EYE ON THE PRIZE: Klipfontein United first team’s Denver Hitzeroth pushes towards the try line as a Booysens Park player does his best to stop him in a friendly match at Harmony Park in Klipfontein on Saturday May 3. Klipfontein won the game and the final score was 36-5. Picture: SUE MACLENNAN
Heartfelt home ground support, boosted by some bonus points, surely played a role in Klipfontein United’s 36-5 win over Booysens Pride last weekend. The Klipfontein side was 24-5 up at half time in the third fixture of the Adams Cup Round 1. They held off the more experienced Booysens Park, Gqeberha, side until 25 minutes into the second half when the referee halted the match.
The little village is getting a reputation for punching above its weight, having successfully hosted the high-profile match between the EP Elephants and the Border Bulldogs late last year. Saturday afternoon again proved that Klipfontein has what it takes to put on a show: the atmosphere at Harmony Park was festive and the autumn afternoon provided perfect conditions for the match against the 2024 regional league champions.
With both sides playing their hearts out, it was understandable but unfortunate that emotions would run high.
Viewed from behind during their half-time team talk, the black-and-yellow submarines (Booysens Pride) presented a formidable mass. The mostly younger Klipfontein side didn’t shy away from contact – but lean and mean, they mostly just outran the more experienced outfit.
The 2024 regional league champions were not taking the drubbing lying down and their coach, unable to contain himself, ended up on the wrong side of touch.
After several warnings from the referee, he was red-carded and instructed to leave the field. When that instruction was ignored, the referee ended the match only 25 minutes into the second half.
Reflecting on the match afterwards, assistant coach Luceon Galant avoided referring to the sanction.
“It was a very physical game and both sides played their hearts out,” Galant said. “It was a good game, a hard game, played the way it’s supposed to be played. We lost it due to physicality.
“Big ups to the boys: they travelled very far and they played their hearts out.
“It’s not over yet: these two teams will see each other again,” Galant said.
Klipfontein coach Sheldrid Cannon said they were very happy with the score.
“We scored five tries, so I’m very happy” Cannon said.
“This is a small community and a small group of players, but with heart, and all puling in the same direction.”
This weekend Klipfontein United will be in Schauderville to play St Mark’s.
“They are a good strong team who play Grand Challenge, so we’re looking forward to that. We’re up for it – we’re up for the fight,” Cannon said.
Ndlambe Rugby Federation chairperson Chris Gidana expressed disappointment at the way Saturday’s first-team match had ended.
“I think that behaviour was unprofessional,” Gidana said of the Booysens coach’s alleged interference. “People come to watch rugby and that gives the sport a bad name.”
The Ndlambe Rugby Federation’s pre-season under-21 trials were scheduled for Monday May 5 at Harmony Park in Klipfontein.
With seven regional league fixtures to go (the last is on June 21), next up for Booysens Pride are the Paterson Lions. This weekend, Klipfontein play an away match against Grand Challenge veterans St Mark’s.
If you’re looking for local SUNSED league matches to watch, you’ll have to wait until next weekend’s all-locals affair when Ndlambe Tigers play Kowie United in Port Alfred.
The next league up from the Adams Cup is the Grand Challenge, whose winners are in line for promotion to the Super 14.
MATCH STATS
Halftime score: 24-5
Fulltime score (15 minutes short of fulltime): 36-5
Tries (Kowie United): Dylan Graaff x2, Denver Hitzeroth, Junaid van Rensburg and Fabian van Rensburg.
Conversions: John Hutchinson x 4 Penalties: John Hutchinson x 1
This article was first published in Talk of the Town, May 8, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
