Gardens get better of College Rovers
The South African club rugby landscape was shaken when Multisure Gardens beat tournament favourites College Rovers 30-28 in a Gold Cup clash in Uitenhage on Saturday.
The match was played at a frantic pace as both sides played ball-in-hand type of rugby.
Gardens were left with 14 men in the 12th minute when flyhalf Renaldo Lewis got a yellow card.
They played good rugby in that period and opened the scoring with a try by captain Darlington Gans.
College Rovers replied with a converted try to lead 7-5.
Danino Ketshem scored Gardens’ second try and Renaldo Lewis converted to make the score 12-7.
College Rovers scored two long-distance tries to make the score 21-12 before fullback Kenny Baymen scored a try for Gardens to ensure a 21-19 halftime score.
Inspirational captain Gans scored his second try with Gardens taking the lead 24-21.
Rovers replied with a converted try to take the lead again before Gardens narrowed the score to 28-27 through a penalty by Renaldo Lewis.
Ruben de Vos converted a penalty in the dying moments of the match to ensure Gardens got a bonus-point win.
In the Eastern Cape Super 12 final, East London Police got the better of their Port Elizabeth counterparts at Kemsley Park, beating them 26-13.