Brakpan trounce United 52-35

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Following a close first half where the visitors led 31-27, they turned on the style in the second before running United out of the gym in their own backyard at the The Graveyard in Reiger Park for a 52-35 win.

United flyhalf Andy Huysamen kept United afloat with a total of 25 points including two tries and such stats would normally earn most teams the ‘W’ instead of the ‘L’ – but the champions were too strong for the hosts.

The match entered a painful-to-watch, stop-and-go phase in the latter part of the second half as Brakpan camped in United’s half. United’s ill-discipline, especially in the breakdown, made matters for Stephan Nel’s men more difficult as the referee nailed them time and again.

United finding themselves on the wrong side of most of the referee’s calls seemed to blow the wind out of their sails and frustrations began to boil over to the bench as every whistle was accompanied by a question from the yellow and green faithful.

That, however, can’t deflect from the class shown by the champions as United chased green jerseys for most of the second half. Brakpan dominated most, if not all, facets of the game and their direct game from their bigger, taller backs had United with no answers as they ran through almost at will.

Asked to share his thoughts and his takeaway on the game, United mentor Nel said: “I know this is becoming a cliché but we were far the better team. The referee was blatantly against us. This is my first time saying such about a referee but he was against us. We were unlucky.

“With the first round now over, we have to keep the discipline, we’re going to have to make sure we get everything right 150% and just keep the discipline.”

Outside midfielder Waylon Thompson and super sub Tiaan Ramat scored the other tries for United as they scored a total of four for a bonus-point loss.

The second team beat the visitors 25-10 after the U-21s coasted to a 52-17 win. – @SabeloBoksburg