United win top of the league battle against Vereeniging
East Rand United scored four tries to Vereeniging’s one to take a 34-7 half-time lead.
It was an epic return for East Rand United in the Valke Peregrine League as a first-half blitzkrieg saw them pip a quality Vereeniging side at the post in their top-of-the-table clash in Reiger Park on Youth Day.
The home side also secured their bonus point inside the opening stanza on their way to their 48-40 win.
The visitors drew first blood with a converted try but that was the last time they would cross the United scoreline in the half as United hit back as if they were making them pay for daring to score first at their ground nicknamed ‘The Graveyard’.
United was bruised and battered, physically and mentally, going into the match. They had just completed what’s been a taxing Carlton League campaign which saw them face off against teams from the Blue Bulls Union.
It was a run where Stephan Nel’s men only managed to win one game.
It apparently was not as easy as their last two games of the Carlton League indicated but it was as difficult as it was revealing and informative.
Nel has been appreciative of his side’s participation in the Carlton League, saying that it’s taught them a lot.
“You take those lessons onto the pitch and that’s what rugby is about,” said Nel.
They might have been battered and bruised, but it was a different United side compared to the one pre-Carlton League one. Their coach said they had learned a lot and his side drove the point home with the rugby they showed in the opening phase.
Kicker Cameron Rooi whom United’s offence ran through on multiple occasions, calmed some nerves after Vereeniging had taken the lead, with a converted penalty to cut the deficit to four points – it was an introduction to attracting rugby.
Moments later, the home side took the lead for the first time as scrumhalf Tiaan Ramat finished a patient, multiple-phased move to dot down near the posts. Rooi extended the lead to 10-7 with the conversion.
United was coming again, with attacks that begin deep in the pitch and orchestrated by their pacey backs – an approach that appeared to be a bother to the visitors.
Neat interchange play sent Rooi into a gap, with the outside centre slipping through multiple tackles and had lock Bakkies Bakumeni urgently shouting at him to offload the ball and the centre obliged. This then sent the lanky forward for his side’s second try that sent The Graveyard into an abuzz. Rooi converted.
Vereeniging could not stop the momentum and a yellow card received by one of their forwards moments before did not help them.
Rooi switched from provider to scorer as United extended their lead. Moments after winning the shove at scrum time and being awarded the penalty, the pumped-up home side quickly spread the ball from a ruck and Rooi finished the move in the corner.
You do not want to let the game open too much against United because there is always one Leon ‘Sweef’ Potgieter lurking. The flyer received the ball deep as his side continued to move it through the hands.
He still had work to do with a Vereeniging defender closing his angle as he approached the try-line but the end result was similar to most incidents when Sweef gets a sniff of open space ahead of him: a try.
Rooi converted and the visitors were fast heading for disaster as the gap stretched to 34-7.
The visitors started the stronger of the two sides in the second half, much like in the first as they looked to claw their way back.
And to their credit, claw their way back they did as they outscored United 33-14, showing why they’re the champions.
United’s habit of losing grip in the second half was back to haunt them – a theme prevalent throughout the season.
However, tries from United wing forward and captain Jonathan Botha and Ramat ensured that their first-half excellence was not in vain.
Ramat dotted down United’s sixth and last try with Rooi converting for the sixth time for a 100 per cent record in the conversion stakes.
Botha led the team out in the absence of first choice skippers Fanie van Staden and Calvin Jantjies – who were both out injured.
This was also a replay of last year’s final where the visitors edged United to the crown.
Scorers: United: Tries – Tiaan Ramat (2), Bakkies Bakumeni, Cameron Rooi, Leon Potgieter, Jonathan Botha.
Conversions – Cameron Rooi (6). Drop goals – Clayton Gindan. Penalties – Cameron Rooi – @SabeloBoksburg
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