Grey hockey team shine with win over Wynberg
Grey High marked their 167th reunion weekend with a notable 5-1 win in the first team hockey match against Wynberg, putting behind them a string of roller-coaster results over the past few weeks.
During that time there had been humbling defeats and huge victories, and going into the Wynberg fixture, the team was looking to kick-start a period of consistency and positivity.
In front of a packed crowd, the home side took an early lead through a well-placed drag flick from Xander Elkington.
He then added another from a penalty corner before a brace from striker Michael Molenaar, one from a reverse hit, put the home side out of sight.
Wynberg managed to pull one back and tried to rally but the damage had been done.
The Grey boys kept their composure and sealed the victory with a composed finish from Trenton Wood.
This weekend Grey will continue their keen rivalry against Makhanda opponents St Andrew’s.
● In the first team rugby encounter, Wynberg produced arguably their finest performance in their annual derby with Grey High to completely outclass them 35-8 at the Kolisi Field on Saturday.
From the moment Grey, with the wind at their backs, kicked directly into touch at the start, the Cape Town team took control of the match with an iron grip they never relinquished.
Thanks to that early error, Wynberg showed excellent ball retention to work their way upfield and eventually create space on the right for fullback Matthew Ould to scamper over untouched in the fifth minute.
Grey stayed in the game and closed the gap to 5-3 with a penalty from Jordan Strydom.
They battled to break down the Wynberg defence despite spending much time in their opponents’ half.
Just when it seemed a scoring opportunity loomed as the backs spread the ball, up popped Wynberg wing Xolela Hoyi for an intercept and a 70m race for the line, converted by Yaqeen Ahmed to make it 12-3.
As Wynberg made life difficult for Grey, constantly disrupting their line-outs and defending strongly, the death knell for the home side came after 10 minutes in the second half as their defence failed to plug the gaps for Ahmed and flank Jarryd Jackson to race through for tries, taking the score to 24-3.
From then it was a virtually a matter of what the final margin would be, despite Grey having a rare moment of success when captain Imaani Pemba scored after a driving line-out maul.
With the wind at their backs, Wynberg sensibly took their chances with two penalties to stretch the lead.
And the final piece in the horror show for Grey came when Wynberg’s big lock, Michail Kasfikis, charged down a kick ahead and gathered to gallop 20m for their fifth and last try.