Wamkelekile, Welkom
Too close as UCT stages 'miracle' fight back in tussel with Woodstock
26 August 2002Which is why the team's game against Woodstock on Saturday, August 17 was such an important one. According to club administrator, Spencer King, it was a last chance for the side to get their season on track again.
Things did not go well for most of the first half, however, the team trailing 0–22 until just before half-time.
This included two intercept tries by Woodstock, as well as one by a Woodstock centre who got the ball behind his own goal line, broke through some weak UCT tackles, and then covered the length of the field to touch down for a five-pointer.
A penalty-try right on half-time brought some relief for UCT (7–22), but the side definitely looked the worse for wear as they took their drinks.
In a "miracle comeback" (King again), the students – eventually 14 of them after flyhalf Grant Kolseky got his marching orders for taking a swing at an opponent – scored three more tries in the second-half to Woodstock's one. Two came from flank Dan Palm, while hooker Adrian Hewlett scored the other.
Emulating the eleventh-hour efforts of the Springboks in their tussle against the Wallabies on the same afternoon – a topic of much conversation on the sidelines – wing John Bradshaw once again came to the aid of the UCT party with a try in the corner to give his team a belated 29–27 advantage.
Woodstock, stunned by the UCT ascendancy, failed at two dropkick attempts and wasted a late penalty as they tried to reclaim the lead.
Needless to say, the ale flowed freely at the evening's double celebration at the UCT Rugby Club.
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