Triumph over Highlanders sees Vryheid through to the final
"Newcastle took advantage of playing against 14 men for 10 minutes and managed to score two tries, to have the score at 17 - 15, with only 8 minutes of game time left."
VRYHEID Rugby Club hosted the Newcastle Highlanders for the Semi-Final of the Junior Murray Cup at Cecil Emmet on Saturday.
Premier Division Highlanders were in full strength against N-KZN 1st Division Winners at Vryheid Rugby Club.
A penalty-riddled match kicked off with two early penalties against Highlanders. Vryheid could not capitalize on these two quick opportunities to the poles, with kicker Juan Booyens narrowly missing both.
In the sixth minute, Highlanders scored an opportunistic ‘chip-and-chase’ try by their speedster wing after catching Vryheid snoozing.
Highlanders dominated the set scrums in the first half, putting Vryheid under a lot of pressure to play their usual running rugby.
Juan Booyens and Chris van Rooyen scored a try each with a conversion from Booyens, to secure the lead at halftime with 12 – 5 to the boys in maroon.
Star player Francois Webb, controlled every aspect of the lineouts, mastering five steals on opposition lineouts and securing 95% in his own.
Khumbulani Khoza’s devastating runs had the Highlanders grasping at air, as Khoza scored a run away try in the 50th minute.
Vryheid repeatedly offended, not being 10m from a quick penalty tap and Emile van Rooyen was shown a yellow card.
Newcastle took advantage of playing against 14 men for 10 minutes and managed to score two tries, to have the score at 17 – 15, with only 8 minutes of game time left.
Francois Scheepers managed a 50m penalty kick through the posts before the final whistle went, turning the tables on the visitors and adding to the points, leaving the final score at Vryheid 20 – 15 Highlanders.
Vryheid will subsequently advance to the Junior Murray Cup final in Durban this upcoming weekend, August 19, playing in their third final this year.
Game stats:
– Points scored 2017: 644
– Points against 2017: 231
– Top try scorer: Sticks Mbatha 22 tries
– Top points scorer: Francois Scheepers 116 points
– Vryheid has only lost one game this year in the league, against Hillcrest in the Dewar Shield final at Kings Park.
– Vryheid will face Hillcrest again in the final of the Junior Murray Cup in Durban on Saturday.
