Landbouskool Oakdale beat Boland Landbou 21-19 in Saturday's Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools clash, MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
Boland Landbou's Jondré Williams kicked 14 points, but it wasn't enough as Oakdale outscored them two tries to one in a scrappy but intense and tightly fought affair.
Williams, Boland's first SA Schools representative since Derick Hougaard in 2001, opened the score with a penalty goal in the fifth minute. Their lead didn't last long before burly Oakdale hooker HP van Schoor swivelled his way over the line for an unconverted try. Williams, who is a scrumhalf by trade but played left wing in this contest, added two further penalties as the lead swivelled once more.
However, poor defence again cost them soon after, when Van Schoor threw two dummies and sliced through the middle only to be stopped 5m short. After quick-recycled ball loosehead prop Hermanus Botha barged over for the second try. Fullback Darren Adonis converted and then nailed a penalty, as the hosts ended the half 15-9 ahead.
Despite the sin-binning of flank Heinrich Brendel at the restart, Boland started the second half strongly as Williams added his fourth kick at goal to narrow the deficit to three points. But Adonis responded with two penalty goals to keep his team ahead.
With the contest all but over, right wing Sergull van Niekerk stepped past two defenders for Boland's sole try of the match, with Williams converting. It was scant consolation for the visitors, though, as they fell just short of the target.
Oakdale 1st XV coach Malan du Plessis was full of praise for his side:
'It was a good victory. They started strongly, but we absorbed and handled the early pressure well,' he told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Our tight five laid the foundation for this result. They were devastating. Just a word of acknowledgement for Boland, who stayed competitive right to the end. They can be proud of their effort today.'
Landbouskool Oakdale – Tries: HP van Schoor, Hermanus Botha. Conversion: Darren Adonis. Penalties: Adonis (3).
Boland Landbou – Try: Sergull van Niekerk. Conversion: Jondré Williams. Penalties: Williams (4).
Schools rugby results (29 August)
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
