Owls need to step it up against Brakpan
The margin for error has been totally wiped out for the Owls following the loss, leaving their two remaining games of the round-robin phase as must wins.
Title contenders Vereeniging completed a comfortable 31-7 victory over TW Boksburg at Prince George Park on July 7.
Lock forward Mandré Bouwer scored the solo consolation score for the home side as the visitors proved too strong. Henry Pike converted.
The pattern of the game depicted one that the Owls have struggled to correct throughout the campaign: competitive in the first-half and petering out in the second.
Francois Erasmus’ men were again competitive in the first stanza – before going to the half-time break trailing 14-0.
This is an impressive scoreline considering the opponents.
But, unsurprisingly, Vereeniging scored the bulk of their points in the second stanza as a mixture of questionable fitness levels and discipline flaws saw the Owls capitulate before the visitors ran away with it for a bonus-point win.
The last games against Brakpan are back-to-back fixtures, with the first scheduled to take place this Saturday (July 21) at Prince George Park. The reverse fixture will be at Bosman Stadium next week (July 28).
United lie in the fifth position behind North-West University, and should they squeak into fourth, which is the last play-off spot, they would likely have to travel to Springs for the first semi-final against the log leaders.
Owls captain, Willem Botes, had the following to say: “I know I say every week that discipline cost us but once again, it did, and it was just as if we couldn’t finish. Some guys weren’t switched on.
“This means we will have to put a lot in against Brakpan at home and the weekend after at their home ground.”
Scorers:
TW Boksburg: Tries – Mandré Bouwer. Conversions – Henry Pike – @SabeloBoksburg
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