recycle possession, create space, and exploit gaps became the difference between the two sides. JJ Fourie bagged his brace by running a perfect support line off a linebreak, and the rout was well and truly on.

Joshua Gouws grabbed another try in the 58th minute from an offload as Garsfontein continued to keep the ball alive and Monument scrambling in defence. Monnas managed to cross for a consolation score in the 59th minute, but by then the outcome was beyond doubt.

Garsfontein piled on two more tries in the final ten minutes to seal a 61-32 victory that was as comprehensive as it was spectacular.

Masters of keeping the ball alive

What sets Garsfontein apart isn’t just their physicality or their set-piece dominance, it’s their willingness and ability to play high-risk, high-reward rugby. They back themselves to offload in contact, to keep the ball moving through multiple phases, and to exploit any defensive lapse with ruthless efficiency.

Against Monument, those qualities were on full display. The Bere didn’t panic when they trailed early. They trusted their systems, waited for their opportunities, and when the moment arrived in the second half, they blitzed a very good Monnas side into submission.

The victory tightens Garsfontein’s grip on the Noordvaal Cup title race. With Middelburg and EG Jansen still to come, the Bere are favourites to top the log heading into the play-offs.

Monument, meanwhile, will rue their second-half collapse. For 35 minutes, they matched Garsfontein blow for blow. But in the end, they had no answer to the relentless attacking waves that came crashing down in the second half.

As for how to beat Garsfontein? Based on this evidence, you’ll need more than a game plan. You might just need that stick after all.