Westlake pull away from EG Jansen to make World Schools Festival final
It’s finals time at the World Schools Festival, and New Zealand’s Westlake will take on Ireland’s St Michael’s College in the tournament’s grand finale on Sunday.
It wasn’t an easy route to the final for either side, both claiming single-digit victories to punch their ticket. the Westlake team faced a stoic young E.G. Jansen squad in the semi-final after a draw against Hartpury in the quarter-final.
It wasn’t the tidiest of games when it came to skillset execution but the team with the higher success rate ultimately prevailed on the day.
Westlake were guilty of plenty of handling errors and throwing intercepts while attacking an aggressive Jansen defensive line in the contest’s early passages.
Jansen’s execution let them down in their attacking opportunities early, getting penalised at the line out. While the South Africans looked to have the upper hand in the scrum, nothing would come of it as the Kiwis were efficient with getting the ball through to their halfback and would be on the attack before the second shunt came through from the strong Boksburg pack.
Westlake failed to find touch on multiple occasions in the opening quarter and also kicked it out on the full which handed Jansen numerous chances at attacking field position.
Jansen’s backs posed damaging physicality on the left wing through Cameron Van Wyk and lethal pace through promising centre Jeandre Jacobs.
The defence was strong for both teams, but Westlake had more success finding narrow seams in the Jansen line, making strong carries in traffic and punishing any lack of organisation when the game opened up.
Handling errors saw the early opportunities of the second period for Westlake go begging, but Jansen also struggled to capitalise on the metres made through tough carries up the middle.
Westlake tightened the screws in some crucial areas once settled into the half, producing cleaner exits and retaining possession with greater efficiency.
After some strong work around the breakdown in the first half, Jansen were unable to slow the Westlake attack when the Kiwis found their rhythm. Captain James Cameron was damaging in the midfield on both sides of the ball for Westlake, beating players with strength and agility while always keeping his arms free for an offload. The multiple tries Cameron set up in the second period more than made up for some shaky handling in the opening half.
Some desperation infiltrated the Jansen side as the game looked to slip out of reach late and the additional pressure around the fringes made life difficult for the Aucklanders, but fullback Issac Murray-Macgregor stepped up with five minutes to play to extend the lead beyond reach. Final score: 25-16
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to comments