SACS cruise past Strand

The South African College High School (SACS) took on Strand High School on Saturday and ran out comfortable 21-14 winners in an entertaining affair.

SACS travelled up the N2 to Strand High school looking to get their season back on track after a disappointing performance the previous week against Paul Roos and after leading 21-nil with just over ten minutes to play they took their foot off the gas and let the hosts back into the match but had enough power to win.

Strand started well and although they were playing into a stiff breeze managed to dominate territory and possession. Their nippy halfbacks asking questions of the SACS defence while their pack did the hard yards via strong carries and good use of the pick-and-go. SACS held them out though and scored points with their first visit to the Strand half. Shane Fourie converted a penalty after seven minutes.

This was a theme of the half with game hovering around the halfway line but SACS scoring point when they visited the Strand half. Fourie kicked another penalty after sixteen minutes before on half-time SACS tapped a penalty and after two phases left wing Matthew Wadling went over in the corner. Fourie converted to see SACS go into half-time 13 points to the good.

SACS extended their lead four minutes into the second half when Fourie converted a long-range penalty into the wind. SACS began to play with more rhythm and put together a few good passages of play which should have resulted in points. Eventually replacement wing Aidan Deary broke clear and fed centre Keagan de Villiers who scored and SACS were 21 points clear and seemingly in control.

Strand, though, are made of sterner stuff and when their wing took a quick lineout throw that caught SACS napping, he combined well to allow Jaco de Wet to go over in the corner. Flyhalf Marshall Daars converted. Minutes later SACS kicked a bad clearance and Strand pounced again. They cut SACS open on the counter-attack to allow replacement Amier Olivier to go over under the sticks. Daars did the necessary and Strand had their tails up at 21-14.

Fortunately for SACS there were only two minutes left and when they retrieved the kick-off they were able to wind down the clock and deny Strand the opportunity to score and draw the game.  Overall it was an entertaining game to which both sides contributed.

The scorers:

For Strand High:

Tries: Jaco de Wet, Amier Olivier

Cons: Marshall Daars (2)

For SACS:  

Tries: Matthew Wadling, Keagan de Villiers

Conv: Shane Gourie

Pens: Fourie (3)