Grey College remained steadfast in defence to hold on to the smallest of leading margins and claim a hard-fought victory over Outeniqua.
Watch the game again on SuperSport Schools here.
The team from Bloemfontein met their most formidable challenge this season in George against an inspired Kwagga team who remained within arm’s length of the visitors to the very end, with Grey walking away as victors by 19-12.
The match lived up to its high expectations from the start, with both teams showcasing clinical, high-tempo rugby from the kickoff.
Grey struck first when their playmaker fullback, Vincent Wolhuter, broke the line and gave the ball to the dynamic flanker, Jean-Henri Smit, who could distribute it to the centre, Benito Goeda, who has been exceptional this year, to score.
Grey looked like they were about to start running away with it when they scored their second try shortly after. Liam van Wyk (hooker) managed to dot the ball down after a dominant rolling maul movement.
Outeniqua continued to enjoy ball possession though, and they never seemed to lose energy in attack as they kept battering at the Grey defensive line.
Their 2022 SA Schools A fullback, JT Strydom, began reducing the deficit with a well-struck penalty conversion with about 10 minutes left in the half.
He had another opportunity as Grey was reduced to 14 players with a yellow card five minutes later but his second attempt was unsuccessful.
The home team maintained the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty try at the very end of the first half, which also meant that Grey were reduced to 13 men for the beginning of the second.
The Kwaggas had their tails up and head boy, Ashwin Damons (centre), collected a poorly fielded kick forward by his flyhalf, Andrew Stopforth, and slipped straight through the middle to gain the lead for the home team within a minute of the second half’s kickoff.
The advantage was short-lived though. The Bloemfontein boys regained the lead within five minutes when Pieter van der Merwe (centre) showed immense speed and broke through to allow Goeda to go over for his second try of the day.
Crucially, Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) kept his cool and was able to add the conversion as these would be the final points scored in the match with 30 minutes still left on the clock.
Outeniqua maintained the pressure throughout the rest of the half, but Grey will take immense pride in the character shown as they were scrambling to prevent the Kwaggas from converting said pressure into points.
It was not the prettiest Grey rugby we have seen this year by a long shot, but the Grey boys continued shutting down the Outeniqua attack when it looked certain that the home team would get over the line.
Goeda, Wolhuter and Ian van der Merwe stood out for Grey, and though this was not the overbearing performance we have come to know, partly due to Outeniqua’s industrious attacking play, it was a trial by fire for the Grey team which they passed by gritting their teeth and doing the hard stuff.
It can be argued that coming away with a difficult win like this is even better than a 50-point romp.
Grey were defending in their danger zone with a yellow card, which turned into two yellow cards, for what seemed like an eternity, but captain, JJ Theron (no. 8), and his men stood strong in the face of an inspired Outeniqua attack.
For Outeniqua, it will, unfortunately, be a case of what could’ve been, as they missed two penalty kicks, and were unable to convert lengthy attacking play into points.
Regardless, the home team have shown that they deserve to be considered among the best, as they gave Grey, who will surely now be considered the top South African school team at the moment, a real run for their money.
Their replacement scrumhalf, Ellie Meyer, played phenomenally and stepped up to convert Damons’ try.
Their forwards also managed to match a Grey pack that has been demolishing their opposition this year up front.
Though they will be bitterly disappointed by the loss, their play on the day bodes extremely well for the rest of the season and it would be no surprise if this is their only loss of the season.
As for Grey, they seem to be unstoppable at the moment, but face another mammoth challenge in the form of Garsfontein in two weeks’ time at the Wildeklawer Festival.
Garsfontein just beat Affies 45-38 to extend their unbeaten run this season. That match is set up to produce another huge battle between the best schoolboy rugby teams in the country.
Scorers:
Grey College 19 (12) – Tries: Benito Goeda (2), Liam van Wyk. Conversions: Ian van der Merwe (2). Outeniqua 17 (10) – Tries: Aswin Damons, Penalty Try. Conversion: Ellie Meyer. Penalty: JT Strydom.
Other results:
u19 – Grey II 45, Outeniqua II 17; Grey III 59, HTS Eden 17; Grey IV 37, Outeniqua III 28; Grey V 36, Knysna 20; Grey VI 31, Wittedrift 17; Grey VII 21, Outeniqua IV 14; HTS Eden II 7, Grey VIII 5.
u16 – Grey 38, Outeniqua 10; Grey B 40, Outeniqua B 12; Grey C 26, HTS Eden 10; Grey D 45, Outeniqua C 5; Glenwood 27, Grey E 22.
u15 – Grey 42, Outeniqua 0; Grey B 57, Outeniqua B 0; HTS Eden 24, Grey C 17; Knysna 33, Grey D 15; Grey E 31, Outeniqua C 24; Wittedrift 78, Grey F 7.
u14 – Grey 26, Outeniqua 15; Grey B 15, Outeniqua B 7; Grey C 7, HTS Eden 7; Grey D 28, Outeniqua C 7; Knysna 26, Grey E 0.
Saterdag was ‘n suksesvolle dag van rugby vir die Upington inwoners met albei hul skole wat indrukwekkende tuisseges verwerf het.
Die kwarteindstrydrondte van die 2023 
Paarl Boys’ High 
The annual