The 2025 Chronicle

Our penultimate game, and last at home, was against West ville, who were playing the final fixture of their season and were looking to end unbeaten. We were aware of their ex treme attacking threats and managed to keep them under relative control until just after half-time. Their first try, a breakaway from behind their poles, was a taste of things to come. We scored just on half-time to keep the score with in seven points, 17-21, only to give away a penalty on the halfway line for an unnecessary scuffle after the try. Their phenomenal fullback slotted it through the uprights to take then into half-time with a 24-17 lead. Moolman kicked a penalty to make the score 20-24 before our opponents ran rings around us for the final quarter of the game. Their pace and passing was just too slick for our defence to handle, and we unfortunately finished 20-50 down. It was an unfortunate way to end our season at home, but one has to say it was not through a lack of effort. It did not come as a surprise to see three of those Westville boys going on to make the SA Schools side after Craven Week. The team had no choice but to pick themselves up after that for their return game against the old foe at Hilton. Cred it to the boys: they put the big loss behind them and pre pared positively all week. Yet again, they gave it their all, playing some great rugby, but a few errors allowed Hilton to get ahead and stay there. Their classy flyhalf, Liyema Nela, kept the scoreboard ticking, and their powerful No 8, Zan der Muller, proved a handful off the base. We scored two tries through O’Sullivan and Jankowitz, and Moolman slotted two penalties, which kept us within striking distance until Nela closed out the game with a penalty to take the home team into a 29-20 lead, which was the final score. The game was symbolic of so many of our close losses this season: a few avoidable errors giving the opposition a chance to get ahead; then a great show of character by fighting back, but not quite being able to get over the line. The overriding feeling after the season was that we had played some great rugby – at times surreal – but let our selves down by losing some games we could well have won. Such is sporting life, and the boys learnt this. Credit to them for their determination to keep giving of their best, even when they could have dropped their heads. Special mention goes to our captain, William Ridl, for leading the team in tough circumstance, remaining positive and always leading from the front. Congratulations to William, Rourke O’Sullivan and Stefan Moolman for making the Sharks Craven Week team, where they did us proud. I give thanks to my assistant coaches, Mr Graeme Lucas-Bull, Mr Kelton Thunder and Mr JP Olivier, for their efforts; to Mev rou Cornelius, our team manager, for looking after us; and to Mr Dubazana for preparing the team, keeping them fit and healthy.

a spare blade of grass around the field, with the supporters crammed into the grandstands, blankets and gazebos. The scenery was picturesque, with the front of school and chapel in the background. We were confident and excited going into the game, perhaps a little too much as we gave away a few unnecessary penalties which Hilton capitalised on, scoring a couple of early tries. The boys fought back, scoring tries through Alex Ardé, who had returned from injury, and tight head prop Nicola Salamousas. The game was on a knife edge when we had an attacking lineout just outside their 22m with the score on 20-22 and only a couple of minutes remaining. We unfortunately lost the lineout; Hilton exited and worked a penalty, extending the lead to 20-25, which was the final score. We had earned respect for our never say-die attitude but were all disappointed as we felt we had had an opportunity that we let slip. We hosted Kearsney the following weekend, again on Baileys. The team bounced back incredibly well after the loss to Hilton and notched up a record score against our rivals from Botha’s Hill. It was one of those days when things just seem to click. When we secured first-phase ball and built a few phases, we were lethal. We scored eight tries, O’Sullivan getting a hat trick, and Moolman, Salamousas, Jankowitz, Sesink Clee and James Mallett off the bench scoring the others. Our ability to play incredible rugby was clear to see; unfortunately, so was our inconsistency. The last game before the half-term break was a rejigged fixture against Northwood at Hilton as part of the Sharks Schools trials day. We felt we had been a little unlucky to lose our first game against them in Durban North, but we were unfortunately soundly beaten in the return game. Al though we scored some brilliant tries and only slipped two scores out of reach in the last few minutes, we were schooled upfront. The Northwood pack scrummed and mauled us and disrupted out lineout ball. Our three try scorers, Ridl, O’Sul livan and Moolman, also landed up being selected for the Sharks Craven Week team. The team had the half-term break to reflect and recharge be fore the last four games of the season. First up was an away trip to Pretoria Boys High. This was our third touring fixture against the team from the capital and our second away from home. The boys produced another fine display of attacking rugby and raced out into a comfortable 34-10 lead before conceding two late tries once the game was effectively over. We moved the ball through the phases and also spread the ball wide, beat ing their defence on the edges and scoring four fantastic tries through Ridl, O’Sullivan, Moolman and Jack Carmody. It was a great win on the road and just what we needed before a tough finish to the season. College were next up and our first game back on Meadows since the first quarter, which seemed like a season ago. The open age group had had a brilliant set of results against our closest big state school, and we felt confident we could take them. Col lege, unfortunately for us, scored a couple of early tries, and we were always on the back foot after that. As in previous games where we had fallen behind early on, the boys fought back, but it wasn’t enough. Apart from losing an extremely physical game 25-31, we sadly also lost Ardé for the rest of the season after he broke his ankle early in the game. He and Davis had formed a ferocious combination on the flanks, and we would miss his physical presence.

RESULTS

OPPONENT Helpmekaar

RESULT

PF 10

PA 17

Lost

Northwood*

Lost

13

15

Durban High School

Lost

22

28

Grey High*

Drew

28

28

180