OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 12.30PM.
THE MTN Falcons produced a brilliant performance to beat defending Currie Cup champions Western Province 17-13 at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan on Friday night.
The Falcons, who are relative minnows in the competition, played with great passion, and their side was well prepared to meet the physical Province players head-on. Reinhardt van As in the flyhalf position played especially well for the Falcons, and kicked particularly well.
The Falcons were never behind in the match, and the half-time score was 14-6, eight minutes before the end of the match the Falcons led by 17-6. Hottie Louw, however, scored for Province in the dying minutes of the match after a quickly taken penalty.
North-West beat Northern Free State 25-14 in a battle of the wooden-spoonists at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday night. North-West flyhalf Pieter van Vuuren, who is a product of the University of Stellenbosch scored 20 points in the match, kicking seven out of seven. The half-time score was 6-7 in favour of the men from the Free State.
Blue Bulls skipper and former Springbok flanker Ruben Kruger led by example in his team’s 32-29 victory over the South-Western Districts Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George. Although Kruger did not score any tries he was higly effective in the tight-loose and tackled wiyh venom.
SPORTS FEATURES
Clash of the Titans
The All Blacks have had to re-invent themselves since Sean Fitzpatrick’s retirement and on Saturday they face one of their toughest challenges – playing the Springboks at the very venue where they lost the championship trophy.
Keeping an eye on the underdogs
Stoffel Nikane, Lebogang Kukane and Hendrik Gulwa may be virtual unknowns, but they have sent the unfashionable Free State club, Phunya Sele Sele, to the top of the multimillion-rand national championship with a maximum nine points from three rounds.
‘What-ifs’ and ‘if-onlys’
CRICKET: It’s all over and there’s barely enough time for both sides to lick their wounds, never mind carry on with their ‘other’ lives.
The wonderful men and their golfing machine
Can Ernie Els overcome his back pain to win this week’s United States PGA Championship? asks ANDY CAPOSTAGNO
Leader of the Pak
DAVID DAVIES heralds the arrival of Se Ri Pak, golfing phenomenon, for the British Women’s Open at Lytham St Annes