Grey Bloem beat Paul Roos in FNB Classic

Match Report

Grey Bloem, with the freshening wind at their backs in the second half, came from behind to beat Paul Roos 16-11 in an FNB Classic Clash at the Markötter Field in Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.

It was a sunny afternoon with a huge crowd of pupils, parent and Old Boys. For one thing there were some 550 Grey pupils down from Bloemfontein for the weekend.

The criowd was in the region of 21 000. That means that in three weeks three FNB Clasic Clashes – two in Paarl and one in Stellenbosch – have attracted nearly 60 000 spectators.

Paul Roos played with the wind in the first half and led 8-3 at the break through a try and a drop by Jason de Villiers to a penalty by left-wing Roux du Toit.

Coenie van Wyk scored the first points when he beat his man from close in and forced his way over for a try in the right-hand corner. Roux du Toit kicked the penalty that made it 5-3 and then came a remarkable dropped goal.

Paul Roos were winning a ruck on the Grey 22 but had no scrumhalf. Jason de Villiers darted in from centre and picked up the ball. Crouching low as he picked up the ball, with out a step he dropped the ball some 15 centimetres from his hand and kicked the drop that skimmed over the crossbar.

Just before half time Grey came closest to scoring when Sewes Oosthuizen, their big SA Schools prop, was close. Held he managed to get the ball to wing Nelis Wilken but the Paul Roos defence was strong. Sewes Oosthuizen.

The wind picked up in the second half and the Bloemfonteiners enjoyed it.

Their first score of the half was a huge dropped goal by Grey flyhalf Frans Steyn. It soared high over the crossbar from some 45 metres out. 8-6.

In this half Paul Roos seemed intent on self-destruction. They conceded many penalties and when they got possession they tended to kick into the wind and were punished for both.

Grey were calmer, got to the breakdowns in more effective numbers and were much better organised on defence.

Paul Roos were not helped when their outstanding hooker Michael Lockyer of the South African Academy side was sent to the sin bin for a tackle/ruck infringement. Frans Steyn then goaled the penalty for that infringement from far out and at an acute angle. This put Grey ahead 9-8.

Grey were able to create space for their speedy right-wing Nelis Wilken.

An injudicious kick by the Paul Roos backs became a foot pass to Grey who belted the ball down into the Paul Roos territory where they, without a hooker, threw in skew into the line-out. As Grey went wide from the scrum tall Paul Roux was tackled right on the line, and Paul Roos scrambled a bit of relief.

The relief was temporary as a free kick at the line-out produced several phases for Grey and eventually outside centre Wayne Stevens cut over for a try close in. Roux du Toit converted and Grey were well ahead 16-8.

Interpassing between Wayne Stevens and Nelis Wilken gave the right-wing a long run down the right and it was only a desperate tackle by Stephan Dippenaar who had come across from his right wing, that stopped Wilken at the corner.

Coenie van Wyk finished the scoring with a penalty goal with six minutes left but Grey were never in danger of conceding a try or losing the match.

Scorers:

For Grey College:
Try: Wayne Stevens
Con: Roux du Toit
Pen: Roux du Toit, Frans Steyn
Drop: Frans Steyn

For Paul Roos:
Try: Coenie van Wyk
Con: Coenie van Wyk
Drop: Jason de Villiers

Teams:

Grey College: 15 Johan Greyling, 14 Nelis Wilken, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 Gerrit Smith, 11 Roux du Toit, 10 François Steyn, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Coenraad Pieterse (captain), 7 Paul Roux, 6 Gerhard Swart, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Chris Dry, 3 Sewes Oosthuizen, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Kevin Stevens.

Paul Roos Gymnasium: 15 Stephan van der Merwe, 14 Stephan Dippenaar, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Jason de Villiers, 11 Anton Kriel, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 François Hougaard, 8 Niel Weitz, 7 Gerhard Duvenhage, 6 Siyasanga Mkiva, 5 Jaco van Vuuren, 4 Christiaan Uys, 3 Jacques Michael Steenkamp, 2 Michael Lockyer, 1 Jacques Southey (captain).

Referee: Johan Lourens (Western Province)

For a preview of the match, click here. You will find links there to other relevant information about the match.