Helderberg Rugby Club ran out convincing winners against Centurion on Saturday 5 October, scoring six tries in their 49-24 triumph.
The win secures Berge a semi-final berth this Saturday (12 October) in Pretoria against the reigning Gold Cup champions Naka-Bulle, a fully professional team.
In the 8th minute flyhalf Darren Hendricks broke the Centurion line, passed to centre Quiwen Bauman, who in turn sent his 19-year-old winger Edward Terhaar away for the opening try.
In the 15th minute Bauman cut the defence to ribbons to send his fullback Stewart Jacobs over for the second try, converted by Michael Visser (12-0).
Centurion responded with two converted tries to take the lead (12-14). Minutes later, Visser regained the lead with a well-taken penalty goal (15-14).
The visitors then ran in a third successive try (15-19). Hendricks set up his inside centre, Lynn-Jay Hendricks, who ran from Centurions’s 22 for his team’s third try, converted by Visser.
In the second half, the visitors seemed to tire with the Berge forwards getting the better of them in the tight passes.
In the 43rd minute Visser succeeded with another penalty, before lock-forward Shane Kennedy scored a magnificent try, converted by Visser (32-19).
In the 61st minute Visser slotted another penalty kick (35-19), and just then Centurion scored their only points of the half with a try (31-24).
In the 70th minute right wing Jodi Koul fielded a defensive kick and linked with Jacobs on his 10-metre line for the fullback to cross and dot down. Visser added the extras (42-24).
In the 76th minute Koul accelerated from his own 22 to score under the posts for Visser’s conversion. Final score: 49-24.
This weekend’s semi-final takes place on Saturday (12 October) in Pretoria.
