Another thriller in Bloemfontein

The home side lost their thriller in the last moments; on Saturday afternoon, in a Classic Clash, the home side won the thriller in the last moment.

With nine minutes left to play the Affies' captain Johan van Zyl, a burly hooker, scored a try which Reghardt Roets converted to give the visitors from Pretoria a 32-25 lead.

With three minutes to go, Grey advanced down the left in a passing movement till right wing Henk Cilliers scored and powerful centre Rikus Pretorius converted. 32-32, and there was just a bit more than a minute to play.

Flyhalf Wycliff Vlitoor, a late inclusion for Christopher Schreuder, kicked a long way downfield to his left. He chased his kick and when Charles Goedhals got the ball, Vlitoor tackled him with what was the most telling tackle of the match.

Affies were penalised and from well to the left of the posts, Pretorius kicked the winning penalty goal, the final whistle went and Grey pupils charged from the stands to their heroes on the field.

It was a breathless finish to a match that got better and better – a high quality of schoolboy rugby.

On a hot autumn afternoon in Bloemfontein, Affies had the first use of the breeze, attacked first and scored first. From their first line-out, they mauled and put pressure on the smaller-looking Grey pack.

Grey tackled high and Reghardt Roets, the tall Affies flyhalf, goaled. 3-0 to Affies after 4 minutes. It was a great penalty 67 minutes later than would win the game.

Grey started with promising runs early on, first by Henk Cilliers, then by their outstanding outside centre Janco van Heyningen. Their first try was started by Van Heyningen and finished by Pretorius.

It started inside their own half when from a tackle/ruck Van Heyningen went cleverly right and passed to lock Handré Roux who immediately gave to Pretorius who raced down the field and rounded to the posts for an excellent try. 7-3 to Grey after 26 minutes.

Then it was the Affies' turn to attack, but Grey's defence was firm till a penalty gave Affies a five-metre line-out. From the maul, they drove strongly for a try by Van Zyl which Roets converted. 10-7 to Affies after 32 minutes.

From the kick off by David Kriel, Richard Kriel won the ball back for Grey and went right. Van Heyningen broke and swatted an underarm pass to fullback David Kriel who raced over for a try. 12-10 to Grey, as the lead kept changing hands.

That was the half-time score.

At the start of the second half Pretorius goal a penalty to increase Grey's lead to 15-10, but from the kick-off, Affies attacked through their forwards and pick-n-go took them right to the Grey line where scrumhalf Johan Mulder dived over for a try which Roets converted. 17-15 to Affies, after five changes of the lead.

After the kick-off replacement prop Herman Agenbag showed a great turn of speed down the middle of the field, and act which seemed to bring the match to a new, faster level. Pretorius had a break and then Affies were penalised for a high tackle. Pretorius made it 18-17 to Grey after 43 minutes.

Immediately Grey was penalised for obstructive running and Roets goaled. 20-18 to Affies after 45 minutes.

The seesaw moved even faster, as Wycliff Vlitoor gave a perfectly timed pass to big Pretorius who scored and converted. 25-20 to Grey after 47 minutes.

From a line-out, Affies went on a long, powerful maul. No.8 Philip Potgieter broke away and scored. Nobody had the lead at 25-25 after 51 minutes.

Affies were the ones to go ahead when a clever chip by Mulder forced Grey to concede a five-metre scrum. Affies bashed at the line and Van Zyl burst strongly through for his second try. Roets converted. 32-25 to Affies with nine minutes to play.

Then came this dramatic last minutes – the inter-passing that led to Henk Cilliers's try with Pretorius's conversion, 32-32 after 69 minutes.

Then came Vlitoor's kick and tackle and Pretorius's goaling of the winning penalty goal, more than a minute after 70 minutes.

Scorers:

For Grey:

Tries: David Kriel, Rikus Pretorius 2, Henk Cilliers  

Cons: Rikus Pretorius 3

Pens: Rikus Pretorius 2

For Affies:

Tries: Johan van Zyl 2, Johan Mulder, Philip Potgieter

Cons: Reghardt Roets 3

Pens: Reghardt Roets 2

Teams:

Grey College: 15 David Kriel, 14 Henk Cilliers, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Wycliff Vlitoor, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Arno Nieuwoudt, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Jaap van Zyl, 5 Johan Wilken, 4 Handré Roux, 3 Naudé Naudé, 2 Ru-Hann Greyling, 1 Luke Janse van Vuuren.

Replacements: 16 Wihan Marais, 17 Herman Agenbag, 18 John Fincham, 19 De Wet Marais, 20 Reynardo Gouveia, 21 Dillion Schultz, 22 Marius Kearney, 23 Christopher Schreuder, 24 Pienaar van Niekerk.

Affies: 15 Charles Goedhals, 14 Ruan Wasserman, 13 Heinrich Bisschoff, 12 Zach Briel, 11 Ruben Meiring, 10 Reghardt Roets, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Philip Potgieter, 7 Jaco Labuschagne, 6 Divhan du Preez, 5 Carl Els, 4 Michael de Waal, 3 Wiehan Bezuidenhout, 2 Johan van Zyl (captain), 1 Dewald Donald.

Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Sarel Joubert, 19 Jordan Swemmer, 20 Marius Potgieter, 21 Steyn van der Spuy, 22 Ruan van Tonder, 23 du Piesanie.

Referee: Jaco Kotze

Assistant referees: Griffon Colby, Anovuyo Fakade

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

2016: Grey won 53-29

2017: Grey won 35-32