After the first rugby team of Hermanus High School lost 50-0 against Worcester Gymnasium, supporters, former learners and parents raised their concerns about the school’s plans to improve its rugby.
Hermanus Times received letters from concerned parents about this ongoing performance of the first rugby team. “Apart from last Saturday’s great record defeat, for the first time ever the school also did not win any of its league games,” one of them said. “Many of the parents, former students and supporters are very keen to hear if there are steps in place to reverse this trend.”
Questions raised were: Is it a below-average team this year or is it a coaching problem? Will external experts help to improve the players’ performance? Like the practice at other schools, will “scouts” be used to attract better players from elsewhere?
According to the principal of Hermanus High School, Mike Smuts, the interschools is a highlight for both schools.
“It is a day all our children have been looking forward to for a long time. The whole week was filled with ‘in-house’ events to build the spirit of the school and to celebrate this event. I am very proud of Hermanus High School and each pupil, staff member and coach,” he said.
“The hours and hours of commitment, where they have gone over and beyond their call of duty, amazes me and fills my heart with gratitude.”
Smuts also emphasised the performance of the first rugby team is definitely not the finished product, but they are very much striving to keep on improving every year.
“The first rugby team lost to a better team. The opposition were probably more talented and skilful, but not once could you fault our boys on their commitment and effort. At half-time we were only 10-0 down. Straight after half-time we received two yellow cards within two minutes of each other. Playing against such a talented side, 13 vs 15 boys, hurt us.”
He also emphasised the players had off-season and pre-season training and conditioning since September last year.
“They have been practising three days a week at school since February, during the school holidays and very often over weekends as well when there were no fixtures against other schools.”
Smuts said the school does not form part of any league and that they have won a few matches, even though not too many.
“We are not going to appoint scouts to buy players from other regions. We are a community school that supports our local talent and children,” he stated. “External experts are definitely part of the process to improve the players performance.”
For Hermanus High all sport codes play an important role in the success of the school.
“On Monday both our boys and girls tennis teams won each and every match they played. They played 18 matches and won all 18 matches (18-0). We won the golf convincingly, playing away at Worcester.
“Our girls first hockey team won a titanic battle 2-1 on the astro, our boys first hockey team just lost a titanic battle 1-2. Our first netball team probably made the comeback of the season . . . they were trailing by five goals with four minutes to go (19-24) and caught up and beat Worcester 26-24. Our u-15A and u-15B teams won their rugby matches, our u-19B rugby team made an equally impressive comeback to win 20-19. That is really something to be proud of.”
