Grey College travelled to Selborne with their defeat to Boishaai still fresh in their memories but also knowing that their opponents suffered a surprise defeat against Dale College the previous weekend also.
Selborne started the match as we all expected to play a very structured game plan using their big forwards as runners and only spread the ball wide when the opportunity presents itself. The first ten minutes Grey College's defence, as in the rest of the match managed to keep Selborne from scoring stopping all Selborne's efforts.
Grey surprised all by playing the same game plan as Selborne using their big men to rumble upfield rather than to spread the ball wide. Grey College's backline not as potent as we came to expect. Injuries to Marcel Theunissen and Rikus Pretorius was very disruptive as Grey College struggled to find form in the back.
With Grey College leading 14-10 at half time it was rather their supporters that were worried as Grey College attempted to play a gameplan which was not to their strengths with the backline making a lot of mistakes. Adding to that was their performance on the ground was still a huge problem will Selborne winning a lot of turnovers.
The second half was very scrappy with Grey College's backline coming more into play. The last seven minutes Selborne, desperate to win this match gave their all and camped in the 22 of grey College. After several waves of attack, Selborne won a penalty which was quickly taken by the scrumhalf with their new hero #10 Thomas Bursey slicing the defence in half scoring to bring the score to 18-19 with an easy penalty kick to come. Bursey was the 3rd choice at flyhalf but being promoted after injuries to David Coetzer and Jason Raubenheimer saw him going from zero playing fir the 3rd team of Selborne to hero in only a few weeks.
Bursey was the 3rd choice at flyhalf but being promoted after injuries to David Coetzer and Jason Raubenheimer saw him going from zero playing fir the 3rd team of Selborne to hero in only a few weeks.
The Selbornians stormed on the pitch as the conversion was successful just to be removed as the referee indicated that there was still 3 minutes to play. A tense few minutes followed and when Grey College received a penalty almost on the 10m line of Selborne everybody saw another Affies coming. But instead of going to
But instead of going to poles grey College decided to go for the line out as the kick was not in the range of their goal kicker? The kick was not kicked out and Selborne ended the match kicking the ball into the spectators.
Grey College's mistakes on defence and attack robbed them of several scoring opportunities add to that their odd choice of game plan this defeat was earned by them. Selborne tasting the first sweet taste of victory since 1996 in this yearly battle.
For Selborne 20(10): Tries: Adam Mountfort, Thomas Bursey. Conversions: Mitchell Connellan (2). Penalty: Mitchell Connellan
For Grey 19(14): Tries: De Wet Marais, Pienaar van Niekerk (2). Conversions: Wycliff Vlitoor 2