Bloem win Battle of Greys
Match report
In Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon Grey Bloem, 150 years old this year, beat Grey PE, 149 years old this year, 22-16, scoring four tries to one.
It was a tough encounter with little flow, a stop-start affair for the most part as two top sides clashed.
Grey PE led for much of the first half when try-pouching wing fullback Warren Bell kicked a penalty goal and Peter Furstenburg scored a great try, converted by Bell.
It did not last. Bloem scored twice as they put the ball through faces after poaching line-outs and scored two tries, one converted by flyhalf Frans Steyn who otherwise had an off day with the boot.
Bloem led 12-10 at half-time.
Early in the second half the home side scored a third try to increase their lead and then the visitors fought back. Every time small fullback Bell got the ball, he caused headaches for the home side who clung resolutely to their lead.
Bell kicked two penalty goals and that made the score a thrilling 17-16. But with ten minutes to go the homes side scored again and then withstood the final onslaught.
Much of the home side's victory was thanks to their pack. Hooker PW van Vuuren won four tightheads in the match as PE missed their Craven Week hooker Dave Wannenburg was out with an injured shoulder.
The teams have now met 31 times. Bloem have won 24 times, PE six times and there was a draw in 1990.
It was not a successful rugby day for the visitors, for they lost every one of their 21 matches.
Scorers:
For Grey College:
Tries: Frans Steyn, Roux du Toit, PW van Vuuren, Johan Greyling
Con: Frans Steyn
For Grey High:
Try: Peter Furstenburg
Con: Warren Bell
Pens: Warren Bell 3
Teams:
Grey College: 15 Joe Greyling, 14 Roux du Toit, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 Gerhardt Smith, 11 Nelis Wilken, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Coenraad Pieterse (captain), 7 Paul Roux, 6 Gerhard Swart, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Sybrand Mostert, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Kevin Stevens.
Grey High School: 15 Warren Bell, 14 Peter Furstenburg, 13 Ross Goedhals, 12 Wade Roos, 11 William Heydenrych, 10 Matthew Tayler-Smith, 9 Marlin Ruiters, 8 Stephen de Villiers, 7 Yamkela Ntola, 6 Monte Taljaard (captain), 5 Jacques Naudé, 4 Morné van der Westhuyzen, 3 Greg Bonner, 2 Harshil Motha, 1 Michael Denuilly-Rice.
Referee: DJ Cloete (Free State)
