A tight arm wrestle between Police rugby club and the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) All Blacks was edged by the hosts in their Border Super League match at a bustling Police Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was expected to be a bit of a cagey affair with the second and third-placed teams on the log going up against each other, both knowing they needed to win to keep the pressure on log leaders Old Selbornians, and so it proved as Police emerged with a hard-fought 15-10 victory.
“What a game; it could have gone any way,” a relieved Police coach Alistair Alexander said.
“Our forwards dominated, but we didn’t use our possession well, but credit to them, they are fit and their defence was spot-on.”
The result sees a few gaps opening at the top of the Super League with just one point separating the top three before the weekend’s action.
Old Boys have now moved two points ahead of Police after their 90-6 bonus-point win against Africans and Police are now three points ahead of third-placed WSU thanks to the four points they picked up for their win. All Blacks picked up a losing bonus point for being within seven points of Police.
“I am just happy to get the win,” Alexander said. “WSU is a good, well-coached team. They aren't third for no reason.”
A potential top-two clash is being set up for later this month as Police will host Old Boys on June 25, which will see a gruelling run of games come to an end for the log leaders as they face fourth-placed Swallows in Mdantsane this coming weekend and then host third-placed WSU at Mike Pendock Motors Park the following weekend before the match against Police.
“We don't want to underestimate anybody, but we need to win our next games leading up to our big match against Old Boys. We have Africans and Ocean Sweepers away, so it will be a test of our character,” Alexander admitted.
Saturday’s match began with both teams feeling each other out in the early phases.
It was the hosts who then struck first after receiving a kickable penalty on the All Blacks’ 22-metre line. They opted to go for the lineout, from where their forwards mauled towards the line before coming up short and the ball was popped to the short side where eighthman Bonga Mntunjani crashed over.
Flyhalf Skangele Mateza then slotted the tricky conversion for a 7-0 lead after six minutes.
WSU finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute when Police were penalised at the breakdown on their own 22-metre line, with fullback Zizipho Kayi slotting the kick from towards the right-hand touchline.
With the match nearing half-time, Police began to up the momentum as they pushed play deep into the All Blacks half. However a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time, saw the visitors go into it ahead.
Police had the ball on attack at a ruck in the All Blacks’ 22, but the ball suddenly popped out and the All Blacks reacted quickest to hack the loose ball ahead.
Scrumhalf Andile Mente chased well and was rewarded as the ball bounced away from the Police cover defence into his hands, allowing him to sprint away and dive over next to the left-hand post.
Kayi's conversion enabled the All Blacks to lead 10-7 at the break.
A frantic start to the second half saw WSU start well. However, they were unable to capitalise on their good play. This allowed Police to take back the lead in the 47th minute after an attacking scrum on WSU's five-metre line saw Police attack, with the ball going blind at a ruck through quick hands and ending with flank Siya November diving over in the left-hand corner.
Mateza missed the conversion, but four minutes later, slotted a penalty from on the 22m dead in front to give Police a 15-10 lead.
The two teams then largely cancelled each other out over the rest of the match, although Kayi missed two long-range penalties while Mateza missed one from closer in.
“I feel we had a number of chances in the game which we missed out on but I was impressed with the players’ response after going into half-time behind on points,” Alexander said.
“It was a try against the run of play and I told the guys not to panic and they bounced back early in the second half to retake the lead which we then held onto.”
Police victors of top clash
It was expected to be a bit of a cagey affair with the second and third-placed teams on the log going up against each other, both knowing they needed to win to keep the pressure on log leaders Old Selbornians, and so it proved as Police emerged with a hard-fought 15-10 victory.
“What a game; it could have gone any way,” a relieved Police coach Alistair Alexander said.
“Our forwards dominated, but we didn’t use our possession well, but credit to them, they are fit and their defence was spot-on.”
The result sees a few gaps opening at the top of the Super League with just one point separating the top three before the weekend’s action.
Old Boys have now moved two points ahead of Police after their 90-6 bonus-point win against Africans and Police are now three points ahead of third-placed WSU thanks to the four points they picked up for their win. All Blacks picked up a losing bonus point for being within seven points of Police.
“I am just happy to get the win,” Alexander said. “WSU is a good, well-coached team. They aren't third for no reason.”
A potential top-two clash is being set up for later this month as Police will host Old Boys on June 25, which will see a gruelling run of games come to an end for the log leaders as they face fourth-placed Swallows in Mdantsane this coming weekend and then host third-placed WSU at Mike Pendock Motors Park the following weekend before the match against Police.
“We don't want to underestimate anybody, but we need to win our next games leading up to our big match against Old Boys. We have Africans and Ocean Sweepers away, so it will be a test of our character,” Alexander admitted.
Saturday’s match began with both teams feeling each other out in the early phases.
It was the hosts who then struck first after receiving a kickable penalty on the All Blacks’ 22-metre line. They opted to go for the lineout, from where their forwards mauled towards the line before coming up short and the ball was popped to the short side where eighthman Bonga Mntunjani crashed over.
Flyhalf Skangele Mateza then slotted the tricky conversion for a 7-0 lead after six minutes.
WSU finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute when Police were penalised at the breakdown on their own 22-metre line, with fullback Zizipho Kayi slotting the kick from towards the right-hand touchline.
With the match nearing half-time, Police began to up the momentum as they pushed play deep into the All Blacks half. However a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time, saw the visitors go into it ahead.
Police had the ball on attack at a ruck in the All Blacks’ 22, but the ball suddenly popped out and the All Blacks reacted quickest to hack the loose ball ahead.
Scrumhalf Andile Mente chased well and was rewarded as the ball bounced away from the Police cover defence into his hands, allowing him to sprint away and dive over next to the left-hand post.
Kayi's conversion enabled the All Blacks to lead 10-7 at the break.
A frantic start to the second half saw WSU start well. However, they were unable to capitalise on their good play. This allowed Police to take back the lead in the 47th minute after an attacking scrum on WSU's five-metre line saw Police attack, with the ball going blind at a ruck through quick hands and ending with flank Siya November diving over in the left-hand corner.
Mateza missed the conversion, but four minutes later, slotted a penalty from on the 22m dead in front to give Police a 15-10 lead.
The two teams then largely cancelled each other out over the rest of the match, although Kayi missed two long-range penalties while Mateza missed one from closer in.
“I feel we had a number of chances in the game which we missed out on but I was impressed with the players’ response after going into half-time behind on points,” Alexander said.
“It was a try against the run of play and I told the guys not to panic and they bounced back early in the second half to retake the lead which we then held onto.”
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