RUGBY: Boksburg clinch bragging rights against United

A twist made the eagerly-awaited clash that much more exciting and saw the Peregrine League encounter, which was United’s home match, moved to a neutral venue at Hoërskool Elspark due to United’s home being used for a cricket match.

Both sides were fairly confident coming into the match following their respective convincing wins in the opening week of the season.

Boksburg brushed Benoni aside in a 38-10 win at Prince George Park while United got the job done with a 39-20 away win against NWU.

Back on the pitch, the respect both sides have for each other was evident with anxiety and nerves apparent as both teams were guilty of butter fingers in the early exchanges.

True to its status, the derby match, which was the first between the two sides, had all the makings of a titanic clash – the tense atmosphere, big hits and a fast-paced tempo.

Even the coaches were getting their instructions across using walkie-talkies.

United were quicker to settle into their game and they began to boss proceedings in search of the first score. The pressure they put Boksburg under eventually told as the Reiger Park outfit drew first blood with diminutive scrumhalf Linda Mono diving in the corner.

Kicker Dominique Perries failed to convert the try.

The momentum was with the home side at this stage with Boksburg seemingly rocked, and United should have extended their lead to eight but fullback Perries missed a clear-cut penalty in front of the posts.

They were made to pay soon after as the Owls equalised from a well-worked backline move led by bulldozing inside centre, Marcelle Fransman, who ran half the length of the pitch before flyhalf PJ Beukes added the finishing touches.

Perries’ boot continued to disappoint him as he missed a chance to get his side’s noses ahead with another penalty miss in front of the posts.

Matters suddenly went from bad to concerning for United as their star back, Jackie Jonkers, who worried the Owls with his strength and twinkle toes, was hauled off after being hit in an attempted backline move.

United continued to enjoy the ascendancy however, with the Owls surrendering too much ball in the breakdown and set-piece time.

The hosts however, failed to capitalise and the two teams went into the half-time break deadlocked at five-all.

The half-time team talks seemingly had a better effect on the Owls as they came out of the blocks flying.

Coach Marcell Fourie also made a change in the front row which would change his side’s scrimmaging woes from the opening stanza.

They almost scored moments after the restart sparked by Andre Malan’s brilliant solo run but United defended well.

United could do nothing shortly after as Fransman crashed over right next to the posts to give the Owls the lead for the first time in the game. Beukes slotted the resulting conversion.

Boksburg looked like a totally different side in the second half and their forwards began to bully the game, and it was United who looked overwhelmed this time.

The onslaught continued and JP Joubert found himself in a fantastic position with just air between him and the try-line but the outside back sensationally knocked-on, much to the fans’ frustrations led by ‘Ag nee JP man!’ shouts.

It was all Boksburg and replacement forward Gerhard Coetzee took the game away from United with a try later on which Beukes converted to make it 19-5 for the Owls.

As expected, United were not going to stay down and the dying minutes saw them rally and pin the Owls inside their own 22.

And their persistence was rewarded as the referee ran out of patience with repeated infringements by the Owls to hand United a penalty try which replacement back Clinton Gindan converted.

It would be too little too late however as the Owls claimed the bragging rights with the win.

“We’ll take it from here,” said United coach Derrick Sampson after the match.

“You can’t get away with always trying to run yourself out of trouble – not on this level. You have to kick and play percentage rugby; we’ll take it from here.”

A delighted Fourie said: “A win is a win, we are happy we won the derby game but we still have a lot of work to do.

“East Rand United played very well and were in our faces the whole time. I think our tight five dominated the scrums and lineouts and that set us up with a nice platform.”

The second and closing chapter of this gripping derby story will unfold and be settled at Prince George Park later this year. – @SabeloBoksburg

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