St Andrew's beat Bishops

In a rousing match in Grahamstown St Andrew's beat Bishops for the second year in a row. This time the score was 28-21.

Saturday saw the 1st XV play one of the oldest schoolboy derbies in South Africa as they ran out against Bishops from Cape Town on Lower. It was the first home match for the 1st XV and a tough assignment so close to their last encounter - a narrow win over Pearson at the Graeme College Rugby Day on Thursday.

The 1st XV however were well and truly up for the match and hit the ground running putting the visitors under immediate pressure. After a couple of goes at the line captain Sintu Manjezi crashed over for the first score and College hit the lead 7-0.

Soon after College forced Bishops to carry the ball over their goal line after a well-placed box kick from Jason Baggott. The resulting scrum allowed the team to apply more pressure before some good passing allowed Robbie Ball to crash over for College’s second try. Ryan Horne again ensured the conversion as the score stretched to 14-0. In a matter of minutes College were at it again after a stolen ball at the line-out on the Bishops line the forwards drove the ball up allowing Tyler Paul to extend the College lead to 21-0 after 20 minutes.

Bishops however are a proud team and came back fighting for the rest of the half. At times they had the College defence stretched but it held firm as they were kept scoreless going into half-time.

The second half started in much way the same as the first, but College could not finish their opportunities as well as they had in the first half and this allowed Bishops to fight their way back into the match. Bishops playing their familiar brand of fast-paced rugby threw the ball around and it was only thanks to some magnificent defence by the proud College team that kept them out.

Their first try came in somewhat fortuitous circumstances as the ball bounced in Bishops’ favour allowing the wing in under the

poles. Soon after Bishops created another opportunity and were in for another converted try, the game suddenly in the balance after the great start by the College team as the score moved to 21-14 with 10 minutes to play. This try seemed to spur the College team back into life and after some more ferocious defence Tyler Paul received the ball in midfield and powered his way over for a brilliant try, 28-14 to College with mere minutes to play.

Bishops would add another try to create a thrilling finish to an outstanding match of schoolboy rugby. College eventually running out deserved winners 28-21. Well done to the 1st XV and to Bishops for providing such a wonderful spectacle.    

Teams

St Andrew’s College 1st XV: 15  Courtney Archer, 14  Mbulelo Mama, 13  Robert Ball, 12  Ryan Horne, 11  Roy Bowles, 10  Ethan Fortuin, 9  Jason Baggott (vice-captain), 8  Stuart Stopforth, 7  Matt Andrews, 6  Tristan van Heteren, 5  Sintu Manjezi (captain), 4  Tyler Paul, 3  Adrian Parsons, 2  Thomas Filmer , 1  David Murray

Replacements: 16  Brian Ferguson, 17  Ashton Taylor-Smith, 18  Peter Kroon, 19  Xavier McNaughton, 20  Andrew Rushmere, 21  Murray Leith, 22  Michael Patterson  

Coaches: Gerry Posthumus, Allan Miles

Bishops 1st XV: 15 Gerard Pieterse, 14 Justin Heunis, 13 Ant Van Ryneveld (vice-captain), 12 Mike Mynhardt, 11 André Manuel, 10 Herman Share, 9 Dean Moir, 8 Saud Abrahams, 7 Justin Holliday, 6 Wes White, 5 Shane Smith, 4 Sam Mitchell, 3 Tahriq Allen, 2 Cuan Hablutzel (captain), 1 Dan Russell

Replacements: 16 Justin Carey, 17 Ali Kirk, 18 Daniel Lombard, 19 Mervano da Silva, 20 Sean van Rensburg, 21 James Gush, 22 Jez MacIntyre

Manager and coach: Dave Mallett

Assistant coach: Stephen Knoop

At Andrew's vs Bishops Results

1st XV: St Andrew’s College won 28 – 21

2nd XV: St Andrew’s College won 20 – 19

Under-16A: Bishops won 22-19

U*nder-15A: Bishops won 45-10

Under-14A: Bishops won 33-6

By Allan Miles