Grey win College Clash
Grey College showed why they are the top-ranked team in South Africa this year when they beat Maritzburg College 46-20 in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.
It is the 20th match between the two great schools since 1940 and Grey's 18th win. In keeping with this century's matches the points' difference is big.
The truth is that the points give Maritzburg College little credit for a brave effort that produced several chances. They just lacked the finesse and strike-power of Grey whose support play, handling and directness were top class. At one stage in the second half Maritzburg College went from 25-3 to 25-15 and hope rose amongst them but then Grey scored 14 quick points. Still Maritzburg College did not give up. But then you would not expect them to.
Grey attacked but tall Xolisa Guma raced down the right form near his own line but Grey put paid to that and instead their right wing, Glenn Erikson, came racing out of their 22. It was that sort of game.
Lock Ruben Schoeman broke and then Grey turned a penalty into a five-metre line-out where they were freekicked., But a penalty at a tackle gave Julian Jordaan a chance to open the scoring. 3-0 after 9 minutes.
But a tackle penalty three minutes later enabled Marcell Coetsee, who had an outstanding game for Maritzburg College, to level the scores at 3-all.
Fullback Matt Kriel's speed and footwork took him on a long run but his pass was knocked on. Kriel was certainly Maritzburg College' best attacking weapon and it was sad when he left the field with an injury in the second half.
Mike Andrade took Grey on a swift attack down the right with support from Wayne Wessels and Henry Slabbert who gave back to Andrade. Andrade then passed inside to speedy Jacques Grobler who scored a brilliant try, so typical of Grey.
Grey went down the right again and sturdy Slabbert burst over for the try which Jordaan converted. 15-3 after 23 minutes.
Maritzburg College attacked down the left but when they knocked on Grey ran out of trouble and a penalty enabled Jordaan to stretch the lead to 18-3, which was the half-time score.
A penalty early in the second half gave Grey a five-metre line-out. Maritzburg College resisted well but not well enough to prevent prop Callie Janse van Vuuren from scoring. 25-3.
From the kick-off Grobler caught the ball and had a brilliant run, cutting the field open, his work frustrated by a pass adjudged forward.
Then it was Maritzburg College's turn to attack and from some clever interplay at the front of the line-out burly hooker Masikane Mazwi scored in the right corner. 25-8 after 48 minutes.
Byron Watson did well with an intercept and a penalty gave Maritzburg College a line-out five metres from the Grey line but they knocked on. But then Maritzburg College won a tighthead against the bigger Grey scrum and flank Daryn Goodson scored. 25-15.
But a penalty gave Grey a line-out on their left. They went wide right and Immelman scored. 32-15.
At another Grey penalty they tapped and Wayne Wessels was close before substitute Tabu Maree, scored. 39-15.
It was Maritzburg College's turn to make a line-out out of a penalty and drive a maul. Flank Renard le Roux broke off strongly and scored. Coetzee hurries the conversion in the hope of getting even closer but instead Grey had a five-metre line-out which they overthrew and set Maritzburg College attacking.
The final siren sounded and still the teams played on exuberantly till Callie Janse van Vuuren scored and Jordaan converted to make the final score 46-20.
Scorers:
For Grey:
Tries: Jacques Grobler, Henry Slabbert, Callie Janse van Vuuren 2, Henry Immelman, Tabu Maree
Cons: Julian Jordaan 5.
Pens: Julian Jordaan 2.
For Maritzburg College:
Tries: Masikane Mazwi, Daryn Goodson, Renard le Roux.
Con: Marcell Coetsee.
Pen: Marcell Coetsee.
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 Henry Slabbert, 5 Kassel Rothman, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Ruben Terblanche, 1 Callie Janse van Vuuren
Maritzburg College: 15 Mathew Kriel, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Marcell Coetsee, 12 Jordan Koekemoer, 11 Byron Watson, 10 Mac van der Linde, 9 Mathew Seba, 8 Daryn Goodson, 7 Renard le Roux, 6 Hayden Tharratt, 5 Wiaan Jacobs, 4 Brett Smith, 3 Disi Dlamini, 2 Masikane Mazwi, 1 Tiaan Steyn
Referee: Pieter Janse van Vuuren (Free State Referees' Society)
Assistant referees: Drikus Kotzé (Free State Referees' Society), Ano Mbando (Free State Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1940: Grey College won 6-0
1947: Grey College won 7-0
1985: Maritzburg College won 10-4
1986: Grey College won 24-20
1987: Grey College won 13-12
1992: Grey College won 20-15
1993: Grey College won 31-14
1997: Grey College won 28-16
1998: Grey College won 28-23
1999: Grey College won 22-17
2000: Grey College won 22-11
2001: Grey College won 17-14
2002: Grey College won 32-17
2003: Grey College won 25-10
2004: Grey College won 32-10
2005: Maritzburg College won 15-13
2006: Grey College won 50-3
2007: Grey College won 86-3
2008: Grey College won 72-7
2014: Grey College won 46-20