College beat Affies
Match Report
Maritzburg College beat Affies of Pretoria 19-15 in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
The disappointment of the previous week’s late loss to Westville was swept away by this unexpected, and therefore far sweeter, victory against our highly respected and highly rated opponents from Pretoria. Affies, as usual, had huge advantages in terms of size and speed, but College’s devastating tackling and bloody-minded refusal to give in nullified these.
College made a perfect start to the match. After withstanding Affies’ initial onslaught, they moved onto the attack and two successively won quick balls created enough space on the right for an easy try to fullback Stuart Hill.
Then, a few minutes later, Affies tried to run the ball from a defensive position and conceded an intercept try to centre Gareth Melle. With both tries converted by Travis Huntly, College had, against all expectations, taken a fourteen-point lead.
Affies were stunned by this setback and it was only shortly before half-time that they were able to score themselves. They laid siege to the College line for five minutes, but were repelled by fierce tackling and had to settle for a penalty by fullback Gerhard van den Heever and a 14-3 half-time deficit.
Affies started the second half strongly and scored an early, unconverted, try by flank, Herman van Dyk, after outstanding driving by their forwards and recycling of possession.
The match was now in the balance and neither side could gain any significant advantage for fifteen minutes, until College scored the decisive try by left wing, Ricardo Ferreira, after quick ball was moved slickly to the left.
Affies came back and scored an excellent converted try by centre, Ruan Jacobs, from a counter-attack, but were forced to play “catch-up” rugby, meat and drink to College’s eager tacklers.
The match ended with College strongly on the attack, while Affies tried, desperately, to run the ball from defensive positions.
The victory was only College’s second since the annual series of matches between the two schools started in 1996.
Scorers:
For College:
Tries: Stuart Hill, Gareth Melle, Ricardo Ferreira
Cons: Travis Huntly 2
For Affies:
Tries: Herman van Dyk, Ruan Jacobs
Con: Gerhard van den Heever
Pen: Gerhard van den Heever
By Tony Wiblin