Ex-Point High players excel in the Free State

MOSSEL BAY RUGBY NEWS - Two former Point High School learners, Duncan Amsterdam and Martley Bayman, are playing for the Griffons' U20 rugby team in Welkom in the Free State.

This is after being awarded bursaries and securing places at a rugby academy.

Amsterdam said this week: "I'm enjoying my rugby and looking forward to the road ahead. But everything really began at Point High. I was given opportunities and seized them."

Although the SA Rugby U20 competition was cancelled this year owing to Covid-19, the Griffons U20s are still going great guns, playing friendlies.

They trounced the Griquas U20s 59-10 in a friendly match last weekend. Bayman scored a try.

At the end of July they played the Leo-pards, who beat them 27-17. Today, Friday 13 August, they are playing the Leopards in Potchefstroom and will want to redeem themselves after their loss.

Both Amsterdam and Bayman left Point High at the end of Grade 10 to attend schools in the northern Free State.

The rugby bursaries they received were for 2018 and 2019. Amsterdam spent 2018 at Hentie Cilliers in Virginia and matriculated at Bethlemen Voortrekker High in 2019.

Bayman attended Welkom Gymnasium in 2018 and matriculated there in 2019.

They have both played for Griffons since the age of 17, are turning 20 this year and are currently at the Bloemfontein Rugby Academy. Amsterdam's position is centre and Bayman, hooker.

Martley Bayman

Duncan Amsterdam

Invited to play in trials

They were invited to play in trials for the Griffons and were chosen for the U20 team. Prior to this Amsterdam and Bayman played for Collegians Rugby Club.

Neither are working. The rugby academy is full time, so they can focus wholeheartedly on their game.

Bayman said: "In my short rugby career, I've had many injuries, but haven't allowed them to get me down. I play my best rugby for the Griffons because it's the type of play I enjoy - a fast game requiring more skill and speed than power and size. My dream is to play for any provincial team."

Bayman broke his ankle in 2016, sprained shoulder ligaments in 2017 and tore knee ligaments in 2019.

Amsterdam said: "I'd like to play overseas one day. There is much criticism and politics surrounding rugby in South Africa, so I would prefer to play abroad. I played in Academic Week in 2018 and Craven Week in 2019.