Nico Malan mutes Marlow challenge
Blitz Nico Malan wing Reagan Stone collected a brace of tries to help his team register their second win in a row over their Nxuba rivals Marlow Agricultural, in Humansdorp, on Saturday.
The home team led 14-0 at the break and, although Marlow got on the board through a penalty try, the result was never seriously in doubt as Nico Malan, led by impressive No 8 Pietman Kleinhans, powered over for two more tries to win 26-7.
Both sides were guilty of errors, but this particularly stymied the efforts of Marlow, whose attacking moves were often stunted by those mistakes.
It was a day of celebration for Nico Malan, who added the victory to their 31-27 win of 2024 after previously suffering six defeats in a row against the Wolramme.
Marlow started strongly and was quick to move into Nico Malan’s 22, earning a penalty and a lineout five metres from the line.
But, in a scenario which became all too familiar during the match, they knocked on at the lineout and Nico Malan were able to run their way out of trouble.
With flyhalf Leighton Lawrence dictating matters for Nico Malan with his astute tactical kicking, the Humansdorp side opened the scoring from a five-metre lineout.
Hooker Janu Janse van Rensburg got on the end of a pass to drive his way over the line, with Lawrence adding the conversion.
In the 22nd minute, Nico Malan flank Neil Lategan broke through for a tremendous run deep into the Marlow 22. After the hosts recycled the ball, an excited Stone called for possession and simply outpaced the cover defence for a brilliant try, also converted by Lawrence.
Marlow narrowed the gap to seven points after the break when Izak Steyn initiated a move from a scrum near the halfway line.
His great run down the blindside saw him offload to scrumhalf Gian Steyl, and he threw an inside pass, but an early tackle by Nico Malan saw the referee having no hesitation in awarding a penalty try.
However, despite coming under pressure at scrum-time, Nico Malan took a grip on the match, and they were not about to relinquish it.
In the 42nd minute, a handling error gave the home team a scrum on Marlow’s 22 and Kleinhans broke brilliantly to the right for Stone to again outstrip the defence for another memorable score.
That pair was again involved in a move as Stone cut through the defence and Kleinhans took the ball up to near the Marlow line.
From a tap penalty five metres out, burly prop Waldo Krige fought his way over the line to score under the poles, ensuring that the bragging rights remained with Nico Malan.
In other matches, Brandwag faced spirited opposition from Westering, but eventually took control of the contest to cruise to a 53-24 triumph, while Pearson was pushed all the way by Muir College before prevailing 21-14.
SCORERS
Nico Malan 26 (14) – Tries: Janu Janse van Rensburg, Reagan Stone (2), Waldo Krige. Conversions: Leighton Lawrence (3). Marlow 7 (0) – Tries: penalty try.
