Wildeklawer Festival 2025

Wildeklawer Festival 2025

 

Day 1 30 April 2025

 

The first day was marred by some inclement weather with the last fixture after the official opening , the rain and some lightning stopped the game for a number of minutes.

 

Game 1

Marlow vs Welkom Gym..

Marlow came back from being 17-3 down at halftime to eventually run out winners by 25 to 22

in a great match, which had the spectators on their feet. 

The first half was basically one sided with Marlow defending but still making quite a few basic errors. However in the second half they improved their play, probably after a stern talking to at the break.

It seems like that Welkom Gym went into slow mode in the second half, allowing their opponents 

In through the back door, playing a more attacking game to run out winners by a slender 3 points.

 

Game 2

Nico Malan vs Glenwood

This match ended in a nail biting finish with Nico Malan edged out the more fancied Glenwood outfit, winning the match by a slender 2 points, 41-39.

The halftime score was also a 2 point difference, 24-22 with Nico Malan in front. This was a very exciting game with both teams playing exciting rugby and thrilling the crowds. These two teams were pretty evenly matched as the scoreline shows, but although both teams did make a small amount of basic errors, avery inspiring match.

 

Game 3

Diamantveld vs Waterkloof

The hosts, Diamantveld were simply outclassed in this fixture, with the half time score being 35-7 to Waterkloof. The second half proved to be a bit better for the hosts as they increase their 

Score to 24, but not enough for their opposition to end their score on 54. A bit of a hiding in the end.

 

Game 4

Affies vs Paul Roos

The final fixture of the day was between the more fancied Affies from Pretoria and Paul Roos with Affies going to the halftime break 20-10. However the second half was interrupted by a heavy down pour and lightning, with the referee stopping the match for a while. After the resumption Paul Roos were awarded a penalty, which they converted, but it was not enough to catch up. The final score was 20-13. That was the end of day one.

Day 2 1 May 2025

 

Game 1. EG Jansen vs Drostdy HTS

The first match on day 2 was between EG Jansen from Boksburg and Drostdy from Worcester, saw Drostdy taking a slender 7 nil lead at the halftime break. Both teams were making basic errors, such as knock ons and playing off sides during the first half, however the game turned around in the second half with EG Jansen coming back to win the game by 20 points to 10, with Drostdy adding only a penalty to their halftime tally.

 

Game 2. Boland Landbou vs Framesby

Boland Landbou exerted pressure on right from the start of the match taking the score to 38 5 in 

the first half, playing good running rugby. Framesby, battled on bravely and not giving up were unfortunate not to score any more points in the game, while Boland Landbou continued putting pressure on, playing a good running game and eventually running out victors by 64 points to 5. 

 

Game 3. DHS  vs Stellenberg

The third fixture of the day saw Durban High School, coached by Peter Engeldow, ex Griqua coach, taking on Stellenberg from Bellville in the Western Cape, with DHS turning a 12 point all halftime score into a 7 point victory in the end, with the final score 26-19. This was a very exciting game producing some excellent moves, which had the supporters attention throughout the game.

 

Game 4. Monnas vs Outiniqua

Another enthralling closely encountered match, with a single point difference in the end. Here Outiniqua running winners 21-20, after Monnas, from Krugersdorp, led 6 nil at halftime. Both teams play attractive open running rugby, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats throughout.

 

Game 5. Garsfontein vs Oakdale.    

Oakdale led 15-10 at the halftime break against Garsfontein, from Pretoria, however the second half produced another exciting fixture, with both teams deadlocked in the only draw so far  of the 2025 festival on 30 all. Here once again the crowds were out of their seats, whilst cheering both teams on.

 

Game 6. Northwood vs Paarl Gymnasium

Although the more fancied Paarl Gym outfit, coached by ex Griqua player, coach and Springbok player, showed their strength, leading 24-13 against heir opponents, Northwood from Durban North. But in the second half, Paarl Gym increased the pressure on Northwood to eventually run away with the match, winning 46-20 in the end.

 

Game 7. Noordheuwel vs Paarl Boys High.

The other strong Paarl team, Paarl Boys High also showed what they are made off, taking on 

Noordheuwel, from the suburb of Noordheuwel in Krugersdorp, running out winners 42-14, after leading 13-7 at the break. The Paarl team produced some great running rugby in the second half, while Noordheuwel could only add one more try to their first try scored in the first half.

 

Game 8. Jeppe vs Maritzburg College.

