Selborne wrap up tourney in style
SELBORNE College rounded out their Standard Bank Cape Schools Week with another top victory to finish as one of only two unbeaten teams in the biannual rugby week.
It was a great advert for Eastern Cape rugby that the two unbeaten sides both came from the province, as Grey High School also claimed three wins, in the festival against Western Cape’s best.
Selborne’s tight 10-8 win over Boland Landbou on the final day was another gritty win after their first day last gasp win over Paarl Gymnasium.
Dale College broke their duck in the week with a crushing win over the composite Standard Bank XV, running in nine tries for a 53-3 thrashing while Queen’s fell to their second defeat of the week as Paarl Gym claimed a 34-5 win.
Selborne owed their victory to tries by wing Thakgo Boloko and Hein Rust, but Boland Landbou have been among the toughest opponents and a penalty by Deon Carstens and a Jaco Conradie try kept them in the hunt.
They had a chance to clinch the match after the final hooter had gone with a penalty kick from near the halfway line, but the attempt was wayward and Selborne claimed another good victory.
The hosts Grey produced arguably their best performance of the tournament in overturning a 10-8 halftime deficit to defeat previously unbeaten SACS 28-10.
After wins over Muir and Queen’s, SACS showed plenty of spirit following an early Grey try and they hit back with a powerful forward maul for flank Dylan Hadzigrigoriou to cross for a try. Flyhalf Kyle Boyd’s impressive kicking gave them a narrow halftime lead, but it was all Grey in the second half.
A loose kick ahead by SACS saw Grey flyhalf Curwin Bosch gather and weave his way through the SACS defence to offload for No 8 Khwezi Mafu to gallop over under the posts. Bosch kicked the conversion and added two more penalties to give his team some breathing space, with exciting fullback Lubs Dubelo sealing the deal when he shot through a gap to score in the final minute.
Paarl Gym have been impressive throughout the week, with the skilful running and powerful allround play. From the moment wing Keenan Abrahams outpaced the cover defence for a try in the corner in the third minute, you sensed Queen’s were in for a tough day.
The Queenstown lads did reply with a try by flank Justin Kuyler, but Paarl Gym led 13-5 at halftime and then camped in the Queen’s half after the break to run in three more thrilling tries for an emphatic victory.
Rondebosch also ended their week on a high with a 26-0 four try victory over Muir College in their final match.