CC: Ben Vorster win in Polokwane
It was a glorious sunny winter's day up in Pietersburg/Polokwane on Saturday when Hoërskool Ben Vorster came down to play Hoërskool Pietersburg in their FNB Classic Clash, which the team from Tzaneen won 15-10.
The first points of the match was scored by Ben Vorster in the 23rd minute of the first half, when lively hooker Willie van Vuuren went over for a try close to the posts after a number of rucks following a line-out free-kick against Pietersburg on their own throw in. Fullback Marcel Steyn duly converted.
Pietersburg did well in defence all afternoon to contain the dangerous Ben Vorster backline, but two slip ups soon after the opening try allowed Ben Vorster in for another try.
Outside centre Don Mlondobozi, normally a wing, carved the Pietersburg defence open from inside his own half, beating several defenders with a darting run. When he was stopped close to the try-line to the left, the mobile Ben Vorster pack were at hand to win quick ball for once. The ball was spun to the right where three Ben Vorster players were up against five Pietersburg defenders, but once it reached the hands of Viljoen Dreyer out wide, there was no stopping this big, strong wing, who crashed over in the corner with three defenders on his back. Steyn failed to convert from the touchline.
Two minutes before the break Pietersburg got on the scoreboard with a penalty goal by Arno Archer. half-time score 12-3 in favour of Ben Vorster.
The second half was a dull affair. Pietersburg kept on hammering away with their bigger pack, with Ben Vorster doing well in keeping them out; Ben Vorster spun the ball wide at every occasion, just to be stopped by excellent defence. It again took a full 23 minutes of the second half before Marcel Steyn bothered the scorers with another penalty goal.
Close to the end Pietersburg launched another onslaught with their pack in a series of pick-'n-drives, and scored a try close to the posts by hard-working prop Magou Mabokela. Flyhalf Lehan Viljoen converted to bring the final score to 15-10 in favour of Ben Vorster.
From a spectator point of view the game was a rather stop-start affair, partly due to errors made by both teams mainly at the breakdowns and little room to play advantage. It was a hard-fought battle played in an excellent spirit, though, and both teams can be proud of their defensive effort.
The scorers:
For Ben Vorster:
Tries: Willie van Vuuren, Viljoen Dreyer
Con: Marcel Steyn
Pen: Steyn
For Pietersburg:
Try: Magou Mabokela
Con: Lehan Viljoen
Pen: Arno Archer
The teams:
Pietersburg: 15 Ruan Steynberg, 14 Selebale Maatli, 13 Arno Archer, 12 Jaco Retief (vice-captain), 11 Arno van Staden, 10 Lehan Viljoen, 9 Charles van der Walt, 8 Rinus Bezuidenhout, 7 Juandré Viljoen, 6 Vince Fibiger, 5 Sipho Siboza (captain), 4 Jacques de Lange, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Wiaan Pretorius, 1 Stephan Kruger.
Replacements: 16 Madot Mabokela, 17 PJ Malan, 18 Du-Rand Viljoen, 19 Villa Viljoen, 20 Friederich Cilliers, 21 Jako Ferreira, 22 Anston Mokgokolo.
Coaches: Tiaan Lee, Everard Bye
Ben Vorster: 15 Marcel Steyn, 14 Grant Pinto, 13 Don Mlondobozi, 12 Jinx Malapo, 11 Viljoen Dreyer, 10 Edri Vorster, 9 Andries Welgemoed, 8 DeWet Botha (captain), 7 Christopher Durow, 6 Awie Engelbrecht, 5 Erik van Niekerk, 4 Anton du Toit , 3 Jacques Louw, 2 Willie van Vuuren, 1 Trevor Nkwamba.
Replacements: 16 Mauritz Joubert, 17 Rudolf Boshoff, 18 Floyd Ntimane, 19 Schoeman Mynhardt, 0.Theo Maree, 21 LeRoy Ndlovu, 22 Adriaan Maebane, 23 Arno Maree.
Coach: André Hay
Referee: Danie Pita
