Grey College keeps unbeaten run with comprehensive win in Grey derby
Grey College showed why they are a force to be reckoned with after securing an emphatic 38-14 win against Grey High in a Sportsmans Warehouse Interschools derby in Gqeberha on Saturday, 29 July.
College scored seven tries to two in a match that the visitors from Bloemfontein dominated in the second-half. The hosts, showed commitment and grit especially in the first 35 minutes, but their tank ran empty when College shifted into sixth gear.
College’s pacey inside-centre, Pieter van der Merwe, was named as the player of the match after scoring two impressive tries. Keegan Scholtz also had a superb game for College at number 8, whilst fly-half, Ian van der Merwe and outside centre, Martin Botha also shone brightly for the boys in navy blue.
Grey College had a tremendous start to the match when left-winger, Handré du Plessis, went over in the corner after 2 minutes. A rolling maul from a line-out gave the visitors the momentum which lead to a slick back-line that Du Plessis finished off. Ian van der Merwe was accurate with his left boot from the tee to give College a 7-0 lead.
Grey High though did not stand back to the unbeaten College and kept things physical throughout the first 20 minutes. The hosts also had the territorial advantage in the opening quarter of the match, but could not break through the College defence.
The visitors had another opportunity to extend the lead when inside centre, Pieter van der Merwe, picked up possession from a loose line-out throw. He raced to the try-line, but desperate defence from fullback, Joshua Bands, kept him at bay. Superb work from Grey High left wing, Onika Sethosa, smothered the College attack at the breakdown to relieve the pressure.
Pieter van der Merwe though was not to be denied again 3 minutes before half-time as he made the most of a loose ball to score his side’s second try. Ian van der Merwe slotted the conversion to give College a 14-0 lead.
Grey showed guts to narrow the lead on the stroke of half-time when hooker, Imaani Pemba, went over after a rolling maul. The crowd erupted as Grey finally got their name on the scoreboard. Jordan Strydom slotted the conversion to make it 14-7 at half-time.
The boys from Bloem started the second half at full speed and deserved to score their third try of the match as right-winger, Hayden Tolmay dotted down in the corner. Fullback, Vincent Wolhuter deserved major credit as he sliced through the gap to send Tolmay through untouched.
Tolmay added a second try to his name five minutes later diving over in the right-hand corner. A poor kick from Bands under pressure, gave the ball on a plate to College captain, Martin Botha. He gleefully passed the ball to Tolmay to finish.
Grey High showed their proficiency at line-out time as another rolling maul took Pemba over for his second try in the 46th minute. Strydom kept his 100% kicking display with his second conversion to take the score to 26-14.
Against the run of play, College showed just how dangerous they can when Botha capatalised on smart box kick from Christiaan van der Westhuizen. The blonde outside centre caught the ball mid-air and raced past the defenders before sending substitute and SA schools centre, Benito Goeda, to finish off the move. Goeda showed his class with a 30-metre run to make it 31-14 in favour of the visitors.
A piece of individual brilliance from Van der Westhuizen took College to an even bigger lead. A sniping run from the SA Schools scrummie at the ruck saw him sneak into a gap before side-stepping past two defenders to score under the posts. Van der Merwe eased over the conversion to make it 38-14.
Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Pieter van der Merwe (12) (Grey College)
Scorers:
For Grey College:
Tries: Handré du Plessis, Pieter van der Merwe (2), Hayden Tolmay (2), Benito Goeda, Christiaan van der Westhuizen
Cons: Ian van der Merwe (4)
Yellow cards: Juan Venter
For Grey High:
Tries: Imaani Pemba (2)
Cons: Jordan Strydom (2)
Teams:
Grey High: 14 (7)
- Joshua Bands, 14. Divan Lamprecht, 13. Kyle Callaghan, 12. Tobias Nota, 11. Onika Sethosa, 10. Jordan Strydom, 9. Azakhanye Ncule, 8. Mark Brombacher, 7. Likona Sodlaka, 6. Recce Miles, 5. De Wet Goedhals, 4. Joshua Durrheim, 3. Aidan Wilkinson, 2. Imaani Pemba, 1. Daniel de Lange
Grey College: 38 (14)
- Vincent Wolhuter, 14. Hayden Tolmay, 13. Martin Botha, 12. Pieter van der Merwe, 11. Handre du Plessis, 10. Ian van der Merwe, 9. Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8. Keegan Scholtz, 7. Jean-Henri Smit, 6. Liam Santos, 5. Schalk du Plessis, 4. Heinrich Theron, 3. Danie Kruger, 2. Liam van Wyk, 1. Ranon Fouche.
Photography:
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 29: Tobias Nota Grey High School during the Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools rugby match between Grey High School and Grey College at Grey High School on July 29, 2023 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)
Pic 1 = Hayden Tolmay (Grey College) heading to score a try.
Pic 2 = Tobias Nota (Grey High) attacking with ball in hand.
Photographer = Michael Sheehan (Gallo Images)
ENDS
Media release issued by Terras Communications on behalf of Premier Interschools.
For press assistance contact Lauren Terras on +27 82 785 2644 or e-mail lauren@terrascomms.com . For further information on Terras Communications visit www.terrascomms.com
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Robert Blair, Operations Manager Premier Interschools Pty Ltd.
Telephone: +27 (0)79 588 3703
Email: robbie@premierinterschools.co.za
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