12-Try Classic in Tzaneen

They are without a doubt the strongest two rugby schools in vast Limpopo. The two schools are about 100km apart.

Along the far side of the field were large bushes of poinsettias with red flowers to match the red blocks on the Ben Vorster jersey.

Both sides hit the ground running. It was a match of little kicking, lots of handling and a sense of adventure.

It took Pietersburg just five minutes to take the lead. From a scrum on their own 10-metre line, they moved the ball out to the far right where Andre Viljoen ran round on the outside to take a pass on the outside of wing Dewald Stroebel. Viljoen chipped, chased, gathered and scored. 5-0.

The most elusive player on the field was slight, speedy Jason Mulder, the Vossies' fullback. He raced down the tight and, when he was tackled, Ben Vorster kept possession and went left where tall inside centre, socks down in the Damien de Allende fashion, Heini Ferreira burst over to score. 5-5 after 17 minutes.

Mind you, left wing Shima Molepo was not far behind with his dance and acceleration. From near his own line, he burst past four on the left. The Vossies attacked wide right and went left again. The Pieties were penalised in front of the posts but on a bad afternoon for goal-kicking, the ball hit the upright and stayed out.

Erik Meintjies, the Ben Vorster flyhalf, neatly charged down an attempted Pietersburg chip, picked up the ball at his toes and reacted, pursued, 42 metres to the goal-line. 10-5 to Ben Vorster after 26 minutes.

Again Molepo got the attack going with a leap and acceleration past four defenders. A penalty gave Vossies a five-metre line-out. They made a maul with five of the backs in it and drove over the line for a try credited to tighthead Nyiko  Ntlemo. 15-5 after 33 minutes

From a line-out on their right, Pieties went left, Viljoen broke and gave to centre Jaco Mulder, who gave to Stroebel who scored far out on the left, whence Austen converted. 15-12, which was the half-time score.

Shama Manzini had a strong run on the left and again a penalty gave Ben Vorster a line-out neat the Pietersburg line. They put 13 players into the line-out and mauled. Pietersburg were again penalised and this time Ben Vorster changed their tactics. That bashed and formed a maul and then rumbled over for a try credited to Franco Oberholze, which Meintjies converted. 22-12 to the home side.

Back came Pietersburg. The ball went out to Stroebel on the left wing. He beat his man on the outside, sped ahead and then cut inside for a try to make the score 22-19.

Pietersburg had a chance to level the scores but missed the penalty kick. Instead, Ben Vorster scored. Form a line-out they mauled and then went right where Ferreira did a scissors with Mulder who put Melvin Maake in for a try. 27-19 after 48 minutes.

Substitute prop Eben van der Heyde of Pietersburg burst down the midfield. They then went wide where Stroebel streaked over to complete his hat-trick. 29-24 with 18 minutes to play.

Ben Vorster won a turnover near their own 22 and suddenly Maake was racing away, beating opponents and ending with free run to the goalposts. 36-24 with 15 minutes to play.

Two penalties in quick succession set Ben Vorster on the attack. They went left where Muzi Nyaki sent Shima Molepo in for the try that made it 41-14 with just eight minutes left.

Pietersburg were not yet done., They attacked. Christiaan Edwards tapped a penalty and Daniel Swarts cut in for the try. 41-19 with five minutes to play. It was the final score.

In this highly entertaining match, 12 tries were scored. The winners deserved the laurels but the losers were certainly not pushovers.

Scorers:

For Ben Vorster:

Tries: Heini Ferreira, Erik Meintjies, Nyiko Ntlemo, Franco Oberholze, Melvin Maake 2, Shima Molepo

Cons: Erik Meintjies 3

For Pietersburg:

Tries: André Viljoen, Dewald Stroebel 3, Daniel Swarts

Cons: Marten Austen 2

Teams

Ben Vorster: 15 Jason Mulder, 14 Melvin Maake, 13 Muzi Nyakani, 12 Heini Ferreira, 11 Shima Molepo, 10 Erik Meintjies, 9 Pieter Haasbroek, 8 Duvall Strydom, 7 Thapelo Ramoshaba, 6 Franco Oberholzer, 5 Shama Manzini, 4 CJ Erasmus, 3 Nyiko Ntlemo, 2 Bernard Vermaak, 1 Frans Pohl.

Pietersburg: 15 Martin Austen, 14 Franco du Plessis, 13 Andre Viljoen, 12 Jaco Mulder, 11 Dewald Stroebel, 10 Driaan Kruger, 9 Tiaan Janse van Rensburg, 8 Christiaan Edwards, 7 Schalk Potgieter, 6 Daneel Joubert, 5 Johan Liebenberg, 4 Werner Roets, 3 Heinrich Schoeman, 2 Sias Willemse, 1 Lohan Duvenhage.

Replacements: 16 Boeta Roux, 17 Eben van der Heyde, 18 Hardus Saaiman, 19 CC Winnertz, 20 George Buitendag, 21 Daniel Swarts, 22 JC de Beer.

Referee: Zander Kubaneck

Assitant referees: Neill Haarhoff, Ruan Willemse

Recent Results

2009: Match not finished as Pietersburg left the field

2010: Ben Vorster won 41-19

2011: Ben Vorster won 50-24

2012: Ben Vorster won 15-10

2013: Ben Vorster won 31-3

2014: Pietersburg won 33-25

2015: Pietersburg won 48-21

2016: Ben Vorster won 26-21

2017: Ben Vorster won 41-24