Armentum dethroned in Bloem

It's official - a new champion will be crowned in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga on Friday, September 18.

The current title holders, Armentum, can no longer qualify for the final. The top two teams on the log will contest the final, while number three and four will do battle in the plate final.

Armentum suffered their seventh defeat (out of ten matches) to Veritas over the weekend. This was Veritas' first win over the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby champions in two years. They totally outplayed Armentum in the first half - scoring three unanswered tries - and deserved the victory.

The match was already over as a contest before the break when flanker Bennie Piek scored an easy try. Armentum slapped a lineout ball recklessly back into their in-goal area and Piek simply had to dive on the ball to score.

Danie Cronjé converted for a 19-0 half-time lead.

And to make matters worse for the struggling 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby champs, their flyhalf Stefan Terblanché struggling with his place-kicking - missing three rather easy kicks at goal.

At 0-24 down, Armentum finally showed some spirit in the 57th minute with a try by their hard-working fullback Kobus Neethling.

Neethling's second try five minutes later sparked a possible comeback. That, however, was as close as Armentum would come to a win as Riaan Landman closed the rather dull encounter out with his try ten minutes before the end.

Scorers: VERITAS - Tries: Charl Schultz, Bennie Piek, Marnus Marais, Gerrit Smits, Riaan Landman. Conversions: Danie Cronjé (2). ARMENTUM - Tries: Kobus Neethling (2), Petri van Wyk. Conversion: Stefan Terblanché.

* Heimat are now just two log points away from securing a place in the final. They were given a hard time by Karee before coming out on top 29-24.

Their bonus point win now puts them on 37 log points, two above Vishuis in second place and eight ahead of JBM on 29.

Karee had the better of the match for large parts of the fixture, especially dominating territory in the first half.

But Heimat were more clinical and used the chances better.

They outscrummed Karee throughout and were also good at the breakdown points. Karee's defence let them down at crucial stages.

Scorers: HEIMAT - Tries: Francois Crous, Daniël Krynauw, Mindus Crous, Nielbert Kitching. Conversions: Mindus Crous (3). Penalty: Crous. KAREE - Tries: Inus Jonker, Josua Theron, Frans Smit. Penalties: Jacques van der Heever, Danie Schoeman (2).

* Vishuis secured a crucial victory over JBM to strengthen their second place on the log. They edged out JBM (pictured) who hit them with a huge onslaught towards the end of the match.

Scorers: VISHUIS - Tries: Eben van Zyl, Waldo Krogh, Bennie Pretorius. Conversions: Cobus van der Westhuizen (2). Penalties: Van der Westhuizen, Jaco Colyn. JBM - Tries: Reinhardt Strydom, Dirk Dippenaar. Conversion: Jacques Roberts. Penalties: Roberts (2).

The log:
(Under played, won, bonus points and log points)
Heimat 10, 8, 5, 37
Vishuis 10, 7, 7, 35
JBM 10, 7, 1, 29
Armentum 10, 2, 6, 16
Karee 10, 2, 3, 13
Veritas 10, 1, 4, 8

By Ruan Bruwer