Waterkloof just too Good
Menlo, bless them, scored last. The match as a contest was over by then but it did at least show the Menlo spirit to keep going to the end.
Menlo, playing with the wind, threw into the first line-out near half-way but Klofies won the ball and then went wide right where their attacking phases developed an attack. They went right a few times with Gideon Peters close and then went far left where PJ Krugell, their main try-scorer this year, dawdled over for a try which flyhalf Ulrich Maritz converted from far out. 7-0 after 2 minutes.
Menlo went on the attack and when Klofies were penalised at a maul talented scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde, who had an excellent match, goaled. 7-3 after 6 minutes.
Waterkloof's scrumhalf raced down the left on counterattack, Menlo lost a player to the sin bin, and Klofies had an attacking line-out. They went wide right and this time it was the turn of the right wing, Sean du Plooy, to have the overlap and score. 12-0 after 16 minutes.
Menlo's attack this time went close. In fact it went over the line but they were held up and settled for a second penalty's three points. 12-6 after 21 minutes.
Menlo tapped a free kick but Jandré Pretorius intercepted and the ball went first to Du Plooy and then wide left to Krugell who scored his second try, 17-6 after 23 minutes.
A penalty gave Menlo an attacking line-out. They threw deep, mauled and hooker Dewald Pienaar scored their first try. 17-13 which became 20-13 when Maritz succeeded with a penalty attempt and eventually, after another Van der Linde penalty, 20-16 at half-time.
Menlo were in the game, but it seemed that not having the wind in their sails made life hard for them as in the second half Klofies scored 26 points to their seven scored well after the 35 minutes for the half were up.
As in the first half, Klofies scored almost immediately. They kicked off, the ball was loose, they got it and out it went to Krugell who completed his hat-trick. 25-16 after 36 minutes.
Klofies came back on the attack with backs and forwards interpassing till Peters cut back off a scissors and scored. Maritz converted. 32-16 after 39 minutes. They had scored 12 points in four minutes.
Waterkloof attacked from a scrum, Peters chipped to the left and Krugell scored his fourth try. 39-16 with 12 minutes to play.
Waterkloof's hunger for the ball did not let up. They tapped a penalty but knocked on. Menlo put the ball into the subsequent scrum and Waterkloof won a brilliant tighthead for a try by Snyman, which Maritz converted. 46-16.
In the last hurrah of the match Van der Linde broke sharply and then found eighthman Divan Venter who charged, fell, got up and scored. Van der Linde converted.
Scorers:
For Waterkloof:
Tries: PJ Krugell 4, Sean du Plooy, Gideon Peters, Giovan Snyman
Cons: Ulrich Maritz 4
Pen: Ulrich Maritz
For Menlopark:
Tries: Dewald Pienaar, Divan Venter
Cons: Bernard van der Linde 4
Pen: Bernard van der Linde 3
Teams
Waterkloof: 15 Gideon Peters, 14 Sean du Plooy, 13 Jandré Pretorius, 12 Ruan Allers, 11 PJ Krugell, 10 Ulrich Maritz, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Ewan Visser, 7 Wikus Lindeque, 6 Gustav de Jager, 5 Ruben Kotzé, 4 Wihan De Beer, 3 Gerrit Visser, 2 Ruben Veldsman, 1 Bradley McGeer
Replacements: 16 Eckard Boshoff, 17 Jason Hattingh
Menlopark: 15 Arrie du Plessis, 14 Dirk Thuynsma, 13 Dylan Nyscchen, 12 Enrique Grobler, 11 Wian Nel, 10 Niel Rhoode, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Divan Venter, 7 Marcelle Mombers, 6 Benhard Adendorff, 5 Justin Sadie, 4 Jeandré Ferreira, 3 Jaco Britz, 2 Dewald Pienaar, 1 Lukas Klopper
Replacements: 16 Hannes Brezuidenhoudt, 17 Barry Viljoen, 18 Ruan Nel, 19 Wikus Jansen van Rensburg, 20 Jeandean Kruger, 22 Tristan Horak, 23 Kumon du Preez
