Fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya scored a hat-trick as SA Schools outclassed SA Schools A at Hoërskool Middelburg on Thursday.
The 49-14 result justified the selectors’ combinations following last week’s U18 Craven Week at the same venue, with SA Schools running in seven tries to two.
SA Schools led 28-0 at the break after scoring four converted tries. The A side rallied in the second half with two tries of their own, but the dominant team dotted down three more times to seal the emphatic victory.
SA Schools wing Jadrian Afrikaner opened the scoring just two minutes in, finishing off a well-worked attack down the left. Flyhalf Liyema Nela added the conversion.
The team in green dominated the opening quarter, camping in opposition territory. They crossed the A side’s line twice more, only to be denied by earlier infringements.
With SA Schools having the upper hand at scrum time and their backs running at pace, the cracks were clearly showing. Three consecutive scrum penalties near the line went unrewarded, though, as over-eagerness and a lack of cohesion cost them.
SA Schools A only entered the opposition half for the first time after 14 minutes, having defended for much of the opening spell.
Then came a moment of brilliance from Siyaya. With the A side attacking in the red zone, a turnover sparked a sweeping counter. Quick hands found the fullback 60m out, and he sliced through the defence with a mix of steps and dummies before diving under the posts to the crowd’s delight.
Stop that Zekhethelo Siyaya 😮💨
The SA Schools fullback with one of the most memorable solo tries we’ve seen all week ⚡️
They tried and tried again but there was no stopping him 💪#SSRugby | #SASchools pic.twitter.com/m7PDMi9qnk
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 17, 2025
Hooker Altus Rabe added SA Schools’ third try from the back of a strong maul, and Nela slotted a sideline conversion to stretch the lead to 21-0 after 28 minutes.
Right on half time, Siyaya bagged his second, latching onto a slick drift pass from a 5m scrum to race in under the sticks. Nela’s fourth successful kick made it 28-0 at the break.
The second half brought wholesale changes from both sides, but Siyaya stayed on and struck again just four minutes in. Joining the line on attack, he saw his grubber kick blocked, only for the ball to bounce straight back into his hands with no defenders in sight. Replacement flyhalf Ruben Groenewald converted to make it 35-0.
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SA Schools A responded with renewed energy and were twice held up over the line around the 52-minute mark. Referee Excellent Mnkomo was spot-on with his calls, with replays confirming the decisions.
Their pressure eventually paid off as hooker Thomas Muller scored from a well-constructed maul. Replacement scrumhalf Ethan van Biljon slotted the conversion to get them on the board.
SA Schools hit back with a maul try of their own, replacement hooker Clinton Agu going over before Groenewald added the extras.
Flank Gert Kemp then crashed over after a series of pick-and-goes, before SA Schools A replacement Pieter Cilliers had the final say with a close-range effort.
SA Schools 49 (28) – Tries: Zekhethelo Siyaya (3), Altus Rabe, Jadrian Afrikaner, Clinton Agu, Gert Kemp. Conversions: Liyema Nela (4), Ruben Groenewald (2).
SA Schools A 14 (0) – Tries: Thomas Muller, Pieter Cilliers. Conversions: Ethan van Biljon (2).
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
