Draws open and end day one of Grey High Rugby Festival

Michaelhouse produced a sensational finish with a try after the final hooter had sounded to snatch a 28-28 draw against the hosts, Grey High, on the opening day of the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, in Gqeberha, on Saturday.

At the end of it all, the Grey supporters were left scratching their heads when their team failed to close out the win after receiving a penalty following the sounding of the final hooter.

Grey flyhalf Tristan Kemp tapped the ball and kicked it into touch, obviously believing the match was over, but the referee ruled that play should continue.

In a drama-filled finish, Michaelhouse, trailing 23-28, stayed in the hunt with a series of penalties and eventually they created space out wide for centre Rourke O’Sullivan to go over for the equalising try.

It was left to fullback Alex Jankowitz to try to win the match with a successful conversion, but his effort fell short, and it ended all-square.

After conceding an early try to centre William Ridl, Grey led for most of the match and were 14-7 ahead at the breakthrough tries by Evan Mucka and Adam Holmboe.

Their opponents stayed in the match through the immaculate boot of Jankowitz (three penalties and two conversions) and the result was always in the balance.

Eventually Grey, after Mucka scored his second try, seemed to put some daylight between them and their rivals when they crossed for their fourth try from a forward surge to lead 28-16 with just more than 10 minutes remaining.

Michaelhouse, however, must be admired for showing tenacity under pressure. They repeatedly found a way to attack the Grey line and this opened the way for a converted try by scrumhalf Daniel Aissing, which reduced the margin to five points.

Then came the dramatic finale for the match to end in ecstasy for the visitors and agony for the hosts.

The festival’s opening day was marked by thrilling rugby on the Kolisi Field, with Durban High School (DHS) fullback Cilermo Carolus one of the outstanding players as he jinked his way through the Kingswood defence for a hat-trick of tries in their 41-20 win.

The match was evenly poised at 15-15 after 40 minutes, but it was changed to 34-15 in the blink of an eye and it set up a lead Kingswood had little chance of hauling in.

Kearsney had a tense showdown with Pretoria Boys High, scoring the winning try with three minutes left to win 28-26, while Queen’s College and St Stithians got the festival off to a thunderous start in a 13-13 draw.

The match came alive in the final stages when St Stithians took the lead as Queen’s failed to clear the ball close to their line and livewire flank Sipho Cele darted through to score their first try of the match.

Flyhalf Oliver Wilson, after kicking two penalties earlier, slotted the conversion to put the Johannesburg side 13-6 in front with seven minutes to go.

Queen’s, then, went on the attack courtesy of several penalties and although they conceded one themselves, they were soon back pressing hard in the St Stithians’ 22.

Eventually, with two minutes left, a grubber through the defence saw Queen’s left wing Ncutu Kepe dash through for the crucial score, although it was still left to fullback Bonga Nyakaza to land the conversion to level the score.

This he managed to do with a superb effort five metres in from touch and the final whistle went soon afterwards to leave it as a stalemate.

The match between Kearsney and Pretoria Boys High also went down to the wire, with Kearsney wing Lwandle Mkhize scoring an excellent try in the closing minutes, converted by Doan Nel, to put them 28-26 ahead.

The Pretoria side had a penalty in the final minute to snatch back the lead, but it was not successful, allowing Kearsney to celebrate.

RESULTS

Queen’s 13 St Stithians 13
Northwood 24 Dale 0
Kearsney 28 Pretoria Boys’ High 26
Hilton 27 Graeme College 17
DHS 41 Kingswood 20
Westville 45 Selborne 12
Grey High 28 Michaelhouse 28
St Charles 19 Port Rex 15
Hudson Park 36 Muir 15
Daniel Pienaar 31 Ithembelihle 13