Despatch, NMMU in tight draw
[caption id="attachment_34554" align="alignright" width="405"] GOING NOWHERE: Despatch's Elcardo Mentoor is tackled by NMMU players during their match at the Despatch Rugby Club. Picture: JUDY DE VEGA[/caption]
GAP Despatch and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) scored five tries apiece to deny each side walking away with full points in a thrilling 39-39 EP Grand Challenge encounter at the WJ de Wet Stadium in Despatch at the weekend.
The game was not short of fireworks as both sides came out wanting to maintain their 100% winning streak. The students dominated inside Despatch's half in the opening 20 minutes and went into the break with a 24-15 lead.
The home outfit came back from the break the stronger of the two and took the lead early in the second half. But NMMU finished the game the stronger side and scored a converted try to share the spoils in a balanced game.
Caltex Crusaders ran in four tries to claim a well-deserved 31-18 victory over Park at the Saders field.
Both teams went into the game eager to get back to winning ways after losing against NMMU and Gardens in their previous games respectively.
Saders led 17-6 at the break. Both sides piled on pressure in the second half in search of maximum points.
The fast-paced game had a lot of handling errors from both sides, but Saders did enough to walk away as victors.
Gardens beat the Brumbies 35-15 in Rosedale. This was the Eastern Cape Super 12 champions' second straight win after losing three on the trot before turning their season around last weekend.
The Rosedale side led 19-10 after 40 minutes. The Grahamstown outfit, high in confidence after beating Spring Rose in their previous game, dominated in the scrum, but Gardens sealed the bonus point win with three late tries.
PE SAPS showed Harlequins no mercy, demolishing them 38-7 at Kemsley Park. The policemen made their intention of wanting to further sink the struggling northern areas outfit known early and led 19-0 at the interval. The home side ran away with the game in the second half, scoring six tries to Quins' one.
Spring Rose narrowly edged Progress 19-15 at the New Brighton Oval. Rose vented their frustration on the Uitenhage side after going down against the Brumbies in their last game.
Progress's confidence was high after demolishing Kruisfontein last weekend, but it was the New Brighton side that led 12-10 at half-time. A further seven points secured the points for Rose.
At the Humansdorp Country Club, African Bombers edged Kruisfontein 32-26. Bombers took their chances and narrowly led 15-14 after 40 minutes.
The home side, who were humiliated by Progress in their last outing, were determined to get back to winning ways but the Zwide outfit had other ideas. - Mkhululi Ndamase
