Big Grey win in wet
Stellenbosch, as was true of the whole of the Western Cape, was sopping wet on Saturday when Grey College came down from Bloemfontein and beat Paul Roos 40-8 in their own backyard, the Markötter Field in a Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools match.
the Markötter field is just across the road from the delightful Volkskombuis and for Grey this was a meal of great delight, equalling the points' difference (32) of 2008 when Grey won 47-15 at home on Bloemfontein.
Heaven knows what the score would have been on a dry field as Grey ran wild in the second half, piling up 34 points in 35 minutes.
Wind assisted Paul Roos to a good first half. They had the better of play and the 6-3 score did not presage the slaughter that was to come. In fact Paul Roos looked the more likely to score a try as both their wings, Joel Heugh and Edwill van der Merwe, were fast and dangerous.
In the second half the Grey pack with prop Andrew du Plessis, lock De Wet Bezuidenhout and flank Luan Reynders in the van, took over the match and gave their backs excellent front-foot ball. Paul Roos were forced to tackle again and again and inevitably the tries came – five of them.
Outstanding for Grey was speedy Henry Immelman, usually a wing but taking over the role of EW Viljoen, who was playing for SA Schools in Worcester with great verve.
Stephen Rautenbach, whose first kick was magnificent smgled kick of 45 metres that soared over, started the scoring with his third penalty early in the second half and then the tries started coming.
Paul Roos were penalised near their posts and five metres from their line. André Swarts tapped and gave to strong Marius Louw who cut back inside and strode over for a try at the posts. 16-3 after 44 minutes.
Grey were on the attack again when Heinrich Stander went blind and Chris Pretorius, on the right wing, handed off and was over right in the corner. The conversion was good. 23-3.
It was raining when Immelman on the left was tackled just short of the line, but he got a pass to Rautenbach who scored. 28-3
It was something of a relief when Pau Roos attacked, won a ruck and went right. Christo van der Merwe cut back and then gave to big Aidynn Cupido on his right. He made some ground before giving to Heugh who darted past and through three defenders to score in the right corner. 28-8 with 13 minutes to play.
Grey got two tries in that time.
Well inside his own half Immelman hoisted the highest kick of the day. The wind took the ball away from defenders and there were three Grey players at the ball. Charl Pretorius picked up and raced over in the right corner. 33-8 with 6 minutes to go.
Powerful Carel Durow finished off the last try as Grey attacked from some 60 metres out with excellent handling to leave Durow free to run a fair distance to score. 40-8.
Grey's display in any conditions would have been magnificent; in the rain and wind of Stellenbosch it bordered on the miraculous.
Scorers:
For Grey College:
Tries: Marius Louw, Henry Immelman, Stephen Rautenbach, Charl Pretorius, Carel Durow.
Cons: Stephen Rautenbach 3
Pens: Stephen Rautenbach 3
For Paul Roos:
Try: Joel Heugh
Pen: Joel Heugh
Teams
Paul Roos: 15 Muller Brink, 14 Joel Heugh, 13 Tristan Cramer, 12 Matt Gallow, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Calvin Nel, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Christo van der Merwe (captain), 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 LohannLouw, 4 Daniel Buitendag, 3 Jerome Korf, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 JP Botha
Replacements: 16 Arnold Scholtz, 17 HW Barnard, 18 Mitch Lingeveldt, 19 Jacques Oosthuizen, 20 JL Eigelaar, 21 Chris Smit , 22 Aidynn Cupido, 23 Reinold Benade
Grey College: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Theo Ferreira, 13 Johan Nel, 12 Carel Durow, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 André Swarts, 9 Heinrich Sander, 8 Alex Jonker, 7 Marius Louw (captain), 6 Luan Reynders, 5 De Wet Bezuidenhout, 4 Casper Fourie, 3 Callie Janse van Vuuren, 2 Martin Wipplinge, 1 Andrew du Plessis
Replacements: 16 Ruben Terblanche, 17 Stephanus Lingenfelder, 18 Kassel Rothmann, 19 HJ Prinsloo, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Julian Delicado, 22 Stephen Rautenbach
Referee: Divan Uys (Western Province Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1967 Grey won 22-3
1977 Grey won 20-10
1988 Grey won 16-9
1989 Grey won 28-7
1990 Grey won 17-9
1991: Paul Roos won 20-3
1992: Grey won 20-6
1993: Paul Roos won 27-4
1994: Paul Roos won 31-29
1995: Grey won 21-10
1996: Grey won 18-10
1997: Paul Roos won 12-8
1998: Grey won 23-15
1999: Grey won 29-26
2000: Grey won 42-13
2001: Grey won 15-6
2002: Grey won 19-8
2003: Grey won 18-17
2004: Grey won 24-23 and Paul Roos won 21-18
2005: Grey won 16-11
2006: Paul Roos won 16-11
2007: Grey won 40-14
2008: Grey won 47-15
2009: Paul Roos won 9-3
2010: Grey won 41-29
2011: Grey won 36-35
2012: Grey won 33-23
2013: Grey won 40-8
