Mighty Brakpan send Boksburg packing
Valke Peregrine League log leaders Brakpan Rugby Club ended their Boksburg counterparts’ season with a whopping 54-20 semi-final victory at the Bosman Stadium on a chilly Friday evening, July 29.
The Owls, who came in the fixture as overwhelming underdogs, gave credit to their semi-final appearance with a brave first-half showing, matching and keeping their favoured opponents at bay for much of the opening half before the home side found its devastating rhythm.
With 30 minutes of rugby played, Boksburg were in a dream position with a 13-7 lead before a game-shaping 10-minute period where the ruthless defending champions scored four tries without response to take a 33-13 half-time lead.
Brakpan picked up from where they left off in the second half and added three more touchdowns to put the result beyond doubt.
Pride was all that was left to be played for the visitors with the game heading to the end and they again showed flashes of brilliance in the last quarter, with some exciting play which surprised the champions in the second half, but the match was all but over.
Consistent Owls kicker PJ Beukes scored one of Boksburg’s two tries on the night with Chris Venter dotting down for the other. Beukes converted both tries and added two penalties from the boot.
Quizzed on the defeat, Owls coach Marcell Fourie, who guided the Owls to the play-offs in his debut season as coach, had nothing but praise for the defending champions in his brief soliloquy:
“Brakpan is a well-oiled machine that is running on all cylinders.”
Brakpan will meet Vereeniging in a repeat of last year’s final at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. Vereeniging knocked out Springs in the other semi-final in a 39-25 triumph. – @SabeloBoksburg
