Grey on top
In an FNB Classic Clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday, Grey College, ranked No.1 on the FNB top 20, beat Paul Roos, ranked No.2, 25-20. Grey College stay top.
The star of the match was Henry Immelman of Grey who attended Craven Week in 2012 and 2013 and is now part of the Free State's Currie Cup squad. He scored both of Grey's tries and kicked two penalty goals from inside his own half. He actually missed his first kick - from just outside of his own 22! But then Grey were playing with the wind in the first half.
Grey scored two tries to one but Aidynn Cupido, son of Wilfred, kicked 15 points.
None of the match's three tries was converted.
In fact it was a surprisingly stodgy match between two creative sides. Grey were especially hampered by wonky handling and they had more possession than their visitors.
The first try of the match was astonishing.
Grey were attacking down the left when a pass went astray.
Herchelle Jantjies of Paul Roos, usually a scrumhalf but playing on the right wing, got possession and raced down the right, beating one man, till tackled by Jacques Grobler. As he was being tackled Jantjies got a pass infield to Joa Swart who was tackled. As Swart was tackled he got a pass to Jantjies who was back on his feet. Glenn Erikson managed to hold onto Jantjies's jersey but Jantjies, passed back through his legs to Edrich Venter who gave to Michael Meyer who scored.
Jantjies's performance in this try was outstanding - his pass to Venter enough to cause a loud gasp and rough gooseflesh.
If this try after six minutes was going to set the style of the match, a humdinger was on the cards. It, sadly, was not to be, as the game lacked continuity.
Paul Roos added to their lead when, on advantage. Cupido kicked a dropped goal. 8-0 after 10 minutes.
But then three penalties in the next 13 minutes gave the home side the lead - one by Julian Jordaan and two by Immelman, one fro 55 metres out and at an angle and one from 53 metres out and at an angle.
Morné Taljaard had a good run for Paul Roos and Erikson a good ruin for Grey. From a five-metre line-out Grey got over the line but were held up.
On the stroke of half-time Jordaan goaled a fourth penalty for the home side.
Early in the second half Paul Roos's scrumhalf Calvin Nel was over under the posts in what could well have been a try but the referee was not in a position to see grounding. Instead he went back to a penalty which gave Cupido the easiest of kicks to make the score 12-11 after 37 minutes.
Flyhalf Wayne Wessels had a long, magnificent break from his won 22. He gave to De Wet Bezuidenhoudt who was stopped at the line but Grey went wide right where Immelman had an easy run-in for the try in the corner. 17-11 after 45 minutes.
another Cupido penalty made it 17 -11 and then Immelman attacked he kicked ahead but Taljaard did well to save for Paul Roos. Grey attacked with Bezuidenhoudt and Alex Jonker in the van.
Jordaan goaled a penalty and so did Cupido. 20-17 after 53 minutes.
From a scrum on the right, Grey went left. Niel Stannard darted ahead and gave to Immelman close to the left touchline. He ran with magnificent strength and speed to score in the left corner. 25-17 with 10 minutes to play.
With seven minutes left Cupido made it 25-20 and then Paul Roos attacked with great energy and Edwill van der Merwe, the speedy left wing had a chance but just put a foot in touch.
At the final whistle the striped blazers of Grey College flooded the field in great joy.
Scorers:
For Grey College:
Tries: Henry Immelman 2
Pens: Julian Jordaan 3, Henry Immelman 2
For Paul Roos:
Try: Michael Meyer
Pens: Aidynn Cupido 4
Drop: Aidynn Cupido
Teams
Grey College: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Glenn Erikson, 13 Julian Jordaan, 12 Mike Andrade, 11 Jacques Grobler, 10 Wayne Wessels, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Alex Jonker (captain), 7 Werner Robberts, 6 De Wet Bezuidenhoudt, 5 Kassel Rothman, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Henry Slabbert, 1 Callie Janse van Vuuren
Replacements: 16 Milan du Toit, 17 Ruben Terblanche, 18 Tabo Maree, 19 Marius Stander, 20 CJ Lötter, 21 Tokkie Kasselman, 22 Charl Pretorius, 24 Niel Stannard
Paul Roos: 15 Morné Taljaard, 14 Herchelle Jantjies, 13 Nico Leonard, 12 Edrich Venter, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Calvin Nel, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Jacques Oosthuizen, 5 Emile Cloete, 4 Joa Swart, 3 Jerome Korf, 2 Robert Matthee, 1 Muammier Salie
Replacements: 16 Jacques van Zyl, 17 Christiaan Hamman, 18 Louis Conradie, 19 Carl Prinsloo, 20 Matt Gallow, 21 Reinhardt Fortuin, 22 Joshua Vermeulen
Referee: Tiaan Steyn (Free State Referees' Society)
Assistant referees: Johan Wasserman (Free State Referees' Society), Marlize Jordaan (Free State Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1967 Grey won 22-3
1977 Grey won 20-10
1988 Grey won 16-9
1989 Grey won 28-7
1990 Grey won 17-9
1991: Paul Roos won 20-3
1992: Grey won 20-6
1993: Paul Roos won 27-4
1994: Paul Roos won 31-29
1995: Grey won 21-10
1996: Grey won 18-10
1997: Paul Roos won 12-8
1998: Grey won 23-15
1999: Grey won 29-26
2000: Grey won 42-13
2001: Grey won 15-6
2002: Grey won 19-8
2003: Grey won 18-17
2004: Grey won 24-23 and Paul Roos won 21-18
2005: Grey won 16-11
2006: Paul Roos won 16-11
2007: Grey won 40-14
2008: Grey won 47-15
2009: Paul Roos won 9-3
2010: Grey won 41-29
2011: Grey won 36-35
2012: Grey won 33-23
2013: Grey won 40-8
2014: Grey won 25-20