AJ Ferreira win FNB Classic Clash

Big sports day in Upington

On Saturday, AJ Ferreira of Upington beat neighbours Carlton-Van Heerden 14-5 to win the FNB Classic Clash on a day of great festivity.

The result was a big difference from the 2004 result when Carlton-Van Heerden won 35-0.

The derby started on Friday afternoon with great fanfare with a gigantic procession through Upington. It was not just a rugby festival, for all sporting codes took part in the sports day held on the Unievelde.

The main match was the clash between the 1st XVs at 15.00 on Saturday. The teams lined up and were introduced to Mahlatse Ralepelle whom the whole of South Africa knows as Chiliboy, the star hooker in the World Champion South African Under-19 and Under-21 sides.

Then the match begun.

The rugby in the first half was tough. The AJ Ferreira forwards dominated the match and prevented Carlton-Van Heerden from putting its stamp on the game.

This power play led to a forwards' try by AJ Ferreira, scored by Godfrety van Vuuren. Fullback Henro Diergaardt converted, and the half-time score was 7-0 in the favour of AJ Ferreira.

Midway through the second half Carlton-Van Heerden scored an unconverted try when scrumhalf Jessie Isaacs went over to make the score 7-5.

The score remained thus till late in the second half when AJ Ferreira's centre Rudolph Julie dived over for a try which Henro Diergaardt converted. This brought the final score to 14-5 in the favour of AJ Ferreira.

For the losing team there were outstanding performances from flank Roswin Scott and loosehead Nathan Witbooi in the pack and amongst the backs right-wing Denver Visagie with his unbudging defence and fullback Gerald Cloete with his positional play.

AJ Ferreira's forwards loosehead Gary Jansen and hooker Franklin Titus played like stars. Amongst the backs Rudolph Julie, who played scrumhalf in this match in 2004, stood out on both attack and defence.

At the end of the match the judges named as Players of the Match Ricardo Ross, Carlton-Van Heerden's eighthman and captain, as he was in 2004, and AJ Ferreira's outside centre Rudolph Julie.

Scorers:

For AF Ferreira:
Tries: Godfrey van Vuuren, Rudolph Julie
Cons: Henro Diergaardt 2

For Carlton-Van Heerden:
Try: Jessie Isaacs

Report by Carlton-Van Heerden