Roodepoort Rugby Club edged out by Pirates Rugby Club in entertaining Castle Lager Pirates Grand Challenge clash

Roodepoort Rugby Club’s top four hopes wobbled as they slipped to defeat against Pirates Rugby Club on June 3.

Having only lost to the university teams this season, maintaining ascendancy against club rivals was paramount. The visitors had been on form all season, going into the game second on the log with five wins from their six fixtures. Playing in their new jerseys jointly sponsored by Professional Risk Consulting and SA Debt Management and Collections, Poorte’s sleek black jerseys were ready for battle against their pace-setting foes.

Sensing the afternoon would be defined by fine margins, Poorte turned early possession into three points when they uncharacteristically opted for the poles from an attacking field possession. This pre-game summation would prove accurate as the opening quarter would see the front rows get very familiar and with each scrum the niggle between the packs grew. Neither would give an inch but Poorte would have been happier as the early penalty count just tipped in their favour.

Chancing their arm slightly, Pirates ran the ball out from their five-metre line. A clever manipulation of space got the ball to colossal winger Snez Mapaqa who broke several tackles on a destructive 80-metre-plus run to the try line. Poorte responded with another penalty before Mapaqa took advantage of a failed kick for touch, breaking the line to help gain massive yards. A cross-kick to a sparsely defended opposite flank allowed Pirates to dance across the line and extend their lead.

Poorte continued their physical and direct approach, with determined ball-carrying and strong protection of the ball around the rucks, giving Kewan Gibb a gap to crash over to cap a solid team try. Both defenses kept out continued probes, and the half ended when Dylan Mostert showed how to bring down the giant Mapaqa who could see open grass behind his Poorte opponent. Mostert was brave and the pair bundled across the touchline to bring the half to a close at 13-12 to the hosts.

Pirates looked to have begun the second half perfectly as they dotted down under the sticks but the linesman intervened and Poorte escaped with a penalty. Minutes later, Mostert dotted down unattended with Pirates players screaming for a forward pass. The niggle continued throughout the second half with the ref separating players who had fistfuls of their opponent’s jersey more than a few times.

Poorte would add another try, and Pirates would respond with two of their own, leaving the game on a 27-26 knife-edge approaching the last 10 minutes. The hard work of the previous 70 minutes would be undone as two lapses in concentration gifted Pirates the lead and eventually the 38-27 win.

“We made two mistakes in our half that enabled Pirates to capitalise and take the game away from us. It was more on our own error than anything else,” said a pensive Poorte boss Neil Kalify.

Poorte will hope to bounce back against Wanderers before the long weekend break. Still confident with the return fixtures to come, Kalify said, “The second round poses to be much better for us as we are gelling and understanding each other a lot better. Being a fairly new side, this bodes well for the future. The tournament is still wide open and reaching the play-offs is definitely obtainable. The group of players and the club is in a good space and the growth and future look bright for Poorte in general.”