Semi-final sadness in Brakpan for the Valke
The Valke came back strong in the second stanza with Potgieter causing problems for the visitors.
It was a case of Friday the 13th blues for the Valke at Bosman Stadium last week.
Despite a spirited effort, the Valke were unable to overcome the Leopards in their Currie Cup First Division semi-final in Brakpan as they were downed 26-23.
Having trounced the same opposition 44-19 at this very stadium a week prior to the match, the East Rand team would have been confident going into the semi-final, but the Leopards know how to win when it counts.
They have won three Currie Cup First Division semi-finals in succession.
A solitary penalty kick from Valke fly half Warren Potgieter were the only points that the home side could muster when they headed into the break 19-3 down.
The Valke came back strong in the second stanza with Potgieter causing problems for the visitors.
He scored 18 of the Valke’s total of 23 points with a try, two conversions and three penalty kicks.
The second half was the complete opposite to the first 40 minutes as the Valke came out guns blazing. They were soon rewarded with their first try as tight head prop Andries Schutte barged over the try line.
Potgieter was on target with the conversion and narrowed the gap to nine points after just three minutes in the second half.
They continued to pressurise the Leopards’ defence and many penalties were conceded.
The Valke fly half slotted two more penalties to narrow the gap to three points with a quarter of the match still remaining.
Hearts were broken in the Bosman stands though, when the Leopards bagged the try that would eventually see them get the win even though the Valke threw in all they had in the final minutes of the clash.
Potgieter crossed the ‘whitewash’ and converted his own try, but the Leopards held on to their three-point lead to get the important victory.
Point scorers:
• Hino Valke: Tries: Andries Schutte and Warren Potgieter. Conversions: Potgieter (two). Penalties: Potgieter (three).
• Leopards: Tries: Loftus Morrison (two), Juan Language, Gene Willemse. Conversions: Gerhard Nortier.
Also read:Â Â Cheers for 70-year-old Valke Rugby Union
Ankers sluit rugby liga op ‘n hoë noot af
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