Coaches Justin Taylor and Dries Pretorius’ Bethlehem Voortrekker first team produced most of the constructive play to finally run out 36-22 winners against visiting Durban High School. The home team did not have it all their own way, particularly in the first half when Durban High School were able to catch out the Griffons’ opponents flatfooted and keep the scoreboard ticking, even leading at the halftime break. The second half score of 17-0 in favour of Voortrekker, pointed to a half in which the visitors struggled to get going.
After absorbing the early pressure, DHS responded in the best way possible when right wing Minenhle Ngcamu crossed for the opening try in the 10th minute, thanks in part to Voortrekker not being able to press with linespeed.
Voortrekker were quite quick to respond with a try of their own. They capitalised from a dink over the top, followed by a favourable bounce and some pressure to earn a penalty under the sticks. A tap-and-go from their combined with more pressure resulted in a try by fullback Ruben Kruger. A conversion made it 7-5 to the home team after 12 minutes.
Voortrekker domination finally paid off as hooker DH Stevenson then made clean strong break off a rolling maul that had sucked in the defence as it progressed towards the line, to score the next try and help grow the lead to 12-5 after 22 minutes.
DHS determination shown by outside centre Maurice Willemse resulted in a superb tackle to force an error turnover from an attempted clearance kick close to the opposition corner flag. The end result was a pick up and a soft try run-in by DHS fullback Tholithemba Sibisi to reduce the deficit to 12-10 after 26 minutes.
DHS then make a mistake from the kick-off and soon Voortrekker were camping near their try line again. A scrum from a knock-on offered Voortrekker a good platform and from first phase play, flyhalf Jake Landman went over on the left to help stretch the lead to 19-10 at the 30-minute marker .
DHS proved deadly in the counter-attacking game. This lead to a second try for Sibisi, who proved too quick for the static defence, following a move that started starting in the DHS. 19-15 after 34 minutes.
From scrum after the kick-off DHS grabbed the lead just before halftime when their #20 collects a favourable bounce from a kick ahead, making it 22-19 after the two-points were added.
Promising big u17 no.8 Fano Linde got Vories the lead back after he busted through the D-line for a nice carry up the middle of the park and added to that later in the drive by completing the offensive with a try from close range.
The home team’s 26-22 grew to 29-22 on the 28-minute marker around a long injury delay.
A penalty try to Vories at the very end sealed the deal. It came about after a grubber in behind the DHS, deep inside the 22m, saw the chasing replacement wing #23 tackled without the ball.
It ended 36-22.
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