Nelspruit to host Middelburg in semi-finals
It was a vicious battle played at a frenetic pace at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday.
The home team hosted White River in a quarter-final of the Protours Mpumalanga Premier League. The boys in blue and gold won the thrilling match 31-17.
Nelspruit scrummed exceptionally well against an excellent White River pack.
The home side were slow out of the starting blocks and the well-organised White River team scored first when scrum half, Junior Kotze, broke through the defence. Eldred James converted.
Nelspruit took control of the game after wing, Dylan Sonderlund, dotted down a try which Tjokkie van Tonder converted.
Tries by Tiaan le Roux, Wilmaure Louw and Jos de Jager followed. Nelspruit’s Jos Stander and White River’s WF Kotze were both yellow-carded after showing a bit of exorbitant aggression towards each other.
White River’s only other first half points came from a superb 50-metre penalty kick by James.
Nelspruit held a deserved 26-10 lead at half-time. White River could not match the Nelspruit’s quality of play. If the second half was going to be the same, it was to be a comfortable win for the home side.
In the second 40 minutes White River played with their hearts on their sleeves. They showed tremendous determination.
Nelspruit stretched the lead to 31-10 after Sonderlund scored his second try early in the half.
Shortly after White River’s never-say-die warrior, hooker Christiaan Labuschagne, barged over for a try. Lance Smith added two points.
In the last 13 minutes of the half, the visitors relentlessly attacked the Nelspruit try line. Both teams pushed their bodies beyond the limit as Nelspruit repelled wave after wave of attack.
It was thrilling club rugby at its best. The rival teams held nothing back.
The team wearing the famous red-and-white hoops can be particularly proud of Labuschagne, whose courage kept him going long after his body needed a break.
Nelspruit finished the match with 13 men after Tiaan le Roux and Stephan de Jager were yellow-carded for professional fouls late in the game.
Nelspruit held on for the 31-17 win and the score line was an accurate reflection of the match.
In the other quarter-finals, Middelburg destroyed Ferros 82-14 and will travel to Nelspruit on Saturday for the semi-final.
