Gimmies just win Classic Clash
It was a tense FNB Classic Clash in old Potchefstroom when the Gimnasium played the Volkskool and the Volkies came back from the mire of defeat to the brink of victory and then to fall behind and still come close to victory.
It was an excellent match.
Gimmies were favourites and looked to be cruising to victory after two tries, a conversion and a penalty put them 15-10 ahead.
But spirited Volkies came back and late in the second half went into a 17-15 lead. But then Gimmies' centre van der Westhuizen scored the try that won the match though the result was only decided when Volkies missed a difficult penalty in the last act of the match.
No wonder there was a big and excited crowd of over 5 000.
The match was moved from Volkies to the Fanie du Toit Stadium at Pukke.
Gimmies, whose forwards were dominant, attacked with force and a short pass to big flyhalf SJ Janse van Rensburg took a short pass less than a metre from the line and crashed over under the posts. He converted and then added a penalty.
Gimmies' second try was spectacular. The attacked down the right with hooker Llewellyn Bezuidenhout leading the way. They bashed and then went wide left where outside centre Marnus van der Merwe had the speed to outpace the coverdefence and score far out.
Renier Barnard, the Volkies' left wing, had the kicking duties and he goaled a penalty from 37 metres out and five metres in from touch to make the score 15-3.
Gimmies struck back and SJ Janse van Rensburg was stopped just short of the line. A penalty relieved the pressure eon Volkies.
Gimmies were penalised for a top tackle. Volkies tapped and flank Kobus van Breda burst over for a try. 15-10.
Gimmies looked rattled when they kicked off directly into touch and Volkies looked eager as they lined up their backs directly behind the scrum only for Garann Kriek, the Gimmies' scrumhalf, to get the ball.
After this play went back and forth. Volkies won a Gimmies' line-out and Kobus van Breda charged. Wide out on the left substitute Nikkie Heunis got over for a try as Marnus van der Merwe tackled him. From far out Renier Barnard converted and – lo and behold, Volkies led 17-15.
Gim came back on the attack and Gerhard Steenekamp burst for the line, Felled by Dandré Viljoen, the eighthman popped a pass to inside centre Wicus van der Westhuizen scored what proved to be the winning try.
With a minute to go Gimmies were penalised after a line-out. The kick was 42 metres out and five metres from touch. It was just short and Gimmies cleared over their dead-ball line.
Gimmies had won.
Scorers:
For Gimmies:
Tries: SJ Janse v Rensburg, Marnus van der Merwe, Wicus van der Westhuizen
Con: SJ Janse v Rensburg
Pen: SJ Janse v Rensburg
For Volkies:
Tries: Kobus v Breda, Nikkie Heunis
Cons: Renier Barnard 2
Pen: Renier Barnard
Teams
Potchefstroom Gimnasium: 15 Eddie Schoeman, 14 TJ Kotze, 13 Marnus van der Merwe, 12 Wicus van der Westhuizen, 11 Keanu van der Merwe, 10 SJ Janse van Rensburg, 9 Garann Kriek, 8 Gerhard Steenekamp, 7 Jan Welgemoed, 6 Gert Ungerer, 5 Eldrick Jordaan, 4 Marcel Burger, 3 Koos van Staden, 2 Llewellyn Bezuidenhout, 1 Gideon Hugo.
Replacements: 16 Janko du Plessis, 17 Carloux Ueckermann, 18 Otto van der Westhuizen, 19 Ulrich Boshoff, 20 Heinrich Coetzee, 21 Jacques Jacobs, 22 Stefan Jordaan, 23 Kabelo Mogotsi.
Potchefstroom Volkskool: 15 Dandré Viljoen, 14 Michael Tolmay, 13 DJ White, 12 FC de Beer, 11 Renier Barnard, 10 Vendré Fourie, 9 JB du Plessis, 8 Ruan Nel (captain), 7 Kobus van Breda, 6 Roche van Aarde, 5 Jandré Dreyer, 4 Albert John, 3 Luaan Kruger, 2 Ryno Visagie, 1 Hercus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Ernst Hall, 17 Paul Hattingh, 18 Anré Kotze, 19 Gordon Volschenk, 20 Charles Louw, 21 Roehan Strydom, 22 Tommie le Roux, 23 Nikkie Heunis, 24 Zander Kleynhans.
