Independent Schools success
Photo: Leonard Solms
The Bishops Independent Schools Rugby festival (2-6 July) proved a successful outing for St Andrew’s College and Kingswood College, as the two Grahamstown schools’ U18A sides won five out of six games collectively.
St Andrew’s started off their Cape Town tour with a 52-5 drubbing of St David’s Marist Inanda on Saturday. They followed that up with a 39-0 thrashing of St Andrew’s School on Monday, before succumbing to Hilton College 25-17 on Wednesday.
Although he was left bitterly disappointed by the “horribly poor” performance in the Hilton game, St Andrew’s coach Gerry Posthumus at least left with some positive memories. He stated: “You can’t be upset after the first two results, but (Hilton) was the one we really came to play. To not arrive is frustrating and irritating.”
Kingswood were one of just three sides (along with Kearsney and St Charles) to win all three of their fixtures. Saturday proved a difficult test for them, but they snatched a 29-24 win over Michaelhouse with a lastditch Siba Mzanywa try.
They followed up with a 5324 win over Penryn College on Monday, before shocking hosts Bishops Diocesan College on Wednesday with a 34-24 triumph.
The stand-out player for Kingswood was winger Esona Mrwetyana, who scored seven tries in three games - including four against Penryn.
Even after the game against Michaelhouse, Mrwetyana had already earned the praise of coach Gareth Shaw, who said: “He’s come a long way, Esona. At the beginning of the season, he was fighting for a place. He actually lost it at one stage, came back, and he really has been one of the most improved players in the side.”
In both sides’ first three games since Kingswood beat St Andrew’s 34-22 on 18 June, they impressed spectators from all over the country, standing up to opponents from big schools in big cities and giving Grahamstown schoolboy rugby a good name.