This weekend Westville were hosted by Northwood in the second week of Winter sports: Hockey, Rugby and Tennis. The weather was blistering hot and should have had a negative effect on the matches but there was no complaint from both sides as the boys all got stuck in. Considering the heat, the matches were of a high standard and most, if not all the A team games, were highly competitive.
In Hockey News, Westville won eight of the twelve matches against Northwood with one game being drawn. The 1st team had a compelling victory in a game that provided 12 goals. It is great to see the team bounce back in such a convincing fashion from the disappointment of last week’s loss to Hilton. After a bright start which saw Westville lead the home team by 4 goals to 2, Northwood then clawed their way back into game to level matters at 4 all. In the final quarter, however, Westville moved up a gear and scored four goals to finish convincing winners by 8 goals to 4.
In the “A” team results, Northwood shaded Westville winning the 2nds and 16A’s. The 14A’s was drawn.
In Rugby News, Westville won fifteen of the sixteen matches against Northwood to underline their reputation as a top rugby school in the province.
The 1st Team clash was won by Westville in a fairly convincing fashion 29 – 7. The visitors outscored the home team by four tries to one, but it was the home team who got on the scoreboard first after Westville was reduced to 14 men when lock JP Pelser was sin binned. Northwood’s scrum half, Jason Fuhri found a hole in the Westville defence and ran 40 metres to score under the poles. Flyhalf, Jasey Van Kampen added the extras and Northwood went up 7 – 0. The visitors soon replied with a try of their own after an excellent driving maul off a lineout saw flank, Devon Muller go over in the left corner. Flyhalf, Niel Van Rooyen could not convert to equal the scores. Despite playing into a stiff breeze, the Westville forwards were controlling the tight phases, forcing Northwood into conceding penalties which gave Westville the opportunity to kick for field position. From a lineout on the Northwood ten metre, the ball went wide and centre Brogan Boulle made an excellent break to put fullback Shane Ball in space. The speedster showed a clean pair of heels to score under the sticks. Van Rooyen converted and Westville were up 12 – 7. Van Rooyen added an extra three when Northwood conceded another penalty just before the half.
The heat did finally take its toll and the error count in the second half was significantly higher on both sides. Westville scored a further two tries in the second half through lock, Pelser and substitute lock, Bell. Both were converted by Van Rooyen to take Westville into a 29 – 7 lead. To their credit, Northwood did not give up and enjoyed a sustained period of attack deep in their opponents half. Westville’s defence however, was equal to the task and the home team were unable to add to their 1st half tally.
The “A” team games were all won by Westville. The 14A game was a cracker and Northwood led 15 – 14 until two minutes before the final whistle when the Westville backs scored a beautiful counter attack try to secure a hard fought victory.
In Tennis news, the Westville 1st team beat their Northwood counterparts 7-2