Grey College claimed an emphatic 43-24 comeback victory over Paarl Boys’ High for their first home win over their rivals since 2013. DYLAN JACK reports.
The win was largely down to an incredible second-half showing from the home side as they scored five unanswered tries to seal a comeback after trailing by 12 points in the first half.
FC du Plessis scored a hat-trick of tries, two of them in the second half for Grey, while hooker Andre-Hugo Venter and replacement back Marcell Muller also dotted down.
Boys’ High had claimed an initial 17-5 lead thanks to a quickfire brace from speedy wing Javier Farmer, but they simply had no answer in the second half with the Grey forwards dominating the breakdown, allowing their back to break the line at will.
The visitors, who looked on track for their third consecutive win in Bloemfontein since 2015, did manage a consolation try when No 8 Gideon van Wyk muscled his way over after a late period of pressure.
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Grey College – Tries: FC du Plessis (3), Tiaan Jonker, Andre-Hugo Venter, penalty try, Marcell Muller. Conversions: Juan Dee Olivier (4).
Paarl Boys – Tries: Javier Farmer (2), Gideon van Wyk. Conversions: Kian Meadon (3). Penalty: Meadon
Grey College – 15 Nabo Soyoki, 14 JD Odendaal, 13 Ian Small-Smith (c), 12 Lesley Botha, 11 Franco Knoetze, 10 FC du Plessis, 9 Juan Dee Olivier, 8 George Cronje, 7 Deon le Roux, 6 Ricardo Fourie, 5 Danwich Beukes, 4 Tiaan Jonker, 3 Petrus Naudé, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Subs: 16 Amandio Cavaleiro, 17 Diaan Hattingh, 18 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Duan Ludik, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Riaan Brits, 23 Marcell Muller.
Paarl Boys – 15 Jacques Rousseau, 14 Angelo Osch, 13 Quan Horn, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Javier Farmer, 10 Kian Meadon, 9 Wian van der Sandt, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 7 Eon van den Berg, 6 Stass Nel, 5 Niel Venter, 4 Evan Roode, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 Allister Williams, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger (c).
Subs: 16 Delmar Degenaar, 17 Abraham Reyneke, 18 DM Holls, 19 Jade Hendricks, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Keean Barnard, 22 Rickus Jonk, 23 Riis du Plessis.
Photo: Gallo Images
