Tight draw in Graaff-Reinet FNB Classic
Match report
One of the hardest encounters seen between these two traditional rivals in the 115th game played on Saturday in a FNB Classic Clash ended in a 16-16 draw.
Carl Bezuidenhout, flyhalf and captain, playing his last game for Union, opened the scoring with a penalty early in the first half to give Union a 3-0 lead.
Volkskool opened their scoring with a well executed try by left-wing Ruzeed Baartman after he had followed a well-placed up-and-under on Union’s fullback who made a mistake and could not gather the high ball. Lock Li-Ré de Beer made no mistake with the conversion.
Following Volkskool’s try, Union scored an exact replica of the try by Baphiwe Mfundisi who scored his 13th try of the season. Bezuidenhout made no mistake with the conversion for Union High to lead 10-7.
Li-Ré de Beer of Volkskool managed to convert a penalty late in the first half resulting in the teams going into half-time at 10-10.
The game resumed at a furious pace in the second half with play moving from end to end.
Players who caught the eye throughout the game were flank Etienne Terblanche of Volkskool and eighthman Robert Meintjies of Union who were relentless in their efforts throughout the game.
Volkskool managed to secure a six-point lead in the second half with two penalties by Li-Ré de Beer, and this put Union under intense pressure. They rose to the occasion and once again Carl Bezuidenhout showed why he was chosen for the Craven Week side. He levelled the score with two well taken penalties, the latter being in the dying seconds of the game.
In a classic encounter, the two sides ended in a 16-16 draw. The last draw between the two close rivals was in 1992.
Scorers:
For Union High:
Try: Baphiwe Mfundisi
Con: Carl Bezuidenhout
Pens: Carl Bezuidenhout 3
For Volkskool:
Try: Ruzeed Baartman
Con: Li-Ré de Beer
Pens: Li-Ré de Beer 3
The Teams:
Union High: 15 Ricardo Maqabangqa, 14 Baphiwe Mfundisi, 13 Gary Bosch, 12 Gerrar Maya, 11 Thabiso Bitterhout, 10 Carl Bezuidenhout (captain), 9 Gareth van Niekerk, 8 Robert Meintjies (vice-captain), 7 Tyran van der Struys, 6 Pierre van Schalkwyk, 5 Jared Strydom, 4 Tex Wormald, 3 Zuko Rabula, 2 Gareth Light, 1 Samora Japhta
Coach: Fanie Bezuidenhout
Volkskool: 15 Wessel Kapp, 14 Phil de Klerk, 13 Dominique Simmons, 12 Human Nieuwenhuis, 11 Ruzeed Baartman, 10 Philippie Wolfaardt, 9 Riaan Landman (vice-captain), 8 Fanie van der Merwe, 7 Etienne Terblanche, 6 Herman Kemp (captain), 5 Li-Ré de Beer, 4 Kalie van Heerden, 3 Jacques Barnard, 2 Adriaan Botha, 1 Albert Kemp
Coach: Neil Schreuder, S Vermeulen
Referee: Phillip le Roux (Boland)
