I was an old-fashioned reporter again and it was great

 

I was asked by old friend Hannes Neinaber to help out with SuperSport Schools’ reporting on Saturday. There were just too many big schools rugby games on the go and they are short on capacity, following the departure of the impressive Franco Oberholzer – they are going to miss him.

Jeppe were in Durban and I didn’t have the stomach for the Ben Schoeman to go watch St John’s against Pretoria Boys’ High, so I agreed and went off to St Stithians where Parktown were the visitors.

I’m so glad I did. It was great to write an old-fashioned match report again. To not care about the result and to take action shots without worrying who the players in them were.

The bonus was that I got to see a cracker of a game. I suggested in my preview that these were two schools who were off their rugby best. No-one told that to the players on the field, or to the schoolboy spectators in the stands. It was as red-blooded and exciting as any game I’ve seen in a while and the spectators – adjudged the number one and two best supporters in the land in a recent competition – roared, chanted and jived from before the first whistle until well after the last.

And don’t presume there’s a lack of skill in those teams. Saints have a mighty scrum and a fierce defence; Parktown have some big ball carriers up front, and a couple of bewildering steppers at the back.

I’ve said it before (and maybe it’s not the right thing to say these days), but Parktown, with only black players in their lineup show that rugby is for everyone and talent knows no stereotypes.

I’ve not been to Saints for a while, but another of my former chirps still holds true – you’ll battle to find a better spread in the VIP area, or more hospitable hosts than they are.

Parktown won by three points, but I don’t care.

Plenty of highlights there.