Grey Tops

The top two teams in South Africa, Grey College and Paul Roos Gymnasium, met on Saturday in Bloemfontein in a Premier Interschools match. It was a thriller of the highest standard, which Grey won 28-26 with a penalty a few minutes before the final whistle.

The quality of the rugby befitted the top ranking of the two schools. The match started at an intense speed and ended in an intense speed, and was characterised by intense tackling.

Paul Roos were the first to score.

Grey were penalised nearly 10 metres inside the Paul Roos half and up stepped Kade Wolhuter to take a kick at goal. Normally a fullback he was playing flyhalf on the day because Juan Mostert, Paul Roos’s usual flyhalf, was playing for SA Schools against England Under-18.

Wolhuter goaled the kick!

It was 3-0 and the scoring in the half till two minutes before half-time.

Grey’s Zander du Plessis goaled two penalties and then Wolhuter a second. 6-6.

Paul Roos attacked, Grey were offside and Wolhuter ]gave his side a 9-6 lead. Then he kicked another long kick, 48 metres out and at an angle and Paul Roos led 12-6 after 28 minutes.

Just before the break, Grey attacked and seemed certain to score when their handling broker down but big Werner Gouws grabbed the bouncing ball and forced his way through two defenders to score the try, and half-time came at 12-11.

The scoring in the second half changed.

18-12 to Grey
19-18 to Paul Roos
25-19 to Grey
26-25 to Paul Roos
28-26 to Grey

Grey started running in their own half. They went wide ;left and then wide right where Lesley Botha flashed over in the corner. Du Plessis converted from touch, a significant score as it turned out.

four minutes later Paul Roos were bashing at the line and this time strong Mink Scharink scored. 19-18 after 53 minutes.

Grey had a substantial period on attack., They won a Paul Roos line-out and raced onto the attack. Lock George Cronjé took a short pass and strode over under the posts. 25-19.

It was Paul Roos’s turn to attack. They had a penalty in front of the posts but tapped in search of a try. Jarod Cairns was nearly there and then prop Robbie Rovers scored. Wolhuter’s inevitable conversion gave Paul Roos a one-point lead – 16-25 with 8 minutes to ;play.

From the kick-off, Paul Roos were penalised at the tackle. It was a good way raced but in front of the posts but Du Plessis sent the ball soaring into glory.

Grey burst into joy.

This is the third year in succession that Grey has won by just two points.

Paul Roos took 24 rugby teams up to Grey. Grey won all 24 matches.

Scorers:

For Grey College:
Tries: Werner Gouws, Lesley Botha, George Cronjé
Cons: Zander du Plessis 2
Pens: Zander du Plessis 3

For Paul Roos Gymnasium:
Tries: Mink Scharink, Robbie Rogers
Cons: Kade Wolhuter 2
Pens: Kade Wolhuter 4

Teams

Grey College: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Lesley Botha, 13 Ian Small-Smith, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Marcelle Muller, 10 Zander du Plessis, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Werner Gouws, 7 WJ Snyman (captain), 6 Raynardo Gouveia, 5 Danwich Beukes, 4 George Cronjé, 3 Roux Duvenhage, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Jan Hendrik Wessels

Paul Roos: 15 Remy Engelbrecht, 14 Aiden Salie, 13 Regan van der Westhuizen, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Tiaan Pretorius, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Xander Botha, 8 Matthew Cordy (captain), 7 Herman Heins, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Daniel Swart, 4 Johann Bouwer, 3 Mink Scharink, 2 Jan-Corrick van der Watt, 1 Robbie Rogers

Referee: Ben Crouse (Blue Bulls Referees’ Society)
Assistant referees: Jaco Kotze (Free State Referees’ Society), Darren Colby (Free State Referees’ Society)

Results Down the Years

1967: Grey won 22-3
1974: Grey won 24-0
1977: Grey won 20-10
1988: Grey won 16-9
1989: Grey won 28-7
1990: Grey won 17-9
1991: Paul Roos won 20-3
1992: Grey won 20-6
1993: Paul Roos won 27-4
1994: Paul Roos won 31-29
1995: Grey won 21-10
1996: Grey won 18-10
1997: Paul Roos won 12-8
1998: Grey won 23-15
1999: Grey won 29-26
2000: Grey won 42-13
2001: Grey won 15-6
2002: Grey won 19-8
2003: Grey won 18-17
2004: Grey won 24-23 and Paul Roos won 21-18
2005: Grey won 16-11
2006: Paul Roos won 16-11
2007: Grey won 40-14
2008: Grey won 47-15
2009: Paul Roos won 9-3
2010: Grey won 41-29
2011: Grey won 36-35
2012: Grey won 33-23
2013: Grey won 40-8
2014: Grey won 25-20
2015: Paul Roos won 19-12
2016: Grey won 34-32
2017: Grey won 30-28
2018: Grey won 28-26