The St Stithians Sports Fest served up a feast of rugby on 2 April, with the day’s action producing stunning upsets, redemption arcs, and one absolute demolition that will have tongues wagging across schoolboy rugby circles.
Hosts fall short against Zimbabwean visitors
The hosts endured a bitter pill to swallow as St Johns from Harare pinched a thrilling 24-21 victory on Saints’ home turf. The Zimbabwean outfit showed tremendous composure in the closing stages to edge past their hosts, spoiling what should have been a victorious homecoming for St Stithians. The three-point margin speaks volumes about how tightly contested this affair was.
“Credit to them they were good and we missed out chances after having 72% territory, 58% possessions and 82% tackle completion. The credit must go to them for putting a clinical performance together and taking the chances they had,” said Laurence Christie,, Campus Director of Rugby at St Stithians College.
Redemption for Mali and Middelburg
Both Mali XV and Middelburg arrived at the festival carrying the scars from tough outings at the Noord Suid tournament, but both sides emphatically answered their critics with statement victories.
Mali XV put their Noord Suid struggles firmly in the rear-view mirror with a commanding 34-21 triumph over Clifton from KwaZulu-Natal. The 13-point winning margin showcased a side that had clearly done their homework during the week, implementing a game plan that suffocated Clifton’s attacking threats whilst exposing defensive frailties.
Middelburg’s redemption story proved even sweeter as they stunned Hartpury from England 21-14. The Mpumalanga powerhouse showed the international visitors that their Noord Suid setback was merely a blip, not a trend. Downing a prestigious English school demonstrates serious intent and suggests Middelburg’s coaching staff have identified and rectified the issues that plagued them previously.
Comfortable victories for Northcliff and Kempton Park
Northcliff controlled proceedings against St Charles from Pietermaritzburg, securing an 18-7 victory that never truly looked in doubt. The Johannesburg school’s defensive structure proved too sophisticated for the KwaZulu-Natal visitors to unlock consistently.
Kempton Park similarly enjoyed a comfortable afternoon’s work, dispatching Pietersburg 27-15. The 12-point margin flatters the visitors slightly, with Kempton Park dominating territory and possession for large stretches.
Wynberg’s statement demolition
Save the biggest headline for last – Wynberg absolutely annihilated a Garsfontein XV to the tune of 84-0.
Wynberg ran in try after try, with their backline carving through Garsfontein’s defensive line like a hot knife through butter. The Cape Town giants showed no mercy, maintaining their attacking intensity from first whistle to last.
For Garsfontein, this was test of their depth as they rested all of their 1st XV players after a tough Noord Suid outing where they were able to beat Stellenberg and Paarl Boys High.
The festival format continues to provide the perfect platform for schools to test themselves against diverse opposition.
