Affies win in Bloem

Affies came down from Pretoria to take on Grey College of  Bloemfontein and won 29-18 in a keenly contested match on Saturday afternoon, an FNB Classic Clash.

At one stage it seemed that Affies, who led 15-6 at half-time, would run away with the match but Grey showed great determination and with seven minutes to go were well in touch at 22-18 but in the last minute their handling broke down and let Affies in for a final try.

Affies deserved to win the match but there was no doubting Grey's effort and they experienced a second-half resurgence when their coaches made several substitutions. In fact their first goal came from  the involvement of three substitutes and their second try was scored by a substitute.

From the start the tackling on both sides was aggressive. Affies were a shade more aggressive and contested the breakdown area with greater vigour. In general they seemed sharper.

Affies' first try came when they won a Grey throw-in to a line-out. Eddie Fouché chipped and Carel Kock flykicked ahead, the ball veering to the left where Christian Strydom gathered and sped to the posts till pulled down just short of the line. The ball was quickly sent left where Henco Jordaan surged over for a try which Fouché converted. 7-0 after 3 minutes.

When Grey were penalised for offside, Fouché placed the ball on the middle of the half-way line and goaled the long kick. 10-0 after 7 minutes.

Grey attacked when they turned a penalty into a line-out and the line-out into a maul. Affies were penalised at the maul and Grey tapped and bashed at the line. Affies were penalised again and this time scrumhalf Niel Durow goaled. 10-3 after 11 minutes.

It was a match in which both sides won turnovers but Affies kept the ball through phases as they advanced to the line till Fouché beat three defenders to score. 15-3 after 24 minutes.

Durow doubled the Grey score with a second penalty and the half-time score was 15-6 to the visitors.

Affies scored after just two minutes of the second half when, from a line-out some 12 metres inside the Affies half, flyhalf Fouché broke clean through on a strong run. Challenged he gave to centre Louritz van der Schyff, who handed off, accelerated and raced some 24 metres to score a try which Fouché converted. 22-6.

Grey's first try was a gem. Rewan Kruger took Durow's place at scrumhalf with Durow moving to fullback. From a line-out Kruger moved wide and then played inside to substitute PR Serfontein who sped straight through a gap and raced 40 metres straight to the posts for a startling try. Mario Vieira, also a substitute, converted. 22-13 with 17 minutes to play. Grey were in the game.

Dian Gouws latched onto a bouncing kick and Grey attacked down the right. Durow raced ahead and then played outside to Kruger who was over in the corner. Now it was 22-18 with seven minutes to go.

Two determined sides went at each other. Grey were attacking down their left when their hands let them down and Van der Schyff picked up to race 44 metres to score in the right corner. From far out Ruan de Swardt converted.

At the final whistle excited Affies pupils, who had played in the other 26 rugby matches and those who had taken part in other activities flooded the field in excitement to rejoice with their heroes.

Scorers:

For Affies:

Tries: Henco Jordaan, Eddie Fouché, Louritz van der Schyff 2

Cons: Eddie Fouché 2, Ruan de Swardt

Pen: Eddie Fouché

For Grey:

Tries: PR Serfontein, Kruger

Con: Mario Vieira

Pens: Niel Durow 2

1st Teams

Grey College: 15 Dian Gouws, 14 Marnus Boshoff, 13 Jaco Wessels, 12 Wihan Victor, 11 Francois Agenbach, 10 Edward Janse van Vuuren, 9 Niel Durow, 8 Werner Roberts (captain), 7 Dian Schoonees, 6 David Theron, 5 Janco van Tonder, 4 George Rossouw, 3 Gideo Beukes, 2 Daniel Rust, 1 Stef Brits

Replacements: 16 Matthew Wessels, 17 IG Prinsloo, 18 Johan Swanepoel, 19 Marius Stander, 20 Hardus Nel, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Mario Vieira, 23 PR Serfontein

Affies: 15 Pieter Coetzer, 14 Carel Koch, 13 Henco Jordaan, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Christian Strydom, 10 Eddie Fouché (captain), 9 Divan Henning, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Phillip Krause, 6 Regardt du Plessis, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Niell Bezuidenhout, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Cabous Eloff.

Replacements: 16 Viaan Mong, 17 Louis Venter, 18 Juan Basson, 19 Lombard Grobler, 20 Jack Hart, 21 Ruan de Swardt, 22 Kobus Maree, 23 Arno van Wyk

Referee: Paul Mente

Assistant referees: Marileze van der Merwe, Anovuyo Mbande

Results Down the Years

1953: Grey won 3-0

1954: Grey won 9-3

1955: Grey won 19-0

1956: Draw 6-6

1957: Grey won 22-0

1958: Grey won 14-6

1959: Grey won 14-3

1966: Grey won 25-11

1967: Grey won 22-0

1970: Grey won 16-11

1971: Grey won 19-0

1973: Grey won 10-3

1974: Grey won 14-6

1992: Grey won 24-3

1993: Draw 26-26

1994: Grey won 13-6

1995: Grey won 37-13

1996: Affies won 25-3

1997: Grey won 19-9

1998: Draw 23-23

1999: Grey won 17-13

2000: Draw 17-17

2001: Draw 12-12

2002: Grey won 46-21

2003: Grey won 33-3

2004: Grey won 32-29

2005: Affies won 27-20

2006: Affies won 18-13

2007: Grey won 47-10

2008: Grey won 31-12

2009: Grey won 30-13

2010: Grey won 23-6

2011: Grey won 16-11

2012: Affies won 35-29

2013: Affies won 37-31

2014: Grey won 42-31

2015: Affies won 29-18