Grey High denies Framesby in the mud
Grey High School‘s effective lineout maul rose to the occasion in the nick of time to help them avert a fourth straight loss to Framesby with a 19-15 win in a pulsating King Price Derby Series clash on the Kolisi Field, in Gqeberha, on Saturday.
The match was played in extremely muddy conditions, with rain pouring down at stages, and the visitors were left dejected and soaked at the end.
They agonisingly failed to pull off another memorable win after taking the lead for the first time in the match in the 63rd minute with a try by flank David Matyani.
Jaiden Brewis‘s conversion made it 15-14 to Framesby with the final whistle looming, but Grey kept their composure and forced their way into their opponents’ territory.
A penalty in their favour and a kick into the 22 set them up for another driving maul. Framesby had struggled to hold them in that department in the first half, and Grey’s cohesion and power was again too much, with flank Cody Wilmot crossing for his third try.
With just three minutes remaining, Grey won a lineout from the kick-off and again produced a devastating driving maul, which carried them about 40 metres downfield and ended in another penalty.
Although Framesby stole the ball from the final lineout, they were pegged deep in their territory and there was no way for them to exit.
The challenging conditions prevented the match from being a spectacle, but there was no doubting the courage and passion of both sides as they fought for supremacy on a slippery field.
Grey scored first through Wilmot from a lineout maul, with Tristan Kemp adding the conversion, but Framesby made it 7-5 at the break when hooker Luke Didoft dived over after a series of forward drives close to the Grey line.
Three minutes into the second half, Wilmot returned the compliment to make it 14-7 as it became Grey’s turn to apply the pressure.
With 10 minutes to go, Brewis landed a penalty and soon after that they went ahead through Matyani, only to be denied by a final, determined Grey effort.
Scorers
Grey High School 19 (7) – Tries: Cody Wilmot (3). Conversions: Tristan Kemp (2). Framesby 15 (5) – Tries: Luke Didoft, David Matyani. Penalty: Jaiden Brewis. Conversion: Jaiden Brewis.
