Leopards and Valke heat up cold Collard Field
The Leopards were buzzing after they got one over their old foes, the Valke, on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
Catch all the action on SuperSport Schools
The side from the North West Province held on for a 41-37 victory over their rivals in the first match of a cold second day at the 2024 Academy Week.
Matters were especially heated among the forwards as both packs took it to their opposition.
Christoff Nel, the Leopards’ openside flank, revelled in the trenches. The lively loose forward wreaked havoc in the rucks and did a fine job of disrupting the Valke’s ball.
Apart from being a menace at the breakdowns, Nel was also an impact player on defence. He was at the forefront of most of the big hits which rocked the men from the East Rand’s attacking plans. He received great support from Lichtenburg stalwart and eighthman Abrie Coetzee, who relished the physical stuff.
The Valke’s no. 8, Storm Labuschagne, showed why Dr EG Jansen‘s brain trust, led by coach Rudi Dames, rates him so highly. He must have come close to picking up his second Player of the Match award of the week.
Much like the Springboks’ Kwagga Smith, Labuschagne isn’t the biggest in stature, but he made his presence felt through his explosive runs, which twice carried him across the whitewash. He didn’t shirk his defensive duties either, delivering some crunching hits.
His efforts, however, were in vain, as the Valke came up just short of the Leopards, who withstood wave after wave of attacks to eke out a narrow victory.
The Free State Cheetahs, after a big loss to the Golden Lions in their opener, picked up a win over their “little brother”, the Griquas. Scrumhalf Bernard Wessels bagged a double as the Free Staters rolled to a 17-point victory.
Apart from outsmarting the northern Capetonians on two occasions, his quick delivery from behind a pack which had the edge over their opposition helped the Cheetahs’ backs run in four of their side’s six tries.
Griquas played some good rugby and were full of running when they created space for their speedsters at the back, with fullback Jonaden Links, especially, impressing. Their forwards enjoyed some strong forays against the Free State defence, but they lacked finishing.
A Player of the Match performance by the Griffons‘ livewire scrumhalf, Leclue Nell, saw the Purple People Easters surprise South Western Districts. He bounded over for two tries as the northern Free Staters claimed a well-deserved 34-24 victory.
Clinical performances from the Griffons’ front rankers, Francois Maree (loosehead), and Arnold Ras (hooker), laid a solid foundation for Leclue and the rest of the Griffons’ backline, and both were rewarded with tries.
SWD battled hard and kept fighting to the final whistle. Liam Lightley, who was picked as utility forward for the week, produced a classy performance and kept the Griffons’ defenders under severe pressure. He and inside centre Christiaan Vorster, who featured prominently with very physical runs in the midfield, were the side’s standouts.
SCORERS
Leopards 41 (24) – Tries: Keenan Joseph, Christoff Nel, Abrie Coetzee, Dian Smith, Tyron Masango, Katleho Seimelo. Conversions: Eduard Dreyer (4). Penalty: Dreyer. Valke 37 (24) – Tries: Storm Labuschagne (2), Damian Slabbert, Breyton Kruger, Ettienne Smit. Conversions: Ryan Smith (3). Penalties: Smith, Jean-dre Claasen.
Free State Cheetahs 42 (29) – Tries: Bernard Wessels (2), Emile McGear, Jan-Hendrik van der Linden, Phiwe Mkunjana, Tristan Maree, SW van der Merwe. Conversions: Van der Linden (2). Penalty: Okuhle Dyani. Griquas 25 (6) – Tries: Jandries Potgieter, Jonaden Links, Dohan Dege. Conversions: Abdul Fischer (2). Penalties: Fischer (2).
Griffons 34 (26) – Tries: Leclue Nell (2), Francois Maree, Arnold Ras, Ashwon Mellen. Conversions: Ethan Smith (3). Penalty: Smith. South Western Districts 24 (12) – Tries: Ruan van Rensburg, Liam Lightley, Christiaan Vorster, Virgil Pockpas. Conversions: Charles Vosloo (2).
Border 55 (36) – Tries: Liam Hansen (2), Adam Schwedhelm, Siya Madzidzela, Sbabalwe Magwebu, Qiqa Qwesha, D’Angelo Snayers, Joshua Clote. Conversions: Page Fennel (6). Penalty: Fennel. LSEN XV 28 (14) – Tries: Ethin Malgas, Bentley Stoffels, Jonga Javu, Algernon Bruintjies. Conversions: Edwill Jantjies (4).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 28 (18) – Tries: Thabang Nkuna, Siya Mahlangu, Heinrich Poolman. Conversions: JD Boshoff (2). Penalty: Boshoff. Namibia 21 (8) – Tries: Ben Mostert, Jaco Bredenhann, Josh Solomon. Penalties: Waldré Kotze (2).
Pumas 45 (21) – Tries: Banele Ngwenya (2), Roux Grobler (2), CW Hanekom, Jacques Malan, Carel Jacobz. Conversions: Alonzo Blakenberg (5). Border Country Districts 23 (8) – Tries: Lunie Singqoto, Sikho Mapukata, Ondela Thamsanqa. Conversion: Azu Magqasa. Penalties: Magqasa.
