St John's win thriller at Muchaelhouse
Match Report
St John's travelled down to Balgowan to play Michaelhouse and won 34-27 on Saturday, 27 May.
When the Natal Midlands are at their best there can be few places to match it, and so it was this past Saturday. And as if to complement the perfect weather and scenery, the rugby played by both sides was exemplary.
Eight tries, each well constructed and executed, not one scored on their opponents mistakes, was witnessed by the enthusiastic crowd. The ball was passed from one end to the other, the tackles and rucking of the highest order, and individual efforts brought the spectators to their feet. The respective flyhalves kicked prodigiously, getting their team out of trouble on many an occasion, only to be thwarted by the strong passing and running of the attacking team.
If this is what schools rugby is all about, the future of this aspect of the game is assured.
St John's found themselves 19-3 behind and looking down the barrel of a shotgun after just twenty minutes. Theyhad never been in such a position before! The fight back slowly began, the half-time score 19-10
After the start both sides swapped penalties and the vital 9-point difference remained in Michaelhouse's favour. 22- 13.
The game swayed in both directions, the impasse broken by a line-out and crash try from St.John's. The conversion brought the 22-20 score perilously close for Michaelhouse's liking and they threw the book at their adversary. But to no avail, when the St John's centre and captain, rounded off a brilliant break from the half way, scoring under the posts. This left the outcome in the air, the score at last in St John's favour, 22-27.
During the match the St John,s flyhalf came incredibly close with two drop attempts, one in fact bouncing high off the cross bar but luckily into the Michaelhouse fullback's arms. This set the stage for the next St John's try. They secured a scrum on the Balgowan team's 22, almost in the middle of the field. Possibly convinced that the flyhalf would try another drop to put the score beyond Michaelhouse's reach, they placed their defenses accordingly. The St John's scrumhalf
indicated that it was their intention to go for the drop, and his subsequent dummy and break for the line left the Michaelhouse defenders groping. Dragging two Michaelhouse players, desperately clutching his jersey, he crossed the try-line, much to the joy of his team-mates.
The 34- 22 score appeared to put the game beyond doubt, but not so! Michaelhouse returned with a vengeance, the ball traveling through many hands before they scored. Alas they ran out of time, the score 34-27 bringing the game to a close and the crowd to their feet, applauding the two teams for a thoroughly enjoyable winter afternoon's entertainment.
By Rex Wickens
