Despatch, Nelspruit qualify
2008-08-28 17:22
Johannesburg - In a dramatic weekend of club rugby action, Despatch and Nelspruit edged past their closest rivals to qualify for the 34th SAA National Club Champs, which kick off at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch next Sunday.
With one round remaining, Despatch lead the Eastern Province Grand Challenge by seven points, after they beat Grahamstown Brumbies 32-19 on Tuesday night and Gardens, in second place, followed up their 16-9 loss to Brumbies with a 14-14 draw against archrivals Progress on Saturday to put them out of the running.
The team from Rosedale, just outside of Uitenhage, at least have the consolation of knowing they will travel to Stellenbosch as one of six invited teams.
Ironically, the final match of the season, scheduled for Saturday, is Gardens v Despatch, but with nothing at stake and both sides going to Club Champs, it will be interesting to see whether the teams will want to risk injury by playing what would be a fiercely contested and physical match one week before the nationals.
Nelspruit, the Lowveld champions, reclaimed the Mpumalanga title when they beat title holders and Highveld champions Middelburg 34-33 in a nailbiting final played last Saturday. Nelspruit trailed 25-10 at halftime and 33-27 going into the final minutes before Pieter Prinsloo scored the decisive try and Gunther Swart kicked the winning conversion.
Join 11 other teams
Nelspruit's other tries were scored by Tertius Koekemoer, Dawie van Deventer and Rudi Brits, with Swart kicking four conversions and two penalties.
Despatch and Nelspruit will join the 11 other teams who have already qualified for the Club Champs, namely Tukkies (Blue Bulls), CUT Ixias (Free State), UJ (Golden Lions), Bridgton (SWD), Brakpan (Valke), Welkom (Griffons), Kimberley Police (Griqualand West), Maties (WP), Pukke (Leopards), College Rovers (KZN) and Roses United (Boland).
In addition, SARU have invited SK Walmers (WP), Raiders (Golden Lions), Eersterust (Blue Bulls), Jaguars (KZN), Wesbank (Boland) and Gardens (EP) to the tournament.
The 20th and final team for Stellenbosch will be decided on Saturday when champions Buffalo and Old Selbornian contest the Border Premier League final at Absa Stadium in East London. Kick-off is at 4.30pm.
Buffs beat Police 30-19 in the first semi-final played at Buffalo Park last Friday, while Old Selbornian beat Swallows 15-14 in Mdantsane on Saturday.
- SAPA