Rooi Bulle lock horns with Garsies
What a match! In it 67 points were scored and just one point separated the two sides at the final whistle, HTS Middelburg beating Garsfontein 34-33.\It was Garsfontein's first defeat of the season.
The match was a semifinal in the Tuks-reeks. That means that the defending champions will go on to play Dr EG Jansen in the Final on 10 May 2014 after the Boksburg side beat Nelspruit 24-15. Earlier this year EG beat HTS 38-26.
The sides each scored five tries and it was the Rooi Bulle's determination in the second half (and the boot of flyhalf Omo Bennett) that got them through. Garsies scored with our minutes to go to come within a point n and then came back on a frantic attack that met with frantic defence, and the defence won.
HTS led 10-0 early in the first half but two converted tries put Garsies 14-10 up and then they added a third try. But back came the Rooi Bulle with two tries in quick succession to lead 20-19 at the break – a one-point lead.
In the second half Garsies scored a try and then the Rooi Bulle scored two tries and led 34-26. The try just before the final whistle took the score to 34-33. The end was agonisingly tense as Garsies attacked. HTS were penalised in front of the poles but somehow, the kick went astray and the Rooi Bulle had won.
Whew!