Grey College as expected dominated the first ten minutes with their big forwards asking for big tackles from the Dale team, using mauls to keep Dale under pressure. Dale managed to absorb all this pressure and answered with some physical defence and some beautiful footwork scoring two great tries.
Grey College used their forwards when possible and both their first half tries came from mauls after a line out. Dale's answer to the big boys from Grey was aggressive defence and attacking. Dale is known not to have the biggest players but they do not shy away from the physical stuff. Dale kept the pressure on Grey High in the first half but Grey High could have been in the lead was it not for their kicking woes.
Dale started off where they ended the first half but this time Grey High's defence was up for the challenge and as the second half continued one could see that the Grey High forwards hard work is starting to pay some dividends. That did not stop Dale to keep on running at Grey High with that spectacular flyhalf of Dale Aphelele Fassi scoring a brilliant individual try extending Dale's lead to 25-10 with 22 minutes remaining.
And then it all went wrong for Dale. After quite a lot of penalties against Dale in the loose, the referee had enough and sent a Dale player off for an infringement in a loose scrum. The Grey forwards rumbled up after a line out and scored their third try for Grey High. Grey High at this stage used their forwards to dominate.
With 15 minutes to go Grey High scored their 4th try from a maul after a 5m line out, now seemingly in complete control of this game and everybody was remembering their game against Paul Roos where Grey High scored twice in the last 5 minutes to win that game. Grey High did what was expected of them and scored the winning try with 2 minutes to go after some great handling by their backs.
Dale College does not know the meaning of the "fat lady sung" and attacked from the kickoff. Desperate passing saw an intercept from Grey High that was called back after a knock on. Dale attacked with intent and after some desperate defence from Grey High, Grey High was penalised in front of their own posts. Aphelele Fassi made no mistake 28-27 for Dale.
Grey High's loss can be attributed to their lack of goal kicking success but then one would have to deny Dale the praise they deserve for the brand of rugby they play. The graveyard claimed its biggest scalp for 2017.
Scorers:
Dale: 28(18) Tries: Fassi (2), Dlepu. Conversions: Fassi (2) Penalties: Fassi (3)
Grey High 27(10) Tries: Jonker (2), Prinsloo, Henderson, Njezula. Conversions: Njezula.