Peregrine League, Gold Cup dream is over
For the first time in 11 years Brakpan Rugby Club’s First XV will not run out for a Valke Rugby Union Peregrine League final.
The dream of competing again in the South African Rugby Union’s (Saru) elite community club tournament, the Gold Cup, has also now fizzled out into oblivion.
This comes after the “Panne” were dealt a 36-30 defeat at the hands of less-fancied Reiger Park outfit East Rand United (ERU) in the semi-final of the Peregrine League at Bosman Stadium on August 5.
Considering that Brakpan comprehensively defeated the same team 40-10 at Bosman a fortnight before, most rugby-lovers would be forgiven for expecting a repeat performance.
Furthermore, the Panne bounced back nicely in the league stage of the campaign to top the table on points differential over Vereeniging
But, this is rugby and anything can happen – especially in the knock-out stage. Just ask the Lions on Saturday….
The defeat means that there will not be a repeat of last year’s final between Brakpan and Vereeniging who beat Springs in their semi-final the weekend before.
ERU’s achievement cannot simply be swept under the proverbial rug either.
The club has resurged in the last few years and only returned to Peregrine League competition in 2016 after lifting the lower-tier Merlin League in 2015.
On Saturday, despite leading 13-9 at the half-time break, skipper Wikus van der Berg and his Brakpan team knew that they were in an intense battle.
The quarrels between players from both sides in the first half bore testament to the physicality and emotion of the semi-final.
It was the boot of ERU fly-half Andy Huysamen that would prove to be the difference between a spot in the final and a quiet Saturday afternoon, on August 12.
He scored a total of 21 points, including five extremely valuable penalty kicks.
Brakpan, who bid farewell to team stalwart Theo Becker (38) after the match, scored four tries on the day.
Winger Leon “Sweef” Potgieter scored a brace of tries.
Despite his best efforts the match ended in disappointment for the men in the green jerseys.
Saturday’s Peregrine League final between Vereeniging and ERU will be played at 4pm at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.
• Point scorers on Saturday were:
ERU: Tries: Clayton Gindan, Saki Klaas, Bakkies Bakumeni. Conversions: Andy Huysamen (three). Penalties: Huysamen (three).
Brakpan: Tries: Sweef Potgieter (two), Juanrich Botha, Wikus van der Berg. Penalties: Hagen Mumba (two).
Penalties: Mumba (two).
Also read:
Brakpan braced for semi-final showdown
‘Panne’ finish top of the Peregrine League again
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