Grocott's Mail
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Monday, June 16
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Grocott's Mail
    • NEWS
      • Courts & Crime
      • Features
      • Politics
      • People
      • Health & Well-being
    • SPORT
      • News
      • Results
      • Sports Diary
      • Club Contacts
      • Columns
      • Sport Galleries
      • Sport Videos
    • OPINION
      • Election Connection
      • Makana Voices
      • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
      • Newtown… Old Eyes
      • Incisive View
      • Your Say
    • ARTSLIFE
      • Cue
        • Cue Archives
      • Makana Sharp!
      • Visual Art
      • Literature
      • Food
      • Festivals
      • Community Arts
      • Going Places
    • OUR TOWN
      • What’s on
      • Spiritual
      • Emergency & Well-being
      • Covid-19
      • Safety
      • Civic
      • Municipality
      • Weather
      • Properties
        • Grahamstown Properties
      • Your Town, Our Town
    • OUTSIDE
      • Enviro News
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Science
      • Conservation
      • Motoring
      • Pets/Animals
    • ECONOMIX
      • Business News
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Personal Finance
    • EDUCATION
      • Education NEWS
      • Education OUR TOWN
      • Education INFO
    • EDITORIAL
    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»SPORT»Swallows let it slip against Blues
    SPORT

    Swallows let it slip against Blues

    Grocott's MailBy Grocott's MailMarch 9, 2023Updated:March 10, 2023No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Another stellar performance by Jason Potgieter including a brilliant 30m try. Photo: Chesley Daniels
    Another stellar performance by Jason Potgieter including a brilliant 30m try. Photo: Daniels Media

    By Chesley Daniels

    After trailing 6-13 at halftime, Lily White 1st XV came back strongly to upset Swallows to a 26-18
    defeat in their friendly preseason encounter at the Oval on Saturday.

    The two sides locked horns in front of a decent local crowd at the fortress Oval, which saw some
    spectacular tries being scored. Swallows dominated most of the game and could find themselves
    unlucky not to upset the favourites and EPRU Grand Challenge side. Swallows’ powerful pack of
    forwards were once again dominant in the scrums and overpower Blues in that department from the
    word go till the end whistle.

    From the onset, the clash was brutal and very physical, with both sides coming hard at each other. Whilst Swallows dominated matters upfront and put the favourites under constant pressure, it was the Blues who played to their strength and favourite game plan by keeping the ball alive and giving it air through skilful ball handling. Swallows were found wanting on defence as the Blues made the game quick and, as a result, gained momentum and metres on the attack.

    Swallows took the game to the home side and kept the scoreboard ticking with a conversion try and
    two penalties in the first half. A brilliant turnover in the tackle situation by veteran Ivan “Motta” Agnew deep inside Swallows half resulted in youngster Ethan Williams neatly collecting from the ruck, running a couple of metres with a kick through where he collected again and superbly offloaded to lock Diego Plaatjies to score the try of the day. Young fullback Breyton Plaatjies had his kicking boots on and slotted a monstrous 53m penalty to extend his side’s lead. Blues came back with two penalties to take matters to 13-6 in favour of Swallows at the break.

    Young Swallows flyhalf Ethan Williams breaks through a tackle on attack. Photo: Chesley Daniels
    Young Swallows flyhalf Ethan Williams breaks through a tackle on the attack. Photo: Daniels Media


    Swallows’ dominant scrum continued in the second half but was unlucky in their dominance when
    they were penalized for technical reasons. Blues launched a comeback and capitalized on the visitors’
    mistakes. Credit to the Blues for keeping their composure and sticking to their game plan. A yellow card to Swallows put them on the back foot as Blues scored two tries and a few penalties in the second half whilst going into the lead for the first time and also extended their lead going into the final ten minutes of the game.

    Fiery and aggressive 8th man of Swallows, Jason Potgieter, scored a brilliant try from the back of the scrum, burst through a couple of defenders and ran 30m to score. Swallows were within reach of the Blues but kept on making enforced errors and unnecessary mistakes, as Blues goal kicker kept them in the lead with his deadly boot. Swallows needed to score twice during the final minutes of the second half but solid defence from Blues kept them from scoring.

    In the end, full credit to Blues, who showed good composure and fighting spirit to hang on to the win.
    On the other hand, Swallows should kick themselves not to build on their first-half lead and to clinch
    the win in the end. Blues ended the afternoon that was played in a very good spirit, with a well-
    earned and deserved 26-18 win.


    The Grocott’s Mail Sport/Daniels MEDIA Man of the Match went to the unsung Swallows’ hero and prop forward, Marvin Frazer. Frazer was the spearhead and destroyer-in-chief of the Swallows’ dominant pack in the scrums and played both sides of the scrum. He was also very effective in physical battles and played hard on the field. He was also solid on defence whilst solid at the breakdowns. Swallows’ next friendly will be against Windvogel United in PE on Saturday.

    The dominant scrum of Swallows that was on the front foot and moving forward. Photo: Chesley Daniels
    The dominant scrum of Swallows was on the front foot and moving forward. Photo: Daniels Media
    Previous ArticleHuge Scott’s Farm water leak a big problem for resident
    Next Article Alicedale’s George Jacques school gates still locked
    Grocott's Mail

      Comments are closed.

      Code of Ethics and Conduct
      GROCOTT’S SUBSCRIPTION
      RMR
      Listen to RMR


      Humans of Makhanda

      Humans of Makhanda

      Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

      © 2025 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.