KERF Match Report: Menlopark vs Westville
HOERSKOOL MENLOPARK 25 – WESTVILLE 27
The third game saw local side Westville taking on festival newcomers Menlo Park from Pretoria. In a cracking and exciting game Westville narrowly won 27-25 on full-time.
Westville spent much of the first 20 minutes defending. It was Menlo that went ahead in the third minute when centre Stean Pienaar cut through the defence to score and with the conversion by full-back Andell Loubser successful, an early seven point lead.
Westville struck back almost immediately when fullback Shane Ball ran down the left touchline to score. Menlo’s inside centre Wayne van der Bank then scored to leave the Gauteng visitors 12-5 in the lead; which was increased to 15-5 following a drop goal by fly-half Brian Bouwer.
For the second time Westville struck back when Ball scored his second try with a kick ahead and pace to beat the Menlo defender to the ball. Centre James Wheeler then left the defenders behind with a run of 40m. Craig Schlemmer converted to leave Westville 17-15 in front at half-time.
They increased their lead to 24-15 after wing Tonny Mahlangu scored in the first few minutes of the second half. Once again it was converted by Schlemmer.
The drama was yet to come. Loubser converted a penalty to narrow the gap to six points. A good move by Menlo saw Loubser combining well with his two centres to go over under the poles and convert the try to leave Menlo 25-24 in front with just a few minutes remaining.
A crucial penalty to Westville on fulltime saw Schlemmer hold his nerve and convert from 40m out, for Westville to win 27-25.
Point scorers:
Westville: Ball 10; T Mahlangu 5; J Wheeler 5; C Schlemmer 7
Menlo Park: S Pienaar 5; W vd Bank 5; B Bouwer 3; L Loubser 12
Photo: Tracey van den Aardwe
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