Match report: Grey High beats Selborne 20-18

#2: Selborne go off their feet at a ruck and Garrick Mattheus, Grey’s flyhalf comes close with a long wind assisted kick at goal.
Selborne then takes the ball through an impressive 9 phases but don’t make any inroads before an unforced error ends the continuity.
#8: Grey wins a side entry penalty after a lineout. The lineout was set up as a result of a penalty won at the breakdown by hooker Robin Stevens. However Mattheus misses the angled shot at goal.
#12: Selborne come by with the best attack of the match when no.8 Jason Steyn carries meaningfully down the right touch line before offloading to the inside, from where the attack gets into the Grey 22m area. Lock Robert Lyons is also prominent in the attack. The ref calls play back for a penalty to Selborne. With  the help of the upright, flyhalf Morgan Steyn converts to put the home team 3-0 up.
#13: Mattheus feels a measure of relief when he lands his first penalty after Selborne do not release the tackler. 3-3.
#16: The left-footed Mattheus’s influence on the game becomes apparent when he first hoists an excellent up-and-under into the Selborne 22m. An error by the hosts hands possession back to Grey by way of a scrum and from the loose play that follows, its Mattheus who succeeds with a snap drop-goal for Grey to lead 6-3.
Selborne are conceding many penalties in a game that is so far dominated by the whistle of Lusanda Jam the referee.
The match offers much but continuity is hindered by handling errors and other mistakes at the breakdown.
#27: Very good team play by Grey leads to the opening try by lock Michael de Marco. Several players are involved in the build up which starts when Mattheus spots space in behind the D-line, so kicks into it, chases and forces a handing error by Selborne at the back. Mattheus recovers the ball and then good passing in tight spaces and well worked angles of attack sees the try scored on the right. Mattheus converts. 13-3 to Grey.
#30: Selborne hits back straight from the kickoff and almost score a try when centre Jacinto da Silva is stopped on the tryline. A penalty ensues and Morgan Steyn reduces the lead to 6-13 to Grey.
Halftime Grey PE 13 – 6 Selborne. Selborne ends the half playing the more enterprising rugby and with a strongish wind behind them to come, they will look to dominate the second half.
#36: A Grey mistake at the kickoff setpiece hands ball back to Selborne. They carry well and are eventually held up in a use it or lose it near the tryline of Grey.
#40: Selborne attacks with meaning. They use the width where Jason Steyn comes up with a big carry. Then they come back infield and win a penalty under the sticks. Tap and go is the decision. Flank Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen rips the ball from a teammate who made the initial charge at the line and his speed of execution and determination are too hard to counter as he crashes over for Selborne’s first try. 11-13.
#51: Grey has a kickable penalty from a side entry but set up a lineout 5m out from the Selborne tryline instead. A clean take and good momentum in the drive sees Grey get over the line but the ref awards a 5m scrum to Grey and not the try. Grey goes the battering ram route with patient pop and drive bashes at the line. The Selborne defence holds strong and the home team gets a turnover from a knock on after a few phases.
#55: The pressure is not over. Grey come up with a big shove in the scrum. Untidy ball shoots out the back catching the Selborne replacement scrumhalf Sibahle Dunjana unawares. His opposite number halfback Brody van Goevreden pounces and scores a crucial try for Grey, which Mattheus converts. 20-11. A two score game.
#63: A host of 50:50 passes results in several turnovers both ways and eventually sees Selborne extracting the advantage as they get to set up a lineout inside the Grey 22m. They concede possession at the lineout but win it back at the scrum fed by Grey. The pressure tells as Grey give away a penalty at the breakdown. Selborne taps and goes and finds width with slick passing that seeing right wing Tristan Coetzer getting over in the right corner. Morgan Steyn converts to leave it  at 20-18 in Grey’s favour.
#69: Selborne needs to throw caution to the wind. They run the ball well and the move is characterised by a splendid inside pass by David Brits to his centre partner Jacinto da Silva. In the background a charge off the ball earns Selborne a long range penalty and a chance to win the game. Morgan Steyn’s kick misses left. Grey drop in and kicks the ball long. But it’s not the end. Selborne comes up with a clean linebreak that sees Jason Steyn carry the ball well into the Grey half with support arriving quickly from both sides. His decision to pass over the top to the right is the wrong one. The pass is intercepted by Grey hero Garrick Mattheus, who hoofs it downfield.
Selborne make another attempt to attack from deep but they are contained this time. Unable to spark anything, they lose the ball and Grey get the ball off the park in a hurry to record the 20-18 away win.
Final score Grey 20 – 18 Selborne.