Gim edge Drostdy in Burger semis
Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:01
Tryline action in the Gym-Drostdy game
The Western Province-Boland semifinals in this year's the Die Burger competition were played in lovely sunny weather at Paarl Gim on Tuesday, 17 August.
The conditions lent themselves to attractive rugby and, no matter who they were supporting, the many spectators must at least have gone home satisfied in this respect.
The main game, the Big Schools Semifinal, featuring hosts Paarl Gim against Worcester's HTS Drostdy, proved to be a ding-dong nailbiter.
Exchanges were fairly even for the first 25 minutes as the teams sized each other up, the only notable incident being the yellow-carding of a Gim forward.
Then Gim No.8 Christiaan Smit broke the deadlock, forcing himself over after a ruck on the Donkeys' line. Captain and scrumhalf Willie Viljoen made the score 7-0.
Drostdy hit back just minutes later when right wing Jonty Laubscher rounded off a slick backline movement with a try in the corner. Flyhalf Gerbrand Roets's conversion levelled matters at 7-7.
However, the hosts took the lead again just before the break when inside centre Kobus van Wyk cut through to dot down. Viljoen's unerring boot saw Gim cross over 14-7 up.
Although Roets narrowed the gap with a penalty early in the second period, Gim left wing Conrad Loubser hurtled over in the corner shortly afterwards with Viljoen stretching their lead to eleven points; 21-10.
Undaunted, the Donkeys struck back with the try of the match as lively scrumhalf Henry Hall sniped through Gim's defensive line to score under the posts. Roets slotted the simple conversion.
Another Viljoen penalty restored daylight between the sides at 24-17, but Drostdy were growing in self-confidence and continuous pressure led to outside centre Iewan Bartels scoring in the corner. Roets thrilled the Donkeys' supporters with the crucial conversion to level matters at 24-24.
Just as the debate as to how the tie would be decided - schoolboy rugby does not make provision for extra-time - was warming up, Viljoen stepped up to settle matters via a medium-range penalty with barely two minutes left on the clock.
A great game, given the late stage of the season, but one which will have provided the victors with much food for thought if they are to beat Framesby in Port Elizabeth on 28 August.
The scorers:
For Paarl Gim
Tries: Christiaan Smit, Kobus van Wyk, Conrad Loubser
Cons: Viljoen 3
Pens: Willie Viljoen 2
For HTS Drostdy:
Tries: Jonty Laubscher, Henry Hall, Iewan Bartels
Cons: Roets 3
Pen: Gerbrand Roets
* The Medium Schools decider saw the more cohesive Augsburg Gim from Clanwilliam beat a game but outgunned Milnerton side 27-7 after leading 13-0 at the change-over.
All three of Gim's tries were the result of their swinging the ball wide quickly, while Milnerton's response came from a great line break by Luke Stevens.
Western Province Under-19 star Damian de Allende made a great difference to the Millies side, but was unfortunately permitted to play one half only by his provincial coach.
The scorers:
For Augsburg Gim:
Tries: Outside centre Alwyn de Beer 2, left wing Anwill Swartz
Cons: Lehmann 3
Pens: Fullback Janco Lehmann 2
For Milnerton:
Try: Inside centre Luke Stevens
Con: Outside centre Damian de Allende
* In the Small Schools category, Hawston recorded their second major success in eleven days when they came from 12-18 down at half-time to knock out Gordon High of Somerset West 26-18 in a pulsating end-to-end game in which big match temperament finally won the day.
The scorers:
For Hawston:
Tries: Right wing Mattwin Hull, outside centre Francois Geduld, hooker Brendon Hunter
Con: October
Pens: Fullback Gershwin October, inside centre Roland Swartz
Drop: Flyhalf Mautomer Arendse
For Gordon:
Tries: Fullback Martin Sauls 2
Con: Ross
Pens: Flyhalf Dylan Ross 2
By Tony Stoops
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