NWU Pukke beat brave Impalas

The NWU Puk’s first team is safely over the first hurdle on its way to the national club championship following their easy win against Impala 41-22 Saturday in the first play-off match.   The match was played on Impala’s home-ground. The Pukke won all of their six matches.   Very early the Pukke played with vigour and led 12-0 after 17 minutes. A further two tries followed during the last ten minutes and the Pukke had a drink of water with 26 points and a bonus point safely in their pockets. All Impala could show was three points for a penalty goal.   Impala did better after the breather and scored three tries in the second half. The Pukke themselves went and scored another two and won 41-22.   The Pukke’s backs now move much better than during the Varsity Cup onslaught. Worsie Kotzé can become one of the very best Puk full-backs ever and Willem Barnard does more justice to his position as wing. To the front lock Grant le Roux looks charged and all set for the game.   The Puk loose trio Willem van der Wal, Savvas Nel and Jaco Lotter is becoming a formidable combination.   On the Impala side, the flank Dawie Burger towered above them all. He took on the odds for the entire duration of the match. The veteran loose forward Jaco Gouws’ experience also came in well.

Savvas Nel, Puk flank, is nearly seized by an alumnus Puk, the wing Herchelle Roman, who plays for Impala nowadays. Photo: Piet de Jager.

Point scorers: Pukke: Tries: Willem Barnard (2), Worsie Kotze (2), Stoffel Duvenhage and Grant le Roux. Goal kicks: Cecil Dumond 4. Penalty goal: Dumond. Impala: Tries: Duane Jordaan, Raydall Walters and Lourens Walters. Try kicks: Josh Finlay 2. Penalty kick: Finlay. Other results: Second team (Ibbies) won 43 - 5 Third team (TAU) won 77 - 5 Fourth team won 64 - 0 u.21 team won 24 - 9 u.19 team won 56 - 10 * The NWU Puk plays against UJ in the Golden Lions’ Pirates Big Challenge league at the Fanie on Thursday 23 April.