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September 1 - For the first time ever Pukke will not play in the Predator League final as they were eliminated from the competition on Wednesday night by a rampant Raiders side, who claimed their first ever spot in the final.
Pukke joined the league in 2001 and since then have played in every single final, winning the title from 2003-2007. In 2008 and 2010 UJ claimed the crown and in 2009 it also belonged to the Students from Potchefstroom.
Although Pukke scored six tries to the three of Raiders, it was the forwards of Longdale that laid the foundation for the victory and the pack could have been awarded the Man of the Match accolade.
After normal playing time the score was 33-all but a drop goal by Anvor Schooney – his second of the evening – as well as a try by Deon Assegaai clinched the game for Raiders.
Pukke captain Strand Kruger went over in the dying seconds, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory and tactically Raiders outmuscled the Students.
The experience of the veterans Sean Plaatjies and Schooney proved their worth on the night while Dawid Burger was one of the Pukke’s stars.
Points:
Puk: Tries: Andrew van Wyk (2), Johannes Seerane, Dawid Burger, Ruan Jacobs, Strand Kruger. Conversions: Jean Tiedt (4).
Raiders: Tries: Carlo Moodie, Sean Plaatjies, Deon Assegaai. Conversion: Curtis Sias. Penalties: Sias (5). Drop Goals: Anvor Schooney (2).
In the second semi-final of the evening UJ demolished Impala 52-12, thus taking revenge on their first round loss against the men from Rustenburg.
The Students played total rugby on the wet field and were already leading 29-7 at halftime.
Impala tried to keep up and also played a high tempo game but after Nathan Fourie’s try, it was all orange as the Students took over. Impala's Jermaine Appollis however never stopped trying.
A yellow card for Janus Beukes signaled the beginning of the end for Impala and although Nelis Nel went over, the cracks were beginning to show.
Wigan Pekeur played some beautiful rugby, but the forwards also joined in the try fest with both locks, Marnes van Huyssteen and David Bullbring as well as loosies Justin Wheeler and Quintin Minnaar and prop Ewald van der Westhuizen going over for tries.
Points:
UJ: Tries: Wigar Pekeur (2), Quintin Minnaar, Marnes van Huyssteen, David Bulbring, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Jannie Boshoff, Justin Wheeler. Conversions: Luhan Steenkamp (4), Danny Botha (2), Divan van Zyl. Penalty: Steenkamp.
Impala: Tries: Nathan Fourie, Nelis Nel. Conversion: Willie Kok
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