White River Rugby Club advanced to the second round of the North Section of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup with a hard-fought 42–39 victory over Louis Trichardt Rugby Club on September 26.

The match was played at White River Rugby Club.

The match was riddled with unforced errors from both teams, but this did not take away from the thrill of a close, high-scoring match.

11 tries scored

The home side put the first points on the board through a penalty goal from Divan Janse van Rensburg in the fourth minute.

The first try was scored by Lindo Dladla. Louis Trichardt won a line-out and mauled 20m to score. Louis Fourie slotted the conversion.

White River were on the attack from the restart and Nico Liversage scored a try that Janse van Rensburg converted to regain the lead.

Janse van Rensburg extended the lead with a penalty goal on 25 minutes.

Three minutes later he delivered a deft chip kick which was collected by Jacques Larkins who offloaded to Andeon Pringle to score a try. Janse van Rensburg nailed the conversion.

Fourie scored a penalty goal on 36 minutes.

Joubert Willers barged over the try line for White River and Janse van Rensburg added the two points after the half-time siren for a 27–10 lead.

Louis Trichardt fight back after half-time

Louis Trichardt were a much-improved team in the second half. They attacked from the restart and after numerous phases in the White River 22, David Madiwana powered his way over for a try in the 47th minute. Fourie added the conversion.

Louis Trichardt’s Jayden Da Gama was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the 48th minute. The visitors hit again soon afterwards.

Alfonse Mavara ran the ball from his own 5m line to over the halfway line. He passed to Duncan Moodie who offloaded to Ali Sefole to dot down.

Louis Trichardt had scored 12 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half and White River were on the back foot. White River could not capitalise on their one-man advantage. The only points the home team scored in the next 10 minutes were a Zain Christians penalty goal.

White River held a 30-22 lead with 23 minutes to play.

Justin Hugo scored for Louis Trichardt in the 59th minute, with Fourie adding the two points. White River hit back with a try started by Nico Liversage in his own half and finished by Andeon Pringle. Christians kicked the conversion.

On 69 minutes Thabang Masalesa won the race to a chip kick off the boot of Jerome Koekemoer and scored in the left corner for Louis Trichardt.

Seven minutes later Drikus Greeff dotted down for White River thanks to a brilliant inside pass from Liversage.

The home team led 42–34 with four minutes left to play. Ruan van der Schyff scored a try for Louis Trichardt after the siren, but it was too little, too late.

White River had secured a deserved 42-39 win.

Brakpan host White River in next round

Nelspruit travelled to Northam Rhinos on Saturday for their first-round Gold Cup match. The home team won 62-7.

Brakpan Rugby Club will host White River in the next round of the competition on October 3 at 16:00.