Monument Hoërskool of Krugersdorp on Saturday won the 2009 @lantic national Sevens series for schools at the champions tournament at Konka near Rustenburg when they beat Vryheid’s Pionier Hoërskool in the final. The halftime score was 7-5.

The final was a highlight of the tournament which was a culmination of the 15 regional tournaments held throughout the country since the first at Merensky in Tzaneen on January 31. A total of 327 schools took part in the series.

Pionier took the early lead in the final through an unconverted try by Francois Scheepers but Monument, with five Craven Week players in their side, went into the lead through a converted try by JP le Grange to make the halftime score 7-5 after a very tight first half.

Jason Hofmeyer stretched the lead with a long-range grubber and charge try under the posts (14-5). When Vincent Scott stabbed through a kick to collect and score after a favourable bounce the score went to 21-5 and it was all over, with the outstanding Monnas player and captain Bradley Moolman putting the cherry on top with another try.

The general standard of rugby on the weekend was simply outstanding and augured well for South Africa’s future in Sevens. There was a great awareness evident of how the game, strange for many at the start of the series, should be played and a skills level far beyond that to be expected from schoolboys, and it was clear why Springbok coach Paul Treu had earlier in the tournament identified players whom he regarded as future international Sevens stars.

** Defending champions Harmony Academy showed just how good they are and outran Waterkloof 22-7 in the Plate final with some structured and sometimes perfect Sevens.

In the Bowl final Tygerberg always had the edge over a game Potch Gim side while Diamantveld beat Framesby for the Shield.
In the play-off for third and fourth positions, Middelburg were too god for Merensky (14-5) after these two sides had earlier lost in the Cup semifinals to Monuments and Pionier respectively.

The general standard of rugby was simply outstanding and augured well for South Africa’s future in Sevens . There was a great awareness of how the game, strange for many at the start of the series earlier this year, should be played and a skills level far beyond that to be expected from schoolboys.

Play-off results:
Cup: Final: Monument 26 Pionier 5
Semifinals: Pionier 26 Merensky 14; Monument 28 Middelburg 14
3rd/4th play-off: Middelburg 14 Merensky 5
Plate final: Harmony Academy 22 Waterkloof 7
Bowl final: Tygerberg 26 Potch Gim 12
Shield final: Diamantveld 21 Framesby 7

- Author: Wim van der Berg -