Van Dyk scores an incredible five tries as Affies sink Pretoria Boys High

Affies’ hooker Ethan Van Dyk delivered a massive performance to help drive the visitors to big a 48-5 victory over their city rivals Pretoria Boys High School in their annual derby.

The number two scored three tries during Saturday’s second half on Brooks Field and tallied an incredible five for the match.

Van Dyk was also the instigator of many of his tries, with his pinpoint lineout throwing setting up driving mauls from which he was driven over the try line.

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Boys High put in some strong hits in the early going in an attempt to slow the visitors’ momentum. Tension boiled like a kettle on a stove. Bit it was the Wit Bulle who drew first blood with a well-executed lineout and strong driving maul, a feature of Affies’ play on the day, putting Van Dyk over for his first score.

It appeared like déjà vu when Van Dyk crossed for another five points, with the accurate boot of flyhalf Ruben Pienaar pinning Boys High in a corner to create the try-scoring opportunity for Affies.

Then, with brute force, Affies’ lock JD Hattingh drove through the defensive line and powered over for the visitors’ third five-pointer to ensure they went into the break with momentum on their side. They led 17-0, with Pienaar successful with only one of his three conversion attempts.

The Candies’ coach Paul Anthony must have shared some inspirational words with his charges during the break because soon after the restart Boys High scored their only points of the match. Giving Affies some of their own medicine, they forced their way over from a lineout, with the throw-in cleanly collected by captain Tshepiso Shikhibana and the move finished off by prop Jeffrey Singo.

After yet another powerful driving maul, Affies’ scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman fed Pienaar, who showcased his tactical awareness by exploiting a gap in the defensive line with a convincingly sold dummy. He ran in the try and converted it, too, to extend the Wit Bulle’s lead to 19 points,

Two more tries in quick succession from Van Dyk further extended Affies’ big advantage. It was all Affies, with Boys High forced to defend against wave after wave of attacks.

The Candies were also afforded few chances to counterattack as their city neighbours clamped down on their attacking intentions.

With 10 minutes to go, referee Toit du Toit consulted with one of his assistants, which ended with a yellow card for the home side. That one-man disadvantage created even more space for the rampant Affies’ team.

In the last six minutes, the floodgates opened, with the Wit Bulle running in a further three tries, which included a fifth for Van Dyk.

The try of the day, though, came from a beautifully judged chip from Pienaar, which found the outstretched hands of wing Nico Grobler. He realised he wasn’t able to make it to the try line on his own, so he offloaded to his fellow wing, Eagan Roux, who dotted down to complete a fine sweeping move.

After the first half, Boys High were still in the game, but Affies’ class on the offensive shone through and the weight of their unceasing attacks came to bear fruit.

Pretoria Boys High 5 (0) – Try: Jeffery Singo. Affies 48 (17) – Tries: Ethan Van Dyk (5), JD Hattingh, Ruben Pienaar, Eagan Roux,.Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (4).