Valke fight back but fall short
CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: It looked as if Boland, leading 36-12, were on the way to comfortable victory when the Valke came flying back with 19 unanswered points, the last coming with time already up. It made for a dramatic finish.
It was not a match of great continuity with many penalties at tackles , mainly for “no clear release”. Like much of the other rugby, the game depended on flashes of individual brilliance rather than skill teamwork.
Contrary to the game’s trend, the first try from teamwork as from a scrum, eighthman Joshua Smith gave to flyhalf Nathan Engelbrecht who forced his way into a half-gap and gave an excellent pass to Bradley Alexander who raced on a diagonal to score in the left corner, Left-footed Engelbrecht converted from touch. 7-0 after 14 minutes.
When the Valke scored it was a brilliant solo effort. Left wing Tylon Kotze got a pass about five metres inside his 22. He ran straight down the left touchline, past two feeble attempts to tackle and scored.
The next try was also a solo effort. Just inside the Valke half, Wynand du Plessis, a hooker playing flank, took a short pass and sped down the middle of the field for a try as Geran Morris tried a last-metre tackle.
A penalty by Engelbrecht made it 17-5 at half-time.
Boldwin Hansen was on for Boland at the start of the second half. He kicked downfield. Valke kicked back and Hansen grabbed the ball and his chance. He raced 50 metres, past five defenders and scored under the posts. 24-5, just a minute into the second half.
Boland scored a sweet try early soon afterwards. From a scrum they went right and Keane Galant, up from fullback, put a little grubber behind the defence. In a flash Engelbrecht snatched the bouncing ball and scored in the right corner. 29-5.
Penalties gave the Valke an attacking lineout. They mauled but Boland kept them out. They went wide right and then wide left till it took a step by captain Franco Enslin to be over in the left corner. Kyle Potgieter converted from touch. 29-12.
Boland attacked, the referee played advantage and Roann Jansen burst over for a try. 36-12 with still 20 minutes to play and the Valke fought back.
Potgieter broke, Gregory carried it on and Enslin went round to score near the posts. 36-19.
A succession of penalties say Valke bashing at the line and Boland defending manfully till Potgieter did an elaborate dance to beat two and score from close quarters. 36-24 with five minutes to play.
Back came the Valke but they were held up over the line. By the time the scrum started, time was up but Enslin picked up, charged through three defenders and scored his hat-trick of tries – his second in two matches.
Scorers
For Boland:
Tries: Bradley Alexander, Wynand du Plessis, Nathan Engelbrecht, Roann Jansen, Boldwin Hansen
Cons: Nathan Engelbrecht 4
Pen: Nathan Engelbrecht
For Valke:
Tries: Tylon Kotze, Kyle Potgieter, Franco Enslin 3
Cons: Kyle Potgieter 3
Teams
Valke: 15 Geran Morris, 14 Lucas Mdluli, 13 Heine Flooks, 12 Franco Wagener, 11 Tylon Kotze, 10 Kyle Potgieter, 9 Jason Gregory, 8 Franco Enslin (captain), 7 Juandré Odendaal, 6 Hope Ngoy, 5 Christiaan Visser, 4 Nyiko Nkanyani, 3 Kabous Bezuidenhoudt, 2 Kyle Pepler, 1 Sonwabo Maseko
Replacements: 16 Barnard du Plessis, 17 Ntokozo Hlope, 18 Mango Ngundue, 19 Ofentse Malawa, 20 Thabang Malone, 21 Excellence Enwerem, 22 Frederick Malgas, 23 Abrahan Masoeu.
Boland: 15 Keane Galant (captain), 14 Hugo Mostert, 13 Roann Jansen, 12 Bradley Alexander, 11 Jaydin van Wyk, 10 Nathan Engelbrecht, 9 Gilton Mangena, 8 Joshua Smith, 7 Wynand du Plessis, 6 Danel Franse, 5 Tarek Smith, 4 Renier Viljoen, 3 Albert Bruwer, 2 Marcel Pheiffer, 1 Benicio Kampher
Replacements: 16 SJ Herholdt, 17 Tiaan Hechter, 18 Ferninn Arendse, 19 Gysbert du Preez, 20 JP van der Westhuizen, 21 William Baron, 22 Boldwin Hansen, 23 Wayne Plaatjies
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira, Philip Kotze
Television match officials: Lourens van der Merwe
