Normally when a big match is up-coming in any sport, apart from fans wanting their respective team to win, everyone normally has one feeling in common – that the match lives up to its high expectations.
This, of course, is not always the case as the fear to lose sometimes takes first priority.
Fortunately for those in attendance at the Barnard Stadium on August 18 for the Valke Peregrine League final between Springs and East Rand United, this was not the case.
The match rightfully and understandably enjoyed an eventful build-up which in turn heightened provincial rugby lovers’ expectations to an all-time high.
And boy did the clash live up to its billing.
After trailing 19-15 at the half-time break, Springs overturned the deficit to edge it 35-32 to be crowned champions.
Before their respective semi-final clashes against Vereeniging in United’s case and Boksburg in Springs’ case, the two sides had finished first and second on the log when all was said and done.
Springs amassed 55 points from their overall 12 outings, just two more than United.
Both sides had lost just one game each and that was against each other, further highlighting how closely matched they are.
Their equal strength showed during the final in a match that had everything those who bared the freezing weather on the day, could’ve asked for.
Both teams went for it from the first whistle until the last. The contest had urgency, attacking and entertaining rugby; it was free-flowing, it had big hits, it had top class players on display, a referee in Johré Botha who knows his stuff and last but certainly not least: tries – seven in total.
Going back to the final table, Springs scored a total of 687 points compared to United’s 597. The former team also conceded fewer points than United over the course of the round-robin phase in 246, compared to United’s 313.
This, combined with the fact that Springs had finished on top of the log, suggests the men in light blue are slightly the better team but the encounter itself suggested otherwise. In fact, United led by 11 points at one stage in the second half.
Springs’ win had more to do with will, discipline and belief the players have in each other. After eating into United’s lead, they never took the foot off the pressure pedal – and rallied on by their fans – they knocked and knocked until United’s door broke.
The match’s unpredictability existed until the final whistle. Even both coaches, United’s Stephan Nel and Springs’ Ockert Brits, coincidentally said the team who wants it more would win.
This is not to suggest that United didn’t want to win, Springs just had that extra spring.
- Key players for East Rand United:
Cameron Rooi (inside centre): As I mentioned in the match report, the United goal-kicker, along with Springs’ Smit, was as calm as a cucumber in the face of pressure whenever his educated boot was needed. United only scored two tries but Rooi’s points from the boot almost cancelled all of Springs’ five tries.
Jonathan Botha (captain, openside flank): The skipper was one of multiple integral parts in the intense battle. He hit the rucks as much as he could and his carries caused the champions problems. He led from the front like he’s so impressively done in the absence of squad captain Fanie van Staden, who, like Springs’ incumbent skipper Dowayne Botha, was missing in action due to injury.
Tiaan Ramat (scrum half): Voted the club’s player of the season last year, Ramat showed exactly why he’s rated so highly in the United ranks. Sharp, quick, smooth and fast deliveries, the half-back scored all of United’s tries. Firstly finishing off a move involving a clean pair of hands before capitalising on a loose ball from a ruck deep in the pitch before running all the way to dot down under the posts.
Springs-East Rand United combined XV: 1 Sakkie Klaas (ERU), 2 Shaun de Wet (ERU), 3 Garnet Parkin (Springs; captain), 4 Francois Prinsloo (Springs), 5 Ruan Kotze (Springs), 6 Jonathan Botha (ERU), 7 DJ Oosthuizen (Springs), 8 Zach van Lochrenbergh (Springs); 9 Tiaan Ramat (ERU), 10 Clayton Gindan (ERU), 11 Leon Potgieter (ERU), 12 Cameron Rooi (ERU), 13 Johan Zondagh (Springs), 14 Jackie Jonkers (ERU), 15 André Smit (Springs) Coach: Ockert Brits (Springs) – @SabeloBoksburg
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