Affies too much for brave College

Not that the Pietermaritzburg boys flinched – not at all. But the skill and speed of the Pretoria side were too much, and Affies won 59-7 after leading 31-0 at half-time.

The big defeat had nothing to do with energy, determination or coaching but everything to do with the superior individual prowess of too many opponents.

In 22 matches between the two schools, Affies have won 19 times, but none has been as big as this. And they did it on Goldstones with all the support that College could muster. Not that Affies lacked support for before they played 26 rugby teams and 14 hockey teams had played as part of the annual migration between the two great schools.

It was cold on Goldstones but fortunately the wind had dropped.

Affies kicked off and soon showed their intent as fullback Charles Goedhals raced on counterattack to set his side on the front foot. From a line-out Affies ran again and soon were beating at the College line. They went wide and Ruben Meiring cut between the College locks to score. Ruan de Swardt inevitably converted. 7-0 after 4 minutes.

Affies dominated possession and territory, and all College seemed to do was defend, tigerishly and tirelessly, A penalty gave Affies a line-out. They mauled and moved forward till the captain Schalk Erasmus broke off and scored. 14-0 after 15 minutes.

Six minutes later they scored again as the forwards charged ahead, the backs went wide and outside centre Marnus Potgieter scored the first of his three tries. 21-0.

Early in the match Craven Week tighthead Arno van Wyk had left the field, his place taken by burly James Combrink who had played in the exciting 2nd XV match which was a curtainraiser to this match. Just before half-time Affies scored two tries, the first by Combrink after another counterattack by Goedhals that took play to the College line, the second by strong wing Carel Koch after a scrum on the Affies' right from which they went wide left where Koch had an overlap and scored in the corner. 31-0 and half-time.

In that half Affies had 72% of possession. College did much better in the second half, partly because they played with the ball in hand more.

The start to the half was inauspicious for the home side as big, fast Phillip Krause went on a long run but fell just short of the line. Affies won the ball, Krause joined in again and dived over but lost the ball forward. Affies won a tighthead and bashed but knocked on. College seemed to take hope from these two signs of Affies' frailty. Ayanda Duma had a promising run down the right off a pass from prop Matthew King but lost the ball five metres from the Affies' line. A penalty gave College a five-metre line-out from which they went wide but Affies won a turnover.

College tapped the penalty at which Affies had lost a player to the sin bin but the attack ended in touch. Affies threw in to a line-out five metres from their own line and College won the ball. The passing went to ground but strong scrumhalf Lodewyk Muller, son of Springbok prop Lood, gathered and shot over for the try, which Ruben van Blerk converted. Try and conversion, two good reasons for College boys to hurl their bashers in the air. Joy seemed to know no bounds but was short-lived.

De Swardt kicked off to the College 22 where Krause dispossessed the catcher and put the ball in Combrink's hands, and the prop raced through for his second try. 38-7

After a kick and chase by De Swardt, Affies had a five-metre scrum but lost the ball and College, ran from behind their line and sent tall Xolisa Gama racing nearly 60 metres down the left wing.

With time running out Potgieter scored two tries.

The first came after a line break and long run by Krause. As he was being tackled Krause got a low hard pass to Potgieter on his left and the centre cut in at an angle to score under the posts. 45-7. The second started when College were attacking but fumbled and Potgieter flykicked the ball downfield. A horrible bounce beat the lone College defender and stood up benignly for Potgieter who accepted the offering and scored under the posts, completing his hat-trick. 52-7

From the very kick-off Affies started a magnificent interpassing movement which ended with a second try by Erasmus. 59-7.

Those 21 points in the last few minutes, skewed the match a bit, for College had had a  much better second half.

Scorers:

For Affies:

Tries: Marnus, Potgieter 3, James Combrink 2, Schalk Erasmus 2, Ruben Meiring, Carel Koch

Cons: Ruan de Swardt 5, Tristan Janse van Vuuren 2

For Maritzburg College:

Try: Lodewyk Muller

Con: Ruben van Blerk

Teams:

Maritzburg College: 15 Jaco Truter, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Njabulo Mjara, 12 Cameron Hope, 11 Ayanda Duma, 10 Ruben van Blerk, 9 Lodewyk Muller, 8 Matthew Diedricks, 7 Nicholas Odendaal, 6 Andile Khanyile, 5 Myles Hancock, 4 Liam Cameron- Macintosh, 3 Andrew Reintges (captain), 2 Austin Landman, 1 Matthew King

Replacements: 16 Fezo Mbatha, 17 Thubelihle Nzimande, 18  Nththuko Mchunu, 19 Jeandré Labuschagne, 20 Ross Williamson, 21 Chris Reed, 22 Matthew Squires

Affies: 15 Charles Goedhals, 14 Ruben Meiring, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Carel Koch, 10 Ruan de Swardt, 9 Jack Hart, 8 Jaco Labuschagne, 7 Phillip Krause, 6 Regardt du Plessis, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Dylan du Preez, 3 Arno van Wyk, 2 Schalk Erasmus (captain), 1 Cabous Eloff.

Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 James Combrink, 18 Pretorius, 19 Ruben Dreyer, 20 Desesde Nel, 21 Mulder, 22 Ruhan Schmulian, 23 Tristan Janse van Vuuren

 Referee: Vusi Msibi (KwaZulu Natal Referees' Society)

Assistant referees: Andrew Pace (KwaZulu Natal Referees' Society), Johan Pretorius (KwaZulu Natal Referees' Society)

Results Down the Years

1996: Affies won 12-9

1997: Affies won 21-16

1998: Affies won 36-15

1999: Affies won 29-7

2000: College won 16-10

2001: Affies won 20-5

2002: Affies won 20-19

2003: Affies won 25-24

2004: Affies won 33-3

2005: Affies won 32-7

2006: College won 19-15

2007: Affies won 31-19

2008: Affies won 52-15

2009: Affies won 10-0

2010: Affies won 32-20

2011: Affies won 19-6 and 55-7

2012: Affies won 33-7

2013: Affies won 51-20

2014: College won 37-10

2015: Affies won 50-19

2016: Affies won 59-7