Affies beat Candies
It may well have ended closer than the score of 34-26 seems as twice just before the end Pretoria Boys High were held up over the line but in reality Affies were in control of this match, played at Affies in Pretoria, a Premier Interschools match.
In fact the final whistle went when, for the second time, Pretoria Boys High were held up.
One thing was certain both sides battled with might and main and their schools could be proud of them.
There were more people watching this match than watched the Currie Cup match in Johannesburg later that day when the Golden Lions walloped the Blue Bulls.
There were bagpipes, that long tunnel with the long flag to form a ceiling as the Pretoria Boys High side ran out. There was ardent singing and Affies kicked off.
Pretoria Boys High were penalised and Affies kicked out for a five-metre line-out which, ineluctably, they mauled and scored a try credited to flank Gavin Foster who had the ball at the back of the bakkie as it went over. 5-0 after 5 minutes.
Pretoria Boys High missed a kick from in front and when Affies turned another penalty into a line-out Pretoria Boys High's defence was strong enough to keep them out.
Then it was Pretoria Boys High's turn to attack. From a penalty lively, brave scrumhalf Tristan Eve tapped and darted. From a ruck he darted again as Pretoria Boys High rumbled to the line and captain Jake Blew scored. Dylan Neser converted and Pretoria Boys High led 7-5 after 12 minutes.
The lead did not last long as Ryno Lourens sprinted down the left and then Affies moved right where the Pretoria Boys High defence was thin. Flank Rohan Roelofse, in an outside centre position accelerated through an inviting gape and scored. 10-7 to Affies after 15 minutes.
Pretoria Boys High attacked and went wide left but lost the ball. They attacked again and again lost the ball. This time when they lost it near the Affies line big Tiaan Schmulian got the ball and raced down the right-hand side. He chipped and was tackled late. Affies kicked the ball out for a five-metre line-out, mauled and again Gavin Foster scored. 17-7 after 25 minutes.
Back came Pretoria Boys High, bashing at the Affies' line till the ball came to Sipho Phiri on the left wing. He was standing close to the line and Affies seemed to have him well covered but he manoeuvred his body and forced his way over for the try. 17-12 after 28 minutes.
Affies then had a long period on attack bashing at the Pretoria Boys High line. They had two five-metre line-outs but the defence was heroic and held. Affies then kicked at goal but missed.
The half-time score was 17-12.
Pretoria Boys High lost a man to the sin bin and Affies had another attacking line-out but this time lost it. They attacked from a line-out and then tapped a penalty and bashed and eventually big DP du Plessis drove over for a try. 24-12.
It started to drizzle but Affies were back on the attack and from a scrum on the right Dale Hendricks dummied and broke and gave to fullback Eduan Keyter who scored. to make it 31-12 and Affies seemed to be cruising.
Carlo de Nysschen had a good run down the left but then Pretoria Boys High attacked getting closer with pick-'n-drive till they went wide and on an overlap replacement Armand Maré scored in the corner. Dylan Neser converted from touch. 31-19 after 55 minutes.
From a scrum in the Affies 22 Eduan Keyter raced on a powerful run that ended near the Pretoria Boys High 22. Pretoria Boys High were penalised and Eddie Fouché goaled. 34-19 with 10 minutes to play.
Those 10 minutes belonged to Pretoria Boys High who strove for victory from the jaws of defeat. They won a tighthead at a scrum and attacked. Affies were penalised and Pretoria Boys High tapped and attacked till Mitchell Baumann forced his way through three defenders to score. 34-26 with 7 minutes left.
Affies were penalised some 40 metres out and Dylan Neser forced a five-metre line-out. Pretoria Boys High mauled and Mitchell Baumann was held up. From a five-metre scrum Armand Maré was also over the line, but he, too, was held up - and the referee blew the final whistle.
