Final laurels go to Elsenburg – but it was close
IT WENT down to the wire but defending champions Elsenburg once again emerged victorious after a cracking final of the 2017 Pannar Rugby Week held at Fort Cox near Middledrift on Friday afternoon.
Stellenbosch-based Elsenburg lived up to their tags of pre-tournament favourites, but were made to work for it by runners-up Grootfontein as they edged an entertaining final 26-20.
“I have been involved in the Pannar Week for the last 18 years and this was the best final that I have seen in the last 10 years,” said SA Agricultural rugby chairman Neil Schoeman.
“I am also team manager of the Grootfontein team and they played with so much courage.”
It was a valiant effort from Grootfontein, who come from Middleburg. However, it was the tournament’s most decorated team who would pick up the IPJ du Plessis Trophy at the annual rugby week for South African Agricultural Institutes.
An upset was on the cards when Grootfontein took a 13-12 lead into the halftime break.
However, Elsenburg kicked it up a gear at the start of the second half to move 26-13 up.
Grootfontein managed another try to bring the score to within a converted try and then finished the match strong, but to no avail.
Elsenburg were well deserved champs, going through the week unbeaten, including some thumping victories, while Grootfontein’s only loss of the week came in the final.
Potchefstroom finished third in the Cup division, picking up a comfortable 29-0 win over Glen to condemn them to the bottom of the division.
In the Plate division final Cedara beat the Barbarians 21-0 to seal the title.
Tsolo took third on the Plate log, beating Taug 6-0 in their final match, as Taug finished bottom.
Following the week of cracking action that saw eight teams play 16 matches, a tournament team was picked.
1. Alexander Duckitt – Elsenburg, 2. Marius Paulsen – Grootfontein, 3. Ettiene van der Merwe – Potchefstroom, 4. Pieter Rabe - Elsenburg, 5. Joppie du Pisani – Grootfontein, 6. Alex Greig – Grootfontein, 7. Attie van Rensburg – Elsenburg, 8. Adrian Greig – Grootfontein, 9. Louis Carsten – Elsenburg, 10. Ewald Oberholzer – Potchef- stroom, 11. Waldo Botha – Potchefstroom, 12. Jaco de Waal – Potchefstroom, 13. Josef Burger – Elsenburg, 14. Adriaan Stander – Grootfontein, 15. Eroni Fillis – Grootfontein, 16. Johan Schoeman – Potchefstroom, 17. Roy Brink – Elsenburg, 18. Henco Nel – Grootfontein, 19. Brendon Botha – Elsenburg, 20. Noah Mounfort – Grootfontein, 21. Gert Rupping – Grootfontein, 22. Dirkie Coetzee – Potchefstroom, 23. Daniel Rademan – Grootfontein.
This team was to play against a Border invitational team yesterday, but the game was postponed.
Other trophies handed out after the tournament were:
Willie van Zijl trophy for match of the tournament – Elsenburg v Grootfontein
Boland Bank trophy for team playing the most constructive rugby: Elsenburg
Joe Venter trophy for best forward: Attie van Rensburg (Elsenburg)
Pannar trophy for best backline player: Bradley Oersen (Glen)
Du Pont trophy for highest points scorer: Sterling Nuade (Elsenburg)
Kohler Motors trophy for most tries in the plate division: Cedara
Louis Luyt trophy for team with most tries in the cup division: Elsenburg
Piet de Jager trophy for winners of the plate division: Cedara
Elsenburg will host the next edition of the tournament.