CC: Surprise draw in Worcester
It was a lovely day in Worcester on Saturday when Worcester Gim came across to HTS Drostdy for an exciting FNB Classic Clash that ended in a 15-all draw after a score just before the end.
The sun shone, the wind remained still and some 10,000 spectators were at the match, just slightly fewer than watched the Chiefs play the Lions in a Super Rugby match. It was a lovely day and the coming together of the two schools happened in the best possible spirit.
Worcester Gim came well prepared to play the more favoured side. They disrupted the home forwards, used the boot and the blind side a great deal and put pressure on the Donkey's flyhalf.
Drostdy led 15-8 at the break but could not score in the second half at all.
In fact, the only score in the second half forced the dramatic draw when Worcester kicked from their own 22, won the ball and kicked again. They won the race to the ball near the Drostdy posts and wing Nazier de Sousa scored. Flyhalf Gilbert Abrahams converted to draw the match.
The scorers:
For Drostdy:
Tries: Sean Walters, Hannes Lochner.
Con: Gilbert Abrahams
Pen: Abrahams
For Worcester Gim:
Tries: Ernst Claasen, Nazeer de Souza
Con: Schalk Hugo
Pen: Hugo
The teams:
Drostdy: 15 Nel Christian, 14 Selwin White, 13 Elbert de Wet, 12 Sean Walters, 11 Jaco van der Berg, 10 Gilbert Abrahams, 9 Christwill September, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 François Pienaar, 6 Izak Burger, 5 Jeandré van Deventer, 4 Hendro Wiggins, 3 Wessel Vermeulen, 2 Marius Paulsen, 1 Wilco Louw.
Replacements: 16 Kelly Farrel, 17 Neil du Preez, 18 Ferdi Wolfaardt, 19 Ziaan Barnard, 20 Yousrie Savahl, 21 Daniël Pienaar, 22 Corné Nel.
Worcester Gim: 15 Clayton Isaacs, 14 Nathan Lakay, 13 Shandré Issel, 12 Courtney Cupido, 11 Nazier de Sousa, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Emmeric Rayners (vice-captain), 8 Louis Carstens (captain), 7 Douglas McIntyre, 6 Arne Wiese, 5 Juan-Louis van der Vyver, 4 Ernst Claassen, 3 Carl Heyndenrych, 2 Abraham van Zyl , 1 Eddie Lange.
Replacements: 16 Jurie Matthee, 17 Armin Thiart, 18 Ivan Snyman, 19 Bendré Visser, 20 Dwayne Muggels, 21 Neshwille Simpson, 22 Mujihad Africa, 23 Wayne Fransman.