Despatch forced to dig deep for win over Parks
POWERHOUSE Despatch were made to sweat for their 31-29 EP Grand Challenge club rugby victory over Parks at Londt Park at the weekend.
This was the second game in which the former Cell C Community Cup champions were made to dig deep for the win.
While Despatch went into the game as clear favourites, Parks were determined to avenge their previous loss to the side.
However, Despatch were always in front, even though it might not have been their most clinical display of the season. They led 19-8 after 40 minutes.
Parks threatened to stage a comeback in the second half but Despatch held on to register their eighth win on the bounce.
PE SAPS beat Windvogel 32-24 in Kemsley Park after leading 8-6 at the break.
As expected, the cops dictated the pace of the game as they continue to build momentum ahead of the much-anticipated clash with Despatch at the end of the month.
In the second stanza, the northern areas side was determined to cause an upset and went all out. But the experienced hosts did enough to claim the bonus-point win.
In Rosedale, Progress beat rivals Gardens 31-30 to claim the bragging rights.
The game started off slowly and Gardens led 13-10 after 40 minutes.
The game was always a closely contested affair and just as in previous clashes, tempers ran high as neither side wanted to lose against their old enemies.
While the hosts crossed the tryline four times, Progress scored two tries and were also awarded a penalty try.
At one stage Gardens had to play with 13 men as their locks were yellow-carded.
In the last five minutes, the Eastern Cape Super 12 finalists scored two brilliant tries but failed to convert one of them which would have secured the victor y.
At the Grahamstown Oval, Brumbies ran in eight tries to thump Crusaders 55-19.
The hosts were in a mean mood and came out guns blazing as they dominated from the first whistle.
The hosts scored
their bonus-point fourth try in the first half to lead 31-14 at the inter val.
In the second half, the City of Saints outfit continued where they left off with their speedy wings proving too difficult for Saders to contain.
Harlequins scored five tries to beat African Bombers 32-22 at the Adcock Stadium. Quins led 17-10 at halftime.
The hosts are on the up, while Bombers, perhaps experiencing their worst form in recent years, wanted to turn their season around.
The game could have gone either way as both dominated at some stage of the clash.
In Alexandria, Trying Stars narrowly edged Spring Rose 11-10. Both sides went into the game high in confidence.
The newcomers drew first blood with an unconverted try in the opening five minutes.
But the experienced New Brighton outfit hit back and led 7-5 at the interval. The second half was not any different, with few scoring chances created.
After Rose extended their lead to 10-8 with two minutes to go, Stars were awarded a penalty which flyhalf Garth Oosthuizen slotted to seal the hard-fought win.