Northerns target Sasolburg in Merlin semi-final
As part of a dominant home pack, Man of the Match Roets was a tower of strength in both the tight and loose phases and regularly pilfered opposition ball at the breakdowns, offering their speedy outside backs and centre pairing the freedom to run into space.
The Benoni Northerns first rugby team booked a home semi-final with a 57-17 victory over Meyerton Knights in their Valke Merlin League clash at Northerns last weekend.
The Benoni outfit now has their radar set on third-placed Sasolburg, their semi-final opponents this Saturday (4pm kick-off). Table-topping Nigel will be up against fourth-placed Meyerton in the other semi-final tie.
Northerns, who remained unbeaten at home, outscored their opponents by nine tries to three, with flanker Marco Roets and skipper and eighth man Andries Kuhn both crossing the opposing try line twice.
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As part of a dominant home pack, Man of the Match Roets was a tower of strength in both the tight and loose phases and regularly pilfered opposition ball at the breakdowns, offering their speedy outside backs and centre pairing the freedom to run into space.
“Our opponents weren’t great in terms of a strength versus strength match-up, so they managed to disrupt our structure and rhythm at times, which led to some scrappy passages of play,” commented Northerns coach Herman de Beer.
In the knowledge that their semi-final place was secure, the Northerns coaching staff employed a rotational policy to conserve key players and guard against possible injury.
Coaches de Beer and Richard Blignaut have turned Northerns’ fortunes around this season after a succession of poor campaigns, and believe their charges are capable of going all the way.
“As a former Benoni player it was distressing to see how the club was struggling and we realised we desperately had to revive the club’s fortunes to keep Benoni on the club rugby landscape,” added de Beer.
“We sat down with the management and literally started from scratch to build a competitive unit and the team spirit is now understandably on a high.”
Hampered by injuries and illness to key players, Northerns went down 31-19 to Sasolburg in the first round, but romped to a 50-5 victory on their home patch.
Benoni Northerns 57 (31): Tries (9) – Marco Roets (2), Morné Labuschagne, Andries Kuhn (2), JP Brider, Takkies van Staden, Jeff Geral, Jacques Carelse. Conversions (6) – Geral. Meyerton 17 (5): Tries (3) PC Pretorius (2), Kyle le Roux. Conversions (1). Man of the match – Marco Roets (Benoni Northerns).
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