By Dan Lombard
A sunny winter’s afternoon greets thousands of boys, parents and supporters as Brooks Field braces for the annual clash between the Candies and the Wit Bulle. A picturesque scene of bruised bodies and sweat stained grass breathes life into those waiting in excited anticipation.
The question murmuring around the field, tramped hard by the teams before, was “Will they be able to pull it off?”. A fair question as it had been 14 years since Boys High were able to plant their fluttering red, white and green flag on home ground and the Candies had had a relatively average season thus far.
Sure enough, the sound of bagpipes and drums wafted it’s way throughout the grounds. In the distance, Danny Swart smiled over all in attendance, perched on top of the greenish bronze dome. His naked body for the world to see, clutching his book and rugby ball. Perhaps fitting, considering the Candies run of form against the old foe of late.
In a moment, the Candies had run out under their cherished flag to a thunderous applause, a tunnel of ordinary boys who would become heros. Boys who were on the cusp of greatness. Boys who were prepared to sweat blood and to honour the men who had worn the hallowed jersey in the time of yesteryear.
There was a deafening silence as the two armies lined up against each other to pay respect to a fallen Affies boy, Ian, his life cut short before it had even begun. The match to be played in his honour, testament to the mutual respect the schools share for one another.
A shrill blow of the referee’s whistle broke the silence and the boys lined up for kick-off. The Form Vs emotional as it would be the last time they played for their school. It was now or never.
The first 35 minutes were pulsating as the Candies did well to stifle the Wit Bulle’s attempts at putting together any decent phases on attack. There was no questioning of their talent, Affies were formidable and duly scored two converted tries which brought on worried glances from the Boys High contingent.
It would be fair to say that Boys High can never really match the sheer physical strength of Affies. What sets the school on the hill apart is the fact that they play with passion and a never quit attitude. This is spurred on by the constant singing of war cries, dutifully managed by the throng of cheerleaders dressed smartly in their flowing kilts.
Anyone who has ever played a game of rugby can account for the fact that one can barely hear the crowd as their hearts beat in their ears but what happened in the final minute of the first half must have been brought on by the incessant singing.
The Candies fullback gained possession and decided that he would goose step his way through the entire Affies’ team to score a sensational try under the sticks. The nervous feeling now tinged with a glimmer of optimism.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first finished. A Boys High try being awarded minutes after the match resumed. The belief was there, all the Candies had to do was to carry on doing the same and they did not disappoint as they scored a further three converted tries and landed a penalty goal while restricting Affies to a solitary converted try.
Time seemed to stand still as the crowd, growing ever more frantic, edged closer and closer towards the field. Paul Anthony, the legendary Lion of Lebanon, pacing up and down the dead ball line, roaring instructions to the battered Candies.
Sure enough, the final whistle blew and for a split second, there was confusion as to whether or not the scoreboard was correct. 38-21 to Boys High, the Candies had done it.
The school, Old Boys, parents and supporters stormed the field and lifted their champions to the heavens. Handshakes, back slapping and hugs were the order of the day with tears ejecting themselves out of the eyes of all of the souls on and around Brooks Field, both players and the Boys High community.
The Candies of 2019 may have run onto Brooks as boys but they were carried off of it as men. A moment to be cherished forever.
#redwhitegreen #Candies #PretoriaBoys
