Grey put things right
Grey put things right
In a wonderful display of schools rugby before an eager crowd of some 8 000 spectators Grey College beat Paarl Boys' High 35-28 in a Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools match at Grey College on Saturday.
At one stage it looked as if the home side would run away with the match as they went ahead 20-0 but Boishaai is a team with pride and character and in the end it was anybody's game as Grey scored at the death to make it 35-28.
The whole spirit of the game and the ambiance of the afternoon as two great schools gave of their best on the field and in the stands. It was a day to make South African rugby proud. And in passing Grey made up for their 28-18 defeat in Paarl last year.
Stephen Rautenbach put his side 6-0 up with two offside penalties elegant fullback EW Viljoen cut the defence and gave inside to Marius Louw who scored. Rautenbach converted. 13-0.
Grey were going right when tall, smooth-striding left wing Henry Immelman beat a tight forward on the outside as raced some 38 metres and swept round for a try under the posts. 20-0 and it was all Grey.
Boishaai came back bashing at the Grey line till sturdy loosehead went over for a try. 20-7 after 20 minutes.
Back came Boishaai for a line-out to Grey five metres from the Grey line. Grey threw in skew to give the visitors a five-metre scrum from which lanky flank Charlton Jonas scored in the left corner. 20-12 after 26 minutes, and Boishaai looked decidedly healthier.
And again Boishaai attacked and this time Viljoen showed his determination as he bundled into touch at the cornerflag, a try-saving tackle. And at the other end burly centre Carel Durow cut back for a try at the posts. 27-12, which was the half-time score.
Two early penalties by Stephan Gouws in the second half pulled the score down to 27-18 and then came the try of the match.
From a scrum near the half-way line scrumhalf Heinrich Sander kicked an innocent-looking kick downfield, but straight to speedster Dante van der Merwe. He d]=needed no invitation to run, speeding downfield. Challenged he passed to Curtley Grain on his left. Grain then passed inside to slender left wing Ferlin Vers who cut back in with dancing feet and raced ahead. He was brought down some four metres from the Grey line but Boishaai got the ball back, went right and lock Hein Kritzinger crashed past two defenders to score. Gouws converted from far out. 27-25 with 28 minutes to play. It really was exciting.
Rautenbach kicked a penalty for Grey and Gouws did likewise for Boishaai and still the difference was only two points.
Then Grey put the ball through eight phases till it reached loosehead prop Andrew du Plessis out on the left wing and he thrust himself over in the corner.
There were still eight minutes to play but Grey kept control of the match.
It was a wonderful match.
Scorers
For Grey College:
Tries: Marius Louw, Henry Immelman, Carel Durow, Andrew du Plessis
Cons: Stephen Rautenbach 3
Pens: Stephen Rautenbach 3
For Paarl Boys' High:
Tries: Thomas du Toit, Hein Kritzinger, Charlton Jonas
Cons: Stephan Gouws 2
Pens: Stephan Gouws 3
Teams
Grey College: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 The Ferreira, 13 Stephen Rautenbach, 12 Carel Durow, 11 Henry Immelman, 10 Dwayne Wessels, 9 Heinrich Sander, 8 Andries Kriek, 7 Marius Louw captain, 6 Luan Reynders, 5 De Wet Bezuidenhout, 4 Dylan Harlen, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Martin Wipplinger, 1 Andrew du Plessis.
Paarl Boys’ High: 15 Dante van der Merwe, 14 Keenan van Wyk, 13 Curtley Grain, 12 Luan Boshoff, 11 Ferlin Vers, 10 Stephan Gouws, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Charl-Francois du Toit, 7 JJ van der Spuy, 6 Charlton Jonas, 5 Hein Kritzinger, 4 Matthew le Roux, 3 Derrick Marais, 2 Daniel du Plessis, 1 Thomas du Toit captain.
Referee: Tiaan Steyn Free State Referees' Society
