Hot Classic Clash in Limpopo

It was scorching hot up in Tzaneen when locals Ben Vorster took on Pietersburg from Polokwane in their second Classic Clash – the midday temperature being in the low 30s rather than the predicted 25 degrees Celsius.

The first quarter of the match saw Ben Vorster setting up camp in their opponents’ half with a variation of pick up -and-drives, breaks around the fringes and probing kicks into the corners. Despite territorial advantage, Ben Vorster could not break the resolute defence of Pietersburg. They were put under pressure at scrum time and their line-outs were hardly functioning.

An injury to left wing Tshepiso Mahasha changed all this for Ben Vorster. With his first touch of the ball speedy replacement Surprise Mathabela made a dash and dive for the left hand corner to score the opening try of the match. With the conversion missed, Mathabela was immediately put into space again by his captain, outside centre Adriaan Maebene. Mathabela used his blistering pace and deft footwork to beat a number of defenders on the outside, running around to score his second try under the posts, barely three minutes after his first. Fullback Leroy Ndlovu converted, bringing the score to 12-0 in Ben Vorster’s favour.

The Ben Vorster forwards were now rampant and dominated the breakdowns, applying lots of pressure on Pietersburg in their own half of the field. A poor kick under pressure from Pietersburg’s flyhalf Hardus Geldenhuys ended up in the hands of 2012 SA Schools wing, Jinx Molapo, playing at inside centre on this occasion. With great strength and speed Molapo beat several would-be defenders to score out on the left, 17-0 after 25 minutes.

Soon after this the ball went out to Mathabela on the left once again, who played inside to the ever present Maebane, who threw a speculative pass over his shoulder to no one in particular. Flyhalf Andries Bruwer, who had an overall excellent game, was on hand to collect the fortuitous bounce and ran through untouched for his try. Ndlovu converted, which brought the half-time score to 24-0 and Pietersburg facing an uphill battle.

Whether it was the scorching heat, Ben Vorster simply going into a defensive mood or Pietersburg applying themselves much better, or all of this, the second half did not live up to the same expectations as the first . Pietersburg were awarded a penalty inside Ben Vorster’s half after six minutes which was duly converted by flyhalf Geldenhuys, 24-3.

From the restart Ben Vorster applied pressure on Pietersburg in their own 22 and won a turnover which was spun to the left into the hands of fullback Ndlovu who had joined the line. Ndlovu, another who had played well all day, broke several tackles in a poor Pietersburg defensive effort to score behind the posts, converting his own try to bring the total to 31-3, which turned out the be the final score.

Pietersburg played better for the rest of the second half than what the final score suggests. They had several forays deep into Ben Vorster territory only to be denied by good scrambling defence. Twice they crossed the try-line only to drop the ball before the final touch down. For them flank Vince Fibiger had an excellent game, centre Arno van Staden never gave up and right wing Pietman Pieterse had some enterprising runs.

Ben Vorster, as the final score suggests, were the better team on the day. Their pack hunted as a unit and dominated the breakdowns, with flank The Mahlo on the forefront. Scrumhalf The Maree varied his play brilliantly and dictated with his educated boot from the base. In the end it was the finishing ability of their outside backs that carried them through.

Scorers:

For Ben Vorster:

Tries: Surprise Mathabela 2, Jinx Molapo, Andries Bruwer, Leroy Ndlovu

Cons: Ndlovu 3

For Pietersburg:

Pen: Hardus Geldenhuys

By Henri Burger

Teams

Pietersburg: 15 Ruan Steynberg, 14 Pietman Pieterse, 13 Arno v Staden, 12 Jaco Retief (captain), 11 Muller Coetzee, 10 Hardus Geldenhuys, 9 Nick Enslin, 8 Juandré Viljoen, 7 Vince Fibiger, 6 Jacques de Lange, 5 JR Visagie, 4 Johan Murray (Tokkie), 3 Erick Snyman, 2 Wiaan Pretorius (vice-captain), 1 Jacques Lister

Replacements: 16 Armand Moorcroft, 17 PJ Malan, 18 Biemond Hoogenboezem, 19 Francois Rousseau, 20 Friederich Cilliers, 21 Ansten Mokgokolo, 22 Lehan Viljoen, 23 Komape Moloto, 24 Arno Maree

Ben Vorster: 15 Leroy Ndlovu, 14 Floyd Ntimane, 13 Adriaan Maebane (captain), 12 Jinx Molapo, 11 Tshepiso Mahasha, 10 Andries Bruwer, 9 Theo Maree, 8 Erik van Niekerk, 7 Christopher Durow (vice-captain), 6 Theo Mahlo, 5 CR McSeveny, 4 Nico Bezuidenhout, 3 Magau Mabokela, 2 Mitch Mametja, 1 Madot Mabukela

Replacements: 16 Mauritz Joubert, 17 Allan Mhlanga, 18 Rossouw Kruger, 19 Diederik Oberholzer, 20 B J Vorster, 21 Vukosi Mabuza, 22 Surpise Mathabela

Referee: Willie Coetzee

Assistant referees: Joe Jansen, Shaun Dennill