The Griffons league reaches its climax this weekend, and the stage is set for an absolute belter. Welkom Gimnasium, riding a relentless seven-match winning streak, will collide with Trio in a final that promises physicality, pace, and plenty of needle as two proud Northern Free State schools vie for silverware.
Both sides have bulldozed their way through the semi-finals. Welkom Gim absolutely decimated Bethlehem Voortrekker 64-28 in a statement performance. Trio, meanwhile, ground out a hard-fought 34-19 victory over Hentie Cilliers to book their place in the decider.
Now they meet with everything on the line and neither side will be taking a backward step.
Welkom Gim’s juggernaut rolls on
Seven straight wins. Sixty-four points against Voortrekker. A forward pack firing and a backline buzzing. Welkom Gimnasium arrive at the final with confidence surging.
But head coach Roean Bezuidenhout knows exactly what’s coming from across the park, and he’s not taking Trio lightly for a second.
“Trio will be tough and direct, they have enough firepower around the park to threaten at every facet of the game,” Bezuidenhout warned.
It’s a measured assessment from a coach who understands that finals have a habit of levelling playing fields. The men from Welkom will need to be at their clinical best to extend their winning run when it matters most.
Trio’s bounce back mentality
Trio’s path to the final hasn’t been without bumps. They went down to Jim Fouché in the Wesgrow series before regrouping to dispatch Hentie Cilliers in the Griffons league semi-final. That defeat could have derailed their season. Instead, it galvanised them.
Director of rugby Quintin Geldenhuys is under no illusions about the challenge awaiting his side, but he’s thrilled his team has fought their way into the final and is relishing the battle ahead.
“Gim is never easy to play against, they have big, strong forwards and fast backs. We will have to fight hard to get the win. A final is never an easy game,” Geldenhuys said.
“As a school we are excited. All our age group teams except our U16s have made it to the finals.”
That last point is significant. Trio aren’t just sending their 1st XV into battle, they’re mounting a full-scale assault across virtually every age group. The school is buzzing with finals fever, and that collective energy will fuel the senior side when they take the field this weekend.
