The South African College High School (SACS) played host to the Diocesan College (Bishops) on Saturday in what is the oldest schoolboy game in the country. The weather in Newlands was overcast and the field conditions were understandably yielding, given the huge amount of rain Cape Town has had this winter. Bishops struggled but eventually broke down a resolute SACS defence to run out 27-nil winners.
SACS came out strongly and from the outset put in some big hits. They also used the up-and-under well and pressurised Bishops fullback Paul Cohen into some uncharacteristic mistakes. SACS were rewarded for this strong start with a penalty which centre Michale Mohle was unable to convert from a relatively easy position.
Bishops then went onto the attack and were awarded a penalty wide out, which Cohen was unable to convert. Bishops ran the ensuing 22-metre drop out back at SACS and were awarded a penalty after a dangerous tackle from SACS fullback Abubaker Jappie. Bishops kicked to the corner and drove the lineout over, with loose-head prop Willem Gresse eventually dotting down. Cohen was unable to convert.
Bishops were slowly now beginning to get into their stride and they put together some nice moves. Centre Sam Lane cut through and linked up with his outside backs. Bishops were thwarted in the SACS 22m-area but from the ensuing scrum produced a slick backline move, which saw outside centre Dylan Luyts cruise through to score his first try. Cohen banged over the simplest of conversions to see Bishops 12-nil clear at the interval.
Bishops continued to make most of the play in the second half. Only dogged defence by SACS, with skipper Matthew Mellville and hooker Jason Dimio at the fore, kept Bishops at bay. The sustained pressure told though and ten minutes into the second half Dylan Luyts skipped through the SACS defence to score his second try.
The middle section of the second half was drab affair as SACS were unable to create any meaningful scoring opportunities. For their part Bishops tried but their backs never quite gelled and despite numerous elaborate moves and skip passes they never managed to put their wings into space. In fact more often than not they cut back inside into the heart of a waiting SACS defence.
In was only in the last ten minutes when SACS were down to fourteen men after prop Nicholas Vetsos had been yellow-carded for a high tackle that Bishops were able to add to their score. Flank Sean Patterson charged down an attempted clearance to score Bishops’ fourth try.
In the last minute of the game Bishops attacked blind from a ruck and unleashed their burly SA Schools flank Nizaam Carr who brushed off a few tired SACS tackles to crash over for the final score of the game. A game that was by no means a classic but one which was enjoyed by the sizable crowd of parents, old boys and friends in attendance.
Next Saturday is the final weekend of games in the Western Cape. SACS go over the hill to rivals Wynberg Boy’s High and Bishops play host to their archrivals Rondebosch Boy’s High.
Scorers:
Diocesan College (Bishops)
Tries: Willem Gresse, Dylan Luyts (2), Sean Patterson, Nizaam Carr
Conversion: Paul Cohen
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