College just beat Pretoria Boys' High in Pretoria
Match report
Maritzburg College took its school up over the Drakensburg to play Pretoria Boys' High in Pretoria on Satuirday. The College 1st XV won at tight 7-6.
This was a much anticipated game, after the close encounter at College at the beginning of the season. Then the score, 17-5, had somewhat flattered College. Since that match, College had beaten Grey College, while Pretoria Boys' High had defeated Affies in their local derby. As Affies had convincingly beaten College, this was expected to be another desperately close match. Before the game, Pretoria Boys' High were ranked 18th in the country and College 20th on the FNB Top 20.
The statistical story of the game is easily told. In the first half, Pretoria Boys' High kicked two long-range penalties; in the second, College drove over the line from a line-out close to the Pretoria Boys' High try-line and converted the try.
But that account does no justice to an epic struggle between two very evenly matched teams. College probably had slightly the better of the forward battle, but could not use their possession effectively. Pretoria Boys' High had, by a whisker, the territorial advantage, but could not turn it into points. The tackling was merciless and Brooks’ Field was no place for the faint-hearted. If a player had the ball, he was summarily mown down by scything tackling.
The College conversion, effectively the difference between a win and a loss, came at the second attempt, when the referee ruled that Pretoria Boys' High had charged the first, unsuccessful kick, too early. In the dying moments, Pretoria Boys' High hit the upright with a penalty attempt from the half-way line, and ten minutes earlier had elected to kick for the corner when they were awarded a very kickable penalty, with the score 7-6 to College.
By such small margins and crucial decisions was the match settled. One’s abiding memory, though, was the frightening ferocity of two brave sides, neither of whom deserved to lose.
By Tony Wiblin
