And the Bragging Rights go to…

Rondebosch secure bragging rights against their old foe, Bishops, on the Piley Rees. Defeating the hosts 31-16 in a Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools derby on Saturday the 1st of June 2024.

The leafy Southern suburbs of Cape Town came to a standstill this past weekend as the “Bish-Bosch” derby took centre stage. This cross town rivalry that is played twice a season always presents itself as a blockbuster. The first instalment of this year’s fixture was exactly that.

The opening 10 minutes of the match was an arm wrestle between the two sides, with both sizing one another up. The deadlock was broken in the 10th minute when Rondebosch’s forward pack flexed their muscle. The first try of the afternoon coming from a well set maul, where lock, Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, rumbled over to open his teams account. Flyhalf, David Simon, couldn’t add the extra two points. Rondebosch with an early lead 5-0.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to reply. Three minutes later, Fullback, Lucca Mynhart stepped up to put his side on the board from 30 meters out. To some spectator’s surprise, the match up so far was an even one. Rondebosch 5 Bishops 3.

Bishops found themselves in a period of good play with the bounce of the ball falling in their favour. With pressure mounting on the visitors try line, Bishops scrumhalf, Max Marr, found space as he sniped around the fringes of a ruck to dive over, uncontested, for his sides first try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed. Bishops took the lead 8-3 with 22 minutes on the clock.

Bishops began to grow in confidence as the game went on with Rondebosch battling to get out of first gear. Their sustained pressure on the visitors paid off once more when they were awarded a kickable penalty. Mynhart’s boot added the three points. Bishops lead grew to 6 points with 28 minutes played.

This Rondebosch side, who have been notoriously slow starters this season fought back just before the half time break against the run of play, once again using their forward pack to good effect. Hooker, Justin Amos’s impressive leg drive from the base of a ruck powered him over the try line. Simon converted his sides second try to give his team a 1-point lead at the half time break. Halftime – Bishops 11 Rondebosch 12.

Rondebosch came out firing in the second half, no doubt after getting a stern talking to by their coach. On paper and based on this season’s set of results, Rondebosch were the stronger side and they proved it in the second half.

Their pivot, David Simon finally found his rhythm as his sides time in possession grew. Great inter-play between backs and forwards resulted in a try for tighthead prop, Matthew van der Merwe. The conversion was missed by Simon. Rondebosch 17 Bishops 11.

A barrage of attacks on the visitors try line was thrown the way of Rondebosch, which to their credit they absorbed incredibly well. This would prove to most onlookers to be the defining factor in this match. A turnover 3 meters from their line gave Rondebosch an opportunity to march down field and march they did. The Rondebosch line out worked well all day and it bared fruit once more thanks to another well set maul. A well timed break away down an unmarked blindside meant flanker and Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools Man of the Match, Joshua Neill could canter in for his team’s third try. The conversion by Simon was successful. Rondebosch 24 Bishops 11.

David Simon, the Rondebosch flyhalf had a game of two halves. The first half being fairly quiet. The second half, however, he was in total control, pulling strings, managing where the game was being played thanks to an educated boot and providing his side with an “X” factor on attack.

Simon crafted his teams final try of the afternoon with a chip kick in behind the Bishops defence for his fullback to chase. Dylan Miller regathered the ball thanks to a favourable bounce and ran in a spectacular try. Simon’s conversion was good. Rondebosch with a comfortable lead 31-11 with 20 minutes remaining.

Bishops sparked into life as they could sense this derby result running away from them. They replied with a score of their own within minutes of conceding. A sharp quick tap allowed them to catch the Rondebosch defence on the back foot and gave their speedster, Alex Newton the chance to show off his pace, power and agility to score in the corner. The touchline conversion by Mynhart was missed. Rondebosch 31 Bishops 16.

Rondebosch managed the game to its completion with Bishops unable to add any more points to the scoreboard. A derby of two halves, the first tightly contested and the second an exhibition of free flowing rugby. It really did have it all. There’s no doubt the return fixture in a few weeks’ time at Rondebosch will once again be a blockbuster.

Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Rondebosch Blindside Flanker 7 – Joshua Neill

Scorers:

For Bishops:

Tries: Max Marr; Alex Newton

Cons: Lucca Mynhart 0/1

Pens: Lucca Mynhart 2/2

For Rondebosch:

Tries: Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen; Justin Amos; Matthew van der Merwe; Joshua Neill; Dylan Miller

Cons: David Simon 3/4

Teams:

Bishops: 1 Gareth Mckinon 2 Jack Campbell 3 Yusuf Ahmed 4 Alex Smith 5 James Kotze 6 Josh Macdonald 7 Uzoma Ngcwangu 8 Aza Gabada 9 Max Marr 10 Jordan Peterson 11 Tim Visage 12 Ammar Laatoe 13 Iviwe Dadamasi 14 Alex Newton 15 Lucca Mynhart

Rondebosch: 1 Luke Pretorius 2 Justin Amos 3 Matthew van der Merwe 4 Danil-Nicolas     Oosthuizen 5 Tom Barnard 6 Matthys du Plooy 7 Joshua Neill 8 Collin Paul Kemp 9 Travis van den Berg 10 David Simon 11 Shakeel Abrahams 12 Alutha Wesi 13 Ewan Lawrie 14 David Kadima 15 Dylan Miller