South African Rugby Union

25th September 2015

The Leopards scored a maximum of 50 log points from their 10 games as they secured a 36-29 (halftime 22-12) victory over the Hino Valke in an Absa Currie Cup First Division match at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Friday.

The home side needed a victory over the undefeated Leopards to give themselves a chance of securing a home semi-final spot but could not find the answer to defeating their opponents despite having a one-man advantage twice during the game.

The visitors secured their 10th bonus point on the stroke of halftime when scrumhalf Malherbe Swart darted around the fringes of a scrum to score close to the poles. The visitors opened up and early 10-point lead with tries from left wing Tyler Fisher and lock Francois Robertse.

It was not a great day for the kickers as Valke flyhalf Anrich Richter missed three attempts at goal and his replacement, Juan Kotze, missed one as well while Schalk Hugo and Meel Engelbrecht of the Leopards missed three between them.

The hosts replied with a converted try from fullback Carlyle Hendricks but that was cancelled out when his counterpart Rhyno Smith dived over in the corner. Inside centre Andrew van Wyk scored a wonderful try on the wraparound to reduce the deficit to just three points but the Leopards gave themselves some breathing room when Swart dotted down.

The hosts came out fighting in the second stanza and immediately cut the deficit to five points through an unconverted try from right wing Riaan Arends. But then the Leopards saw to it that the game was over as a contest by the 65th minute with tries Fisher and outside centre Adrian Vermeulen. Engelbrecht and Hugo each converted the tries to hand the visitors a handy 19-point advantage with 15 minutes left on the clock.

But the home side never gave up and retaliated immediately with a try from number eight, Reg Muller, to secure their bonus point for scoring four tries. Replacement flyhalf Juan Kotze was unable to add the extra points which left the hosts trailing by 14 points. With just three minutes left on the clock, lock Shane Kirkwood barged his way over the line and Kotze successfully converted to land his side within seven points of their victors.

The win sees the Leopards end on top with a maximum of 50 points from 10 games while the Valke finished on 26 points. The men from Kempton Park could well face the Leopards in the semi-finals should the Eagles beat the Griffons in their final round robin game.

Scorers:

Hino Valke – Tries: Carlyle Hendricks, Andrew van Wyk, Riaan Arends, Reg Muller, Shane Kirkwood; Conversions: Anrich Richter, Juan Kotze.

Leopards – Tries: Tyler Fisher (2), Francois Robertse, Rhyno Smith, Malherbe Swart, Adrian Vermeulen; Conversions: Meel Engelbrecht (2), Schalk Hugo.