Grey PE in comfortable win
In their FNB Classic Clash in Port Elizabeth on Friday, Grey High Schools easily beat Selborne College of East London 45-0, scoring six tries in the process. It was the biggest win in matches played annually since 1972.
It was a cold, windy and overcast day which yielded to squalls of rain in the first half but ended with wintry scrum shining down on Grey, whose home match it was.
The first half was comparatively even. Grey won the breakdown and the line-outs (They took eight off Selborne in the match) but conceded more penalties – 7-4 in the first half and 11-4 over the whole match. But they had the better of possession and used their opportunities better. Where Selborne missed four penalty kicks at goal, Grey missed their first kick at goal and then goaled seven out of seven.
Three Grey players in particular stood out – tall flyhalf Garrick Mattheus with his excellent hands, perfect judgement in decision-making and distribution and his immaculate boot, energetic flank Johan van Niekerk and brilliant captain CJ Velleman whose ball carrying and distribution were exceptional. And they had 12 other players who performed so well, as a team and individually.
The matchg started with three telling interventions by Velleman – a long burst till tackled by Cwenga Mqingwana, another long run till tackled by Mlibo Giba and then a burst and perfect pass, which, inexcusably, was knocked on.
It was Matteus’s only missed kick that ended with a try. The kick hit the upright high up and bounced back infield where Johan van Niekerk grabbed it and a perfect pass by Lamond Bouwer sent Dylan Vermaak on an overlap to a try. 7-0 after 10 minutes.
Grey attacked again and Velleman was judged to have been held up over the Selborne line.
When Selborne were penalised at a maul, Matteus goaled. 10-0 after 19 minutes, which was the half-time score.
Selborne were close to scoring when Lungelo Gosa kicked a diagonal to his left and Mqingwana flykicked on but Vermaak was back to save the situation for his side.
Four minutes into the second half, Grey led 24-0 after two tries in quick succession.
Grey went right to Luca Dalla-Vecchia and then came back right where massive Stefan Ebersohn burst through some 42 metres out and then gave to Velleman on his right who scored under the posts.
Two minutes later Jeremy Ward had a 50m run down the left touchline for a try.
Selborne did try to use the ball, but did so differently from Grey. Where Gray were happy to stretch play wide, Selborne kept it close trying to bash with their big men. Grey’s tactic prevailed; Selborne’s was a flop.
The lead gave Grey greater daring and they ran from their own line till Ebersohn burst ahead and gave to Keanu Vers who was stopped at the Selborne line but Johan van Niekerk was on hand to dive over for a try, 31-0 after 47 minutes.
Grey ran out of defence again with Matteus, Velleman and Gerrit Huisamen prominent. Huisamen pulled two defenders onto him and gave to Dalla-Vecchia who beat two defenders to score. 38-0 after 52 minutes.
Matthew Howes had a burst and then Angus van Niekerk snatched up a messy ball, beat three defenders on a long run to a try in the left corner. Matteus, splendid in hands and feet, converted from touch. 45-0 with 9 minutes to play
Chad Momberg had two could runs and Joshua Mudrovcic a run of surprising speed.
For both sides it was the last match of the season, for most their last matches for their school.
Scorers:
Grey Boys’ High School 45 – Tries: Dylan Vermaak, CJ Velleman, Johan van Niekerk, Luca Dalla-Vecchia, Angus van Niekerk. Conversions: Garrick Matteus (6). Penalty: Matteus. Selborne College 0.
The teams:
Grey Boys’ High School: 15 Keanu Vers, 14 Dylan Vermaak, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Chad Momberg, 11 Luca Dalla-Vecchia, 10 Garrick Mattheus, 9 Angus van Niekerk, 8 Lamond Bouwer, 7 Johann van Niekerk, 6 CJ Velleman (captain), 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Stefan Ebersohn , 3 JP Jamieson, 2 Joshua Mudrovcic, 1 Matthew Howes. Replacements: 16 Luke Oosterhuizen, 17 Robin Stephans, 18 Cavan Tresbiatowsky, 19 Hannu Minnaar, 20 Matthew Alborough, 21 Curwin Bosch, 22 Vincient Moss, 23 Thabani Mgugudo.
Selborne College: 15 Stuart Dixon, 14 Milani Lubelwana, 13 Keagan Deponselle, 12 Dylan Pietersen, 11 Cwenga Mqingwana, 10 Lungelo Gosa, 9 Keegan Gray, 8 Damian Wolvaard, 7 Jedwyn Harty (vice-captain), 6 Jason Steyn, 5 Robert Lyons, 4 Robert Stanford, 3 Matthew Nelson, 2 Scott Kriel, 1 Mlibo Giba. Replacements: 16 Dillon Domoney, 17 Tango Balikile, 18 Dominic Bank, 19 William Osner, 20 Shaun Bowles, 21 Nanele Tyali, 22 Dallas Sabbagh, 23 Morgan Steyn.
Referee: Rodney Bonaparte (Eastern Province Referees’ Society)
Results Down the Years:
1972: Grey won 9-0
1973: Selborne won 20-4
1974: Selborne won 10-6
1975: Selborne won 22-21
1976: Grey won 17-11
1977: Grey won 21-4
1978: Selborne won 26-19
1979: Selborne won 22-13
1980: Selborne won 18-12
1981: Grey won 24-7
1982: Grey won 12-10
1983: Grey won 29-9
1984: Grey won 18-6
1985: Selborne won 7-6
1986: Selborne won 15-10
1987: Grey won 12-6
1988: Selborne won 12-10
1989: Grey won 27-3
1990: Selborne won 17-9
1991: Grey won 7-0
1992: No match
1993: Grey won 16-15
1994: Selborne won 50-6
1995: Grey won 18-17
1996: Selborne won 10-8
1997: Selborne won 20-10
1998: Selborne won 31-10
1999: Selborne won 23-22
2000: Grey won 28-0
2001: Grey won 28-12
2002: Grey won 16-15
2003: Grey won 20-14 and 38-13
2004: Grey won 18-16 and Selborne won 20-11
2005: Grey won 16-3 and 62-3
2006: Grey won 16-15
2007: Grey won 18-3
2008: Grey won 38-16
2009: Selborne won 22-15
2010: Selborne won 30-17
2011: Selborne won 29-21
2012: Grey won 28-22
2013: Grey won 45-0
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