White River travelled to Nelspruit Rugby Club twice this season. They returned home with a 24-16 victory in the Premier League match played on May 20 and claimed the Premier quarterfinal 24-19 on Saturday.

In the second league match between the clubs on June 25, Nelspruit scored an away 24-21 win over White River.

After 240 minutes of rugby between these two giants this season, the aggregate score is White River 69 – Nelspruit 59.

White River travel to Secunda tomorrow to face log table-topping Sasol.

Nelspruit prop, Gerhard Heunis, barged over for an early try from a five-metre line-out on Saturday. Tiaan Greef pushed the conversion wide.

Often, when two teams are evenly matched, one factor decodes the winner – hunger.

For the next 20 minutes White River ran everything at Nelspruit. They hit the home team with a blitz that not only eventually won them the match, but earned them bragging rights over their bitter rivals.

Right wing Eldred James hit back with a try shortly after the restart. The Andy Huysamen conversion gave White River the lead.

Three minutes later left wing, Johan Booysen, gleefully accepted the offload and scored after a brilliant break by fullback Chris Brigl. Huysamen converted and the visitors led by nine.

Flanker, Ross O’Mahoney created the third White River try when he cut through the Nelspruit defence and scrum half, Clive van Zyl dotted down. Huysamen was on target and in just over 20 minutes White River had gone from five points down to a 16-point lead.

Nelspruit had a mountain to climb and loose forward Francois Koch found himself on the end of a quick backline attack and scored a try. Greef made the halftime score 21-12.

Nelspruit came out all guns blazing in the second 40 minutes.

Koch found himself on the left wing this time, to polish off a back line move. Greef added the two and Nelspruit were back in the match. White River 21 – Nelspruit 19.

Nelspruit dominated territory and possession for much of the second half. The visitors’ defence was rock solid and the boys in red produced numerous try-saving tackles.

A late penalty by Tiaan Marx secured White River 24-19 win.

The match got heated at times and a few verbal and physical altercations occurred. When the ref blew the final whistle the players of the most-intense club rivalry in the Lowveld shook hands and hugged like the brothers they are. What happened on the field stayed on the field.

Almost out on their feet the two teams’ players, and coaching staff, formed a large circle on the field, shared a few words and knelt in prayer. Thanks was given for the game they love and that they can play it hard.

White River will have to play harder and better than they have before this season to beat Sasol. But Sasol can be defeated if the lads in red are hungry, very hungry.