Gardens beat SAPS for semis spot

GARDENS beat SAPS 31-17 in their crucial encounter at Kemsley Park on Saturday for a spot in the semifinals of the EPRU Grand Challenge Cup.

SAPS were not fazed by the unstoppable reputation Gardens have in the competition and took the game to them from the kick-off.

The home team gained a lot of territory in the game’s opening stages and settled in the Gardens half.

SAPS made use of their bigger forwards, which helped them make ground easily in the breakdowns.

After a few attempts at the tryline, centre Ekart Jacobs was eventually presented with an opportunity from an overlap and made sure to draw first blood for his team.

Flyhalf Roco Prinsloo converted the try for maximum points.

Gardens regrouped and formulated a strategy that would assist them against the hefty forwards.

They used their fast-paced wingers to break through the SAPS defence and were soon rewarded with two tries, from flank Gershwin Temmers and fullback Cameron Jacobs.

Captain Darlington Frans converted both tries to put his team ahead.

SAPS fought back vigorously before half time and were rewarded with a penalty after Gardens hooker Denvor Bonaparte was caught with his hands in the ruck. Prinsloo closed the gap with a penalty to end the half at 14-10.

Gardens brought in three substitutions in the second half and increased their momentum, with Riaan Byman scoring a brilliant individual try.

SAPS lock Renier Erasmus replied with a try.

The home side held their own in an attempt to show Gardens they would not be beaten in their own backyard but they were frustrated by wasted opportunities.

Gardens waited patiently to pounce on the battered SAPS.

Frans went on to put the final nail in the coffin to book the Uitenhage side a guaranteed spot in the semifinals with a brilliant try that came from an interplay between winger Danino Kesham and himself.

SAPS coach Riaan Geldenhuys said afterwards: “I am very disappointed about the chances we threw away.

“Today proved to us that Gardens are not a difficult team to beat. But they were the better team on the day.

“The pressure is on us now to win the remainder of our games to at least end somewhere in top half of the log.”

Gardens coach Ronnie Korkeer said: “We came here well prepared for the SAPS side.

“We read their game play very well and we made changes in our squad in accordance with the way they play.”

The other available results were: Park 31 Stars of Hope 26 SAPS 17 Gardens 31 PE Harlequins 12 Progress 19 Despatch 41 Kruisfontein 39 GHT Brumbies 20 NMMU 31