Great try wins for Leopards

The Leopards came from behind to beat the promising Eastern Province Country Districts side 27-20 in the second match of the second day of the Craven Week in East London.

In fact the Leopards came from behind twice in the match, the first time to win the first half and the second time to win the match.

Eastern Province Country Districts played with the strong wind in the first half and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory as they went into a 13-0 lead. Their first scorer was a penalty by centre Hanro Louw and then they got and excellent try as left wing Brian Skozana rounded the Leopards fullback with little between him and the touch-line and scored. Louw converted and then kicked a second penalty. 13-0 after 16 minutes. It took another 28 minutes before they scored again.

The Leopards had a powerful pack with two massive props in the van, Bees Strydom and John Ross Jackson. Gradually they powered their way back into the game and earned their team a majority of possession.

Their first try was an intercept. Eastern Province Country Districts were attacking when Janus Jonker latched onto a long pass just as it reached its target and he raced over under the posts. Drehan Marais converted, and this seemed to rock the Eastern Province Country Districts while breathing life into the Leopards.

From a line-out on the left the Leopards came charging through in phase after phase, each one powered by quick ball till left wing Johan Meyer, around on the right, stepped inside Skozana and then Akhona Matutu to score under the posts. 14-13.

That was the half-time score though Eastern Province Country Districts had a great chance to score when Ettiene Swarts raced down the right wing. Reohm van Zyl tackled him into touch but the tackle was high and there, twice, the Leopards were penalised five metres from their line but they suffered a turnover, as they did often, later fatally.

With the wind the Leopards dominated territory but Eastern Province Country Districts were first to score. It was a brilliant try that started from a mark by Matutu near his own line on the right. They went left with brilliant hands a great pass by Roco Gouws and a splendid run by rangy lock Grant Prior till Skozana sped over for his second try. 20-14 after 44 minutes.

Marais then kicked two penalty goals to make the score 20-all.

On about the half-way line the Leopards won a turnover and immediately went wide to their left where a great pass by Van Zyl put Meyer into the clear for his second try at the posts. 27-20.

The Eastern Province Country Districts attacked after a chip by Swarts was carried back but they lost the head at the five-metre scrum and the Leopards own.

Scorers:

For Leopards:
Tries: Jonker, Meyer 2
Cons: Marais 3
Pens: Marais 2

For Eastern Province Country Districts:
Tries: Skozana 2
Cons: Louw 2
Pens: Louw 2

Teams

Eastern Province Country Districts: 15 Akhona Matutu (Adelaide Gimnasium), 14 Ettiene Swarts (Cradock), 13 Hanro Louw (Marlow), 12 François van Straaten (Marlow), 11 James Price (St Andrew’s), 10 Roco Gouws (Marlow) (captain), 9 Garnett van Reiner (Gill), 8 Jerome Williams (Cradock), 7 Peet Coetzee (Marlow), 6 Erhard Terblanche (Marlow), 5 Grant Prior (St Andrew’s), 4 Chris du Randt (Marlow), 3 Jade Bowls (Graeme), 2 Adriaan de la Rey (Marlow), 1 Bernard Buchner (Marlow), 16 Wicus Deysel (Cradock), 17 Robin Murray (St Andrew’s), 18 Reagan Mekwena (Middelburg SS), 19 Liberatus Rara (Burgersdorp), 20 Mzukusi Nontoyi (Adelaide Gimnasium), 21 Brian Skozana (St Andrew’s), 22 Jamien Booysen (Gill)

Leopards: 15 Reohn van Zyl (Schweizer-Reneke), 14 Phemeulo Moipolai (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 13 Janus Jonker (Rustenburg), 12 Charles Hitchcock (Lichtenburg), 11 Johan Meyer (Klerksdorp), 10 Drehan Marais (Gimmies), 9 Jaco Verwey (Rustenburg), 8 FG Fouché (Rustenburg), 7 Ernie Strydom (Volkies), 6 Henry Koekemoer (Vryburg), 5 Molotsi Bouwer (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 4 Robbie Rawlins (Rustenburg), 3 Bees Strydom (Vryburg), 2 Johan Smit (Volkies), 1 John Ross Jackson (HTS Rustenburg).
Replacements: 16 Paballo Moapi (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 17 Werner Koekemoer (Vryburg), 18 Lesego Thomas (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 19 Welile Ntozaka (Carlton Jones), 20 Lehlahanolo Lephalletse (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 21 Macdonald Monyaki (Potchefstroom Boys’ High), 22 Khotso Leepile (HTS Potchefstroom).

Referee: Richard Ingram