Title for 2023 is on the line

The schools rugby season reaches an exciting climax this weekend with all finals of the Standard Bank age leagues being played at the Hage Geingob Stadium.

On late Friday afternoon (from 16:40), the bronze final of the Under 19 Super League will be played between the two semi-finalists eliminated last weekend.

Swakopmund’s PSG Pro-Ed Academy’s first team was overran 12-39 by the Schoemans Group Windhoek Gymnasium Lions last Friday night.

The coastal team, who reached the Super League semi-final for the first time in their history, will aim to set a new benchmark in the bronze final against Autohaus Windhoek Affies.

Affies gave another typically determined performance in going down 31-36 against Samsung Windhoek High School in an action-packed semi-final last weekend.

Affies’ key players such as fly-half Van der Merwe Tromp (who scored three tries) and forwards Delano van der Berg, Walther Otto and captain Ben Burger have all been in great form this season and underlined their potential to influence the outcome of a match.

Pro-Ed withdrew from their league fixture against Affies in the capital on 26 August, which would have been a dead rubber anyway since both teams had already qualified for the top four.

WHS V GYMNASIUM

An intriguing match-up awaits between the Gymnasium Lions – defending champions of 2022 – and the dangerous WHS Kudu Bulls.

There could be no doubting Gymnasium’s championship credentials, with a strong core of players involved in last year’s successes in both the U19 Super League and those who advanced from winning the U19B league.

Number 8 and captain Janneman Brand is back and eager to play since being on the sideline on crutches for much of the season with an ankle fracture early in the season.

In his absence, centre Stephan Gildenhuys led the red and black jerseys to finish the season at the top of the eight-team log, following six wins and one defeat.

Players such as their national U18 reprentatives Gildenhuys, Waldre Kotze (centre/fly-half), loosies Zack von Wielligh and Ruan Agenbag, frontrowers Herman Gouws, Daniël du Toit and Hendré Schrader (hooker) have integrated with senior figures from last year’s winning team such as prop Otja Auala, lock Zander le Roux and fly-half J.W. Visagie. Also, bulky lock Heinrich Geldenhuys has been an acquisition from WAP’s 2022 team.

However, their only defeat this season has been against Windhoek High School in a rare 23-24 result at Gymnasium’s Lions Den, at the end of July.

In a non-league fixture, Gymnasium won the annual Interhigh clash 12-5 at Vegkop Stadium during April, although the Kudu Bulls later made their statement by turning the tables.

WHS also had a solid representation at the Under 18 Academy Week in Johannesburg. Prop Joshua Bester, lock Henry Otto and outside backs Jurgen Meyer, Sammy Soobramoney and Alejandro Morkel have all played their roles in getting the team this far.

Fly-half Caeden Moller and centre Davito van Wyk (who each sent a dropgoal through the uprights in the thrilling and narrow semi-final win against Affies) are important playmakers in the potent WHS backline.

Up front, flank Henry Kambatuku had another storming match against WAP, while Jaythen Orange, Pieter-Jan Strydom and Tjeripo Karuhumba as well as William Beukes (full-back) have been blooded into the senior fold after playing U16 Grant Khomo Week for Namibia this year.

WHS also features a recently returned captain in flank Luca Cindano, who missed part of the season with a knee injury.

• Full match schedule on page 2. Saturday’s matches will be broadcast live on NMH’s platforms.