1st XV vs Bishops
A thoroughly entertaining game of rugby was played on the Piley Rees Field on Saturday the 27th of March. Both teams wanted to keep the ball in hand and play their typical brand of running game, despite it being early season. As such the large crowd gathered were treated to seven tries during the game.
Bishops were able sneak back from a 12 point half time deficit to win the game 25-24 when they scored their fourth try of the afternoon from a drive off a lineout in the last play of the game.
1st XV vs FNB Invitation XV
With the presence of a very water-logged field on the opening day of the Saints festival, there was not much chance of the St Andrew’s 1st XV throwing the ball around. They were however able to keep the ball in hand and get good go forward ball by making use of forward runners from the breakdown. This made the opposition spend a lot of their time defending in their own half and we were able to score four well worked tries on the day. The final score was 27 - 10
1st XV vs Wynberg Boys High School
With the field being drier on the Saturday and with the boys being more used to the conditions there was an opportunity for the College 1st XV to display a bit more of their running game against Wynberg.
There was a good balance between the use of forwards runners and moving the ball through the hands of the backs. This put the Wynberg defense under pressure and the 1st XV were able to build on the hard earned 18 – 10 lead at half time and scored three unanswered tries in the second half to win the game 37 – 10.
1st XV vs Noordkaap Hoërskool
The Noordkaap pack presented a formidable task to the 1st XV in our final game of the festival. Their physicality in the tight and at the breakdown, were made even more of a factor when it rained on the morning of the last day which made playing a looser game more difficult for us.
Keeping it tighter in the first half did manage to tire there big pack out but it also limited our attacking options as they were strong at the breakdown point and we were not able to recycle ball as quickly as we wanted.
In the second half the ball moved more freely around the park and this put Noordkaap under pressure and we were able to score to great tries and slot a penalty late in the game to come back from a 0 - 7 deficit at half time to win 15 – 12.
The 1st XV would like firstly to thank the parents and boys who provided great support at Bishops and at Saints and secondly thank Mr Miles and Mr Mallett for their role in the organisation and coaching that they did over the course of the 12 day trip.
H.Searle
Scorers summary:
1st XV vs Bishops
1 try Geoffrey Toplis
1 penalty and 3 conversions Angus Macdonald
2 tries Mark Prior
1st XV vs FNB Invitation XV
1 penalty and 2 conversions Dale Austin
1 try Liam Henderson
1 try Robin Murray
1 try Ian Herold
1 try Dane van der Westhuizen
1st XV vs Wynberg Boys High School
1 try, 1 penalty and 2 conversions Ntsiki Mlamleli
1 try, 1 penalty and 1 conversion Dane van der Westhuizen
1 try Benjamin Davies
1 try Dale Austin
1 try Grant Prior
1st XV vs Noordkaap Hoërskool
1 try Jonny Ford
1 conversion and 1 penalty Ntsiki Mlamleli
1 try Dale Austin
