Fightback sinks Nelspruit II

First half
It was a heated match from the outset, with the first half belonging to the visiting side. But the White River seconds put on a sterling performance to come back from 15 points down at half time to clinch a 36-29 win.

Billy Botha scored for the visiting side just minutes into the first half, with Johan Swart’s conversion putting Nelspruit seven points in the lead. It was not long before Lloyd Malatji scored the second try. This time, however, Swart’s kick missed its target.

Scrappy play from both sides ensued before Nelspruit’s Mishack Fakude showed his strength and speed to put the ball down just left of the poles to bring the score to 17-0. Tiaan le Roux’s try added five more points to the score board.

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White River’s Junior Kotze scored White River’s first try close to the half-time whistle and a conversion by Ernest Mthethwa saw the first half end with Nelspruit leading by 22 points to seven.

Second half
It was like a different White River team started the second half. Although Nelspruit’s Tiaan le Roux managed a second try and the team was dominant in the scrums, White River was virtually unstoppable.

Karabo Manyaki, Bongi Langa, Henco Brink and Boeta Botha added to White River’s try tally with the young Botha, who plays for Hoërskool Rob Ferreira’s first team, scoring twice.

Junior Kotze was equally impressive with the boot.

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Pringle said he was incredibly happy with the White River’s second team performance. “I want to applaud the young second side who came back from 24-7 at half-time to win against a formidable Nelspruit side. It showed a lot of guts,” Pringle said.

This weekend’s games
Nelspruit will play their last matches against Witbank Ferros at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. The second teams will kick-off at 11:25 and the first teams at 13:15.