There was another thrilling weekend of schoolboy rugby as Grey College dominated in a renewed rivalry with Hoёrskool Monument. The Bloemfontein school, playing at home, came away as 41-17 victors over the boys from Krugersdorp.

“This is the first time we pick up the derby that ended in the mid-90s (when all teams from both schools meet — not just the first XVs), just before Covid we tried to pick up the derby again but then it got put on ice during the whole Covid period,” said Grey College high school coach Jannie Geldenhuys to Daily Maverick.

“For us, it’s just a huge privilege to be able to pick up the relationship with them [Hoёrskool Monument] again and to get the whole derby back on track. This was the first official derby since the mid-90s.”

There was a last-minute change in the Grey College lineup as electric winger Alfondso Isaacs missed out on the encounter.

“We monitored Alfondso the whole week but by Thursday when we did the last test, we realised the ankle is not stable enough, so we rested him, especially keeping an eye on Craven Week,” said Geldenhuys.

Conrad Sevenster of Hoërskool Monument during the Premier Interschools match between Grey College and Monument at Grey College on May 28, 2022 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images)

However, Isaacs’ replacement Martin Botha was a more than capable replacement, breaking lines and linking up play from the right wing.

“Luckily, Martin Botha — the wing who replaced him — came back from [having] chicken pox, he missed the Affies game last week due to illness. He was ready to step in,” said Geldenhuys.

 The Grey team also had a change in captaincy for their derby clash as regular captain Tat Botha, came off the bench to put the finishing touches on a wonderful day in Bloemfontein.

“Tat, our loose-head prop, he had a little niggle on his knee. We thought it best to not play him a full game. He has been playing the last seven hard weeks, we thought it best to just put him on the bench and play the last 15 minutes,” said the head coach.

Up stepped their backline leader, flyhalf Bradley Giddy, who led the team by commanding his troops through his boot, putting his team on the front foot by converting four of his side’s six tries and one penalty.

“Giddy is a very good leader himself, he’s also the vice-head boy of the school. He’s one of our big leaders and plays a big role in the leadership group of the team since the pre-season,” said Geldenhuys.

Most of Grey College’s dominance came through their charging forward pack, especially lock JF van Heerden who was awarded the man-of-the-match award.

“I think his (Van Heerden’s) dominance in the lineout gave us possession and put a lot of pressure on their lineout as well, giving them less possession and swinging the momentum in our favour,” said Geldenhuys about his big lock forward.

The spoils were shared between backs and forwards as three tries were scored by Grey College’s dominating pack. 

However, scrumhalf, Caleb Abrahams had another special game week, scoring a terrific brace of tries through running fantastic supporting lines while the backline were able to exhibit some of their expansive gameplay.

“The foundation our forwards gave them, gives them time on the ball so they can express themselves. To get to this time of the season and through this hard period of the season and to still perform at this level, we’re very proud of them,” said Geldenhuys. DM

Around the country

Western Cape

Bishops 7 Paarl Boys’ High 29

Oakdale 10 Outeniqua 0

Wynberg 24 Rondebosch 15

Stellenberg 50 Brackenfell 11

SACS 22 Durbanville 23

Eastern Cape

Selborne 10 Queen’s 19

Graeme 22 Kingswood 17

St Andrew’s 5 Grey High 40

KwaZulu-Natal

Clifton 24 Kearsney 17

St Charles 8 Northwood 18

Maritzburg College 11 Hilton 30

Durban High 33 Westville 23

Free State

Grey College 41 Monument 17

Gauteng

Affies 35 Jeppe 17

Pretoria Boys’ High 79 St David’s 0

Menlopark 23 Noordheuwel 33

Helpmekaar 46 HTS Middelburg 27

Marais Viljoen 7 Garsfontein 73

EG Jansen 34 Waterkloof 26

St Albans 18 KES 32

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