Bekker wins Noordvaal Cup after inspiring comeback

Bekker High School’s first rugby team, known as the Mambas, has proven itself to be a force on the rugby field after they won the Noordvaal Cup (Group 4) on August 19. The school showed great character, resilience and desire to bring the cup to Mogale City.

Previously known as the Directors and/ or Beeld Trophy, the tournament is an interprovincial school rugby competition played by all the rugby unions teams such as North of the Vaal River, the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, Limpopo, Pumas, Falcons and Leopards.

The top schools in each province take part in the tournament with the hopes of taking top honours. The schools in the tournament are ranked in groups from 1–5, depending on the size and ability of the school so that schools can compete against each other.

Bekker would compete in Group 4 against schools like Allen Glen High, Glenharvie Combined, Carletonville High, Alberton High, Goudrif High, Queens High School, Bracken High, Jan Viljoen High School and President High in the Golden Lions League. Bekker showed tremendous hard work and spirit as they made it to the final and got a taste of victory.

Throughout the tournament, their results were as follows:

• Quarter-final: Bekker (Lions) 24–16 HTS Cartel de Wet (Falcons)
• Semi-final: Bekker (Lions) 26–10 Glenharvie (Lions)
• Final: Bekker (Lions) 30–22 Allen Glen High (Lions)

The final was a tight affair and Allen Glen took a very early lead. Bekker then came back with a try of their own but Allen Glen stretched their lead further with a couple of tries to lead comfortably 17–5. Then just before halftime, the Mambas scored a crucial try to head into the break trailing by just seven points (17–10).

A fired-up Allen Glen then scored first in the second half but despite being under pressure, Bekker pulled on back to make the scoreboard read 22–15 in Allen Glen’s favour. Then with just seven minutes to place, the Mambas winger Hlubandile Mongozwana scored a try in the corner which kicker and scrumhalf Brendan Vosser converted to level the score at 22–all. Now with a sniff, the Mambas started to gain momentum and put Allen Glen under immense pressure which eventually led to them giving away a penalty. Bekker made full use of the opportunity and slotted the kick leading 25–22 and lead for the first time. With one minute to go and the Mambas on fire, they scored to seal a 30–22 win.

One of the Mambas coaches Johan Wandrag was very proud of his team’s fight back in the last 10 minutes and said the win was extra special.

“What makes the victory even more special is the fact Allen Glen beat us twice in the season and humiliated us in the Lions Final, to win the biggest trophy against them much is much more appreciated. The result was so great that the coaches could not hide just how proud they were of their team. We knew that the Mambas never gave up and cliched many victories in the last minutes of the game in the season, so if we could stay in the game and keep the score close we could win in the end, and we did, this Mamba’s of 2023 made the school proud and won us the biggest trophy that we can play for,” Wandrag said.

Another Mambas coach, Gert van den Berg also praised the boys for how disciplined and composed they were in the final moments of the game.

“We knew that if our team can keep to their structures on attack and especially on defence we can win the game. I am very proud of our boys, they played their hearts out and gave everything on the field to achieve this.”

The Noordvaal Cup was just one of the many positive highlights of the fantastic season for Bekker as they played 22 games, won 15, drew 2 and lost just 5.