In the most extraordinary attacking displays in Noord Suid history, Monument demolished HTS Drostdy 75-41 in a try-fest that shattered every record in the book and left spectators breathless from start to finish. This wasn’t just a rugby match, it was an exhibition of running rugby at its most devastating.
Monument set the tone early, their enterprising running and brilliant support play carving open the Drostdy defence for a 7-0 lead. But if anyone thought this would be one-way traffic, they were sorely mistaken. What followed was one of the most remarkable attacking spectacles South African schools rugby has ever witnessed.
Drostdy camped on the Monnas goal-line, hammering away with wave after wave of attacks. The Krugersdorp outfit defended stubbornly, but J.P. Lotriet wasn’t to be denied. The powerful hooker crashed over to level things at 7-7 after just 11 minutes. Game on.
A yellow card reduced Drostdy to 14 men, but you wouldn’t have known it from their response. They spread the ball wide with stunning speed, getting it into the hands of Willvino Paultin. The winger has serious gas. He scorched down the touchline to give Drostdy a 12-7 lead, and suddenly it was Monument on the back foot.
The 22nd minute saw Monnas also reduced to 14 men, making it an even contest in numbers if not in intensity. Two minutes later, Monument got the ball wide quickly to Riaan Genis, a winger blessed with both pace and power. He beat several defenders with devastating footwork before delivering a perfectly-timed offload to Blessing Monareng, who dived over to reclaim the lead at 14-12.
Juandre Ehlers extended the advantage to 21-12 with a barnstorming carry, his powerful leg drive carrying him over the line. But back came Drostdy. Paultin found space on the outside once more, and his electric pace did the rest. At 21-17, the Donkeys were right back in it.
On the stroke of half-time, Migael Coetzee produced a quick release that found Genis in acres of space. The powerful winger didn’t need a second invitation, racing over to make it 26-17 at the break. One half played, and already 43 points scored. Little did anyone know what was coming.
The second half saw Monument attack with even more intent, regularly making small breaks that stretched Drostdy to breaking point. Ryno van Der Westhuizen bashed defenders out of the way like they weren’t there, extending the lead to 33-17. Surely now Monument would shut up shop?
Not a chance. Darren Makeza got the ball out wide, for Drostdy stepped inside his defender with beautiful footwork, and dotted down. Both Drostdy wingers were proving to be dangerous speedsters, and at 33-24, they were far from finished. Anwill Jacobs pinned his ears back when he spotted space, rushing in to make it an astonishing 33-31.
From the ensuing kick-off, Morne Noble collected cleanly and raced past everyone to score. At 40-31, Monument had breathing room again, but only briefly. Drostdy struck almost immediately to make it 40-36, their outside backs causing absolute havoc whenever they touched the ball.
Monument’s response was emphatic. Migael Coetzee powered over in the corner to make it 47-36, and the floodgates truly opened. The support play from Monnas was utterly brilliant, wave after wave of runners hitting gaps created by beautiful offloads. Blessing Monareng benefited once more after a line break and some stunning offloading to make it 54-36.
Minutes later, Monareng completed his hat-trick as Monument pushed the score to an incredible 61-36. Tristin Syster hit back moments later, accelerating into a half-space to make it 61-41, but Drostdy’s resistance was finally breaking.
Genis crossed again with five minutes left, bringing the score to 68-41 in this absolute try-fest. But he wasn’t done. Thanks to more brilliant support play, Genis touched down again to seal a historic 75-41 victory, the most points ever scored at Noord Suid.
