Grey get their revenge
GREY High rounded off their reunion weekend in style with a thrilling 31-19 win in a rugged schools rugby clash against Wynberg at Grey's Philip field on Saturday.
The home side had lost their last two games to Wynberg and Saturday's triumph was not easily achieved against a power- packed Cape side. The big, organised visiting pack often marched Grey back when they went on the maul and it was surprising they did not utilise this effective tactic more often.
They scored a critical try from such a maul to close the gap to 25-19 with about seven minutes remaining and the result was still very much in the balance. However, Grey fought their way into Wynberg territory and when the ball spurted out of a ruck, scrumhalf Brody van Goeverden was on hand to pick up and cross unchallenged.
Flyhalf Garrick Mattheus, who was impressive throughout the game with his positional play and tactical kicking, converted from near the touchline and with just minutes remaining, Grey averted a third successive setback.
The home side backs showed great enterprise, with Curwin Bosch, playing at fullback, scoring a brilliant try when he dummied through a gap and accelerated to beat the cover defence. Centre Keanu Vers also confirmed his pace and skill, setting up Jeremy Ward for the opening try and then dancing through the Wynberg defence to stretch Grey's lead to 20-5 early in the second half.
Wynberg, though, were rewarded for their diligence and effort, twice powering over through their forwards for tries, while wing Ibie Adams added the third when he bamboozled the Grey defence from a scrum close to the home tryline.
But Grey, having built a lead, this time did not fade. Besides the tries, Mattheus kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Framesby v Boland Agricultural
Framesby beat Boland Agricultural 22-16 in a match they probably should have won more comfortably on Saturday afternoon. In the end, they hung on desperately to win.
Framesby threw away numerous scoring opportunities with poor decision-making, bad passing and handling mistakes.
When they were patient they did get it right and scored three lovely tries, two by inside centre Malan Marais. The visitors scored their only try in the second half.
Framesby built up a handy 10-0 lead early in the match but Boland fought back with three penalties to make it 10-9 at half time.
For the rest of the match, Framesby had their nose in front but could not put the opponents away, with both sides showing a lot of guts and a will to win. Framesby were solid in the lineouts, with lock Wihan Coetzer brilliant. Boland scrummed impressively, but also got penalised regularly in this phase.
Botter van Zyl (prop) and Wikus van Rooyen (lock) kept up a high work rate for Framesby. Bertus Smith (prop) and Gerhard du Toit (lock) were the best of the Boland forwards.
Muir v Westering
MUIR produced a powerhouse second half performance to beat Westering 57-13 in Uitenhage on Saturday afternoon.
The first 35 minutes were closely contested although Muir led 19-6 at the break through tries by wings Xolela Daniels, Sithemiso Metche and centreMihlali Nobonvu. Flyhalf Abongile Sonjica slotted two conversions while Westering No10Keagan Bouwer kicked two penalties.
The half ended with Westering on attack and matters could have been tighter going into the second stanza.
The visitors did narrow the gap 10 minutes after the restart with a try by fullbackSiphosethu Fayo which Bouwer converted.
At 19-13, a tight finish was expected but Muir kicked into gear and ran in six tries from fullback Luphelo Miggels, lock Lungile Sonwabo, flank Mzi Goba and replacements Meli Nkebe (2) and Reuben de Vos, who added four conversions to inflict more damage.
