SACS win old school derby

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:20

The rain stayed away and the turf of the Hawthronden field at Wynberg Boys’ High School held up well but much like the Springboks later in the afternoon, the South African College High School (SACS) and Wynberg were not able to produce much in the way of quality attacking rugby. SACS scored the only try of the game in the last minute to secure an 11-9 win in the annual FNB Classic Clash.

The stakes, as always in the traditional derby game between the two oldest schools in the country, were high. Both teams lost to their other southern suburb rivals, Diocesan College (Bishops) and Rondebosch Boys’ High and both teams were coming off a couple of defeats, and so they were playing for more than just pride in the last league match before the June/July holidays. It was not the excessive kicking that we saw at Newlands that diminished the game as a spectacle but rather indifferent option taking and poor execution.

Wynberg started better and applied pressure from the first whistle, as their forwards set about imposing themselves physically. Flanks Michael Botha and Ryan Lok were industrious with ball in hand as Wynberg played the first ten minutes inside the SACS half. SACS prop Roberto Lupini and lock Digby Webb defended the fringes with vigour to keep Wynberg at bay. SACS eventually released the pressure after a good counter-attacking run from flank Dugald Robertson. Robertson linked well with right-wing Bradley Kayton, who chipped over the top and re-gathered to see SACS get down into Wynberg territory for the first time.

From this foray SACS went on to dominate the middle period of the half and came close to scoring on occasion via lineout drives. The Wynberg forwards, with lock Russell Steyn and hooker Nick Mitchell at the fore, defended manfully and SACS’s only reward came via a penalty kick from captain Chad Moolman. From the kick-off Wynberg moved down in SACS territory again and after another period on attack they converted a penalty via tight-head prop Morne Smith to bring the scores level going into the interval.

The second half meandered along in much the same way as the first, with the teams taking it in turns to exert pressure. SACS struck first via another Moolman penalty, after which both kickers then missed long-range attempts at posts. Wynberg were looking slightly better out wide and centre Andrew Williams looked threatening as he probed for openings. Wynberg were able to successfully convert pressure to points as Smith struck another penalty to draw them level.

By now Wynberg had the better of proceedings and wing Sengisa Ndiki enjoyed some eye-catching runs. Wynberg were rewarded for their willingness to open things up as Smith kicked another penalty to see them take the lead for the first time in the game. 

Despite the fact that a draw would probably have been a fair reflection of the game, it looked for all money like Wynberg would hold out for the win. The sporting gods had other ideas though and it took a moment of inspiration by SACS skipper Chad Moolman to get them deep into Wynberg territory. Moolman playing in the unfamiliar position of scrumhalf broke blind from a maul and was tackled into touch metres from the Wynberg line. SACS secured possession soon after and hammered away at the Wynberg line. Hooker Robbie Herring eventually barging over to score the winning try in the last move of the game.

The conversion was missed but that could not temper the jubilation for SACS and the agony for Wynberg. As the teams shook hands in a fitting show of sportsmanship between these two long-standing rivals, the SACS supporters streamed onto the field to share in the emotion with their heroes.

As they did last year SACS were able to make the Hawthornden field their own for a few moments as they circled up to sing the South African College song and chant the war-cry, which echoed up over Wynberg Hill. 

Scorers:

For Wynberg:
Pens: Morné Smith 3

For SACS:
Try: Robert Herring
Pens: Chad Moolman 2