St Andrew's College first rugby side faced their toughest assignment yet when they met the Bishops Diocesan College first team from Cape Town on Saturday.
St Andrew's College first rugby side faced their toughest assignment yet when they met the Bishops Diocesan College first team from Cape Town on Saturday.
St Andrew's hosted the match on Lower Field – their first home match, but their third this season. They beat Daniel Pienaar in Uitenhage the week before and beat Pearson High School at the Graeme Rugby Day on Thursday.
St Andrew's kept their winning streak, beating the top Western Province side 28-21. St Andrew's lead 21-0 at half-time.
The match is one of the oldest schoolboy derbies in South Africa. The St Andrew's side were well and truly up for the match and hit the ground running, putting the visitors under immediate pressure.
After a couple of goes at the line, captain Sintu Manjezi crashed over for the first score and St Andrew's hit the lead 7-0.
Soon after, the home side forced Bishops to carry the ball over their goal line after a well-placed box kick from Jason Baggott.
The resulting scrum allowed the team to apply more pressure before some good passing allowed Robert Ball to crash over for St Andrew’s second try.
Ryan Horne again ensured the conversion, as the score stretched to 14-0.
In a matter of minutes, St Andrew's were at it again after a stolen ball at the lineout on the Bishops line, as the forwards drove the ball up allowing Tyler Paul to extend the St Andrew's lead to 21-0 after 20 minutes.
Bishops came back fighting for the rest of the half. At times they had the St Andrew's defence stretched – but it held firm, as they were kept scoreless going into half time.
The second half started much the same as the first, but St Andrew's could not finish their opportunities as well and this allowed Bishops to fight their way back into the match.
Bishops, playing their familiar brand of fast-paced rugby, threw the ball around and it was only due to some magnificent defence by the St Andrew's team that Bishops failed to score.
Bishops' first try came in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, as the ball bounced in Bishops’ favour, allowing the wing in under the poles.
Soon after Bishops created another opportunity and were in for another converted try, the game suddenly in the balance after the great start by the St Andrew's team as the score moved to 21-14 with 10 minutes to play.
This try seemed to spur the St Andrew's team back into life and after some more ferocious defence, Tyler Paul received the ball in midfield and powered his way over for a brilliant try, 28-14 to St Andrew's, with mere minutes to play.
Bishops would add another try to create a thrilling finish to an outstanding match of schoolboy rugby. St Andrew's eventually ran out deserving winners, 28-21.
