Bishops run home
A titanic second-half effort saw Bishops claw their way back from a 5-19 half-time deficit to beat desperately unlucky visitors Boland Landbou 29-25 in 36 degree heat on the Piley Rees field on Saturday 12 April 2014.
The first 35 minutes saw a succession of Keystone Cops-like slapstick handling mistakes by the home pack, some of whom inexplicably managed to find themselves amongst the backs, but, when this was sorted out, the locals produced the goods, outscoring their guests 4-1 in the try stakes.
The tone for the first half was unfortunately established by the Platinum Blues in the opening exchanges when an inside offload from their kick-off went astray with the try-line beckoning.
The Farmers duly counterattacked, only for a kick-ahead to be touched down. Minutes later the visitors also succumbed to knock-on fever as both sides demonstrated a willingness to swing the ball wide at every opportunity.
The Bishops defence needed some quick thinking and deft jinking by captain and fullback Gerard Pieterse to rescue them after more backline defensive bungling, after which Landbou came dangerously close to a touchdown via a powerful drive by No.8 Slabber le Grange.
The home side were, however, penalized for going over the top at the ensuing ruck, giving scrumhalf Jondré Williams the opportunity to slot the penalty. (Bishops 0 Boland Landbou 3 – 12 minutes)
The scrumhalf struck the post twice in the next five minutes after the home forwards were penalized for hands in at a ruck and the backs were blown up for obstruction.
It took a fine break by Jesse Wilensky to get the local supporters on their feet.
Quick, slick handling between the outside centre and the ever-dangerous Pieterse saw the latter offload to left wing André Manuel on his inside for the flier to score near the posts. Pieterse muffed the conversion, but the home side were ahead. (Bishops 5 Boland Landbou 3 – 21 minutes)
The Platinum Blues’ supremacy proved to be very shortlived as lively Boland outside centre Carlton Fortune snapped up a loose ball and sidestepped his way past a bemused defence to score at the posts. Williams converted. (Bishops 5 Boland Landbou 10 – 26 minutes)
Matters went pear-shaped at an unhealthy rate as Williams punished three indiscretions by the home forwards in quick succession as the half drew to a close. (Bishops 5 Boland Landbou 19 – 30 minutes)
The first period ended with a promising Bishops move coming to naught when the tireless Wilensky found himself isolated after a searing solo break. Half time: Bishops 5 Boland Landbou 19.
There was early evidence of a water-break tongue-lashing when ever-alert No.8 Mervano da Silva, the Man of the Match, tested the visitors’ defence soon after the resumption.
The next try was thankfully not long in coming, Pieterse scything through the visitors’ backs in trademark fashion before passing inside again for Manuel to double his try tally on the day. The left wing added the conversion himself. (Bishops 12 Boland Landbou 19 – 39 minutes)
The Platinum Blues were brimming with confidence and it came as no surprise when Wilensky drew the cover defence to send right wing Keenan Jacobs away. Confronted by the Landbou full-back, he calmly chipped the ball over the defender’s head, gathered his kick and dived over. Manuel leveled the scores from the tee. (Bishops 19 Boland Landbou 19 – 45 minutes)
It seemed like the bad habits of the first half were set to make a return when the home pack were penalized twice in as many minutes for ruck infringements, enabling Williams to restore the Farmers’ lead. (Bishops 19 Boland Landbou 25 – 50 minutes)
As the Windmeul Warriors grew in confidence, so their tight forwards, in particular loosehead Bertus Smit, started coming to the fore with some bullocking runs.
The home forwards’ best drive as a unit actually came from a messed up move from which they quickly recovered. It was from this platform that the victory-clinching try came, breathtaking handling setting up the deserving Wilensky for a well-deserved five-pointer. Manuel’s conversion took the home side back in front. (Bishops 26 Boland Landbou 25 – 64 minutes)
The visitors duly threw everything into a concerted attack, but the honour of completing the scoring fell to Manuel who converted a penalty right on the final whistle.
Final score: Bishops 29 Boland Landbou 25.
Although they scored four text-book Bishops tries, Bishops were lucky to take this one, but that said, you do have to make your own luck sometimes. When that backline gets going, bigger sides are going to sit up and notice.
Landbou looked very well-drilled all round, but couldn't break the Platinum Blues’ backline spell.
Ironically the win can largely be ascribed to the superhuman efforts of two players who would not normally feature in the capacities they filled today. Mervano da Silva’s speed at No.8, where the flank was filling in for Saud Abrahams, and Wilensky’s determination at centre, in the berth usually filled by the injured Cornel Smit, were major factors in this great fightback.
Let's hope Bishops can just keep on running smoothly!
By Tony Stoops
Photograph by Steven Riches
