Selborne in the Pink

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: In the last match of the season for both schools, Selborne, who have had an excellent season, beat Grey High of Port Elizabeth 31-26 with a try two minutes from time.

Selborne have more players in the SA Schools team than any other school and so were without their five stars – Siba Xamlashe, Mnombo Zwelindaba, Thomas Bursey, Jarrod Taylor and Jacques Goosen. It is a pity that matches of this stature suffer every August because the SA Schools side is playing in an international tournament.

It was a pink day at Selborne in their scrum for Cancer, an initiative supported by the school, its parents, East London business and three sponsors. In 2017 they raised roughly R200 000 to help young cancer sufferers.

In the Selborne stands, boys wore pink caps and at the final whistle a cavalry if pink caps invaded the field to greet their heroes and their exciting finish.

Both players ran for the whole 70 minutes, helped doubtlessly by the quick, accurate services of the two scrumhalves, Hlumelo Klaas of Grey and Oyondo Fani who had taken Bursey’s place for Selborne.

Selborne ran first and then Grey ran till strong LJ du Preez beat two tackle attempts to score. Matthew Easton converted and then set up the second try when he broke and Enrique Franks had an overlap on the left wing and an easy run-in for the try. 14-0 after 10 minutes, and there was more to come. After much Grey interpassing, flank Yolisa Dladla, tackled by Fani got a pass away to speedy Joshua Oosthuizen who scored. 19-0 after 22 minutes, and Grey seemed set for a big victory.

But back came Selborne, battering at the Grey line till flank Dean Stokes scored, and they scored again. Fullback Jarrod Ramsay had a long run in counterattack and passed in side to quick wing James Flanagan who sped on a swerving run for a try. 19-10.

This was the half-time score. Grey may have found their heightened optimism somewhat tempered by the two Selborne tries.

Grey played with the wind in the second half but Selborne won the half 21-7.

Selborne started the half on the attack but it was Grey who got onto the scoreboard first. Du Preez counterattacked and gave to Zach Toerien who barged ahead and passed to Dladla who beat a man and scored. 26-10 after 14 minutes in the half.

Selborne took over. They attacked and outside centre Likhaya Tengimfene scored. 26-17. From a line-out Selborne mauled and alert flyhalf Jordan Janse van Rensburg scored and converted. 26-24. The game became desperate.

Big Mntungwa Mapantsela broke and busy flank Troy Mynhardt scored. 31-26 with half a minute to play.

Grey kicked off and Rayden Masters broke and took play far back into Grey land where a knock-on ended a startling match.

Scorers

For Selborne:
Tries: Dean Stokes, James Flanagan, Likhaya Tengimfene, Jordan Janse van Rensburg, Troy Mynhardt
Cons: Jordan Janse van Rensburg 3

For Grey:
Tries: LJ du Preez, Enrique Franks, Joshua Oosthuizen, Yolisa Dladla
Cons: Matthew Easton 3

Teams

Selborne College: 15 Jarrod Ramsay, 14 Sibulele Mali, 13 Likhaya Tengimfene, 12 Mntungwa Mapantsela, 11 James Flanagan, 10 Jordan Janse van Rensburg, 9 Oyondo Fani, 8 Rayden Masters, 7 Troy Mynhardt, 6 Dean Stokes, 5 Grant Pretorius, 4 Nolan Kemp (captain), 3 Shakeel Naidoo, 2 Akalinekeli Dlakavu, 1 Austen Brandt

Grey High: 15 Runaldo Pedro, 14 Joshua Oosthuizen, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 12 LJ du Preez, 11 Enrique Franks, 10 Matthew Easton, 9 Hlumelo Klaas, 8 Theo Repinz, 7 Joe Lyons, 6 Yolisa Dladla, 5 Zach Toerien, 4 Laken Gray, 3 Marco Nortjé, 2 Corné Slabbert, 1 Warwick Griffin

Referee: Wesley Moss (Border Referees’ Society)