HTS victorious in nailbiter

13-12.

That is what the record books will say after HTS Potchefstroom completed a hat-trick of wins in a row against their fierce rivals, Potchefstroom Boys High in the 2016 FNB Classic Clash, which went down to the wire.

Everything depended on one final kick of the rugby ball after Potch Boys High conceded a penalty when all they had to was to keep hold of possession in the dying minutes. HTS’s Corbin Henry was the man to either win it for his side or give the visitors the victory they craved.  There was a deafening silence in the stands as Henry lined up his kick. As he struck the ball, a noise erupted in the stands and grew louder with each passing second when the ball went through the upright to seal a dramatic comeback victory.

It was a sea of emotions on the field as one side cried tears of joy while the other cried tears of sadness.

Only minutes earlier, Potch Boys High were certain of victory after Inga Mfenyana scored what seemed to be a match-winning try with three minutes left – the fat lady had not yet hit her high notes, though.

Overall, it was a tight affair on the day with almost nothing separating the sides in a raging tussle for victory. College opened the scoring with a bulldozing run from Sisa Booi.

Potchefstroom Boys High enjoyed most of the possession in the first half but, thanks to good defence from HTS, could not add to their score. HTS also could not get out of the block with numerous chances going a begging, either from poor handling or decision making.  HTS crucially scored just before the half-time whistle when the ever-dependable Modise Mahlaku dived over. Henry could not convert and it went 5-5 into the break.

The second half went into much the same pattern as in the first half with both teams going at it hammer and tongs while support from the stands increased with each passing minute.

HTS gained the upper hand when a well-worked backline move resulted in left wing, Thami Mtshiselwa going in at the corner.

HTS held on to a 10-5 lead for most of the second half before Boys High hit back with their aforementioned second try. It was not meant to be for the navy blue and orange visitors, though, and they had to succumb to the ‘never say die’ attitude of the white machine on home soil.

“This win does so much for the morale of the school, team, teachers and parents. I am immensely proud of these boys,” said HTS principal, Chris de Villiers.

“I have never been so proud to be the captain of this team. We showed guts and we never gave up. This win means everything to us,” said an emotional HTS captain, Botha van der Schyff.

See the photos here: https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/14323/third-times-the-charm-for-hts-potchefstroom-in-fnb-classic-clash-nailbiter/