WBHS, Maritzburg draw in closing fixture
The two teams reached a stalemate in the closing fixture for the term.
WESTVILLE BOYS’ High School hosted Maritztburg College on Bowden’s Field on Saturday in the closing fixture for the term.
The game was a fitting climax to what had been a week of festivities and events for Westville Old Boys far and wide who had gathered at the annual reunion weekend.
Both teams carried excellent form into the fixture with College having disposed of DHS 52-15 and WBHS gaining a similar score line against Hilton, 59-14.
Played in front of a massive crowd, the game was a tense affair from start to finish with neither team able to gain ascendancy of the other, and no quarter asked for or given.
WBHS were first on the scoreboard with captain, Kyan Braithwaite goaling a penalty in the 10th minute.
The scoreline remained until just before half time when the College fullback, Matt Kriel killed a penalty to even the scores.
The second half remained a tight tussle with neither team able to impose their playing system.
WBHS had the upper hand in the scrums, but College were ruling the line outs and it was an even score at the breakdown with both sides showing excellent rucking technique to deny turnover ball.
Braithwaite and Kriel traded penalties to keep the score line deadlocked. College were finally rewarded for a sustained period of pressure deep in their opponents half with Kriel crashing over far out.
He was unable to add to the score line but College now held the advantage. WBHS responded and launched wave after wave of attacks on the College try line.
The College defence held firm but the WBHS team were not going to give up and just before the final whistle, their tight head prop, Cody Thomas crashed over to even the scores.
Braithwaite’s conversion went wide to leave the scores locked at 11 a piece which honours even in a fantastic exhibition of schoolboy rugby between two proud teams.
