Daniel Pienaar win Uitenhage derby

Daniel Pienaar beat the home side Die Brandwag 31-21 in the big Uitenhage derby on Saturday but they had to battle for it.

Daniel Pienaar were expected to win but Die Brandwag were determined not to give them an easy ride and led till well into the second half. In the end the Daniel Pienaar loose forwards made the difference as the visitors won many turnovers.

Die Brandwag's greatest threat came from the tall, long-striding, speedy wings, Riaan Arends en William Travill .

After Francois Nel and Louis Kruger had kicked penalties, Nel scored the first try of the match when he cut back and darted through the defence after a spell of great attacking by the home side.

The it was Daniel Pienaar's turn to exert pressure and bustling eighthman Ryno de Bruyn, the Daniel Pienaar captain, drove the ball towards the Brandwag line. He was tackled but the ball came back quickly and lanky flank Dalton David weaved his way through for a try. Louis Kruger converted and Daniel Pienaar led 10-8.

This try was somewhat against the run of play and soon Die Brandwag were back attacking. Francois Nel goaled his second penalty and they attacked again but had to be satisfied with a one-point lead at half-time.

Die Brandwag scored first in the second half, and what a brilliant try it was. Tall Riaan Arends, the South African Under-19 triple jump champion, raced down the right wing, cut inside and, after beating five men, scored a try, which Francois Nel converted. Die Brandwag led and it looked as if they might end Daniel Pienaar's winning streak in derby clashes between the two.

But the final part of the match belonged to the visitors. It started with a counterattack. They got to the line where Charl Lottering was felled but lock Daniell Ellis was on hand to pick up and plunge over. Louis Kruger's conversion made the score 18-17.

From a scrum Daniel Pienaar attacked again and, when Daniel Pienaar spoilt a scrum to Die Brandwag near their line, Maurice Rudman dived on the loose ball and scored to put the visitors ahead 24-18.

Francois Nel kicked a penalty to bring his side close but Daniel Pienaar had the final word when Charl Lottering, hemmed in on the left wing, beat two defenders to score in the corner, whence Louis Kruger converted.

Scorers:

Tries: Dalton David, Daniell Ellis, Maurice Rudman, Charl Lottering

Cons: Louis Kruger 4

Pen: Louis Kruger

For Die Brandwag:

Tries: Francois Nel, Riaan Arends

Con: Francois Nel

Pens: Francois Nel 3