Mooi River’s most contested rugby match of any year is the annual Treverton-Weston Derby for the coveted Dowker Trophy. Since 2013, this match has been included in the FNB ClassicClashes series, which is screened on SuperSport.
This year the match was hosted by Weston. Supporters from both schools attend the match en masse and are very vocal in cheering their team on.
They are supported by parents, old scholars from both schools, many who make a special trip to watch the match, and local townspeople.
2014, is a special year for both schools.
Weston celebrates its centenary and Treverton at half that age its golden jubilee.
For Treverton, the match was taking place in their Jubilee week, and they were determined to reverse their disastrous 2013 defeat by Weston.
For both sides, the classic clash comes with its own hype with impressive city signage and a barrage of cameras.
The Treverton players were prepared for their moment of television fame and entered the match with imposing determination!
The game started with passion as both sides threw their bodies at one another, sizing each other up, Treverton Captain Khalipha Ngwenya and Vice-Captain Tristan Pickering leading by example.
Each kicker missed one opportunity, then each slotted a penalty, until Treverton crashed over the whitewash through a lineout drive, and Struan Cowie scored.
This was converted by Andrew Tilbury; the teams went into half time at 10-3.
Early in the second half, Weston struck back, scoring a try, a conversion and penalty by fly half and Captain Michael Bouwer, putting Weston into the lead for the first time in the game.
Then the reprimands, with one yellow card for Treverton and two for Weston, exciting passages of play followed. Treverton scored another try by hooker Cowie and converted once again by Tilbury.
Weston then threw everything at the Treverton defence, but the boys in white held out until the final whistle to reclaim the Dowker trophy lost in 2013.
The score was 17 to 13.
Though the two schools have competed against each other in a fiercely contested match for many years it was not until 2006 that a trophy became the coveted prize.
The Dowker Trophy is a unique award to compete for.
It was presented by the Dowker family of father and son; the father attended Weston and the son Treverton and is decorated with the colours of the two schools.
Since its inception, Weston has won the trophy six times.
Treverton won two years running in 2011 and 2012 and Weston regained it in 2013, this year the trophy is once more proudly displayed at Treverton.
Not only was Treverton’s first team victorious, but all five teams that competed against Weston won their matches! A truly golden year for the school.