Saturday's FNB Classic Clash proved to be exactly that. It was a classic duel with both sides taking turns leading the charge – and a heartbreaking one-point difference denying home side Graeme the glory.
Saturday's FNB Classic Clash proved to be exactly that. It was a classic duel with both sides taking turns leading the charge – and a heartbreaking one-point difference denying home side Graeme the glory.
The weekend's derby action, between Graeme College/Victoria Girls' High School and St Andrew's College/ Diocesan School for Girls' began on Friday with netball and hockey matches.
The netball and hockey continued on Saturday at the DSG hockey astro and netball courts. The rugby matches were held at the Graeme rugby fields.
DSG won all six of the hockey fixtures, while VG dominated on the netball courts, winning seven matches, while DSG won three.
Back to the Classic Clash, Graeme hosted St Andrew's, with the first-team rugby clash taking place on Somerset field in front of a large crowd, on a hot autumn afternoon.
St Andrew's started well and got Graeme under pressure early, resulting in two penalties which were converted by Ryan Horne as St Andrew's took a 6-0 lead.
Graeme College centre Abongile Hashe kicked one of his three penalty attempts and it was Horne again who sliced through the opposition defence to score from 50m out.
Horne converted his own try as St Andrew's showed signs of dominating.
Graeme defended for all they were worth and slowly clawed their way back into the match, having the final say in the first half. Graeme flank Ethan September, scored a fine try, converted by Hashe, to make the score 10–13 to St Andrew's at half time.
The second half was a ding-dong affair, with Graeme determined to improve on their first-half performance and St Andrew's looking to stretch their lead.
Graeme were first to score in the second half after some attacking play. Xhantilomzi Mbane scored, as Hashe converted and Graeme took the lead 17-13.
After a sustained bout of pressure, Stuart Stopforth crashed over for a well-worked try and Horne converted for St Andrew's to take the lead 20-17. The pressure was on St Andrew's again, with Graeme showing no sign of giving up.
This forced another penalty and St Andrew's took the points, through Horne, stretching the St Andrew's lead to six points.
Graeme needed a converted try to take the win – and this is what they sought as they dominated the final stages of play.
Graeme retained possession for phases on end and put St Andrew’s under enormous pressure, finally resulting in a try near the poles, on full time, by lock Lungisani Dube.
With the score at 23-22 in favour of St Andrew's and the kick to come from Hashe, Somerset Field was silent.
Hashe stepped up to take the kick – but it sailed wide, leaving St Andrew's to sneak home 23-22.
“It was heartache for the 'Sons of the Leopard', but a performance that won the Graeme College first team the new-found respect of rugby players and spectators alike,” said Graeme coach Pierre Jacobs.
