Vishuis simply too strong for Nadoes
Although Steinhoff Vishuis achieved a comfortable 39-5 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships win over Steinhoff Tornadoes on Monday, it was a far from clinical performance by the home side.
Too many handling errors and poor discipline spoiled what should have been a good win for the Kovsies side. Vishuis were often penalised for poor discipline and could count themselves fortunate not to have lost a player to the sin bin.
In a match played in temperatures in the region of 30ºC in Bloemfontein, both teams strangely opted to run the ball throughout - instead of, perhaps, controlling the game by the boot.
Those odd tactics aside, Vishuis looked in control from the outset - taking an early 17-0 lead. First loosehead prop Michael van Vuuren scored from a set move, which Beyers Louw (left-wing) converted to add to his penalty goal earlier on.
And shortly afterwards, Byers - himself - scored a brilliant try that was started by outside centre Barend Landman who broke through a tackle before feeding Erick Colyn (No.12) on his inside. Colyn - the brother of Shimla utility back Jaco - had Beyers coming from a nice angle to go over untouched.
But the visitors from the Cape did not lie down and pulled five points back through a try by their hooker Ryan Dean. It was set up by a patient build-up by forwards and backs.
But Enrico Acker, Vishuis scrumhalf, scored again before half-time to give the hosts a 22-5 lead. He threw a dummy pass, which a number of Nadoes players fell for, to score right next to the ruck.
Vishuis had a chance to add another three points in the final seconds of the half, but they opted to play quickly and right-wing Bennie Pretorius had a clean run-in in the right-hand corner for a 27-5 half-time score.
The second half had little to be exited about as both teams opted to run from their own half - instead of, again, playing for territory.
From the Nadoes performance it was clear that they put a lot of emphasis on handling (just like their Varsity Cup team, the Ikey Tigers). They made few handling errors and their wings, Zubayr Abrahams (No.14) and JP van Huffel, kept Vishuis guessing with ball in hand and they often outpaced their opponents.
Vishuis scored their two second-half tries in the final ten minutes of play, eventually; one of which went to No.8 Gerhard Meyer, who was used as his team's battering ram on the day.
The scorers:
For Steinhoff Vishuis:
Tries: Van Vuuren, Louw, Acker, Pretorius, Meyer, Jansen
Cons: Louw 3
Pen: Louw
For Steinhoff Tornadoes:
Try: Dean
The teams
Vishuis: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Bennie Pretorius, 13 Barend Landman, 12 Erick Colyn, 11 Beyers Louw, 10 Willem Conradie, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Gerhard Meyer, 7 Jos de Klerk (captain), 6 Eben van Zyl, 5 Jaco Lamprecht, 4 William Clift, 3 Henry van Niekerk, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Micheal van Vuuren.
Replacements: 16 Cobus van der Westhuizen, 17 JP van Rooyen, 18 Milo Moholo, 19 Weich Morrison, 20 Francios van Straaten, 21 Skillie Fransman, 22 JJ Jansen.
Nadoes: 15 Mark Winter, 14 Zubayr Abrahams, 13 Justin Bijl, 12 Trent Jenkinson, 11 JP van Huffel, 10 Matthew Russell, 9 Ian Armstrong, 8 Damion Stander, 7 Brennan Wright, 6 Stuart Hablutzel, 5 Grayson Rice, 4 Tom Horne, 3 Wade Swannel, 2 Ryan Dean, 1 Bradley van der Westhuizen (captain).
Replacements: 16 Christie Laurence, 17 Simon Bergman, 18 Brett Snyders, 19 Ollie Johnston, 20 Xanti Nesi, 21 Kerrick Allenbrook, 22 Brendan Raubenheimer.
Referee: Sakkie Breyer
By Ruan Bruwer