It was always going to be a clash to be savoured – unbeaten

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: Jon Harris
• Publication title: Constantiaberg Bulletin

For the first time in living memory, Berg exited the gates at Brug Street 30-27 victors, after they led 20-10 at the break. The Berg had only beaten Paarl Boys’ High twice in living memory, the last being in 1991, and before that in 1988, both matches taking place at “The Hawth”, as the Wynberg grounds were then fondly called by the pupils

Making this victory special on a personal level was that Joe da Costa, father of Berg skipper, Aden, was in the front row for Wynberg in 1988, the first of their now-three victories.

By his very clear recollection, that match was a mud-bath, heavy rains forcing the transfer of the match to the high pitches above the sunken cauldron of the Hawthornden main pitch. The weather and underfoot conditions pretty much precluded the contest from being a showpiece.

A stop-start affair wherein the participants probably enjoyed the contest marginally more than spectators.

By contrast, son Aden led his team on to the pitch in Paarl, fit, well-prepared and ready for the contest. In their arsenal, a front row topping the scales at a combined 330kg, enough to stop any juggernaut pack from any of the Paarl/Stellenbosch schools.

Their scrumming prowess an undoubted massive cog in the mechanics of the Berg game.

With former top-flight professional scrumhalf Nick Groom as director of rugby and the iconic Justin van Winkel, Wynberg have been outstanding in recent years.

Their game is a quality hybrid of strengths from ball carrying, scrum power, lineout prowess, kicking mastery, both out-of-hand and at goal, and a healthy blend of...