Boland bury a losing streak in derby-day drama whilst Upington and Pretoria host city rivalries - Weekend Wrap

The KP Derby Series continued to shine despite both international rugby in Buenos Aires and the Greatest Rivalry kicking off this past weekend 

(The Boland XV would eventually prevail in 2026’s Farmers’ Derby - Credit https://gallery.photostories.co.za/bolandoakdale/ )

Between both Paarl big hitters having retired after another eventful season, Southern Suburbs sides taking the long weekend as a bye from fixtures and Argentina and the All Blacks facing off against South African opposition, many eyes would have naturally been drawn away from school boy rugby. However, in detriment to these individuals, as over 60 sides took to their schools fields in tight, tense and terrific performances. The vehicle of the best of the best of these games, the King Price Derby Series, hosted three of these titanic clashes. The cities of Upington and Pretoria saw their top teams facing off in derby-days (Duineveld Upington hosting Upington Hoerskool and Pretoria Boys’ facing Affies) while Boland Landbou played Oakdale in what would become another instant classic. 

Beginning in Boland, where Oakdale traveled as the 16th best side in the country to face rivals Boland Landbou. A side who were desperate to taste victory once more as the season dwindled to a close. Four straight defeats to Paul Roos, Wynberg, Stellenburg and Paarl Boys’, meant the need to build on last year’s derby dub over Oakdale was ever present. Once more, like last year, the SA u18 internationals meant Oakdale had been handicapped. This time losing their captain Jacobus de Villiers. Despite this, the Bulle had come off a strong Framesby victory to begin August. However, the high of that 46-22 win certainly did not transfer for the start of the derby. Boland raced away with three converted tries courtesy of Tiaan Malan, Steyn Lamprecht and Juan Visagie. A Nathon-Lee Gordan try and conversion left little damage to Boland as they took a 21-7 lead after just 15 minutes. With the crowd against you and lacking your main leader, many teams may well have fallen away. Not Oakdale. Stubbornly insisting on getting back into the game. As the Boland Director of Rugby put it when speaking to Supersport Schools, “For all the boys…the occasion is an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives.” So aptly put as the sheer occasion of playing your Interschools for your beloved school could easily motivate any player on the pitch to mount improbable and incredible moments. Grinding their way back, Oakdale responded with two unconverted tries before half time. Turning the momentum in favour of the visitors despite the scoreboard showing Boland in a slight 21-19 lead.

Regardless, the first half had depicted that we were in for a fiery second 35. Despite a second try early on from Visagie, Oakdale would find their momentum they had gathered to end the first half. A yellow card for the hosts not helping their cause in the slightest. In a period of just under 15 minutes, Oakdale would almost replicate Boland’s strong opening. Finding a new gear to run rampant in front of a shocked home crowd. Three tries saw the scoreboard completely flip. Now reading a commanding 36-26 lead for the Bulle. A dramatic phase in a dramatic match. Nonetheless, as the clock yearned for its 70 minute mark, the match was in for a final, devastating and euphoric end. Big moments, big players step up. The classic case of B.M.T. Step forward Caleb Seroot. With barely 5 minutes left, the home star took the stage. Two tries, including a final minute clincher to see his name written in this Interschools chapter. You simply could not ask for much more drama than what this match had given us. With both sides enjoying two-score leads, it was in the end a moment of brilliance that saw the home crowd erupt. Seroot snapping a four game losing streak for Boland and giving Oakdale back-to-back derby defeats. 40-36, wrote the scoreboard. 

Both Gauteng and the Northern Cape were united this past weekend as the cities of Pretoria and Upington came together for derbies that had certainly been highlighted in the respective school calendars. Beginning in Pretoria, high flying and dominant Affies traveled to face Pretoria Boys’. A stand out derby in the country, let alone in Gauteng, Affies had begun to assert major dominance over their rivals. Ever since the turn of the decade and the return of the fixture in 2022, Affies had recorded 40 plus points in each of the last four match-ups. A mountainous aggregate score of 219 to 90. A streak that simply didn’t look like ending anytime soon for the Wit Bulle. This time round putting 45 past the hosts. Despite another defeat, Pretoria Boys’ certainly put their all into this one. Remarkably holding a 15-12 lead after 30 minutes of play. Tries from Queenton Mncube and Bakang Ramoshaba ensured this lead. However, as we had seen just weeks ago, when Affies had torn into Maritzburg in the second half, similar would be reserved for Pretoria. Coincidentally, Affies had also ended that fixture’s first half on 12 points. And in similar fashion, ran away with the second half. An early yellow for the hosts not helping as Affies scored three times before the 50 minute mark. Two more tries would come in the final 10 minutes as Fourie Roberts and Joshua Gouws both crossed the try line for the 7th ranked school side in the land. A 45-18 victory sealing Affies’ third straight victory. Bowing out of the KP Derby Series for 2026. 

In the other city derby, both Duineveld Upington and Upington Hoerskool made their KP debuts. A debut that would decidedly go better for the visitors. A sizable ranking gap between the two foreseeing the subsequent 36-19 win. With Upington Hoerskool ranking 68th and Duineveld being 158th, the visitors would cruise through the match.

Notably in the second half, scoring five of their 6 tries in the second 35. A comfortable win on the country’s biggest school rugby stage. 

In other notable fixtures; Graeme College edged Queens’ 31-28, Grey College eased past Outeniqua 45-17 as a warm-up before facing Paul Roos next weekend and DHS got the better of hosts KES, 22-12.