The Leopards hung on for a slender 26-24 (half-time 12-12) bonus-point Currie Cup First Division victory over the Border Bulldogs at Olen Park in Potchefstroom at the weekend.
The Bulldogs will be kicking themselves as they let slip a victory which they should have had in the bag had it not been for the erratic boot of flyhalf Masixole Banda and the unfortunate injury to replacement forward Nkosi Nofuma, which meant the Bulldogs had to play the final four minutes of the match with only 14 men as all their replacements had taken to the field.
Banda, who scored a try and slotted two conversions, missed three kicks at goal – two conversions and a late penalty – which could have given the men from East London a vital opening victory.
But with both sides having scored four tries, the Leopards landed the maximum five log points while Border limped home with two points.
The sides were locked at 12-all at the half-time break with the hosts scoring an unconverted try through tighthead prop Bart le Roux in the third minute before leveling matters on the stroke of the half-time whistle with a try by flyhalf Gene Willemse, which was converted by scrumhalf Malherbe Swart.
Despite conceding the early try, the Bulldogs took the lead with their first try just after Le Roux dotted down with eighthman Athenkosi Manentse barging over for a converted score.
The visitors extended their advantage when right wing Sipho Nofumele raced down the touchline to score, but the lead remained at seven points as Banda missed the conversion.
The Leopards turned on the style in the second half, racing into a 14-point lead thanks to tries by flanker HP Swart and a second to Le Roux, both converted by the home side's scrumhalf. But midway through the second period, Banda worked some magic to score in the corner.
Banda was unable to convert his own try which left the visitors trailing by nine points. With just 10 minutes left on the stadium clock, replacement utility back Michael Makase found a gap and scored his side's fourth try which Banda converted to bring his side to within two points of their hosts.
Just three minutes later and Banda had the chance to give his side the lead for the first time since the end of the first half with a penalty, but the flyhalf sent the ball wide, sending the small crowd into raptures.
Worse was to follow for the visitors as Nofuma left the field, leaving his side to fight with a man short.
SCORERS: Leopards – Tries: Bart le Roux (2), Gene Willemse, Henro-Pierre Swart; Conversions: Malherbe Swart (3).
Border Bullldogs – Tries: Athenkosi Manentsa, Sipho Nofemele, Masixole Banda, Michael Makase; Conversions: Banda (2). — supersport.com
Banda’s boot cost Bulldogs dearly
The Bulldogs will be kicking themselves as they let slip a victory which they should have had in the bag had it not been for the erratic boot of flyhalf Masixole Banda and the unfortunate injury to replacement forward Nkosi Nofuma, which meant the Bulldogs had to play the final four minutes of the match with only 14 men as all their replacements had taken to the field.
Banda, who scored a try and slotted two conversions, missed three kicks at goal – two conversions and a late penalty – which could have given the men from East London a vital opening victory.
But with both sides having scored four tries, the Leopards landed the maximum five log points while Border limped home with two points.
The sides were locked at 12-all at the half-time break with the hosts scoring an unconverted try through tighthead prop Bart le Roux in the third minute before leveling matters on the stroke of the half-time whistle with a try by flyhalf Gene Willemse, which was converted by scrumhalf Malherbe Swart.
Despite conceding the early try, the Bulldogs took the lead with their first try just after Le Roux dotted down with eighthman Athenkosi Manentse barging over for a converted score.
The visitors extended their advantage when right wing Sipho Nofumele raced down the touchline to score, but the lead remained at seven points as Banda missed the conversion.
The Leopards turned on the style in the second half, racing into a 14-point lead thanks to tries by flanker HP Swart and a second to Le Roux, both converted by the home side's scrumhalf. But midway through the second period, Banda worked some magic to score in the corner.
Banda was unable to convert his own try which left the visitors trailing by nine points. With just 10 minutes left on the stadium clock, replacement utility back Michael Makase found a gap and scored his side's fourth try which Banda converted to bring his side to within two points of their hosts.
Just three minutes later and Banda had the chance to give his side the lead for the first time since the end of the first half with a penalty, but the flyhalf sent the ball wide, sending the small crowd into raptures.
Worse was to follow for the visitors as Nofuma left the field, leaving his side to fight with a man short.
SCORERS: Leopards – Tries: Bart le Roux (2), Gene Willemse, Henro-Pierre Swart; Conversions: Malherbe Swart (3).
Border Bullldogs – Tries: Athenkosi Manentsa, Sipho Nofemele, Masixole Banda, Michael Makase; Conversions: Banda (2). — supersport.com
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