WINDHOEK Gymnasium won the Standard Bank u19 Super League rugby title after a thrilling 24-23 victory over Windhoek Africaanse Privaat Skool in Windhoek Gymnasium’s Field on Saturday.
In an exciting match, where fortunes swayed to the and fro throughout the match, Gymnasium won a last-minute penalty in front of posts. Flyhalf JW Visagie coolly converted it to send their fans wild and Affies fans into despair.
Windhoek Gymnasium also won the u15A and u19B titles, while the u14A title was won.
The Super League final was thrilling with many collisions and great defense from both sides in the first stages.
Affies held the initial lead and was close to scoring after a fine run from flanker SG Maritz. However, Gymnasium absorbed the pressure and took the lead against the flow of play when Visagie gave over a penalty.
Affies immediately responded to the kickoff by right wing Nico Tromp following up a kick forward to touch down. Visagie soon added another penalty. After a great run of hooker Hendre Schlrader, Herman Coetzee, prop forward, went over from a maul and converted try, Gymnasium moved 13-5 ahead.
Andre Siepker, Affies fullback, handed over a penalty for a 13-8 halftime score. From the second half kickoff Jandre Esterhuizen, wing, ran away and scored in the left-hand corner. Siepker missed the goal conversion, but the teams were level at 13-all.
Gymnasium came back and almost scored from a score-line maul but their defense was outstanding. Affies wing Esterhuizen was beaten just a few metres from the line.
Siepker missed the 50m penalty but Esterhuizen made another try. Fanus Jurgens broke well to give Affies the lead. Siepker added a fantastic conversion from the touchline and they went 20-13 in front.
Gymnasium stormed back, flanker Dirkie Theunissen completed an impressive 20m driving maul and didt down. Visagie was just two points behind at 20-18, even though they missed the conversion.
Siepker missed another long range penalty attempt for Affies. However, Gymnasium kept attacking and regained the lead after a Visagie penalty made them 21-20 ahead.
A Siepker penalty gave Affies 23-21 lead in the final minutes. However, Gymnasium pushed all the buttons and won. Affies were penalised by Visagie, who handed over the penalty to give them a convincing one-point victory.
Windhoek Gymnasium won the Super League summit victory. They also broke Affies’ recent dominance after they won the trophy in 2018 & 2019, before a Covid interruption 2021 and 2020.
Jorick Muir, Gymnasium’s flanker won the player/forward of the match awards. Jandre Esterhuizen from Affies won the backline player-of-the match award.
These were the final results of Standard Bank Schools Trophy.
U14 B: M&K Gertse 26-12 WHS B
U19 D: Dawid Bezuidenhout I 24-10 M&K Gertse II
U19 Super Plate: WHS 17-14 Moria
U15 B: Pro Ed Academy 38-24 M&K Gertse
U14 A: Windhoek Gymnasium 17-17 WHS
U19 C: HTS 38-25 Grootfontein
U15 A: Windhoek Gymnasium 16-15 WHS
U19 B: Windhoek Gymnasium II 21-19 WHS II
U19 A: Walvis Bay 46-18 Dr Lemmer
U19 Super: Windhoek Gymnasium 24-23 WAP
Source: namibian
