Great Grey win after fightback
Home team shows sensational fighting spirit in eclipsing Paul Roos Gym 22-20
GREY High produced a sensational fightback in the last quarter of the match, scoring 14 points in that period to snatch a thrilling 22-20 schools rugby victory over the fancied Paul Roos Gymnasium side in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Trailing 20-8 with 12 minutes left, the match looked set for the third win in a row for the Stellenbosch outfit before the home team upped the intensity of their attacks to cross for two tries.
Flyhalf LJ du Preez held his nerve in a pressure situation to kick two excellent conversions to secure the victory.
Centre Waqar Solaan signalled the Grey comeback in the 58th minute when he beat the Paul Roos cover defence after a chip ahead to seize the ball from under their noses, closing the gap to 20-15.
A crucial penalty 10 minutes later put Grey back on the attack with a lineout close to the Paul Roos tryline and after a series of concerted attacks were stopped, substitute Kholiwe Konza darted through to wriggle his way over, levelling the score at 20-20.
After Du Preez’s successful kick made it 22-20, Grey had 90 seconds to hold on to the ball, which they did for a remarkable comeback win.
Early in the first half, Grey captain and No 8 Bevan Prinsloo showed his power and speed when he found space on the angle to score in the righthand corner.
Paul Roos, however, took a 10-5 lead at half time with tries by wing Regan van der Westhuizen and centre Rufus Dercksen.
In the second half, Du Preez slotted a penalty to narrow the lead to two points before Grey were twice guilty of innocuous clearance kicks from their 22-metre line, one of them presenting the visitors with a try by wing Remy Engelbrecht.
Fullback Colia Louis added the conversion, as well as a penalty, for what looked like a telling lead before Grey finally found the urgency and accuracy they had been seeking to pull off a memorable result.
Brandwag v DP
BRANDWAG outclassed Daniel Pienaar by eight tries to one in celebration of the school’s 80th anniversary for an emphatic 55-10 victory in Uitenhage on Saturday.
The match was the annual FNB Classic Clash between these schools, hosted by Brandwag and it was the home team’s fifth consecutive win over the visitors.
These encounters usually deliver nail-biting rugby, but Saturday proved an exception.
The home team dominated every facet. Brandwag’s pack delivered a strong platform for explosive backline running.
Within three minutes, wing Gavin Kriel slotted a penalty and six minutes later prop Le Klue Stokes powered his way across the line.
Hooker Waldo van Greunen scored the next try.
Captain Chadwyn November delivered a superb performance at flyhalf.
His powerful boot rocketed up-and-unders skywards, allowing his chasers to hunt down the defenders.
November varied his play expertly and made sniping breaks which led to a few tries.
He scored his own try in the second half.
Ever-present scrumhalf Chadd Adams scored two tries.
For the visitors, flyhalf Dylan le Roux slotted a penalty after 12 minutes.
With Brandwag 27-3 ahead by half time, Daniel Pienaar opted for fruitless quick taps.
Seven minutes into the second half, Brandwag eighth man, vice-captain Elandre Smit, shifted to an extra gear to score the first of his two tries.
The visitors fought back bravely even while 48-3 down.
They were eventually rewarded when captain and eighth man Ryan Oliphant scored his side’s only try with 11 minutes left. Le Roux converted.
Five minutes later, Brandwag wing Dean Jordan showed a good turn of speed for his team’s eighth try.
Kriel converted six tries and kicked one penalty.
Other available results:
Andrew Rabie 35 Cillie 7 Despatch 27 Otto 11 Dale 27 Stirling 5 Despatch 24 Pearson 23 Hudson Park 10 Kingswood 19 Marlow 48 Jim Fouche 12 Muir 38 Nico Malan 26 Selborne 14 Queens 12 St Andrew’s 25 Graeme 10 Victoria Park 26 Westering 13 Woodridge 31 Alex Road 7