Nelspruit Rugby Club’s first team executed a remarkable second half fightback to defeat the first team of White River Rugby Club 43-25 in an Ehlanzeni Premier League match on Saturday, May 10.

Playing at Kudu Park, Nelspruit’s fans went from being almost silent at half-time to a cacophony of passionate support in the second half and post match.

It was a match of two halves, with White River dominating the first 40 minutes and Nelspruit the second. The home team offered up a lacklustre first half performance with seemingly little unity and cohesion. They seemed to be stuck in first gear.

White River started the match on fire and their pace rattled their rivals.

The visitors camped in Nelspruit’s half from the kick-off and it took nine minutes before Qhama Sinkila broke blindside from a five-metre scrum. Divan Janse van Rensburg slotted the conversion and White River led 7-0.

Nelspruit hit back shortly after the restart with Delton Thusana claiming the five points and LJ Jordaan kicking the conversion.

In the 17th minute White River centre Boeta Botha sliced through the Nelspruit defence for a try to regain the lead. The conversion attempt was off target.

The visitors extended their lead when Braam Pretorius hurtled over the try line off second-phase play after a five-metre scrum. Once again the conversion drifted wide.

With the half-time hooter sounded, Nelspruit kicked into life. Ricardo Correira dived over in the left corner after a sustained period of Nelspruit attack. Divan Spangenberg executed a difficult conversion.

The half-time score was 20-14 in favour of the men in the red-and-white-hooped jerseys.

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White River had the better of the territory and possession in the first half. They controlled the pace of the game and played well as a unit.

In the second half White River hit first. Once again Botha carved through the Nelspruit backline and Stephan Hartman finished off the five-pointer. The conversion went wide of the uprights.

The visitors held a 25-14 lead and just when it seemed they might run away with the game, Nelspruit lifted their level of play. They started dominating the collisions, playing with the aggression of men with their backs to the wall. With a remarkable united effort from every player, the home team went from bungling to bashing, much to the delight of the home faithful.

After a sustained period of attack in the White River 22m-area, Zweli Silaule barged over for a try. Jordaan nailed the conversion. Two minutes later Tristan Burglass gave the home side the lead for the first time. The replacement finished off a classic backline onslaught in the right corner. The try was not converted.

With 15 minutes remaining the score was 26-24. Nelspruit scored three tries during this period, dominating White River with pure guts and body-on-the-line attack and defence.

Jack Steyn stood up with the ball in hand after Nelspruit mauled over the line. Then Thusana claimed his second try, once again with the White River backline outfoxed.

With official match time expired, White River were camping in the home team’s five-metre area, determined for a consolation try.

The home fans were already making a noise when Spangenberg intercepted a pass and sprinted 93 metres to score. The Nelspruit fans went ballistic as the fly half tapped the conversion over.

The final score, 43-25, a fitting final result to a thrilling game of rugby.

White River’s second team thrashed the second team of Nelspruit, 45-0. The visitors also won the third teams’ match 10-0.

• Barberton’s first team defeated Malelane’s first team 70-13 at Coronation Park on Saturday, May 10. The second team of Barberton beat Malelane’s second team 29-3.