The Southern Suburbs soar in the spotlight as SACS shock Berg and Bosch bully Bishops
The final school boy rugby weekend saw the KP Derby Series head to the Western Cape with a double in Cape Town.
(In a cloud of blue and white, SACS would emerge as unlikely victors over rivals Wynberg - Credit photostories.co.za ).
A drama-filled season closed shop this past Saturday as the Southern Suburbs big hitters took to the stage. ‘SACSBerg’ and ‘BishBosch’ once more served as fantastic final acts in the rugby season. Closing the 2026 King Price Derby Series story along with the annual Charlie Hofmeyr V Robertson clash. This year round Robertson hosting the derby-day.
Beginning at the Memorial A field, where SACS hosted a recently bruised Berg. After being forerunners for the best in the Southern Suburbs, Wynberg had seen a very disappointing defeat at the hands of rivals Rondebosch the previous weekend to throw things off course. SACS had emphatically dismantled Bishops the same day, scoring 55 points to build from a strong showing against Paul Roos a couple weekends prior. As old boys, parents, students and, for a final time, the class of 26’ began bustling and shouting for their beloved schools, the two XVs entered the arena. A topsy-turvy first half was due as emotions ran high. SACS scored first to ignite the College cluster of support as Deen Fortuin crashed over the try line. Wynberg would score two of their own soon afterward however. Naeem Mohamed scored the first after a massive rolling maul saw Mohamed equal the scores. SACS would once more give their support a reason to sing a few minutes later. James Sale breaking the lines before offloading to Luke McKenzie to jot down in the corner. A fifth try of the game would be in order not long after Mckenzie’s five pointer. This time magic from the flyhalf Achmat Behardien stepping his way to the try line. Converting his try before adding another 3 points with a penalty a few minutes later. 24-12 the visitors lead, with star man Behardien with half of their haul. Vitally for SACS, Rj Cunningham would score late in the half to shift momentum and haul his side back into the tie. 24-19 going into the break as Jake Dave converted Cunningham’s try. With skies grey overhead, the sides re-entered with a bang. Matthew Anthony of Wynberg running a sublime angle to release the cavalry and split the SACS side open. Eventually seeing Behardien score in the corner for his second. 29-19 and the hosts were back to a 2-score deficit. A deficit that would soon be partially knocked down as a patient SACS offense saw Luca Liebenburg score the host’s fourth of the afternoon. A further conversion and the deficit was just three. Pressure began to mount from the hosts and before long SACS would take their first lead since the 4th minute. First Jake Dave would level things with a pinpoint penalty which would be followed by Luca Orgill scoring after SACS committed the Wynberg defense before swinging it wide to the extra man. 34-29 in favour of the hosts. A massive momentum swing. As the clock entered the final 10 minutes of the season, SACS would cement a terrific derby-day comeback and a dominant showing to cap the season. Another Dave penalty backed up by a James Sale try in the final 15 seconds. Erupting the SACS support with a fantastic try, a worthy contender of try of the season as Sale and Orgill linked up on the right wing. 44-29, 25 unanswered points from College in the final half hour of play. A very promising core of grade 11 players having burst onto the scene this year means SACS can certainly eye the Southern Suburb Crown next year.
Over the suburb, Rondebosch saw 2026’s crown come home to the Tinkie Heyns once more. After defeating Wynberg last week, the Suburb was theirs for the taking against a thoroughly beaten up Bishop's side. One win from their last eight and well outside the top 40 in South Africa, it had been a campaign to forget. Traveling to the Tinkie Heyns, not much would change for the 1st XV of Bishops in the curtain closer. Despite going toe-to-toe with Bosch in the final half hour of action, it would be too little too late. A try from Finn Watermeyer and another right before the break would help Bosch into a 10-3 lead. A lead that would be helped by a solo Josh Kirby five pointer. Running a great line, Kirby would run rampant through the midfield before diving under the poles. A try rivalling the Sale try that would be scored later in Newlands. A final half hour of blow-for-blow action would ensure Bosch’s victory. Eventually resulting in a 29-15 Bosch dub and the Southern Suburb Crown theirs. An 18th finish in the country to go along with it.
Finally, the town of Robertson united for a KP Derby against the traveling Charlie Hofmeyr. A side with a very different form to Bishops. Unbeaten for eight straight games, the Ceres-based school would add another win to finish a sublime season. The Charlies holding on to an absolute nail-biter. Thanks to three first half tries, the Charlies would lead 22-7 at the break. A seemingly smooth sailing that would soon turn rough as the hosts fought their way back into it. A climax that would fittingly see off the KP Derby Series. An excellently timed and placed grubber kick scythed the Charlies open in the dying embers for Brayden Joseph to get his side within a point of their rivals. 26-27 down, Robertson heartbreakingly would get two chances to seal a dramatic dub. First, the try conversion which would be missed before a penalty came their way after the buzzer had gone. Albeit from just inside the Charlies half, a chance nonetheless. The referee had to usher the Charlie support back onto the stand, half of which had mistaken his whistle for the final one. Once all was set, the penalty from van Niekerk would fall agonizingly short. A mere meter or so seeing Charlie Hofmeyr win the derby.
