Grey College managed to hang-on for a narrow 30-28 victory over Paul Roos Gimnasium in their annual Premier Interschools Saturday at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

The visitors from Bloemfontein had to defend the narrow two-point lead with only 14 men on the pitch during the last seven minutes of the clash after their fullback, David Kriel, was sinbinned for a spear tackle. The 14-men of Grey College showed a lot of guts to keep Paul Roos from snatching victory from them.

Paul Roos had a dream start to the Premier Interschool with hooker, JJ Kotzé, and flyhalf, Juan Mostert, scoring tries in the first five minutes of the match both of which was converted by fullback, Colia Louis, to give their side a 14-0 lead.

Grey College opened their account in the tenth minute thanks to a penalty goal by flyhalf, Zander du Plessis. A few minutes later Du Plessis doubled his team’s score with another penalty.

Prop Naudé Naudé crashed over for the visitors’ first try which was also converted by Du Plessis. Grey increased the tempo of the match to take control. Paul Roos’ lead was down to a single point at 14-13 at this stage.

Louis, who had his kicking boots on then extended his side’s lead to 17-13 with his first of three penalty goals. He only missed one attempt at goal during the match.

Grey College took the lead for the first time in the match when winger Pienaar van Niekerk scored in the 26^th minute of the match. Du Plessis was successful with the conversion to give Grey a 20-17 lead.

Grey College’s hooker, Wihan Marais, scored his side third try which was also converted by Du Plessis to give his side a 27-17 lead at the break.

Grey College’s forwards with their captain and flanker, Marcel Theunissen, leading the way defended as if their lives depended on it. Lock Johan Wilken made a try-saving tackle on Paul Roos’ winger Remy Engelbrecht late in the match.

Paul Roos’ hooker and Man-of-the-Match, JJ Kotzé, gave his side hope with his second try to bring the deficit down to only two points at 30-28. Kriel was yellow carded shortly after that, but Grey managed to pull through winning by 30-28 thanks to some gutsy defence.

Scorers:

Grey College 30 (27) – Tries: Naudé Naudé, Pienaar van Niekerk, Wihan Marais. Doelskoppe: Zander du Plessis (3). Penalties: Du Plessis (3).

Paul Roos Gimnasium 28 (17) – Tries: JJ Kotzé (2), Juan Mostert. Conversions: Colia Louis (2). Penalties: Louis (3).