Log-leaders in narrow loss

Despatch beaten by courageous Gardens

GARDENS narrowly edged EP Grand Challenge rugby logleaders Despatch 32-30 in an entertaining encounter in Despatch at the weekend.

Having won all their games before the encounter, the hosts started favourites and wanted to maintain their record.

But Gardens, who lost their previous game, had other ideas and came out guns blazing.

Gardens scored four bonuspoint tries in the opening half to lead 25-15 at the interval.

The second half was more about Despatch trying to claw a way back into the game and they scored another 15 points, while a further converted try was enough for the visitors to claim the hard-fought victory.

At the Uitenhage Central Fields, PE SAPS ran in eight tries to trounce Progress 59-20.

The high-scoring game start- ed off well with the cops eager to continue their winning ways.

Both sides threw everything at one another from the outset, but it was the visitors who led 21-10 at half time.

Police must have had a tongue-lashing at the interval as they came back more clinical and ran away with the game.

The win means the cops are the only unbeaten side this season.

Spring Rose beat Harlequins 29-24 at the New Brighton Oval.

The sides went into the game with contrasting results as Rose had lost while Quins had won in their previous outings.

With the backing of their fans, the hosts rose to the occasion and took control of the game from the first whistle.

Rose led 24-17 after 40 minutes.

Fewer scoring chances were created in the second stanza but a further try for Rose secured the hard-fought bonuspoint win.

In Zwide, African Bombers' woes continued when Brumbies ran in five tries to edge them 36-28.

The Grahamstown outfit wanted to take advantage of the Bombers’ poor form and announced their intentions early in the game.

The City of Saints outfit led 21-7 at the interval.

Brumbies used their backs to dominate while their forwards were equally impressive in winning the lineout battle.

Bombers showed signs of improvement in the second half but it was a little too late to stage any comeback as they also failed to keep the visitors at bay.

Park produced a match-winning second-half performance to thump Crusaders 32-0 at Saders Field.

There was little action in the first half as Park kicked over two penalties to lead 6-0 at the break.

However, in the second half the floodgates opened as Park ran riot, scoring try after try with no reply from Saders.

The struggling Saders were rarely in the game and had no answer to the Park onslaught.

At the Humansdorp Country Club, Kruisfontein pipped the impressive Trying Stars 19-14.

The hosts had to come back from trailing 7-3 at half time in the low-scoring encounter.