In A thrilling FNB Classic Clash Selborne College emerged victorious against Dale College after an enthralling battle at Selborne on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts triumphed 33-25 after a fantastic forward effort that took centre stage after Dale started the game at a cracking pace to storm into an impressive early lead before Selborne, led by their dominant pack, battled back to go into the half time break just ahead.
Selborne then consolidated their lead in the second half and pulling away for an impressive win.
Selborne captain David Coetzer admitted his team had weathered an early storm and had only turned it around after they had upped their physicality.
“I think we just needed to get into the game a bit. We were against the wind in the first half as well and we knew it was going to be tough.
“But the boys stuck to it, got in there and eventually when the physicality went up we started getting dominant ball,” explained Coetzer.
“The first bit was a bit tough but I am proud of the boys.”
The match kicked off at a frantic pace, with Selborne starting the brightest and they were rewarded for their good early play with a penalty after a Dale player entered a ruck from the side, with fullback Jason Raubenheimer striking the kick over from just outside the 22m to the left of the sticks.
From the kick-off Dale struck back. After stealing the ball at a ruck the ball was sent to the short side where flank Thando Gqokvo received and sprinted down the left hand touchline to dive over in the corner for an unconverted score.
In the 15th minute Dale went further ahead from a scrum in Selborne's 22m. Despite going backwards they got the ball out and swung it left, catching the Selborne defence napping with a skip pass, which found wing Chumani Lucas who ran around to score.
Inside centre Aphelele Fassi converted the try to put Dale 12-3 up.
The teams then traded penalties through Raubenheimer and Fassi making the score 15-6 after 21 minutes, before Selborne kicked it up a notch to take the lead at the break.
First flyhalf Coetzer crashed over after a lineout deep in Dale's 22m and then wing Afika Ndinisa went over in the left-hand corner on the stroke of half time with both tries unconverted, leaving the hosts 16-15 up.
The second half then saw fans treated to some eye catching tries as Selborne picked up where they left off.
Lock Stephan Nieuwenhuizen made a break into Dale's 22m, offloaded to outside centre Mitchell Connellan, with him in turn popping the ball to Coetzer who found eighthman Adam Mountfort who then gave the final pass to inside centre Sibahle Kuhlane who went over for a converted try within the first five minutes.
Fassi then cut the deficit to five points with a successful penalty only for Kuhlane to score his second try, with Raubenheimer's conversion putting them 30-18 up.
Fassi then scored a brilliant solo effort in the 57th minute.
After receiving the ball in the Dale half, he hit a gap and stepped the last defender to run in a 65m converted try.
Selborne would however have the final say in the 65th minute when Coetzer capped off a solid display with an impressive drop goal that proved to be the final points of the match.
Selborne beat Dale in enthralling battle
The hosts triumphed 33-25 after a fantastic forward effort that took centre stage after Dale started the game at a cracking pace to storm into an impressive early lead before Selborne, led by their dominant pack, battled back to go into the half time break just ahead.
Selborne then consolidated their lead in the second half and pulling away for an impressive win.
Selborne captain David Coetzer admitted his team had weathered an early storm and had only turned it around after they had upped their physicality.
“I think we just needed to get into the game a bit. We were against the wind in the first half as well and we knew it was going to be tough.
“But the boys stuck to it, got in there and eventually when the physicality went up we started getting dominant ball,” explained Coetzer.
“The first bit was a bit tough but I am proud of the boys.”
The match kicked off at a frantic pace, with Selborne starting the brightest and they were rewarded for their good early play with a penalty after a Dale player entered a ruck from the side, with fullback Jason Raubenheimer striking the kick over from just outside the 22m to the left of the sticks.
From the kick-off Dale struck back. After stealing the ball at a ruck the ball was sent to the short side where flank Thando Gqokvo received and sprinted down the left hand touchline to dive over in the corner for an unconverted score.
In the 15th minute Dale went further ahead from a scrum in Selborne's 22m. Despite going backwards they got the ball out and swung it left, catching the Selborne defence napping with a skip pass, which found wing Chumani Lucas who ran around to score.
Inside centre Aphelele Fassi converted the try to put Dale 12-3 up.
The teams then traded penalties through Raubenheimer and Fassi making the score 15-6 after 21 minutes, before Selborne kicked it up a notch to take the lead at the break.
First flyhalf Coetzer crashed over after a lineout deep in Dale's 22m and then wing Afika Ndinisa went over in the left-hand corner on the stroke of half time with both tries unconverted, leaving the hosts 16-15 up.
The second half then saw fans treated to some eye catching tries as Selborne picked up where they left off.
Lock Stephan Nieuwenhuizen made a break into Dale's 22m, offloaded to outside centre Mitchell Connellan, with him in turn popping the ball to Coetzer who found eighthman Adam Mountfort who then gave the final pass to inside centre Sibahle Kuhlane who went over for a converted try within the first five minutes.
Fassi then cut the deficit to five points with a successful penalty only for Kuhlane to score his second try, with Raubenheimer's conversion putting them 30-18 up.
Fassi then scored a brilliant solo effort in the 57th minute.
After receiving the ball in the Dale half, he hit a gap and stepped the last defender to run in a 65m converted try.
Selborne would however have the final say in the 65th minute when Coetzer capped off a solid display with an impressive drop goal that proved to be the final points of the match.
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