Mbombela’s Bergvlam first team wins thrilling quarter-final in dying minutes of match
On the same day, Hoërskool Nelspruit hosted Hoërskool Menlopark in the Noordvaal Cup and the Nellies' first team won 33-28.
With 14 minutes of playing time remaining, Hoërskool Bergvlam’s first team were trailing the first team of Hoërskool Stoffberg by 19-6.
The Vlammies, the home team, had dominated territory and possession for much of the game, but found themselves on the verge of an exit from the Noordvaal medium schools’ play-offs on Saturday July 27.
Three intercept tries by Stoffberg, two of which were converted, to a penalty by Bergvlam’s Cian Maritz saw the visitors leading 19-3 at half-time.
An early second-half penalty from Cian narrowed the points gap to 13. The second half was a period of absolute attrition from both teams.
Stoffberg were fighting to extend their lead beyond a two-try cushion, and Bergvlam were playing their hearts out in an attempt to score the two tries needed to win.
@lowvelder Hoërskool Bergvlam’s captain Cian Maritz and vice-captain Kgoshi Mashego thank their loyal supporters shortly after defeating Hoërskool Stoffberg 23-19 in the Noordvaal Schools Championship (medium schools) quarter-final on Saturday. #bergvlam #schoolrugby #stofberg #schoolchampionship
But it seemed it was not to be for the home team. Some poor decision-making and unforced errors were made – and the clock was ticking down.
But the Vlammies never gave up. When the chips were down and they were staring defeat in the face, they rose up with pure guts and fighting spirit.
Two tries were scored late in the match, both from 5m tap penalties and both by Kgoshi Mashego. The burly prop with the flaming heart barged through the Stoffberg defence like a raging bull.
Cian converted both tries and added a penalty goal.
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Kgoshi might have scored the quarter-final winning tries, but the heroes of the day were the 23 Vlammies players who never gave up and dug deeper than ever before for themselves, their coaches and their school.
Bergvlam’s U16 team faced Hoërskool Delmas’s U16s in a quarter-final in the first match of the day.
The performance of the Vlammies bodes well for the future of the school’s rugby. They dominated the match and the 31-8 victory was the fruits of their brilliant defence.
@lowvelder Hoërskool Bergvlam’s first rugby team and their supporters sing the school anthem shortly after defeating Hoërskool Stoffberg 23-19 in the Noordvaal Schools Championship (medium schools) quarter-final on Saturday. #bergvlam #hoërskoolbergvlam #rugbyschools #schoolspirit
The Vlammies dominated every aspect of play, except the lineouts. They scrummed the Delmas pack into the turf and these set pieces set up quality attacking possession for the backs.
The U16 Bergvlam team scored three tries and one conversion in the first half, to a lone penalty by the visitors. The half-time
score was 17-3.
The Vlammies continued executing their well-structured game plan in the second half, scoring two more converted tries. Delmas only managed one try in the second half.
The semi-finals will take place at Bergvlam on Saturday. Vlammies’ U16s will take on Hoërskool Vryburg at 09:00, and the first team will face Hoërskool Linden at 10:20.
On the other side of the city on Saturday, the first team of Hoërskool Nelspruit (NHS) defeated Hoërskool Menlopark (MHS) 33-28 in the Noordvaal Cup.
The win moved NHS’s first team into seventh place on the log.
NHS were made to dig deep for the win. They stuck to the structured game plan that has stood them in good stead in the competition. Strong set pieces and outstanding defence secured the win.
NHS will play away at Hoërskool EG Jansen on Saturday.
Other results:
• U14A: NHS 15 – MHS 7
• U14B: NHS 37 – MHS 12
• U14C: NHS 40 – MHS 0
• U15A: NHS 7 – MHS 43
• U15B: NHS 0 – MHS 19
• U15C: NHS 40 – MHS 0
• U16A: NHS 0 – MHS 24
• U16B: NHS 17 – MHS 21
• U16C: NHS 45 – MHS 7
• 3rds: NHS 33 – MHS 7
• 2nds: NHS 10 – MHS 5.