Another tough encounter between Jeppe and Maritzburg College saw some exciting and tough rugby from both sides, with Jeppe beating the more fancied Maritzburg outfit 37-24, halftime Jeppe led 20-5. Here once again the spectators were on the edge of their seats during this tough and exciting encounter.

 

Game 9. Grey College vs Helpmekaar.

The final fixture of the day was Grey College taking on Helpmekaar from Braamfontein in Johannesburg, with the former running out victors over the plucky Helpmekaar outfit by 56-14, running in eight converted tries to the latter’s two. The score at the halftime break was 28-7. Grey’s well drilled driving maul was too good for the opposition to handle, putting them on the backfoot for a large portion of the game. 

 

Saturday 3 May 2025 is the final day of the Wildklawer Festival, with 9  rugby fixtures on the cards starting at 8am and ending with the final fixture at 8pm, with plenty of excitement during the day.

 

Day 3 Final Day 3 May 2025.

 

Game 1. Waterkloof vs Stellenberg

Saturday and the final day of the 15th Wildeklawer Festival with the first match of the day between Waterkloof High School and Stellenberg, in freezing overcast conditions. The two teams were pretty evenly matched in the first half with the score at 7 all. However in the second half Waterkloof seemed to find their feet and put pressure on their opponents, 

However, this was short lived as Stellenberg scored an unconverted try  try taking them total to within 5 of their opponents, 17-12. Towards the end of the match, Stellenberg fought back to score another try, equalising the score at 17 all, with 8 minutes left in the match. Final score 17 all.

Point Scorers: Stellenberg: Tries; Armand Potgieter (2), Ethan van Biljon, Conversions; van

Biljon.17

Waterkloof: Tries; Ruan Jacobs, Johannes de Beer, Conversions Ruan Bastiaanse (2), Penalty Bastiaanse. 17

 

Game 2. Noordheuwel vs Outeniqua

Outeniqua put on the pressure from the start taking the score to 12 nil early in the first half. But Noordheuwel fought back scoring a  converted try of their own to trail 12-7. Noordheuwel were awarded with a penalty for off sides with  their score creeping closer to Outiniqua’s 12-10. However Noordheuwel went finished yet, scoring a try 5 minutes from the end of the first half, the conversion being successful, 17-12, which was the halftime score. 

The try line alternated frequently changing hands in the second half with the score changing hands as well and with 5 minutes left the score was 29-26 in favour of Noordheuwel.  With the  final 2  seconds of the game, Noordheuwel snatched victory with a penalty after being down 33-32, to win an interesting, tough fixture by 35 points to 33.  

Point Scorers: Noordheuwel; Tries; Jayden Steyn (2), Andrew Lambert, Clinton Agu. Conversions; Jeandre Vithaler (3), Penalty; Vithaler (3). 35

Outeniqua: Tries; Grant Savage, Ruan van Rensburg, Virgil Pockpas, Schalk van der Merwe, Matthew Prins. Conversions; Pockpas (4). 33.    

 

Game 3. Monnas vs Paarl Boys High

Paarl Boys High scored their first four tries, dominating the first 25 minutes of the match, taking

the  lead by 26 points to nil. Playing against the breeze, they scored their fifth try shortly after their fourth, increasing the lead to 38 nil with three minutes to the halftime break. Paarl Boys High ran in their sixth try before halftime taking the score to 45 nil, but they scored their seventh try, converted, 52-0 at halftime. Seems like Monument never pitched up for the first half of the match.

The second half started very much like the first, with Paarl Boys High on the charge,scoring the first try shortly after the start, leading 57 nil. The visitors from the Western Cape never let up, keeping up the pressure and in the end running in a lot of tries, 10-13, final score 83 nil.  

 

Game4. Diamantveld vs Maritzburg College

The hosts, Diamantveld opened the score line against Maritzburg College, with an unconverted try in the opening minutes of the game, taking a 5 nil lead. However this match took the same shape as the first, with each team taking turns to score tries, with Maritzburg taking a slender lead 12-5, but Diamonds fought back hard scoring their second try, taking back the lead 17-12.

Maritzburg fought back scoring another try in the corner, taking the lead again 21-17. However from the middle of the final day, the clouds disappeared with the sun shining brightly and warming up. The halftime score was Maritzburg taking the lead, 24-17.

The second half followed in similar fashion to the first with the lead changing hands, but in the end it was the host team, Diamantveld who clinched the win in the end by one try more than their opponents Maritzburg College, winning the game 38-31. .

