The 35-34 epic, in favour of the Brakpan team, will long be remembered in local rugby circles for its sheer physicality and lightning-quick pace.
If there was any team that could make things tough and throw a spanner into the works of the “Panne’s” goals of winning the league and qualifying for the Gold Cup, it was Vereeniging.
That proved to be the case on Saturday.
In the opening twenty minutes of the clash Brakpan’s influential captain Francois “Bones” Robbertse’s men were cruising along well after establishing a 15-0 lead through an unconverted try from bullish hooker Ian Oosthuizen, a penalty from fly-half Gido Horn and a converted try from tighthead prop Jason Arundel.
Their opponents retaliated soon after to catch the Panne defensive structures napping and to open their account with a converted try.
Inside centre Christo Joubert then stretched Brakpan’s lead to 22-7 with another try (converted by Horn) courtesy of some strong running and good passing phases.
Vereeniging had a player sent off but still managed to dot down for their second try (which was unconverted) just before the halftime whistle sounded.
With Brakpan leading 25-12 at the break and Vereeniging a player short, the story seemed to be playing into the former’s favour, but, in a top-level community club rugby final nothing is ever cast in stone.
Vereeniging pounced early in the second half to score in the corner and take the score to 25-17.
Waves of attacks continued thereafter and Brakpan’s tacklers found themselves fighting hard to keep Vereeniging at bay.
The playing field was levelled for ten minutes when Oosthuizen was sent to the sin bin and this is when Vereeniging capitalised.
They slotted a penalty and added another try to take the lead (27-25) for the first time in the match
The Vereeniging faithful went into a state of pandemonium when they stretched their lead even further, to 34-25, with another converted try.
It seemed that they were on their way to an unlikely come-from-behind victory until Oosthuizen, back on the field and in the thick of things again, bulldozed through to score a vital five-pointer.
Horn slotted the subsequent conversion and the game was headed for an exciting conclusion at 34-32.
The fly-half then held his nerve to seal the deal for Brakpan with a clutch penalty that gave his team the win by a single point.
VIDEO: Clutch penalty seals the Valke Peregrine League trophy for Brakpan Rugby Club
After the match, a delighted Robbertse praised the Vereeniging team for showing incredible character despite being down to 14 men for the bulk of the match.
He also heaped acknowledgement on his players for braving the Vereeniging onslaught and for holding on for the narrowest of wins.
A relieved club chairman, Harry Nieuwenhuis, said that the club had a huge point to prove after SARU announced earlier this year that Brakpan would have to qualify for the Gold Cup again despite winning the 2015 Valke Peregrine League title.
“I told the boys after the match that we have made history, because we have basically qualified twice for the same competition.
“We have a few things to prove in the Gold Cup now.”
LISTEN to the chairman talking to The Herald after the final:
Vivian Lottering, president of the Valke Rugby Union, was mightily impressed with the performance of both teams in the final.
“It was like Test match rugby,” he said.
“I am extremely excited about the future of club rugby in the Valke and more specifically the future of these top two clubs.
“They dished up rugby that was nerve-wracking, hard and unbelievably fast.”
Lottering added that Brakpan are “going to rock some boats” in the Gold Cup.
The team will take a week’s break before preparations begin for their first Gold Cup fixture against the Western Province league champions, False Bay Rugby Club, who won that league for the first time since 1972.
They will meet at Bosman Stadium on September 17 at a time still to be confirmed.
CLICK HERE for a full GALLERY of images from the final.
