BHS enjoys successful run at festival

The Benoni High School (BHS) Panthers’ fairytale run in the St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival came to a disappointing end when they lost 29-10 to the Hellenic Academy on April 21.

While it wasn’t the end they had hoped for after beating St Charles 20-8 and Ashton College Ballito 40-0 in their first two games, it was rewarding for them because the Panthers opted to give their second XV a run in the tournament to prepare them for their league fixture this week.

Perhaps things could have turned out differently had the Benonians fielded their first team, as coach Collin Lloyd alluded in the aftermath because Hellenic lacked the flair that saw them dominate their opening two fixtures.
In a physical battle, both sides committed fully, and neither held back in the breakdowns.

The game began with the Panthers imposing themselves, camping in the Hellenic half in the opening exchanges but unable to turn their early dominance into points.

Hellenic won position and went through various phases before Nathaniel Gabi opened the scoring with a well-worked try in the 10th minute, thanks to the influence of scrum-half Daniel Makings.

Makings’ crisp distribution and pinpoint passing from the base of the ruck kept the Benonians deep in their half as his team continued advancing into enemy territory.

After long periods of pressure, Bongane Msipha scored Hellenic’s second try in the 17th minute, invoking chants of ‘Wake up Benoni’ from the Panthers’ faithful in the stands.

The match went into the break with the Zimbabweans leading 12-0.

Immediately after the break, Gabi crossed the whitewash for his second maximum of the day. He received a pass from the middle, advanced and side-stepped his marker before diving near the touchline.

Against the run of play, Levy Bennet crossed over for Benoni, with Loyiso Koboka clinical off the tee to convert the try.

But Hellenic’s big inside centre, Limbikani Kalphengule, put the game beyond Benoni’s reach in the 56th minute by running 10m to score after stealing the ball in the middle before big tighthead Msipha scored his team’s fifth try.

Koboka scored a penalty at the game’s back end and it eventually it ended 29-15 to Hellenic.

“It was a successful festival for us. We are happy. We wanted to give our second team some game time ahead of its league game on Thursday,” said Lloyd.

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