Entertaining schools rugby was again on show at Hudson Park High School on Saturday as the Hudson XV claimed another good win, this time over Grens in their derby match up.
Hudson ended on top 29-20 after a great game of attacking rugby that saw a number of tries scored.
Grens were well in the game at half time, only trailing by a point, but Hudson turned it on in style in an eight minute period in the second half that extended that lead to 16 points with 22 minutes still to be played.
It was a bruising fixture that saw players from both teams taking heavy knocks and subs were needed throughout the game.
The match kicked off at a quick pace and Hudson indiscretions at the breakdown cost them as Grens made it to their 22m and then received another penalty out wide on the touch line that Grens fullback Nathan Church slotted with a superb kick to put them 3-0 up after five minutes.
Three minutes later Hudson struck back with their first meaningful foray into Grens territory as they set up a line up on the 22m and then swung the ball to their backs who executed a perfect move that saw centre Gacula Poswa slice through the Grens defence and go over under the posts, with eighthman Keenan Purcell putting over the easy conversion.
Grens then reduced the deficit in the 13th minute as Church slotted his second penalty from near the 10m line in front of the posts after Hudson were pinged at a ruck.
Church had a chance to put Grens ahead on 21 minutes with a penalty from distance on the touchline, but his well struck effort slid wide of the right hand post.
Hudson then scored their second try in the 25th minute after some messy play as they looked to keep the ball alive, but a loose pass seemed to have lost possession, only for the Hudson forwards to steal it back, with then another few 50/50 passes ending well as Hudson prop Alulutho Tshakweni went over to the right of the posts, with Purcell knocking over the extras to take a 14-6 lead.
With five minutes to half time Grens then forced their way back into the game after they swung the ball from a line out in Hudson’s half and Church joined the line at pace to burst through Hudson’s defence and score under the posts, with him then converting his own try to make the score 14-13 at half time.
Hudson came out all guns blazing in the second half and after some good sustained pressure they were rewarded when in the 40th minute their forwards set-up a monster driving maul from a 5m line out that rumbled over the line in the left hand corner with flank Danille Naidoo dotting down at the back.
The conversion was missed but Hudson did not have to wait long for another try as almost from the kick off they worked the ball wide and fullback Jarred du Plessis flew down the left hand touch line to go over in the corner, with Purcell this time slotting a very good touch line kick to extend the lead to 26-13.
In the 48th minute another big driving maul from Hudson, this time from the halfway allowed them to move deep into the Grens half, with Grens then being penalised at the breakdown on their 22m, allowing Purcell to add another three points to Hudson’s total and put them in full command.
Hudson then had a few more chances to add to their score, but some tenacious Grens defence kept them out, however with eight minutes left Grens prop Gerard Kotzee brought down a maul close to their try line and received a yellow card.
Despite being a man short Grens had the final say as with four minutes left they scored out of nowhere when they took a short 22m drop out, re-gathered and swung a bad pass to reserve wing Reginald Lefember who picked up the ball superbly on the bounce and sprinted about 60m down the right hand touch to score near the corner.
Church added the extras, with the match then ending 29-20.
Hudson Park turn it on in a bruising clash against Grens
Hudson ended on top 29-20 after a great game of attacking rugby that saw a number of tries scored.
Grens were well in the game at half time, only trailing by a point, but Hudson turned it on in style in an eight minute period in the second half that extended that lead to 16 points with 22 minutes still to be played.
It was a bruising fixture that saw players from both teams taking heavy knocks and subs were needed throughout the game.
The match kicked off at a quick pace and Hudson indiscretions at the breakdown cost them as Grens made it to their 22m and then received another penalty out wide on the touch line that Grens fullback Nathan Church slotted with a superb kick to put them 3-0 up after five minutes.
Three minutes later Hudson struck back with their first meaningful foray into Grens territory as they set up a line up on the 22m and then swung the ball to their backs who executed a perfect move that saw centre Gacula Poswa slice through the Grens defence and go over under the posts, with eighthman Keenan Purcell putting over the easy conversion.
Grens then reduced the deficit in the 13th minute as Church slotted his second penalty from near the 10m line in front of the posts after Hudson were pinged at a ruck.
Church had a chance to put Grens ahead on 21 minutes with a penalty from distance on the touchline, but his well struck effort slid wide of the right hand post.
Hudson then scored their second try in the 25th minute after some messy play as they looked to keep the ball alive, but a loose pass seemed to have lost possession, only for the Hudson forwards to steal it back, with then another few 50/50 passes ending well as Hudson prop Alulutho Tshakweni went over to the right of the posts, with Purcell knocking over the extras to take a 14-6 lead.
With five minutes to half time Grens then forced their way back into the game after they swung the ball from a line out in Hudson’s half and Church joined the line at pace to burst through Hudson’s defence and score under the posts, with him then converting his own try to make the score 14-13 at half time.
Hudson came out all guns blazing in the second half and after some good sustained pressure they were rewarded when in the 40th minute their forwards set-up a monster driving maul from a 5m line out that rumbled over the line in the left hand corner with flank Danille Naidoo dotting down at the back.
The conversion was missed but Hudson did not have to wait long for another try as almost from the kick off they worked the ball wide and fullback Jarred du Plessis flew down the left hand touch line to go over in the corner, with Purcell this time slotting a very good touch line kick to extend the lead to 26-13.
In the 48th minute another big driving maul from Hudson, this time from the halfway allowed them to move deep into the Grens half, with Grens then being penalised at the breakdown on their 22m, allowing Purcell to add another three points to Hudson’s total and put them in full command.
Hudson then had a few more chances to add to their score, but some tenacious Grens defence kept them out, however with eight minutes left Grens prop Gerard Kotzee brought down a maul close to their try line and received a yellow card.
Despite being a man short Grens had the final say as with four minutes left they scored out of nowhere when they took a short 22m drop out, re-gathered and swung a bad pass to reserve wing Reginald Lefember who picked up the ball superbly on the bounce and sprinted about 60m down the right hand touch to score near the corner.
Church added the extras, with the match then ending 29-20.
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