Westville beats Pretoria Boys High 22-17

Westville produced their best result of 2013 when they beat a strong Pretoria Boys High 1^st XV 22-17 on Bowdens 2, alongside their main field.

Due to the heavy rain in the days leading up to the game, the match could not be played on the waterlogged main field. However the way Westville started this match bore little relation to the poor conditions that prevailed. Their play in the first ±10-minutes had all the ingredients of good rugby and they were handsomely rewarded with a 15-0 lead in next to no time at all.

Westville outside centre Jason Wilks initiated the first serious Westville tryline threat, which ultimately played a big part in giving his team an important field position from where they did eventually score. Wilks smart chip ahead gave his teammates something realistic to chance after. When Boys High were then unable to control the kicked ball on the wet deck, Westville wing Keegan Paverd was able to toe it further ahead. The ball eventually ended up in the in-goal area where Westville came close to applying downward pressure.

From the 5-metre scrum Westville moved the ball through the hands and recycled very well thanks to good support and protection at the breakdown. Ball carrying tighthead prop Mzamo Majola did extremely well to maneuver his big frame on the slippery surface and by evading tackles in a short run he generating enough momentum to cross for the first try, which was converted by fullback Louis Snyman to make it 7-0 to Westville.

The next Westville try was all about team work. Centre Bradley Ellse was the finisher from a close range dive over off the side of the ruck but it was the build-up that was so pleasing to watch. Westville made it seem like they were playing on a bone-dry day. Their handling was top notch and once again the recycling of tackled ball was of a high standard. The two elements combined resulted in continuity which laid the platform for gaining ground and eventually broke down the Boys High defensive structures. At 12-nil up after less than 10 minutes of play, Westville were looking close to unstoppable.

Things got even better for the hosts when Pretoria Boys High collapsed a maul. Snyman’s well struck kick from distance made it 15-0 after just 11 minutes.

The visitors then got themselves into a good position from the next kick off but crucially missed a relatively easy penalty after Westville had infringed at the ruck inside their own 22-metre area. It wasn’t the only missed kick of the game and many things happen during a match so perhaps a little unfair to overemphasis the importance of this initial PBHS kick, however in the context of how the game played out during the second half with Boys High needing to chase it and Westville having to defend the lead, this kick going over certainly could have changed the attacking mindset of both teams and could possibly have resulted in a different outcome altogether.

The next highlight was a super long run down the left-hand touchline by Paverd, after he had been set free by some slick backline passes by those to his inside. Once again it appeared that Westville were playing in defiance of the adverse conditions and in the process gaining a strong upper hand on very good opponents.

Shortly before halftime Boys High got onto the scoreboard with a good try. Using width, it was their big outside centre that made the line break using power to punch a hole where one did not appear to exist. An excellent covering tackle prevented him from going over for the try. However from the next phase the ball got fed left again and the solidly built hooker barged over. Fullback Murray made amends for the earlier miss and the tight angle kick proved that he was actually a relatively good and accurate striker of the ball.

15-7 it was at the break. Locals would have preferred 15-0 but even still a very good first half by the home side.

Within the first 5 minutes of the second half, it was game on. Boys High narrowed the deficit to 15-14, compliments of an area of play that really started to go their way big time in the second half – lineouts. The effective use of their big No.8Van Straaten in the middle on their own throw helped on attack but credit must go to numerous defensive jumpers for helping to make a mess of Westville’s ball. From a lineout close to Westville’s line, Boys High won clean ball via van Straaten and then did the unexpected. Instead of setting the pod and trying to use their big pack to maul it over, they opted for a more technical and risky pass to a forward off the side. It almost didn’t pay off with the poor traction and wet ball not helping matters. But even with it not going to plan, Boys High did manage to retain possession and opted to go to their backs, where their flyhalf Harris went one better than his outside centre’s first half effort by not only winning the one-on-one with the defender in front of him but this time also getting over the chalk for the try as well. It was a well-taken opportunity with by the player who had spotted the space and backed himself. However just like the first half line-break that made the PBHS try, Westville rightfully should have expected more from their first time tacklers.

The teams then traded missed penalty attempts. One for Boys High, two for Westville.

The try that sealed the victory for Westville emphasised just how unpredictable the game of rugby can be. The boys from Pretoria seemed to be gaining a second half ascendency. A neat blindside break by their openside flank from a ruck inside the PBHS half stated a very promising play for the visitors.  Soon thereafter they had advanced play to within centimetres of the Westville try-line with the help of very good handling. But it was here on the brink of gaining the lead for the first time that the visitors turned over possession. Brad Ellse came up with a huge relieving kick that although not going out went into PBHS territory. Boys High in their efforts to regain the lost territorial advantage and reapply the pressure, hoisted the ball high. It proved to be the wrong decision as the kick lacked depth and did not produce a good enough aerial contest. Without jumping Louis Snyman coolly collected the high ball not far inside his own half, he then averted the immediate danger of kick-chasers before intelligently looked around for support after he had run upfield for over 10 metres. On his inside, Snyman spotted and fed to a flying Wilks on a clear line, this after the fullback had drawn the closest defender. Wilks was then able to carry the ball in unopposed. Snyman converted and Westville were 22-14 to the good.

Pretoria Boys High pressed hard during the closing stages. A low point of the game for Westville came near the end when the referee pinged them for backchat twice in quick succession, both stemming from one culprit. From one such penalty, Boys High narrowed the deficit to just 5 points at 22-17, giving themselves an outside hope of victory.

It was not to be. Westville stood firm for a very good home win and morale booster.

On a sad note, Westville captain Andre de la Rey, who for two seasons has been an standout player and one always to lead by example, went down with a season ending injury in the first half. Westville had reaped the benefits from a few fly-hacks ahead during that half but a loose ball that invited a soccer piledriver is exactly how Andre got injured when his lower shine appeared to make contact with the bottom of an opponent’s boot in his kick follow-through.  True to the brave character that he is Andre tried to get up and soldier on, in spite of the pain. Good luck with the recovery Andre. I know you will be missed by your team and by one of the KZN representative teams that you were destined to play for this season.