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Grey forwards take control in win over St John’s

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Grey High capitalised on some strong driving play by their forwards to pull off a hard-earned 33-15 win over St John’s College on the first day of the Grey High Rugby Festival in Gqeberha on Thursday.

Playing the final game on the Kolisi Field, the home team ran in five tries and led 12-3 at halftime.

When they scored immediately after the break when powerful centre Lavela Pongolo outstripped the cover defence for a superb try, it looked as if they might run away with things.

That was followed by a further score from wing Kyle Callaghan when the forwards drove hard and a quick release saw them create space on the left flank.

At 26-3, St John’s were staring down the barrel but they showed great courage to fight back with two tries of their own.

Exploiting a lapse in the Grey defensive system, scrumhalf Thomas Kruger took the final pass for an excellent try under the posts and later they maintained pressure deep in the Grey 22m area for hooker Kyle Watson to add a second try.

Suddenly the game took on a different complexion at 26-15, but with time beginning to run out, Grey again imposed themselves at forward and Ben Wessels went over from a strong driving maul to seal the win.

In the first half, Grey No 8 Jon Hobson scored twice from similar movements, while flyhalf Zephyr Smith kicked four out of five conversions.

Earlier, in a high-class display of running rugby, Westville crossed for six scintillating tries to outduel a game Durbanville outfit 41-17.

It was all Westville for much of the encounter as fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya showed his running skills, being a constant threat on attack when they created space out wide.

He raced through for their first try from 40 metres out as he outwitted the defence and then helped to set up wing Jade-Will Koopman after another thrilling backline movement to make the halftime score 17-0.

They doubled that score in the second half as they scored further tries by lock Moustapher Gcina and Sean McGough, with impressive flyhalf Unathi Mlotshwa adding the extra points via his educated boot.

But finally Durbanville were able to gain some momentum and they showed great spirit to scored three quick tries in the last 10 minutes through lively scrumhalf Tiaan Kearns (2) and Divan Gravet.

Westville, though, had the final say when a cross-kick saw big centre Michael Satade outmuscle the defence for their sixth try.

In the festival opener, Hudson Park and Brandwag produced a match of two halves, with the East London side scoring three tries in the first half to lead 19-5 at the break.

They were full of enterprise during this period as tries came from wing Lebogang Madikane, flyhalf D’Angeo Snayers and lock Alwaba Yili.

But they could just not recapture that rhythm after the break and it was Brandwag who dictated the pattern of play as wing Bihaco Jafta added a second try to his first half effort and further scores from Fraser Nathan and Derono Potgieter saw them go ahead 24-19 with five minutes remaining.

Hudson did not panic and as they worked their way deep into Brandwag territory, a clever chip through saw fullback Msuthu Mbane gather to cross for the match-levelling score.

With the conversion failing, the sides eventually had to settle for a stalemate, possibly a true reflection of the match.

Queen’s College were full of running in their clash with St Stithians, taking charge after conceding an early try to run out emphatic 54-19 winners.

When the Queenians get that sort of momentum, they can be difficult to stop and wings Ayathanda Mtyando and Jameel Fleshman benefited from a flow of possession to each cross for two tries.

St Stithians had no answer to this blitz from the backs and trailed 28-7 at halftime after lock Luke Thorrold had crossed for their early score.

Queen’s ran in two more tries after the break to make it a commanding lead and although St Stithians fought back courageously with tries by Tyler McLennan and Gabriel Hore, the Komani lads had the last say with a runaway try to seal an outstanding performance.

St Andrew’s College and Parktown had a tight tussle for the first two thirds of the game, with the result in the balance at 10-10 after a Parktown try early in the second half.

But then the Makhanda team shot away with a burst of three tries in quick succession, moving out to a 27-10 lead they were unlikely to relinquish.

Parktown scored once more to narrow the gap to 10 points, but it ended as a solid win for the Andreans.

In the main curtain-raiser, Graeme College were forced to do a lot of defensive work against the potent Jeppe team, who scored three first-half tries for a decisive 19-0 lead at the break.

It remained a well-contested match for most of the second half before Jeppe’s pressure finally told and they crossed for two late tries in a 29-3 win.

Grey High Rugby Festival: day one results

  • Hudson Park and Brandwag drew 24-24
  • Westville bt Durbanville 41-17
  • St Andrew’s bt Parktown 27-17
  • Queen’s bt St Stithians 54-19
  • St Charles bt Ithembelihle 52-10
  • Jeppe bt Graeme College 29-3
  • Muir bt Mzwandile Mali XV 50-29
  • Grey High bt St John’s College 33-15
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Port Elizabethan

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