Grey pip Graeme College to keep unbeaten record
SOME quick thinking by elusive scrumhalf Renaldo Pedro allowed Grey High to shade a courageous Graeme College side 22-15 in their schools rugby clash on the Philip field at Grey yesterday.
Trailing 15-12 in the last quarter of the match, Grey were awarded a penalty in front of the posts after exerting considerable pressure.
Instead of taking a kick to level the score, Pedro tapped quickly and darted his way past the Graeme defenders to score under the posts.
Flyhalf LJ du Preez added the conversion to put Grey 19-15 ahead and then, with nine minutes remaining, slotted a penalty to give them a slightly bigger cushion.
However, Graeme were not done and they came close to crossing the Grey line in the closing stages with the home team, down to 13 men due to yellow cards, forced to defend desperately.
Eventually, a Graeme infringement allowed Grey to clear their line and their defence managed to stand firm in the final few minutes to keep their unbeaten record this season.
Both sides were guilty of basic errors during the match, while Grey did not control their possession as they would have liked.
The home team were first to score when a simple move from a scrum outwitted the Graeme defence for wing Kholiwe Konza to slide over in the corner.
Graeme, however, hit back to level the scores at 5-5 when they outflanked the home defence for captain Julian Gardner to charge over.
The visitors then conceded a try when, trying to attack in their own half, Grey hooker Ruan Jonker snapped up an interception for a try under the posts, making it 12-5 at the break.
In the second half, Graeme flyhalf Sivuyisiwe Ngqiyaza kicked a penalty and scored a terrific try as he danced his way through the Grey defenders, which he converted, putting them 15-12 ahead.