Close defeat for Bennies
Saturday 16 March marked the beginning of the 2013 rugby season for St Benedict’s College as they travelled to Pretoria for the first fixture against St Alban's College who won by a point, 26-25.
A trip across the Jukskei is tricky for any Johannesburg based school, but doing this as the first fixture for the year increased the odds.
The boys from Bedfordview have had a comprehensive pre-season that bodes well for the tough season ahead and they were excited to show the hard work off on the weekend. The weather could not have been better for an early season game with blue skies and a slight breeze to keep the temperature manageable.
From the kick-off the early season rust was apparent as St Alban's failed to deal with the kick-off and conceded a penalty. Matthew Smit lined up the kick at goal but was unsuccessful with his first attempt of the season. The boys from Pretoria then caught the bennies boys napping off the resulting 22m drop-out and forced a turnover. The St Alban's team, and in particular their pack, clearly spent a large part of the off-season in the gym and this game them the ideal opportunity to flex their muscle. They quickly found their pattern and some barn storming runs from their big ball carriers soon had the St Benedict’s defence shaken and retreating very quickly.
This forward momentum led to their first try in the opening minutes by their loosehead prop, which was duly converted. From the kick-off the barnstorming runs continued and St Benedict’s were soon back in their half and under pressure. St Alban's discipline however kept costing them at vital times and undoing much of their good work.
The first quarter of the game was a true early season game with both teams struggling to find their structures and patterns with numerous handling errors and other basic mistakes. This saw a very stop-start affair to the game, as it went from one set piece to another. Matthew Smit however seemed to find his range off the kicking tee and soon closed the gap to just a single point with St Alban's leading much of the half 7-6. St Alban's also then converted two penalties before the half time turn around to lead 13-6 at the break.
The second half team talk seemed to spur the Bedfordview boys into life as soon after the restart right winger Luzibo Munsaka darted down the touch line and then over the white was to score breath taking try. Matthew Smit levelled matters from the kicking tee. There was suddenly a spring in the Bennies boys stride as they returned to their half for the kick-off and straight away they were back on the attack. However discipline cost them as St Alban's turned pressure into points from a neatly taken penalty to lead 16-13 .
The Bennies boys however went straight back on attack and a quick tap saw Nyasha Tarasenga cross the line for St Benedict’s College but Smit’s conversion again finding its mark putting St Benedict’s in the lead for the first time at 20-16. Suddenly the game spurred to life; with St Alban's coming straight back onto the attack, this time employing the offload brilliantly to gain continuity. The resulting play lead to a try for their left winger with the conversion failing once again giving St Alban's the lead at 21-20.
The Bennies defence however was now much more resilient and marking the big ball carriers with multiple defenders seemed to slow down the Pretoria sides attack. St Alban's managed to camp themselves deep into the St Benedict’s 22m with another try resulting from the pressure. St Alban's however again failed to deal with the kick-off effectively and this saw a sharp dart down the left from Katleho Totetsi followed by a crafty chip and gather for the try. Smit's touch line conversion struck the left hand leaving St Benedict’s College 25-26 down.
The last few frantic minutes saw St Benedict’s College stuck deep in their half before St Alban's managed to clear the ball off the field winning the game 25-26.
By Dwight Egelhof