Benoni still in semi-final contention

Benoni Rugby Club’s first team produced a gutsy performance against the heavy yet mobile forward pack from Vereeniging, on Saturday, July 13, at Hoërskool Hans Moore’s grounds.

The visitors looked dangerous up front and it was a long day for Benoni’s first XV to keep them at bay.

Benoni’s first try came through Juandre Naude, who scored after 28 minutes, following a good backline move that saw him dot down in the corner.

Mornay Rossouw slotted the resultant conversion and later added a penalty to take the score to 10-0 in Benoni’s favour.

Vereeniging bounced back and scored a converted try and a penalty just before half time.

When the second half commenced, the teams remained deadlocked at 10-10.

Benoni found some good rhythm and put a lot of pressure on the visiting team and Rossouw soon put the hosts into the lead with a long range penalty in the 68th minute.

Vereeniging went over the Benoni try line two minutes later, with the Vereeniging pack driving over right under the posts.

With only 10 minutes to go it seemed like Vereeniging were going to get the result in this match, but, in the 76th minute, Benoni received a penalty 10m from the try line and, in a bold move, backed their own pack and went for a set move.

They drove over the line for Hercules Janse van Vuuren to score the winning try.

This win keeps Benoni in the running for a semi-final spot in the Merlin League, with four difficult away games to come.

Flanker Juan Pieters had an outstanding game in the loose and continually stayed in the faces of the opponents, taking the Man of the Match award.

The league will continue on August 3, as the Valke host the Platteland Series at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park for the next two weeks.

Two Benoni players, Joshua de Necker and Takkies van Staden, will represent the Valke team in the series.

Benoni will travel to Vereeniging for the return match in the league on August 3.

In the other results, Benoni’s second team were beaten 29-11 by Vereeniging and the u-21s lost 12-10 to Vereeniging.

The second team started their game very strongly and had an 11-0 lead at half time, but, in the second half, Vereeniging took control of the match to win 29-11.

Steven de Beer scored Benoni’s sole try on the day and also took the Man of the Match award.

Etienne van Staden slotted two penalties and the u-21s were unlucky to lose their game.

Jacques Dorfling and Henk Liebenberg again led from the front and Carel Botha also had a good game at full back, going over for Benoni’s only try after a good backline move.

Henk Liebenberg was the Man of the Match for the u-21s.