SACS gunned down by Hugenote

In a ding-dong battle, played in Wellington in searing heat, Hugenote were full value for their upset win over SA College High School (SACS). The final score was 29-23 to the hosts after they had led 17-13 at the interval.

Having beaten local rivals Rondebosch last week this was a hugely disappointing result for SACS. SACS accounted for Hugenote easily last year and may have gone into the game a bit complacent but there can be no excuses for the below-par performances of most of the team.

It probably didn't help that SACS scored first. A missed clearance by Hugenote saw SACS launch a counterattack. From a ruck they went blind down the right and hooker Robbie Trueman fed right-wing Aaron Jacobs who beat his man with a classic in-out. Tim Carr missed the conversion but was successful with a penalty soon after and SACS looked to be well in control.

Both teams were throwing the ball around nicely and were using the full width of the large Hugenote pitch. SACS had the better of the initial exchanges but lacked penetration and execution and this ultimately proved costly.

With a useful pack and a slick set of backs Hugenote were giving as good as they got though and never stopped playing. They came close to scoring down the right after a neat grubber by scrumhalf Frederick Muller. Instead they had to be content with a penalty converted by flyhalf Louw Heunis. They came straight back at SACS from the kick-off and Heunis was instrumental in their first try. From second phase ball the Hugenote backs executed a brilliant move, which saw Heunis loop and bring fullback Edrich Ganz into the line. Ganz went away from the cover before off-loading to left wing Heinrich Gabler who went over in the corner.

SACS regained the lead again soon after through a line-out drive which saw Robbie Trueman go over but then crucially handed the momentum back to Hugenote on the stroke of half-time. SACS flyhalf Tim Carr tried to grubber from inside his own 22m-area and the ball ricocheted off Louw Heunis's legs. Heunis gathered the ball and dotted down under the uprights. He duly converted and Hugenote went into half-time with their tails up.

SACS came out full of intent after the interval and took the lead again via another line-out drive. This time is was flank Dugald Robertson who crashed over. In a poor piece of play SACS handed the lead straight back to Hugenote. A sloppy kick-off ball was shuffled wide. SACS flyhalf Tim Carr found himself under pressure and was dispossessed by live-wire Hugenote scrumhalf Frederick Muller, who ran 40-metres to score.

With the score at 22-18 to Hugenote, SACS rallied and applied a prolonged period of pressure in which they went close to scoring on three occasions. Unable to convert pressure to points Hugenote duly punished SACS the next time they got down into opposition territory. A line-out peel saw the Hugenote loose-forwards running at the SACS backs. A neat off-load and again it was Muller who reacted first and burst clear to seal the win for Hugenote.

There was still time left on the clock and SACS scored through Dean Holland to bring the score back to 29-23 and give their supporters some hope. Going in search of the killer blow SACS were guilty of kicking away ball and ended the game under pressure on their own line.

SACS will be hoping to get their SACS back on track next week when they host HTS Bellville. A confidence-boosting win is a necessity as they have five tough fixtures still to come after that.

Scorers:

Tries: Heinrich Gabler, Louw Heunis, Frederick Muller 2

Cons: Heunis 3

Pen: Heunis

For SACS

Tries: Aaron Jacobs, Robbie Trueman, Dugald Robertson, Dean Holland

Pen: Tim Carr

By Graeme Wepener