Wynberg resist late surge from SACS

Wynberg Boy’s High School managed to hold onto their lead in the dying stages against visitors The South African College High School (SACS) and secure a 17-12 win. The match was the final match of the season for both teams and was played on a lovely winter’s morning in front of an appreciable crowd.

SACS took an early 7-nil lead thanks to an intercept try by their skipper Keagan Wheeler, which was converted by flyhalf Shane Fourie. Ten minutes later the SACS forwards failed to retreat ten metres when Fourie put up a “bomb” and were penalised. Wynberg fullback Karl Martin banged over the ensuing penalty.

Martin’s, and to a lesser extent flyhalf Siya Alam’s, boot was to a large extent to prove the difference between the two teams in the first half. Martin’s huge and accurate kick from hand relieved pressure whenever SACS got close to the Wynberg line, as well as placing Wynberg in wonderful attacking positions whenever the opportunity arose.

Twenty-five minutes into the game Wynberg’s captain and Craven Week centre Jarryd Sage stuck with a brilliant effort from 45-metres out. A quality inside ball put him in the clear but he had lots of work to do leaving four defenders in his wake. Martin did the necessary to see Wynberg go into the interval 10-7 to the good.

SACS had a gilt-edged chance to score and take the lead in the first minute of the second half but butchered the opportunity. Wynberg had a few opportunities early on, particularly after a clean break up the blindside by scrumhalf Nicholas Scott. Eleven minutes in though they did turn the pressure into points and extended their lead when their forwards barged over from a penalty near the SACS line. Flank Daniel Jones getting the try which Martin converted.

SACS seemingly woke up with twenty minutes to go after a clean break by fullback Seb Roodt put them onto the attack. Left-wing Matthew Wadling scored minutes later to put SACS one try behind.

In the final quarter SACS had several opportunities to score but wrong options and poor execution in the “red-zone” cost them. Wynberg held on for a hard-earned win. The brilliance of Sage and Alam combined with hard work, team work, discipline and resilience that have been the characteristics of Justin van Winkel and Alan Gerber’s team throughout this season once again seeing them through.

 SCORERS

Wynberg

Tries: Jarryd Sage, Daniel Jones

Conversions: Karl Martin (2)

Penalty: Martin

SACS

Tries: Keagan Wheeler, Matthew Wadling

Conversion: Shane Fourie