Wessies on top in Noordvaal clash, Rooi Bulle down Nico Malan
A 28–22 victory over Hoërskool Middelburg offered a glimpse of Hoërskool Wesvalia‘s potential in the forthcoming Noordvaal season.
Wessies edged out Middies in a see-saw encounter on Tuesday, the final day of the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid Tournament, in Pretoria.
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The Klerksdorp school will compete in the Plate section of the newly branded Virseker Noordvaal Cup, while the Middies have been promoted to the Cup division of the same competition.
The lead changed hands several times during a hotly contested clash, especially near the end, but Wesvalia’s Wian du Preez secured the six-point win. He took over the kicking duties from Dundré Hales and converted two crucial penalties. He also crossed the whitewash for one of his side’s four tries.
Middies’ fullback Jano Wilson kept the Mpumalanga side in contention with his boot, but Wesvalia did a good job of limiting their attack, winning the try tally by four to three and the match by six points.
In the opening fixture of the final day, Middelburg’s other representative, the Rooi Bulle of HTS Middelburg, returned to winning ways thanks to a composed display off the kicking tee by Cornelius Erasmus. He converted three of his side’s four tries, and his solitary penalty proved decisive in a 31–28 win over Humansdorp’s Nico Malan.
Jacques Greyling, a seasoned campaigner in the No.13 jersey, made a strong impact on attack. Inside him, another veteran, Nathan Jansen van Vuuren, delivered a sound defensive performance, which was vital to the Rooi Bulle‘s narrow victory.
Flyhalf Leighton Lawrence controlled proceedings effectively for Nico Malan and delivered a flawless goal-kicking display, converting all of his side’s four tries.
Fullback Masood Knowlden also played a prominent and impressive role in a brave effort from the Eastern Cape side.
Scorers:
Wesvalia 28 (12) – Tries: Damian Potgieter, Wian du Preez, Ruben de Klerk, Fanie Linde. Conversions: Dundré Hales. Penalties: Du Preez (2). Hoërskool Middelburg 22 (14) – Tries: Kgontse Masilela, Melchior van Niekerk, Siyabonga Mokgoatjana. Conversions: Jano Wilson (2). Penalty: Wilson.
HTS Middelburg 31 (14) – Tries: Reghard Blake, Ruben Kruger, Nathan Jansen van Vuuren, Jacques Greyling. Conversions: Cornelius Erasmus (3). Ruhan Jansen van Vuuren. Penalty: Cornelius Erasmus. Nico Malan 28 (21) – Tries: Masood Knowlden, Callie de Lange, Sima Ozah, Erich van Zyl. Conversions: Leighton Lawrence (4).
