SPORTS: Highlanders enjoys a winning weekend
It was a good rugby weekend for the Boschpick Newcastle Highlanders.
It was a good rugby weekend for the Boschpick Newcastle Highlanders.
Of the four matches played at the Arbor Park Grounds at the weekend, local teams enjoyed three victories and one draw.
The weekend kicked off with two matches on Friday night.
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Facing Buffaloes on home turf as part of the Northern KwaZulu-Natal League, Highlanders won both its matches by 80 points to 12, and 36 points to five respectively.
Head coach, Andre Swanepoel said Janri Barnard (left wing) stood out.
“After a few weeks off with an injury, he played well in his first game back with Highlanders.”
Jason Furi (scrum-half) also impressed management, while notable forwards were Junior Barnard (openside flanker) and captain, Collen Ndlovu (eighth man).
Saturday began with a victory for the second team.
Highlanders II pulled off a solid win against White River Rugby Club in a Pumas Premier League encounter, with the scoreline a narrow 32 to 26.
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Swanepoel said the lead changed many times during the game.
“Highlanders managed to hang in at the end to pull off a great win.”
Telly Ngobese (fly-half) had a welcome return to club rugby, and enjoyed good support from captain, Piglet Zulu (scrum-half).
Wynand Pelser (eighth man) was the pick of the forward pack.
He stood in at the position and enjoyed a cracker of a match, while props Herman Peterse and Geran van Zyl piled on the pressure during scrum set pieces.
This was the first match back for Ferrari Hadebe (left wing) after injury.
Swanepoel said he never missed a beat, repeatedly outstripping the opposition defence and even scoring the winning try.
“In the main game of the weekend, Highlanders I drew 22-all with White River, after trailing 10-12 at half time.”
White River took a 12-point lead in the first quarter, but the gap was quickly closed with a runaway try from Shakes Mbatha (blindside flanker) and conversion by Wandile Nkosi (fly-half).
Nkosi then slotted a penalty kick to close the gap at the break.
In the second half, Highlanders exited the shed guns
blazing, creating numerous opportunities and was unlucky on two occasions to not score.
The first try was nullified after a pop pass was deemed to have been forward.
Swanepoel said Louis van Niekerk (openside flanker) then lost control of the ball crossing the opposition try line.
“We created scoring opportunities for ourselves but will have to look at finishing these off. Once an opportunity is lost in this league, you won’t get that chance again. Luckily for us, we drew the match.”
The Highlanders forward pack did well in the lineouts and scrums, thanks to good general play by Wessel Botha (tighthead prop) and Boela van Rooyen (replacement prop).
Lappies Labuschagne (eighth man) was a worthy man of the match.
Of the backline, Charles Dube (fullback) played his first game for Highlanders and scored the deciding try which led to the match being drawn.
Telly Ngobese also played as fullback in the second half.
“He slotted in well and kicked a conversion under pressure to take the match to a draw.”
Highlanders next travels to Secunda this weekend, to take on the reigning champions on its home turf in Mpumalanga.
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