 

Game 5. Affies vs Boland Landbou

Playing in full sunshine now, which started off as an evenly balanced two teams, until the 29th minute when Affies ran in their first try taking the lead 7 nil. However, they scored their second try with 24 minutes left in the half, 12 nil with the conversion going astray. Affies scored five more tries, of  which four  were converted before the halftime break, thus leading 33 nil at the break. Affies were not quite finished, as they turned on the pressure in the second half, scoring 14 tries, 13 converted, total 74 to the two tries of Boland, 14 points. A very one sided game which actually produced some enthralling, running rugby, but Bolland’s defence let them down

In the end.

 

Game 6. Jeppe vs Oakdale

Oakdale wasted little time in scoring the first try of their match against Jeppe, taking an early lead 7 nil. But the Jeppe’s defence seemed to hold out strongly for some time. Jeppe came back with a penalty, but then Outiniqua struck back with a converted try, holding onto the lead 14-3, which was the halftime score.

Oakdale tried turning on the pressure but the Jeppe defence held on, but Oakdale scored four more tries, taking their score to 42, while Jeppe succeded with another penalty and a converted try, taking their total to 13 points. Oakdale were not quite finished yet running in another converted try in the last minute of the game, but Jeppe were also not finished yet scoring two more  converted tries of their own, making the final score Oakdale 42, Jeppe 27.     

 

Game 7. EG Jansen vs Paul Roos

EG Jansen opened the score line with an intercept try under the posts, easily converted, taking an early lead, 7 nil. However Paul Roos found their feet and ran in three converted tries and a penalty, to take the halftime score to 24-7. 

As in the first half, EG Jansen’s defence let them down, as Paul Roos scored an unconverted try in the 7th minute of the second half,adding the five points to their total, 28-7. EG Jansen started to make a comeback scoring an unconverted try of their own, taking their score to 12, but Paul Roos also added to their total, scoring two unconverted tries, 34-12. However EG Jansen did not give up so easily, scoring another try, a pushover one at that, but still not enough to catch up to Paul Roos, score now 34-17. Paul Roos came back scoring a great try, which went unconverted, taking the score to 39-17 with 7 minutes left in the match, but Paul Roos scored their final try at the final whistle, converting, taking the final score to 46-17.   

 

Game 8. Garsfontein vs Grey College

The second last fixture of the tournament saw the more fancied outfit of Grey College taking on Garsfontein. Grey College scored 3  converted tries and a penalty in the first half, while Garsfontein ran in 3 unconverted tries, taking  the halftime score to 24-15. Both teams playing attractive running rugby during the first half. 

However, Grey did not waste any time after the break to score a converted try, increasing their total to 31, but in the 7th minute of the second half, Garsfontein struck back with a converted try of their own taking their score up to 22. Grey came back in the 48th minute with a push over try, by Xander Smit, from a tap free kick increasing their score to 38. Shortly after that, Grey scored again near the posts and was converted, score 45-22. Garsfontein ran in the final try of the match from a penalty, taking the final score to 45-29.    

 

Game 9. DHS vs Paarl Gym

The final rugby fixture of the 2025 Wildeklawer Festival, between Durban High School and Paarl Gymnasium, with two ex Griqua coaches, Peter Engeldow for DHS and Dawie Theron Paarl Gym which promises to be a humdinger. Paarl Gym seem to be battling a bit, only scoring one try before the halftime break, but  Durban Boys High managed to kick a penalty in the first half, score 7-3. However Paarl Gym fought back strongly scoring a try, succeeding with a difficult  conversion from the touchline taking their score to 14, followed by another converted try shortly afterwards, increasing their lead to 21-3, 4 minutes from the halftime break, but DHS had the last say scoring a converted try on the stroke of halftime, score 21-10..

The second half saw Durban Boys High slot a penalty, 4 minutes into the half, taking their tally to 13.But Paarl Gym came back strongly, scoring a great converted try stretching their lead to 28 points to 13, while DHS slotted a penalty just before the Paarl try. In the 53rd minute, Paarl Gym ran in another good try, due to poor defensive errors from  the Durban outfit,  to increase the lead to 35 points to 13. Paarl were still not finished adding another 5 points to their scoreline, 40-13. However Durban ran in a great converted try with 5 minutes left in the match, creeping slowly to 20 points, but a little too late. But once again Paarl had the final say scoring a converted try with 3 minutes from the final whistle, taking the score to 47-20, the final score and the end of another Wildeklawer Festival, until 2026.     .