Shaky Ikeys grab opening draw
The Ikey Tigers got their 2010 Western Province Super League campaign off to a shaky start with a 40-40 draw at Helderberg on Saturday.
In the final analysis, the losing Varsity Cup finalists did well to grab the draw – and the three log points – but they will be kicking themselves for starting so badly; as they leaked three tries inside the first 25 minutes, forcing them to play catch-up rugby.
However, the Ikeys played a better second half where they dominated territory, but Helderberg scored two long-range tries to lead by 40-33 with a few minutes to go. In the end, it came down to a last-minute UCT try, and a touchline conversion, to claim a 40-40 draw.
Helderberg, having revamped their style of play to a wide running game, caught UCT off-guard in the opening minutes and raced into a 7-0 lead.
UCT put some phases together and got on the scoreboard with a Doug Mallett penalty, but Helderberg struck back again with a second try to lead 12-3 within the first ten minutes.
The Ikeys were lacking the structure that made them such a force in the Varsity Cup, which played into the home team’s hands – but they eventually managed a try of their own, after a great individual effort by the lethal Therlow Pietersen (pictured, above).
Whilst the UCT forwards put a lot of pressure on Helderberg’s lineouts, forcing a number of errors, as well as winning two strong tightheads in the scrums, they were a bit off their best in open play and not disciplined enough in enforcing the gameplan.
Helderberg kept finding gaps in a uncharacteristically shaky UCT defence and took the score past the 30-point mark at the break. Young winger Paul Cohen – in his first league start – finished off an overlap after a well-executed move and Pietersen then crossed for his second try before also setting up a score for No.8 Sam Peter.
At 23-32 down at half-time, UCT were by no means out of it and the second half was more dominant for the Ikeys, as the home team began to tire and the visitors played smarter rugby by moving the ball into opposition territory.
But Helderberg struck back again with a try following great interplay by their backs out of their own 22. UCT worked their way back into the home side’s dangerzone, but made far too many unforced errors which took a lot of pressure off the defence. Again, Helderberg managed to score out of their own 22m line, following a turnover, and that made the score 40-28.
Eventually, however; it was lock Don Armand – who had an outstanding game – who finished off a move after a classy off-load by Marcel Brache (playing at inside centre) to bring UCT back within reach at 33-40, but the conversion was wide – like most others on the day.
The final few minutes were one-way traffic, but UCT could not get past the determined home defence.
With time almost up, however, speedster Cohen rounded a tight forward out wide to score on the touchline and it came down to the Marcel Brache conversion to clinch the draw and three points.
UCT’s scorers:
Tries: Pietersen 2, Peter, Armand, Cohen 2
Cons: Mallett, Brache
Pens: Mallett 2
The Ikey Tigers team: 15 Therlow Pietersen, 14 Pete Haw, 13 Mark Esterhuizen, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 Paul Cohen, 10 Douglas Mallett, 9 Stu Commins, 8 Sam Peter, 7 Enoch Panya, 6 Zandy Macdonald, 5 Bodo Sieber (captain), 4 Don Armand, 3 Grant Kemp, 2 Matt Page, 1 Ash Wells.
Replacements: 16 Mark Goosen, 17 Wes Chetty, 18 Levi Odendaal, 19 André Goosen, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Matt Rosslee, 22 André Coetzer.
Other WP Super League results (on Saturday):
Maties 31 Villager’s 8
SK Walmers 44 Victorians 15
Durbell 45 NNK 13
