Barberton Rugby Club will play Secunda Grip and Rip Rugby Club at Coronation Park on Saturday August 5.
The winners will be the champion club of Mpumalanga.
The Mpumalanga Premier League semi-finals were played on July 29. Secunda defeated White River Rugby Club 46-17 at Sasol Recreation Club, and Barberton beat Witbank Rugby Club 40-33 in Barberton.
By advancing to the final, both teams qualified for the 2024 Gold Cup.
ALSO READ: KNP celebrates Ranger Day
The semi at Coronation Park was a thriller. It was played at a furious pace and went down to the wire. A fanatical crowd of 1 300 watched the encounter.
Barberton scored in the second minute when a Witbank clearance kick close to their try line was charged down, resulting in a turnover ball and a try for Gerhard Engelbrecht. Robbie Malan slotted the conversion.
Malan put the home team 12-0 up with a try shortly afterwards. Barberton kicked a penalty into touch. Jaice Terblanche’s barging run created an overlap for Malan to go over.
A penalty goal by Michael Chabart gave Witbank their first points in the 23rd minute.
ALSO READ: Erik Vermaak se sagte suiwer siel nou rustig
Witbank, who started the match poorly, started firing on all cylinders and scored two tries late in the first half. Odwa Nkunjana claimed five points after numerous attacking phases, before Waldo Nelson took advantage of poor Barberton defence to score a try.
In the final seconds of the first stanza, Terblanche barged over for a try from close range, once again after a penalty into touch and an attacking line out. Cassie Jansen added the two points.
The half-time score was 19-13 in favour of Barberton.
Witbank scored first in the second half through a penalty kick by Nelson. A second barging try from Terblanche in 47th and a conversion by Jansen gave Barberton a 10-point lead.
ALSO READ: AIID releases details on pilot’s death near Ngodwana
Witbank’s Thami Zulu’s try in the 50th minute, from a classic backline attack, closed the gap to five points.
Barberton took the ball to the blindside on a five-metre scrum and Kabous Engelbrecht scored for the home team on 56 minutes. Jansen kicked the conversion.
Nkunjana claimed his second try four minutes later when Witbank caught the Barberton defence napping. Shortly afterwards Vuyelwa Khoza finished off a brilliant Witbank attack, started in their own half, to dot down a try. Nelson converted and the teams were tied 30-30 with 16 minutes remaining.
ALSO READ: Mbombela traffic cop denied bail in CIT case
With nine minutes of the game remaining, Terblanche scored his third and the match-winning try. Once again he used his power and low centre of gravity to barge through tackles and score. Jansen slotted the extra two points. A turnover resulted in a final Witbank attack. But Barberton’s nerve and defence held until the final whistle.
It was was a well-earned victory for the home team. Both teams gave their all and the players were out on their feet after the 80 minutes.
The final will kick off at 15:30 on Saturday. Spectators are requested to arrive early as a record crowd in expected at Coronation Park.
In the Mpumalanga Premier League final, Middelburg Rugby Club II will take on Sasol II at 14:00, also at Coronation Park.