Scorers:
For Affies:
Tries: Gavin Foster 2, Rohan Roelofse, DP du Plessis, Eduan Keyter
Cons: Eddie Fouché 3
Pen: Eddie Fouché
For Pretoria Boys High:
Tries: Jake Blew, Sipho Piri, Armand Maré, Mitchell Baumann
Cons: Dylan Neser 3
Teams
Affies: 15 Eduan Keyter, 14 Tiaan Schmulian, 13 Ryno Lourens, 12 Eddie Fouché, 11 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Dale Hendricks, 9 Divan Henning, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Rohan Roelofse (captain), 6 Gavin Foster, 5 Human Bodenstein, 4 Juan Basson, 3 Reynard Goosen, 2 Remon Viviers, 1 DP du Plessis
Replacements: 16 Jano Espag, 17 Strauss Koekemoer, 18 Dylan du Preez, 19 Grobler, 20 Barnard, 21 Pieter Coetzer, 22 Janco Booysen, 23 Bezuidenhout
Pretoria Boys High: 15 Wayne Parker, 14 Jean Volschenk, 13 Jordan Williams, 12 Rossouw Basson, 11 Sipho Phiri, 10 Dylan Neser, 9 Tristan Eve, 8 Mitchell Baumann, 7 Frikkie de Bruin, 6 Reenen Buys-Du Plessis, 5 Geor Schulze, 4 Ryan Carlson, 3
Mashoa Mukhari, 2 Viaan Janse van Rensburg, 1 Jake Blew (captain)
Replacements: 16 Tooley, 17 Aiden Malan, 18 Schumann, 19 Gideon van den Berg, 20 Dean Waghorn, 21 Armand Maré, 22 Joshua Chesno
Referee: Pieter Maritz (Blue Bulls Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1923: Pretoria Boys High won 4-3, Pretoria Boys High won 6-3, Affies won 9-0
1924: Pretoria Boys High won 3-0, Pretoria Boys High won 11-3, Draw 3-3
1925: Pretoria Boys High won 14-6, Pretoria Boys High won 14-9
1926: Pretoria Boys High won 7-0, Pretoria Boys High won 6-5
1927: Pretoria Boys High won 6-5
1928: Draw 0-0
1929: Pretoria Boys High won 3-0
1930: Draw 3-3, Pretoria Boys High won 11-4
1931: Draw 3-3, Pretoria Boys High won 7-6
1932: Affies won 8-0, Affies won 10-0, Pretoria Boys High won 9-6
1933: Draw 0-0
1934: Pretoria Boys High won 11-3
1935: Pretoria Boys High won 11-9
1936: Affies won 15-3, Pretoria Boys High won 3-0
1937: Affies won 11-0, Affies won 11-3
1938: Pretoria Boys High won 11-3, Pretoria Boys High won 6-0
1939: Affies won 8-0
1940: Affies won 6-5
1941: Draw 6-6
1942: Pretoria Boys High won 13-3
1943: Pretoria Boys High won 19-0
1944 – No match
1945: Pretoria Boys High won 8-5
1946: Pretoria Boys High won 3-0
1947: Pretoria Boys High won 15-4
1948: Affies won 11-0
1949: Pretoria Boys High won 6-0
1950: Pretoria Boys High won 6-3, Affies won 11-6
1951: Affies won 6-0, Affies won 11-6
1952: Draw 3-3, Affies won 8-5
1953: Affies won 9-0, Pretoria Boys High won 9-3
1954: Affies won 8-0
1955: Affies won 12-3
1956: Pretoria Boys High won 10-6
1957 – No match
1958: Affies won 6-3
1959: Pretoria Boys High won 11-6
1960: Pretoria Boys High won 14-11
1961: Affies won 15-6
1962: Pretoria Boys High won 8-5
1963: Affies won 6-5
1964: Affies won 8-6
1965: Pretoria Boys High won 10-8
1966: Affies won 16-11
1967: Pretoria Boys High won 15-12
1968: Pretoria Boys High won 14-13
1969: Affies won 22-5
1970: Affies won 33-3
1971: Pretoria Boys High won 11-9
1972: Affies won 10-9
1973: Affies won 15-3
1974: Affies won 6-0
1975: Affies won 23-9
1976: Pretoria Boys High won 19-9
1977: Affies won 18-7
1978: Affies won 36-3
1979: Pretoria Boys High won 13-9
1980: Affies won 16-3
1981: Affies won 16-6
1982: Pretoria Boys High won 17-10
1983: Affies won : Affies won 12-6
1984: Affies won 22-6
1985: Pretoria Boys High won 12-9
1986: Affies won 19-12
1987: Affies won 13-10
1988: Affies won 13-3
1989: Affies won 16-15
1990: Affies won 17-9
1991: Affies won 28-3
1992: Affies won 19-10
1993: Affies won 27-9
1994: Affies won 19-3
1995: Affies won 30-22
1996: Affies won 62-13
1997: Affies won 29-12
1998: Affies won 49-0, Draw 21-21
1999: Affies won 31-27, Affies won 30-11
2000: Affies won 32-11
2001: Affies won 24-17
2002: Affies won 21-6
2003: Pretoria Boys High won 18-3
2004: Affies won 34-24
2005: Pretoria Boys High won 25-21
2006: Affies won 27-17
2007: Draw 20-20
2008: Pretoria Boys High won 34-30
2009; Affies won 20-15
2010: Affies won 38-3
2011: Affies won 26-10 and 44-0
2012: Affies won 34-11 and 36-20
2013: Affies won 50-12
2014: Affies won 34-26