Leopards too difficult to tame

Waves of attacks by Eastern Province Country Districts in the dying minutes were not enough as Leopards' defence stood the test and survived the onslaught.

As the match got going, the Leopards dominated much of the opening minutes. Their flashy footwork really put pressure on Eastern Province Country Districts.

However the Leopards struggled with the last passes as handling errors and infringements gave Eastern Province Country Districts the first opportunity of the match. Vaughen Isaacs' attempt at goal fell short and the score remained 0-0 at six minutes.

It came as no surprise when Leapords were the first on the board. From a line-out the ball was shifted wide, and a quick ball to Gerhard Fourie sent him over to score the first try of the match just a minute shy of ten minutes.

After conceding five points Eastern Province Country Districts seemed more eager to hit back, with Leopards still celebrating their success. Eastern Province Country Districts slowly built phases and from a driving maul the big Sazi Sandi bashed over  for a try between the poles.  With16 minutes on the clock Vaughen Isaacs slotted over an easy conversion, giving his team a 7-5 lead.

Five minutes later for the second time in the match the TMO was called into action. This time he needed to check if  Nathan Jordan grounded the ball, after much deliberation, the lock's name was on the score sheet. Gerhard Fourie extended the lead with his first successful kick of the match, 12-7.

Struggling in defence the try-scorer Sandi gave away a penalty inside his half and Gerhard Fourie just kept knocking over the points.

Given the nature of the match the Eastern Province Country Districts hit back immediately with the tall lanky Keanan Murray going over for his side's second try. They trailed 12-15 with four minutes to go in the first half.

Before the halftime, Eastern Province Country Districts again gave away a penalty on their 22, and Fourie made the most of the Eastern Province Country Districts mistake punishing them with the boot as he extended the lead to 18-12.

Two tries apiece but it was the Leopards who took the 18-12 advantage as they headed to the change rooms.

Similar to the first half, Leopards gave away another penalty in the second stanza. Vaughen Isaacs failed to add the early points with his third penalty of the match.

Eastern Province Country Districts' day got worse when Johan Maartens was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Portraying sportsmanship and maturity Maartens apologised to Andre Fouche  before heading to the naughty chair on the 38th minute.

The Leopard wanted to take full advantage of their 14-man opposition, but their 50/50 passes between the backs and forwards resulted in no changes to the scoreline as they held onto to a 18-12 lead in the 47 minute.

Constantly grabbing any change to run the ball Eastern Province Country Districts' fullback Chulumani Chutu had the best opportunity of the second half. He intercepted the ball in his own 22, kicked a marvellous grubber but  his second kick was too strong and sent the ball over the try-line.  

Eastern Province Country Districts kept the Leopards in their own half for more than five minutes and finally Mat Moore wasrewarded with a try to narrow the score to just one point.

The Leopards hit back with a their third try. From a line-out  Zimosa Nokama snatched up the  loose ball and rumbled his way down for the try.

Just shy of the 60th minute the Leopards extended the lead as Fourie let his boot do the talking, 26-17.

As we headed into the dying minutes, the game really looked scrappy, both sides giving away easy penalties. The referee had no choice and Rudolf Hattingh was sacrificed for his team's lack of discipline.

Up against 14 men, Eastern Province Country Districts took full advantage. Athi Halom scored a try for his team and gave them a chance to turn the game around. CJ Conradie with his first opportunity at poles narrowed the deficit to just two points.

60 seconds to play and Eastern Province Country Districts retained the ball from the line-out. They shifted it wide in the hunt of that final try. Athi Halom received the ball and was well on his way to steal a victory, but the man with the whistle, Jaco Pretorius, had the final say as he ruled the last pass forward.

The scorers:

For Eastern Province Country Districts:

Tries: Sazi Sandi, Keanan Murry, Mat Moore, Athi Halom   

Cons: Vaughen Isaacs, CJ Conradie

For Leopards:

Tries: Gerhard Fourie,  Nathan Jordan, Zimosa Nokama

Con: Gerhard Fourie

Pens: Gerhard Fourie 3

Yellow cards: Jahan Maartens on the 38th minute for dangerous tackle. Rudolf Hattingh for not being ten meter on the 63th minute.

Teams:

Eastern Province Country Districts: Francu Dreyer, Johan Maartens, Sazi Sandi, Keanen Murray, Stephanus Mentz, Lourens Oosthuizen, Johannes Odendaal, Olehile Losaba, Izak Conradie, Vaughen Isaacs, Timothy Bloem, Sibabalwe Mzanyawa, Matthew Guy More, Athi Halom, Chulumanco Chutu, Bonginkosi Ziya, Thembinkosi Mangwana, Ewan Deano Pieters, Hentus Botha, Jurgens Johanness, Jonathan Crankshaw, Reynier Frederick Meyer, Lutho Nomoyi.

Leopards: Pieter Johannes Carrol, Rudolf Johannes Hattingh, Graivian Smith, Nathan Jordan, Sosikela Khuselo, Zimasa Gerald Nokama, Christopher Kemm, Tiaan du Toit, Pierre Adriaan van der Spuy, Andre Alexander Kock, Lionel George, Yamkela Nyembe, Rassie Breedt, GJ Jansen van Rensburg, Gerhard Fourie, Stefanus Mare, Sibonile Mnyazana, Marthinus de Villiers, Andies Johannes Fouche, Sonwabile Mangaliso, Ethan Ballot, Joaqium de Jenga, Dane Cameron Booysen

Referee: Jaco Pretorius

Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Ricus van der Hoven

Television match official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans