CC: Johnnies surprise Saints
St John's won a thrilling FNB Classic Clash 32-31 against Stithians in Houghton on Saturday. It was one of those games which is a thrill to win and so painfully disappointing to lose – a thriller to the end.
It was a wonderful game to play, one to lose yourself in. But it was agony to watch if you were a supporter of either side. It's tough to be a coach.
The game went from the one end of the field to the other. St John’s had two opportunities to take the lead early on in the game through penalties, but could not succeed. St Stithians came into the St John’s half four times and scored every time with a converted try and penalties but St John’s did not let up.
Better discipline in the second half by St John’s helped them to stay in the St Stithians half and a couple of good tries by both teams made this a really good game of schoolboy rugby.
With two minutes left on the clock Saints scored a try to lead by 31-27. (Flyhalf Innocent Radebe, chosen for Craven Week, scored 26 of his side's 31 points on the day.) From the kick-off St John’s regained the ball, kept possession and played through three phases to score in the left corner. The conversion was missed, but it did not matter… the game was all over and it was 32-31 in favour of St John's.
There was elation for some on Burger Field below the stone buttresses of St John's, bitter disappointment for the people from Randburg. It was a match St Stithians were expected to win.
The scorers:
For St John's:
Tries: Murray Conway, Niels Kunhermann, Thomas Workman, NJ Maree
Cons: Tobi Ndzimande, Wesley Coulentianos 2
Pens: Kunhermann, Coulentianos
For St Stithians:
Tries: Jonty Bredell, Innocent Radebe 2
Cons: Radebe 2
Pens: Radebe 4
The teams:
St John's: 15 Wesley Coulentianos, 14 Tobi Ndzimande, 13 Murray Conway, 12 Niels Kuhnemann,11 Dylan Potgieter, 10 Bradley Jardine, 9 Wesley Antonities, 8 Thapelo Rapelewana, 7 Thomas Workman, 6 James Eckersley, 5 NJ Maree (Capt), 4 Devon Stone, 3 Sam Theron, 2 Mitchelle Antonities,1 Pilani Qwabe.
Replacements: 16 Jonty Schwartz, 17 Gerhard Olivier, 18 William Murray, 19 Mathew Temllet, 20 Mark Dzanibe, 21 Paul Ontong, 22 Mango Lephoko.
Coaches: Stefan Lourens, Morné Heunes
St Stithians: 15 Greg Elmes, 14 Aidan Ross, 13 Eddie Samutela, 12 Jonty Bredell (captain), 11 Bandile Semelane, 10 Innocent Radebe, 9 Richard Jordaan, 8 Roald Roodt, 7 Ignaz Richter, 6 Nicholas Stevens, 5 Matthew Partridge, 4 Jaryd Terry, 3 Dustin Kobrowisky, 2 Dillon Bakos (vice-captain), 1 Sean Seymore.
Coaches: Ian Rickelton, Yaldren Vickery
All results:
First: St John's won 32-31
Second: St Stithians won 8-6
Third: St Stithians won 17-6
Fourth: St Stithians won 24-0
Fifth: St Stithians won 19-17
Under-16A: St John's won 17-10
Under-16B: St Stithians won 19-7
Under-16C: St Stithians won 15-10
Under-15A: St John's won 15-3
Under-15B: St Stithians won 20-12
Under-15C: St Stithians won 12-10
Under-15D: St Stithians won 20-5
Under-14A: St John's won 19-3
Under-14B: St John's won 6-5
Under-14C: St John's won 25-0
Under-14D: St John's won 23-0
