Rooi Bulle on top in Middelburg FNB Classic Clash
In what was a highly entertaining FNB Classic Clash that saw the Rooi Bulle beat Middelburg High 29-16 to maintain their strangle hold on their rivals.
HTS made the best possible start to the game when they got the first points on the board through a try by their scrumhalf Rowan Gouws and he converted his own try to hand the hosts a 7-0 lead. This lead was cut by three when Middies flyhalf Jacques Bruce knocked over an early penalty to narrow the margin to 7-3.
The Rooi Bulle got their second try when wing Allen Muller went over for his first of three tries in the 14th minute of the match.
A bit of poor discipline from the visitors meant that Bruce could keep his side in with a shout in the second-half of the game after HTS lead 17-3 at half-time.
A try for Middies through wing Bennie Mashabane brought the score to 17-10 and along with two more penalties from the boot of Bruce it was a one point game.
The pressure on the Rooi Bulle seemed to spark them into life and they oushed hard and scored two more tries from Muller and took the game out beyond doubt and HTS, seeminly, cruised away to a 29-16 win.
Scorers:
HTS Middelburg 29 – Tries: Allen Muller (3), Rowan Gouws. Conversions: Gouws (3). Penalty: Gouws. Middelburg HS 16 – Try: Bennie Maschabane. Conversion: Jacques Bruce. Penalties: Bruce (3).
The teams:
Hoërskool Middelburg: 15 Lunga Mahlangu, 14 Jan Wieger-Wijma, 13 Ruben Fourie, 12 Christo Meyer, 11 Bennie Mashabane, 10 Jacques Bruce (vice-captain), 9 Xander Kritzinger, 8 Louw de Waal, 7 Joubert du Toit, 6 Hansie Naudé, 5 Uys Ehlers, 4 Christopher van Leeuwen, 3 Dewald Pretorius, 2 Henru Joubert, 1 Willem Steenkamp (captain).
Replacements: 16 Reinier Pienaar, 17 Willie Botha, 18 CJ Pretorius, 19 Dylan McKechnie, 20 Francois Middel, 21 Phillip Grobler, 22 Jan Cornelius, 23 Vusi Blaauw, 24 Zothane Ngcobo, 25 Thulane Mkhonto.
HTS Middelburg: 15 Ruan du Plooy, 14 Allen Muller, 13 Lourens Basson, 12 George Fritz, 11 Jan Rens, 10 Lohan Bennett, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Christo de Jager, 7 Waldo Morris, 6 Willandré Kotzenberg (captain), 5 Michael Basson, 4 Petrus du Busson, 3 Stephan Liebenberg, 2 Nelius Smit, 1 JP Zaayman.
Replacements: 16 Ruan Groenewald, 17 Kyle van Aswegen, 18 Kyle Brits, 19 Chris Robbertse, 20 Stephan Enslin.
