SACS make it five in a row

The South African College High School (SACS) scored their fifth successive win over long time rivals Diocesan College (Bishops) with a 21-16 win. The game was played at SACS in front of a large crowd on a glorious winter’s day.

SACS started well and stretched Bishops with some good phase play early on. Bishops were clearly up for the game and defended manfully. SACS were awarded a penalty after five minutes but flyhalf Shane Fourie was unable to convert a relatively easy chance.

Bishops came onto the attack and were awarded a penalty which their flyhalf Herman Share also missed. From the ensuing 22-metre drop out Bishops breached the SACS chase line and placed SACS under pressure. Bishops skipper Cuan Hablutzel eventually going over in the eleventh minute after a succession of pick-and-go’s. Share missed the conversion.

Five minutes later SACS secured a penalty after a passage of phase play which also ended with a few pick-and-go’s. Fourie was on target as was Share soon after when SACS made a hash at the back of a scrum and were pinged for holding on.

SACS dominated the last ten minutes of the half but poor handling cost them the opportunity to score a try. They had to be content with two more penalties to see them go into half-time leading 9-8.

The winter heat seemed to get to both teams as the second half contained a lot of mistakes.  Fourie missed another penalty early in the half but Share was on target soon after to once again give Bishops the lead. Ten minutes in, SACS looked to have eventually opened up the Bishops defence but fullback Seb Roodt dropped the ball with the line at his mercy. He made up for it soon after though when he went over after SACS chose to tap and run a penalty. Fourie missed the conversion leaving the score at 14-11 to SACS with 20 minutes to go.

Bishops cut SACS open on the counter-attack a few times in the ensuing minutes but were unable to convert the opportunities. Saud Abrahams showing his class with a couple of telling runs. The turning point in the match was arguably the yellow card awarded to Bishops lock Sam Mitchell for continued chirping of referee Daniel Fortuin.

SACS took the opportunity to score a set-piece try from a scrum five metres from the Bishops line. Centre Richard Rodgers cutting back and scoring under the posts. Fourie converted to put SACS two scores clear with just over ten minutes to play.

Bishops threw caution to the wind and ran hard at SACS for the final ten minutes. The SACS defence held firm despite conceding a succession of penalties. Only after time was up did Bishops eventually exploit an overlap on the right to get wing Ant van Ryneveld over in the corner. Share was unable to convert and the referee blew the final whistle to end an error-ridden but compelling game.

Scorers

For SACS:

Tries: Seb Roodt, Richard Rodgers

Con: Shane Fourie

Pens: Fourie 3

For Bishops:

Tries: Cuan Hablutzel, Ant van Ryneveld

Pens: Herman Share 2