SACS and Boland Draw
Boland Landbou came from behind in the last ten minutes to draw 17-all with the South African College High School (SACS). The game was played on a chilly and overcast morning out on the farm near Wellington.
The field, although only having one game played on it on the day, was wet and muddy. It made playing positive rugby difficult. There was no way a team would score a long range try through their backs which left both teams intent on playing for territory. This led to quite a lot of kicking but given the underfoot conditions it was the only way to play.
Boland took the lead after thirteen minutes when SACS conceded a needless offside penalty near the halfway line. Boland Landbou scrumhalf Jondre’ Williams kicked the goal. He played Craven Week this year and his class was prevalent throughout on the day.
Like the week before against Paarl Gim SACS had more than matched their hosts for the first half only to concede on the stroke of halftime. Soft defence around the fringes allowing hooker Hugo Vlok a free run at the line. Williams did the necessary and Boland went in leading 10-nil and with the light breeze at their backs in the second half.
Boland showed more intensity after the interval but it was SACS who drew first blood with a penalty from flyhalf Jordan Chait. Boland had some promising forays into the SACS half and they used the pick-and-go to good effect. Once again though it was SACS who scored when Chait received the ball twenty-five metres out and stepped off his left before dancing though under the poles. He converted to draw the scores level with sixteen minutes (plus injury time) to play.
Five minutes later SACS grabbed an overthrown Boland lineout and spun the ball wide. Wing Damian Rawstorne found himself hemmed in and chipped ahead. Williams was covering and dived for the ball but the referee adjudged he missed it only for SACS flank Tommy Posen to dot down. Chait converted and SACS had the lead with 11 minutes left on the clock.
Boland played with renewed urgency as they went in search of a try. Lock and captain Gerhard du Toit reached for the line after a succession of forward drives. The referee ruled he had used his knees to propel himself over the line but minutes later he crashed over in the far right-hand corner. True to form Williams nailed the conversion from out wide to leave the teams level with two minutes to play.
Boland had a few more positive phases of play but when the chances arose it seemed both teams were happy to play out for a draw, which in the end was probably a fair result.
Scorers:
Boland Landbou
Tries: Hugo Vlok, Gerhard du Toit
Conversions: Jondre’ Williams (2)
Penalty: Williams
SACS
Tries: Jordan Chait, Tommy Posen
Conversions: Chait (2)
Penalty: Chait
