Highlanders snatch last-minute win over league leaders
Highlanders seal dramatic 29-26 victory over Witbank with 80th-minute penalty, keeping play-off hopes alive.
The Newcastle Boschpick Highlanders pulled off a dramatic 29-26 victory over table-topping Witbank in front of their home crowd on Saturday, thanks to a last-minute penalty slotted home in the 80th minute.
With the scores locked at 12-all at half-time, the game there for the taking, and both teams delivered a nail-biting encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
It was a slow-burning start, with neither side scoring for the first 20 minutes.
The Highlanders eventually broke the deadlock to lead 7-0 thanks to Henk Booysen (19) who scored a try under the poles.
This was followed by flyhalf Wikus Coetsee (10) extending the advantage to 12-5 before Witbank equalised shortly before the break.
The second half saw a seesaw battle, with both sides trading blows.
Despite Witbank’s size advantage, it was the Highlanders’ agile backline that proved decisive.
Mnelisi (12), Minnie (13), and Coetsee (10) showcased dazzling footwork and blistering pace, stepping their way into space and keeping Witbank’s defence under constant pressure.
A key turning point came in the scrums, where Daniel Harforthy moved from hooker to loosehead prop (2 to 1), helping the Highlanders build momentum and ultimately earning a crucial scrum penalty in the dying moments of the match.
Minnie (13) kept his composure under pressure to slot the match-winning penalty, sealing a stunning comeback win.
Standout performances included Giraffe (8), who gave it his all throughout, and Henk Booysen (19), who impressed in his return from a serious injury.
Kheswa (6) proved to be a livewire around the park, while Max (18) and DJ (20) made a significant impact off the bench.
In a forced change just before kick-off, Lwazi (9) was moved to fullback (15) and performed admirably.
Dube (21) started at scrumhalf and delivered one of his finest performances for the club.
Points scored:
- Tries: Minnie (13), DJ (20), Booysen (19), Coetsee (10)
- Conversions: Minnie (2)
- Penalty: Minnie (1)
The Highlanders now have one final league match this coming Saturday against struggling Middelburg.
If they secure a win, they will finish third on the league log—a strong end to a hard-fought season.
The Highlanders II side also faced Witbank II and, despite a 17-27 loss, showed significant improvement from their first-round 74-0 defeat in Witbank.
“The future looks bright for the second team, which is mostly made up of young players, with just one or two older gents in the mix,” said their coach.
Highlanders II finished their league campaign in a commendable third place on the log.
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