Hawston Overcome Delicious NW in Hard-Fought Boland Top 12 Clash

Hawston RFC had to dig deep to secure a 38–29 victory over a resilient Delicious NW side in Saturday’s Sanlam Boland Top 12 encounter in Clanwilliam.

Kicking off at 17:00 in sweltering heat, the visitors ran in six tries to claim the win, but the nine-point margin reflected a fiercely contested battle that tested Hawston’s depth and discipline.

Branden Hunter led the scoring with a brace, while Dennian du Toit, Warwick Philander, Cameron Plaatjies, and Muren Swartz crossed for a try apiece. Philander added three conversions, with Brenton-Lee Dickson adding another to complete the 38-point tally.

While the starting lineup set the tone, Hawston credited their bench for shifting the game's momentum. The impact of the replacements brought crucial energy, allowing the visitors to sustain high intensity through the closing stages and proving the value of squad depth.

Dennian du Toit on the move with the ball for Hawston during their 38–29 victory over Delicious NW.

Image source: Hawston RFC

Delicious NW refused to lie down in front of their home crowd. Finishing within nine points despite Hawston’s clinical attack, the host side stayed within touching distance throughout, ensuring Hawston could never settle. While a bitter pill to swallow, the performance gives Delicious plenty of encouragement heading into their next fixture against Abbotsdale.

For Hawston, post-match reflections were a mix of satisfaction and self-correction. While set pieces provided a dominant platform, discipline at the breakdown proved problematic. A high penalty count put the team under unnecessary pressure—an error rate Hawston acknowledges must be fixed ahead of their next clash against Vredenburg.

Managing the long road trip to Clanwilliam alongside high temperatures further tested the squad's conditioning, though Hawston refused to use the conditions as an excuse.

With the victory locked in, Hawston’s focus now turns to refining execution and ironing out breakdown flaws. For both clubs, the Boland Top 12 continues to demand consistency—Hawston will look to build momentum, while Delicious NW aims to bounce back.