Weltevrede win Wellington FNB Classic
Match Report
Weltevrede beat Bergrivier 12-8 at the Boland Stadium on Saturday afternoon in an FNB Classic Clash, the big Wellington derby.
There was a crowd of about 10 000 to enjoy the festive atmosphere and the thrilling game of rugby. There was music and dancing, brass bands, lots of cheering and singing and happy, happy noise. Round about the taxis buzzed, decorated in the colours of one or other of the schools, flags flying. It was cold but the rain held off. It was a special day.
The match itself was tense, as derbies tend to be, and the result could have gone either way. Weltevrede have their huge pack to thank above all for their victory. Roughly 90kg heavier than the Bergrivier pack they kept their side on the front foot and gave their loose forwards a head start. The heaviest of them all was massive loosehead Maurice September, a Gurthro Steenkamp in build. The Weltevrede pack gave their side the edge in the scrums and enabled the loose forwards to put pressure on the Bergrivier halves. Flyhalf Alzano September had a tough afternoon.
Behind the pack the Weltevrede captain and flyhalf, Christo Fransman, celebrating his birthday, controlled the match.
Jakobus Frans did his team no favours when he was sent to the sin bin for punching in the first half. There was needle in the match.
Weltevrede suffered a setback when they lost flank Dimitri Augulhas to injury. He was replaced by Jacquin Thomas.
Bergrivier had their chances, most notably two kickable penalties, one slap in front of the posts.
Both teams kicked a lot, Christo Fransman most effectively.
Bergrivier scored first when their captain and eighthman Ryan Mouton kicked a penalty goal, but Weltevrede answered with a try.
Weltevrede turned a penalthy about 10 metres from the Bergrivier line into a line-out from which they drove and hooker Adrian Williams scored a try.
At half-time Weltevrede led a narrow 5-3.
In the second half Weltevrede went further ahead with a splendid try. Christo Fransman kicked a diagonal kick which right-wing Christopher Pietersen caught. He gave to fullback Michael van Wyk and Weltevrede hurried the attack through many phases before tighthead Gilbert Absolom scored. Christo Fransman converted to make the score 12-3.
It was after this that Bergrivier missed two kickable penalty opportunities but eventually they spread the ball to the left where Wayne Mitchell stepped sharply to his right inside Christopher Pietersen and scored. He could have made the position easier for the kicker who missed the conversion.
Scorers:
For Weltevrede:
Tries: Adrian Williams, Gilbert Absolom
Con: Christo Fransman
For Bergrivier:
Try: Wayne Mitchell
Pen: Ryan Mouton
Teams:
Bergrivier: 15 Gradville Samuels, 14 Ettienne Moolman, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Jason Hendricks, 11 Wayne Mitchell, 10 Alzano September, 9 Alfonso Small, 8 Ryan Mouton (captain), 7 Elrich Pietersen, 6 Charlton Solomons, 5 Lyndall Venter, 4 Jeremy April, 3 Jakobus Frans, 2 Danzil Fredericks, 1 Karlton Pienaar.
Replacements: 16 Yonela Tuswa, 17 Silvin Fortuin, 18 Alex Bannister, 19 Jameson Jones, 20 Heinrich Ephraim, 21 Adian Fransman, 22 Mervin Gordon
Coach: Mervyn Pietersen
Weltevrede: 15 Michael van Wyk, 14 Christopher Pietersen, 13 Reginald Le Fleur, 12 Reidewaan Welman, 11 Randall Morris, 10 Christo Fransman (captain), 9 Ju-Wayne Isaacs, 8 Weazel Zealand, 7 Dimitri Augulhas, 6 Gilihano Jones, 5 John-James Kruger, 4 Evaan Rogers, 3 Gilbert Absolom, 2 Adrian Williams, 1 Maurice September (vice-captain).
Replacements: 16 John Samuels, 17 Christo-Phil Williams, 18 Lee-Roy Mitchell, 19 Jacquin Thomas, 20 Bronique Strusky, 21 Shaun Beukes, 22 Juan Williams
Coach: Rodney Cornelissen
Referee: François Veldsman (Boland)
For the preview of the match, click here.
For a general view of Bergrivier, click here.
For a general view of Weltevrede, click here.
For a profile of the Weltevrede captain, click here.
For a profile of the Bergrivier captain, click here.
