Nelspruit Rugby Club claimed their first victory this season in the Phakisa Premier League with a convincing 50-15 win over the Highlanders from Newcastle on Saturday.

Nelspruit were far too strong for the Highlanders, which made a 730-kilometre round trip to play the matches.

The home side started on fire and scrum half Tjokkie van Tonder dotted down from Nelspruit’s first attacking move of the match in the third minute.c Van Tonder claimed three tries in the game and played a blinder.

By half-time Nelspruit held a 29-0 lead, scoring five tries.

Wing, Dylan Sonderlund and Van Tonder scored and hooker, Jason Cornelius claimed two five-pointers. Fly half, Timothy Townsend kicked two conversions.

The Highlanders put up a spirited second half fightback and never gave up trying. Each team scored three second half tries, although the home team still dominated territory and possession.

Highlanders centre, Henrico Jacobs optimised some poor defence from Nelspruit to score first in the second half. Winger, Lunga Nyagema and flank, Lukas Erasmus also scored. All three conversion attempts failed.

Centre, Hendrik Pieter, eighthman, Francois Koch and prop, Stephan de Jager dotted down for Nelspruit. Townsend slotted all three conversions.

Nelspruit were excellent in the set pieces. Koch was a menace to the visiting team’s line-outs.
Townsend was impressive at fly half, and it will be interesting to see if he will be retained in the 10 jersey or moved back to fullback for the away match against Sasol in Secunda on Saturday..

Nelspruit played quality high-tempo rugby and thoroughly deserved the bonus-point win.

Nelspruit’s second team beat the Highlanders II, 73-38. The third team faced Belfast and lost 18-19.