Grey keep Dale at bay
[caption id="attachment_34537" align="alignright" width="405"] TRY-SCORER: Grey centre Keanu Vers during the game against Dale College. Picture: FREDLIN ADRIAAN[/caption]
GREY High delivered a good allround performance to defeat a courageous Dale outfit in a high- scoring schools rugby encounter at Grey on Saturday.
After leading 27-21 at half time, the home team never relinquished that advantage to win 46-38, but had to deal with a strong performance by the Dalians, who never missed the chance to run at the Grey defence and proved deadly at crossing the line when they got into the 5m "red zone".
The visitors crossed for five tries in all and Grey could never relax despite impressive mauling efforts from the pack and a return of seven tries.
Two of those went to skipper Johann van Niekerk when the Grey forwards simply overpowered their opposition and twice drove them back from 5m lineouts.
Both sides were guilty of lapses in defence and this led to each side being able to strike from open play.
Lock Joe Rooyakkers and prop Matthew Howes took advantage of this to score tries, while Keanu Vers cut through the Dale line for Grey's first try and fullback Curwin Bosch had some brilliant touches to score twice. Flyhalf Garrick Mattheus added four conversions and a penalty.
For Dale, the tries came from Sango Mtotywa, Kuhle Mokhoabane, Johann Loubser, Siya Mgubo and Justerino Davids, while flyhalf Courtney Winnaar kicked five conversions and a penalty.
Brandwag v Framesby
BRANDWAG came through with a late surge to win 32-29 against Framesby in Port Elizabeth.
It was a seesaw battle, with Framesby leading 15-10 at the break. The biggest lead was when Framesby made it 29-18, but Brandwag fought back with two sensational tries to clinch the victory.
Both sides scored four tries and three conversions but the visitors from Uitenhage added two penalties against one of the home side. Brandwag played running rugby and at times their passing and handling were quite brilliant.
On occasion they ran themselves out of trouble and had the Framesby defence at sixes and sevens. Their long-distance tries were spectacular.
Framesby have only themselves to blame for not winning this one though. They should have closed out the victory when leading by 11 points, but lost concentration and the lineouts were a nightmare for them. In Wihan Coetzer, Framesby probably have the best lineout jumper in the province but they could hardly win a ball due to poor throwing and miscommunication.
Their pack had the upper hand in the physical exchanges and Brandwag gave away tries at times.
As the match progressed Morney Moos (flank), Bernardus Coetzee (lock) and No8 and captain Stefan Janse van Vuuren became more prominent and played blinders for Brandwag.
Props Botter van Zyl and Wessel Strydom led the way for Framesby while No8 Malan Marais had a few strong carries. It was a tough battle in the set scrums with both sides giving away penalties for illegal scrumming at crucial stages.
Brandwag's points came from tries by Davian Swanepoel, Jack Swanepoel, Stefan Janse van Vuuren and Derick du Toit, with Shevaan Hendricks kicking three conversions and a penalty. Rivan Lemmer added a penalty.
Tries for Framesby came from Tiaan Louwrens, Wessel Strydom, Jurgens Viljoen and Wiehan Coetzer, with Tiaan Stander slotting three conversions and a penalty.
Other results
OTHER schools results were:
Nico Malan 35 Graeme 18, St Andrew's 47 Queen's 17, Selborne 92 Port Rex 0, Kingswood 29 Stirling 5, Grens 45 Cambridge 14 - Neale Emslie
