Grey win - just

Grey PE saw off a late Selborne comeback to win a tense FNB Classic Clash 20-18 in East London on Saturday.

The occasion started off with much fanfare as the Selborne cheerleader arrived via a helicopter, but unfortunately the quality of the match struggled to reach the same heights in the opening half an hour. Grey were missing three SA Schools players, but they still managed to gain the ascendancy, with their tactical kicking better than the hosts’. Grey took their opportunities, while Selborne failed to deal with fielding high balls in relatively windy conditions.

The sides traded penalties early on through flyhalves Garrick Mattheus (Grey) and Morgan Steyn. Mattheus also managed a neat snap drop, and lock Michael de Marco extended his side’s lead to 13-3 with a well taken try where the visitors did well to keep the ball alive through good inter-passing. Steyn replied with a penalty late in the half (13-6), but Selborne were left to rue a lack of finishing as the team often shovelled the ball on when they had space and numbers, while Grey’s scramble defence (led by their captain and flank Johann van Niekerk) often led to just a penalty when Selborne would have been looking for a try.

Selborne did much of the attacking in the second half, and flank Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen narrowed the gap to two points with a well worked try. However, Steyn failed to nail the conversion alongside the poles. With 15 minutes remaining in the match, Grey turned up the pressure on the Selborne scrum and a ball popped out the back of a 5m scrum with Grey’s scrumhalf Brody von Goevreden diving over the line.

The game only really came to life in the last 10 minutes when Selborne launched concerted attacks with Grey leading 20-11. Selborne finished off a good movement through wing Tian Coetzer, and when Steyn slotted the touchline conversion, the hosts had a real chance of a comeback victory without ever leading in the game.

The Selborne flyhalf broke from just outside his own 22 and ran 50m. With the defence standing off him, he decided to throw the long pass, which was intercepted by his opposite number. With that, Grey put the ball out and held on for an exciting win.

The close climax typified much of the rugby throughout the weekend, with Grey just edging Selborne in winning 10 out of the 18 rugby matches played.

Scorers:

For Selborne:

Tries: Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen, Tian Coetzer

Con: Morgan Steyn

Pen: Morgan Steyn 2

For Grey:

Tries: Michael de Marco, Brody von Goevreden

Con Garrick Mattheus 2

Pen: Garrick Mattheus

Drop: Garrick Mattheus

Teams

Selborne: 15 Liam McLoughlin, 14 Tristian Coetzer, 13 Jacinto Da Silva, 12 David Brits, 11 Michael Botha, 10 Morgan Steyn, 9 Joshua Allderman, 8 Jason Steyn, 7 Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen, 6 Adrian Greig, 5 Robert Lyons, 4 Daniel Froneman, 3 Daniel Voigt, 2 Tango Balekile (captain), 1 Cole van Tonder

Coach: Kevin Taylor, Phiwe Nomlomo

Grey: 15 Sihle Njezula, 14 Mohamed Connelly, 13 Athi Mayinje, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Dylan Vermaak, 10 Garrick Mattheus, 9 Brody van Goevreden, 8 Matthew Lawson, 7 Joshua Mudrovcic, 6 Johann van Niekerk, 5 Kamva Dilima, 4 Michael de Marco, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Wahl Enslin, 1 Matthew Howes

Coaches: Brent Janse van Rensburg, Tim Fraser

Results Down the Years:

1972: Grey won 9-0

1973: Selborne won 20-4

1974: Selborne won 10-6

1975: Selborne won 22-21

1976: Grey won 17-11

1977: Grey won 21-4

1978: Selborne won 26-19

1979: Selborne won 22-13

1980: Selborne won 18-12

1981: Grey won 24-7

1982: Grey won 12-10

1983: Grey won 29-9

1984: Grey won 18-6

1985: Selborne won 7-6

1986: Selborne won 15-10

1987: Grey won 12-6

1988: Selborne won 12-10

1989: Grey won 27-3

1990: Selborne won 17-9

1991: Grey won 7-0

1992: No match

1993: Grey won 16-15

1994: Selborne won 50-6

1995: Grey won 18-17

1996: Selborne won 10-8

1997: Selborne won 20-10

1998: Selborne won 31-10

1999: Selborne won 23-22

2000: Grey won 28-0

2001: Grey won 28-12

2002: Grey won 16-15

2003: Grey won 20-14 and 38-13

2004: Grey won 18-16 and Selborne won 20-11

2005: Grey won 16-3 and 62-3

2006: Grey won 16-15

2007: Grey won 18-3

2008: Grey won 38-16

2009: Selborne won 22-15

2010: Selborne won 30-17

2011: Selborne won 29-21

2012: Grey won 28-22

2013: Grey won 45-0

2014: Grey won 20-18