Grey switch gears in the second half to down Boishaai in Bloem
A sensational second-half performance from Grey College helped them beat Paarl Boys’ High 21-12 in a SupaQuick Premier Interschools match on Saturday 14 May at the Main Rugby Field at Grey College in Bloemfontein. (Halftime: Grey College 0-5 Paarl Boys’ High).
All the home side’s tries scored in the second stanza, three converted tries coming courtesy of Nick Greyling, Martin Botha, and Casper Badenhorst. Bradley Giddy converted all three of his attempts to keep his kicking record for the match at 100 percent.
Grey College scrumhalf Caleb Abrahams put in a man-of-the-match performance with darting and elusive runs, his efforts resulting in two of his side’s tries.
It was however, as the nippy number nine-pointed out, a team effort that allowed him to enjoy quality ball at the back of a dominating pack of forwards.
It was a tough tussle upfront when Paarl Boys’ High laid the platform in the first half but could not capitalise on their much-enjoyed territory and possession, failing to convert this into points. Only having a solo try to show for their efforts. Halftime score 0-5 in favour of the visitors.
Captain for Paarl Boys’ High Juan Smal got over the try line for the opening score of the match following a brilliant and well-worked constructed driving maul.
The opening minutes’ possession and territory were tipped towards the visitors as they enjoyed much of the ball. Thurlon Williams missed the conversion, 0-5.
Williams missed an earlier penalty attempt and along with another penalty kick going array, Williams could have given the team from Paarl a more commanding lead as the first half was closing out.
The defensive resolve and discipline of the Grey College backline players ensured that the scoreline was kept to a single unconverted try at the stroke of halftime.
Ulrich Wahl and his centre teammate Alec McIntyre made sure their first-time tackles stopped the attacking momentum of the Paarl Boys’ High players.
Grey College came out firing in the second half with players like Abrahams and Alfondso Isaacs playing some outstanding rugby, Abrahams deft and accurate box kicks got the home side into prime position to launch crowd-entertaining attacks.
Isaacs’ follow up of Abrahams laid a sound foundation for two of the Grey College tries.
Some stern and inspiring words from the Grey College coaching staff at the interval must have penetrated the hearts of the home side’s players as they got two converted tries in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
Their first of their tries came when hooker Greyling collected the ball at the back of a driving maul, flyhalf Giddy adding the extras and giving the home side the lead for the first time in the match, 7-5. The home side never lost this lead.
Grey got their second try almost seconds from the restart, Isaacs’ big hit resulting in a turnover ball and a crosskick from Giddy was perfectly waited and gathered by Botha which the left-winger rounded off dotting down under the crossbar, Giddy added the extras, 14-5.
The proverbial final nail in the coffin for Paarl Boys’ High came in the 53rd minute when Badenhorst powered over from close range again Abrahams’ vision for spotting the space being very evident in the build-up to the third Grey College try. Giddy made no mistake off the tee, 21-5.
With time up on the clock, Paarl Boys’ High got a consolation try when replacement front-rower Alfie Holm added his name to the scoring sheet and M Pretorius adding the extras, 21-12, but a little too late as the match was deservedly won by Grey College following a disciplined and clinical second half.
SupaQuick Man of the Match: Caleb Abrahams
Scorers:
Grey College 21 (0) – Tries: Nick Greyling, Martin Botha, Casper Badenhorst. Conversions: Bradley Giddy (3). Paarl Boys’ High 12 (5) – Tries: Juan Smal, Alfie Holm. Conversion: Marno Pretorius.
The teams:
Grey College: 15 Gunter Janse van Rensburg, 14 Alfondso Isaacs, 13 Ulrich Wahl, 12 Alec McIntyre, 11 Martin Botha, 10 Bradley Giddy, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Lukas Meyer, 6 Jean-Henri Smit, 5 Marno Stopforth, 4 Ranon Fouche, 3 Casper Badenhorst, 2 Nick Greyling, 1 Tat Botha (captain). Replacements: 16 K Mathibedi, 17 AJ Burger, 18 J Erasmus, 19 S Du Plessis, 20 A Truter, 21 R Heyns, 22 A vd Merwe, 23 T Tolmay.
Paarl Boys’ High: 15 Jean Claude Mars, 14 Scot Nel, 13 Shah Jehaan de Jongh, 12 Luke Carew, 11 Jameel de Jongh, 10 Thurlon Williams, 9 Juan Loots, 8 Hugo Ben Horn, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Matthew Fick, 5 Ben Heydenrych, 4 Van Heerden Pretorius, 3 Bradley Stanfliet, 2 Juan Smal (captain), 1 Tian Vorster. Replacements: 16 HB Odendal, 17 L Roodt, 18 A Holm, 19 RJ Du Preez, 20 C Nel, 21 R Van Willing, 22 M Pretorius, 23 B Burger.
Referee: DF Hefer
Assistant Referees: Darren Colby and Jason Morrow.
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