Graeme end season on a high note
Muir who is on the verge of turning 200 years old, and Graeme almost 150 years old, have a rich sense of tradition at the schools.
The fixture started on Friday evening with three hockey matches; the u14 match was won by Muir 2-1, the 2nds by Graeme 3-0 and the 1st XI was won 6-0 by Graeme.
Saturday saw the Graeme teams depart Grahamstown early, and were superbly hosted by Muir College as usual. Graeme seemed to enjoy the spoils of the day winning fifteen matches, drawing one and losing two.
The first XV won convincing 29-3, but had to work hard for that victory. The Graeme College first XV managed to get back to the good form they showed earlier in the season as they scored three tries in the first half.
They also added a penalty to lead 22-3 at half time.
Although Graeme seemed to be in control for most of the match after negating a passage of early pressure from their opponents, Muir never seemed to give in.
The game seemed to be a very physical encounter with both teams putting their bodies on the line. Graeme managed one more converted try through Soso Masakane to round off a good performance and win 29-3.
This brought to an end a good season for the Graeme College first XV as they won 12 matches, drew 1 and lost 5. Graeme has had some great depth in their rugby, with all senior teams performing superbly well throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Graeme second XV ended their season unbeaten.
They had already overcome massive hurdles on the way, beating Queens, Grey, St Andrews and Kingswood in the build up to their final match against Muir. In the end, they managed to win comfortably 34-0 and achieve something that no other second XV has achieved at Graeme before.
Coach Louis Wolmerans, said: “It was a great honour and privilege for me to be associated with the second XV rugby team of 2017. The rugby season started with earnest and a group of boys were introduced to me… A more gutsy group of young men you will not easily be found again,” Womlerans, who is a past parent of Graeme College, has coached at the school for more than 20 years as a proud Graeme supporter.
The 2017 season started off on a solid footing, beating the Hoër Skool P.J. Olivier first XV (at the Graeme College Rugby Day). Interestingly, coach Wolermans, celebrated an unbeaten rugby year as a player at Hoër Skool P.J. Olivier 40 years ago, and spoke of those fond memories when reflecting on his unbeaten season as a coach: “A solid defensive structure was the key in this match against the PJ Olivier first XV”. Wolmerans also alluded to the benefit of his team being exposed to pre-season training sessions with Mr Van Der Meulen (first XV coach). The next match was against Gill High School, and the second team proved to be too strong with a 67 – 3 win.
Following that was another tough battle away from home against Cambridge High School, where the midweek trip seemed to affect the players, who never reached their normal level of performance on the day. A narrow win, 22 – 13 was happily accepted.
The derby against St. Andrews College was like all preceding years and indeed a titanic clash. Wolmerans said: “We knew very well that College played a very expansive game, but also knew that we could beat them if luck was on our side. Well, with a close encounter we pulled an amazing game out the fire by beating St. Andrews 17 – 12, without any luck helping us out. Again, solid defense was the key…” Port Rex High School was next and the boys played running rugby of top quality. Some of the tries that were scored were brilliant to watch, with the forwards and backs often combined in up to six phases of running rugby.
Then it was the match of the season, according to Wolmerans; Grey High School away from home. “During our preparations for this match, it was more about mental strength than the physical”. Wolermans reflected. “Within the first 5 minutes Grey scored and many thought the flood gates will open soon. Well, the defence of the Graeme boys, was something like I have never seen before. Grey came at the Graeme boys wave after wave.
Graeme managed to build some pressure of their own, through the scoreboard. After 60 minutes of intense rugby, it was unbelievable to see the final score 17 – 12 in Graeme Colleges' favour. This type of victory does not often happen.”
There was no letting up, as the next match was away against Hudson Park High School. It is always a tough fixture and the Graeme boys were delighted to beat Hudson 21 – 10. In previous encounters, the Nico Malan fixture is also one of the games that can derail one's plans in the making.
Fortunately, the Graeme boys were switched on, on the day and managed to run out 34 – 12 victors and carried confidence into the Queens fixture. Wolermans remembers: “Again, most of the preparations during the build up to the match was psychological more than physical and strategy. Certain individuals in the side showcased their individual skills which were the difference on the day,”
A great result in the end for the Graeme boys, as they managed to win 35 – 17. Thankfully, Union High School game in Graaff Reinet turned out to be a more comfortable win, ending 56 – 5. Which was followed by another solid performance against Pearson High School at home, winning 29 – 3.
Wolmerans was wary of the last two matches: “Now, approaching the end of season with two matches to play and Kingswood College, who themselves had a good season, awaited us away from home. The Graeme boys were on a high thinking they could conquer the world. What a battle it was! Kingswood College played well and putting pressure on us, and as a result we gave away two soft tries. The Graeme boys had to dig deep, which they did, and managed to win the match with a narrow margin of 20 – 14.”
It was only Muir College that then stood between the Graeme College second team and a historic unbeaten season.
Wolmerans said: “Never did we anticipate what was awaited us the day before the last match of the season. Two injuries in the first team and a further two in the second team, necessitated four reserves to fill vital positions, scrum-halve, both centres and wing. Imagine the coaches stress level at that point, with so much to play for.
"A coach could not have asked for a better performance from his side fighting for an unbeaten season. We finished the season as we started the season, with unbelievable defence and attacking skills. The end score 34 – 0 to Graeme College. A group of boys any coach can only wish for. What an absolute honour and privilege to have been associated with these young men. I wish them well in their future endeavours,"
First XV coach, Jonty van der Meulen, also summarized the success of both the first XV and second XV squads by saying: “Even more exciting than our success this year, is the fact that fourteen players from the first and second squads, are still available in 2018, which bodes well for Graeme rugby in the near future. The levels of belief and confidence is something that will be a major factor next year too,"
Source: Gregg van Molendorff
