Grey College scored two tries in the final five minutes to beat Affies 39-28 in Pretoria on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
Grey quickly built up a big lead before Affies came back in the second half, and went ahead, only to let the game slip in the closing stages.
The visitors came out firing, going 22-0 up thanks to well-worked tries from scrumhalf AJ Bezuidenhout, loosehead prop Jan Hendrik Wessels and centre Wyclef Vlitoor, who finished off a great break started by fullback Richard Kriel. Flyhalf Zander du Plessis also added a massive 60m penalty goal.
Affies seemed stunned by the early onslaught but on the stroke of half-time they managed to piece together their first consistent period of pressure, resulting in prop Dewald Donald going over after Grey hooker André-Hugo Venter was yellow-carded.
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The home side took full advantage of their extra numbers in the second half, as flank George Oosthuizen went over from a quick tap penalty and then fullback Dieter Crafford scored in the corner to suddenly cut Grey’s lead to just one point.
Grey struck back through diminutive wing Ian Small-Smith, who showed a good leg drive to cross over and extend his side’s lead. Affies were undeterred as they kept pressuring the Grey line and they eventually saw No 8 Johannes Dagutat score, with flyhalf Regardt Roets’ conversion giving them the lead.
However, Grey showed their class to go back in front with five minutes to go when No 8 Werner Gouws drove over the line, before replacement back Lesley Botha received a good offload from Vlitoor to seal the win.
Affies – Tries: Dewald Donald, George Oosthuizen, Dieter Crafford, Johannes Daguatat. Conversion: Regardt Roets (4).
Grey College – Tries: AJ Bezuidenhout, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wyclef Vlitoor, Ian Small-Smith, Werner Gouws, Lesley Botha. Conversion: Zander du Plessis (3). Penalty: Du Plessis.
Photo: Marnus van Wyk
