A gutsy second-half performance by home team East Rand United earned them a second home win on the trot in their Volcano Super Cup tie against Impala at the Graveyard in Reiger Park on July 27.
United, who were marshalled by a very busy Calvin Jantjies on the day, seemed to be in trouble after trailing 26-13 at the break with the visitors finishing as the stronger side at the end of the first stanza.
But whatever the half-time team talk was in the yellow huddle at the centre of the field, it worked with the Jantjies-led squad returning with more urgency and aggression.
They seemingly got points whenever they came close to the Impala try line whether it was from fly half Clayton Gindan’s cheeky drop goals, Cameron Rooi’s educated boot or a simply well-worked try.
United scored four tries when all was said and done to add a bonus point to their deserved win.
One of those tries, probably the prettiest of them all, was from a dazzling move involving Gindan and in-form versatile back Jackie Jonkers.
The stand-off received the ball with space to work with about 15m out in front of the Impala posts before deftly feeding an inside blind pass to the slick Jonkers; with the entire defence line of Impala fooled and parting like the Red Sea, the latter needed no second invite and dived over, leaving an easy conversion opportunity for Rooi.
Asked if the move was from practice, United fly half Gindan said: “It’s all about communication. Jackie called for the inside ball and I had to draw the defence to me to create the pass on the inside for him. We’ve done it a few times.”
Other try scorers included fullback Chris Juries, replacement front rower Brandon Harwood and Gindan – Rooi converted all of his sides tries in addition to three penalties.
Gindan finished with two drop goals as a makeshift United side showed that no one’s place in the team is guaranteed.
