Thrilling draw in Graaff-Reinet

The annual Interschools derby between Union High School and Hoër Volkskool of Graaff-Reinet, an FNB Classic Clash,  took place on Saturday 10 August in near perfect weather conditions.

Although Union had only lost to Volkskool on five occasions in the last sixteen years and went into the match as slight favourites, having lost only two of their annual fixtures, one being against Paarl Boys' High (19- 21), the result of the Interschools clash can never be predicted with certainty.

The fact that the match ended in a 6-6 draw came as no surprise, however, and was typical of an encounter between the two schools. Volkskool who had a massive weight advantage in the forwards opted to keep the game tight and only determined defence by the lighter UHS pack kept them from scoring in the opening phases of the match. During this stage of the match the

tackling was tremendously hard and brutal.

As the match progressed UHS came into their own and were able to attack with their backline. Julio Abels (outside centre) and Naledi Cona (left wing) were prominent in some exciting runs down the left flank of the field and on two occasions came very close to scoring.

After Julio Abels had put in a strong run and had come very close to crossing the Volkskool goal-line, Union High were awarded a penalty within five metres of the try line. Unfortunately they opted to kick for the corner and subsequently lost the line out. Another opportunity presented itself when flyhalf Jason Vers cut the opposition line with a fine break only to run out of support on the Volkskool 22 metre line.

Volkskool were first to put points on the board, however, when their fullback Tsepho Mabetsela was successful with a penalty during the first quarter of the game. As the uncompromising and sometimes unforgiving forward battle continued, Volkskool had an opportunity to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty. The attempt by fullback Matetsela was unsuccessful and Volkskool went into the break with a three points lead.

The second half resumed with Volkskool coming very close to scoring after Union High had failed to gather the kick off. Once again only fierce and determined tackling by the lighter UHS pack kept out the Volkskool onslaught.

With UHS opting to run the ball at every opportunity they made good ground and the Union High School captain and flyhalf, Jason Vers, was able to level the score soon afterwards with a penalty when the Volkskool backline was adjudged to have gone off sides as UHS swarmed onto attack. Jason Vers was successful with another penalty to give UHS the lead for the first time after they had run the ball at their opponents.

Volkskool drew level in the last quarter of the match when Matetsela was successful with his second penalty. He was, however, to miss an opportunity to put Volkskool in the lead once again but the attempt drifted to the left of the upright.

The match ended with UHS on attack and they could so easily have sealed the game had one of three drop kick attempts by Jason Vers, albeit from far out on one occasion, been successful. The final whistle went with UHS on attack as they had been for most of the last quarter.

The 6-6 draw was perhaps a true reflection of the match as neither side had done enough to secure victory.

Players who stood in the UHS side were – Lance Hobson (No.8), Cinga Mbinda (flank), Jason Vers (flyhalf), Julio Abels (centre) and Naledi Cona (wing).

Eitherhagen Strauss (flank), Saliso (wing), Cloete (centre), captain Albert Senekal (flank), Smith (prop) and De Klerk (lock) were players from Volkskool who caught the eye.

Scorers:

For Union High:

Pens: Jason Vers 2

For Volkskool:

Pens: Tsepho Mabetsela  2

Teams

Volkskool: 15 Tsepo Mabetsela, 14 Siba Saliso, 13 Heinrich Cloete, 12 Adrian November, 11 Theodore Adams, 10 Tiaan van Solms, 9 Justin Afrika, 8 Malan Zerwick, 7 Albert Senekal (captain), 6 Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss, 5 Phillip Crouse, 4 Ryno de Klerk, 3 Luan Smit, 2 Stephan Bezuidenhoudt, 1 Antonie de Beer.

Union High: 15  Renaldo Koeberg, 14  Qayiya Tshotsho, 13  Julio Abels, 12  Junior Mlonyeni, 11  Naledi Cona, 10  Jason Vers (captain), 9  Lunathi Makinana, 8  Lance Hobson, 7 Siba Maqethuka, 6  Cinga Mbinda, 5 Joshua JankovichBesan, 4  Joshua Harpur, 3 Sheade Rudman, 2  Matthew Kingma, 1 CayMarc Green

Results Down the Years:

1922: Draw 0-0

1926: Volkskool won 53-3

1928: Volkskool won 15-0 and 22-7

1931: Union High won 14-6

1932: Union High won 17-12 and 3-0

1933: Volkskool won 15-7 and 3-0

1934: Volkskool won 8-0 and 12-6

1935: Volkskool won 12-3 and Draw 0-0

1936: Volkskool won 14-3 and Union High won 13-8

1937: Volkskool won 6-0 and 6-0

1938: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 17-0

1939: Union High won 7-3 and 13-3

1940: Union High won 19-3 and 11-0

1941: Volkskool won 8-6 and Union High won 6-0

1942: Union High won 3-0 and 6-0

1943: Volkskool won 8-0 and 18-0

1944: Volkskool won 38-6 and 21-0

1945: Volkskool won 20-3 and 18-3

1946: Volkskool won 14-0 and 8-0

1947: Volkskool won 31-0 and 14-3

1948: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 3-0

1949: Volkskool won 8-3 and 6-3

1950: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 3-0

1951: Draw 14-14 and Union High won 6-3

1952: Draw 8-8 and Draw 3-3

1953: Volkskool won 8-3 and 9-6

1954: Volkskool won 12-0 and Draw 0-0

1955: Volkskool won 6-3 and 9-6

1956: Volkskool won 12-3 and Union High won 3-0

1957: Draw 0-0 and Union High won 19-5

1958: Union High won 6-0 and 6-0

1959: Union High won 3-0 and Volkskool won 9-0

1960: Union High won 14-9 and 14-3

1961: Volkskool won 13-6 and Union High won 16-8

1962: Union High won 6-5 and Draw 3-3

1963: Volkskool won 19-6 and Union High won 8-6

1964: Draw 8-8 and Draw 6-6

1965: Draw 6-6 and Volkskool won 14-6

1966: Union High won 14-0 and Volkskool won 16-0

1967: Volkskool won 8-3 and 9-0

1968: Union High won 6-0 and Volkskool won 11-6

1969: Union High won 17-3 and 14-6

1970: cancelled for flu

1971: Union High won 22-0

1972: Volkskool won 4-3

1973: Union High won 18-6

1974: Volkskool won 10-0

1975: Union High won 9-6

1976: Union High won 10-6

1977: Volkskool won 31-3

1978: Union High won 14-3

1979: Draw 16-16

1981: Volkskool won 18-3

1982: Volkskool won 4-0

1983: Draw 11-11

1984: Volkskool won 14-6

1985: Volkskool won 16-4

1986: Volkskool won 6-3

1987: Union High won 9-6

1988: Volkskool won 22-7

1989: Union High won 10-9

1990: Volkskool won 6-4

1991: Volkskool won 9-7

1992: Volkskool won 15-6

1993: Volkskool won 23-3

1994: Volkskool won 31-16

1995: Volkskool won 22-7

1996: Volkskool won 36-0

1997: Union High won 10-3

1998: Volkskool won 18-15

1999: Union High won 13-10

2000: Union High won 13-0

2001: Volkskool won 18-5

2002: Volkskool won 19-18

2003: Union High won 26-14

2004: Draw 16-16

2005: Volkskool won 32-27

2006: Union High won 30-3

2007: Union High won 18-16

2008: Volkskool won 32-8

2009: Draw 12-12

2010: Union High won 25-15

2011: Union High won 16-6

2012: Union High won 13-8

2013: Draw 6-6

From Union High