Points galore in Panne’s win over ERU

Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XV scored a half-century of points for the second successive weekend when they defeated Reiger Park’s East Rand United (ERU) 50-37 away from home on Saturday, June 3.

The “Panne” travelled to the Boksburg township looking for a third win in five matches in the Valke Rugby Union’s elite Peregrine League.

Brakpan went over the opposition try-line on eight occasions while ERU touched down four times.

Six of those tries came courtesy of Brakpan’s tradition weapon, the rolling maul.

With so many new faces in the Brakpan first side it seems that the team is slowly starting to find an identity and a winning mentality.

“We were welcomed back at Reiger Park with their usual coffin-and-graveyard fanfare that obviously had, like in the past, no effect on Brakpan at all,” said Harry Nieuwenhuis, chairman of Brakpan Rugby Club.

“Our first team is growing by the week and we are extremely optimistic after this game.

“Our forwards destroyed ERU and that was shown by the guys who scored tries, with only two of the eight tries coming from the back line.”

Veteran lock Theo Bekker, prop Arra Jordaan, lock Dalton Botha, flanker Rooies Nel and flanker Raymond Herron all crossed the line from the forward pack while backs Tabu Tau (scrumhalf) and fly-half Gido Horn added the other two.

Horn kicked six conversions (12 points) on the afternoon.

The match ended the first round of Valke Peregrine League fixtures for the season.

The second round commences when Panne, who find themselves in third position on the log, host Boksburg Rugby Club tonight (Friday, June 9) at the Bosman Stadium.

Matches will be played at these times:

• The u-21 side will play at 6.30pm on Bosman’s B-field, the Lilywhites (second XV) will play at 6.30pm on the A-field and the first teams will play at 8pm on the A-field.

Peregrine log standings to date are: 1 Springs 24 points, 2 Vereeniging 17 points, 3 Brakpan 15 points, 4 Boksburg 11 points, East Rand United 6 points, NWU-Vaal 0.