Great K-Day comeback

The scene was set on Saturday for a classic K-Day encounter and the two teams certainly did not disappoint. Both teams took to the field to the roar of a mass of spectators that had filled the City Lords ground to capacity.

St Andrew’s College dominated the early stages but could not score an early try and had only a 3-0 lead to show for all their efforts thanks to a Brendan Owen penalty.

Although St Andrew’s still had a surplus of possession they chose to play from deep inside their territory and the deadly Kingswood kicker, Cameron Hertz, made them pay for their errors, two penalties handing Kingswood the lead.

Then it was time for the game to come alive thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Kingswood scrumhalf Davron Cameron, which Hertz finished off. St Andrew’s College continued to run from deep and again paid a costly price as the Kingswood wing pounced on a loose ball and passed to team mate, Ezra Mager, who finished in the corner.

The Kingswood team now had their tails up and were leading 18-3 with 5 minutes to go to the break and this contest had suddenly turned on College. However St Andrew’s College managed to string a good passage of play together which Grant Dixie finished in the corner giving St Andrew’s College a much needed boost as they went into the break 8-18 down.

The second half started in stark contrast to the first as St Andrew’s College began to use the boot and dominate field position. This territorial advantage soon turned into points as first, Hamish Hughes rounded off a good passage by St Andrew’s and then Peter Kroon scored off a rolling maul. Suddenly St Andrew’s College were leading the encounter, 20-18.

Another Hertz penalty reinstated the Kingswood lead but this did not last long as St Andrew’s  bounced back with two more well worked tries, the first was Grant Dixie’s second and then Stephen Cragg forced his way over to give College a 32-21 lead with time running out on the clock. However Kingswood had other ideas and managed one last foray into the St Andrew’s College half and came away with a converted try courtesy of a rolling maul of their own.

This set up a tight final six minutes with the score at 32-28. St Andrew’s defended stubbornly until Robbie Ball picked up a loose ball on the 10m line shrugged off three defenders and ran the 40m to score the try that sealed the game for St Andrew’s  College. but College were not done and showed their second half dominance as they scored another try through Tom Lane.

St Andrew’s College running out eventual winners by 42-28. A fantastic match for the spectators to watch and we thank our hosts Kingswood for the day.

Scorers:

For St Andrew's:

Tries: Dixie 2, Hamish Hughes, Peter Kroon, Stephen Cragg, Robert Ball, Thomas Lane

Cons: Brendan Owen 2

Pen: Brendan Owen

For Kingswood:

Tries: Cameron Hertz, Ezra Mager, forward

Cons: Cameron Hertz 2

Pens:  Cameron Hertz 3

Teams

Kingswood: 15 Mike Braans, 14 Ezra Mager, 13 Mark Webber, 12 Cameron Hertz, 11 John Amadi, 10 Josh Shelley, 9 Davron Cameron, 8 Devon Barnard, 7 Jeff Theron, 6 Ryan Victor, 5 Fanie van der Westhuizen, 4 Marco Gambale, 3 Mike van Breda, 2 JP Jamieson, 1 Fred Burchell

St Andrew's: 15 Brendan Owen, 14 Grant Dixie, 13 Thomas Lane, 12 Robert Ball, 11 Courtney Archer, 10 Hugo De La Fargu, 9 Camran Macfarlane, 8 Matt Andrews, 7 Ryan Neill, 6 Peter Kroon, 5 Jono More, 4 Hamish Hughes, 3 Adrian Parsons, 2 Brian Ferguson, 1 Stephen Cragg