Match report: St Andrews outclasses Northcliff High in high-scoring match
Northcliff High hit hard early, but St Andrew's had the last word in a thrilling schoolboy showdown.
Day two of the prestigious Saints SportsFest brought with it a fierce clash between Northcliff High School (NHS) and the formidable boys from Grahamstown, St Andrew’s College.
In what was a fast encounter filled with momentum, swings and relentless attacking rugby, St Andrew’s College emerged victorious with a dominant 54-26 win over a spirited Northcliff outfit.
The third match of the day kicked off with both teams displaying intense hunger and determination, each side eager to stamp their authority early. The opening phases were tightly contested, with both schools trading possession and attacking intent in a fierce midfield battle.
It was Northcliff who struck first, capitalising on a quick counterattack in the 25th minute. Left winger Christiaan Adams ignited the game with a blistering run down the left flank, setting up a beautifully worked try. Matthew Hunt slotted the conversion with ease, giving NHS an early 7-0 lead.
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The scoreline, however, sparked life into the college side, who responded just five minutes later. Scrumhalf Connor Malan found a gap in Northcliff’s defence to crash over the try line, and centre Daniel Arnold made no mistake with the conversion, levelling the score at 7-7 in the 18th minute.
NHS weren’t done yet. Right flanker and captain Michael Nwogwugu powered over to reclaim the lead for the Johannesburg side, and Hunt again showed his consistency with the boot, pushing the score to 12-7.
But the St Andrew’s boys would not back down. Their response was immediate and ruthless. Hooker Amogelang Habi bulldozed his way to the try line, with Arnold adding the extras to tie things up once more at 12-12. From there, the Grahamstown boys shifted gears and began to dominate.
Two consecutive tries by winger Joshua van Zyl and another from Arnold before halftime saw St Andrew’s surge ahead. Arnold’s precision kicking kept the scoreboard ticking, sending his team into the break with a commanding 26-12 lead, a stunning turnaround after trailing earlier.
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The second half continued in the same vein, with fullback William Stevens adding another try and conversion, stretching the lead to 33-12. Northcliff showed glimpses of a comeback, with Nwogwugu once again crossing over and Hunt narrowing the gap to 19-33 with 17 minutes to play.
However, any hopes of a Northcliff revival were quickly dashed. Tries from St Andrew’s flyhalf Miles Sansom and scrumhalf David Chorley, both converted by the impeccable Arnold, extended the lead to 54-19. Northcliff had the final say through Mardoche Katanga’s late try and Hunt’s reliable boot, but it was little more than a consolation.
The final whistle blew with St Andrew’s College securing the emphatic 54-26 victory.
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After the match, Northcliff head coach Darren Jordaan praised his side’s fighting spirit. “St Andrew’s came back in the end nicely. We made a few errors, but what Northcliff showed was fight, and that’s all I can ask from my boys. I’m proud of them today. We’re making waves as a school, and I look forward to seeing us grow throughout the festival.”
St Andrew’s coach Jonny Mallett acknowledged the intensity of the encounter. “NHS looked well-coached and organised. We had to dig deep, bring on some of our senior players, and regain composure. I’m proud of how we finished the game. Northcliff never backed down, and big credit goes to them and their coaching staff.”
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