HTS Drostdy turned on the style at Noord Suid, overpowering EG Jansen 43-24 in a contest that saw Drostdy’s attacking ambition and forward grunt prove too hot to handle. Flanker Werno Ramsauer delivered a brilliant performance, whilst fullback Anwill Jacobs carved up the wider channels with a devastating double that showcased Drostdy’s clinical edge.
EG Jansen drew first blood within the opening five minutes, executing a beautifully crafted trick lineout play that caught Drostdy napping. Captain Jaco Engelbrecht was the beneficiary, dotting down to hand his side an early 5-0 advantage. It was the perfect start, but the lead would prove short-lived.
Drostdy’s response was swift and brutal. Three minutes later, the visitors muscled their way into the 22 and applied sustained pressure that eventually told. Ramsauer carried with venom, smashing into defenders before powering over the tryline. At 5-5, game on.
Jacobs’ deadly finishing
Fourteen minutes in, Drostdy struck again with a try that showcased their ability to marry forward dominance with backline precision. The pack punched holes through EG Jansen’s defensive line, earning the right to spread the ball wide. When the space opened up, Jacobs needed no second invitation , the fullback hit top gear and accelerated into the gap to score. Drostdy led 12-5, and a pattern was emerging.
The visitors’ attacking strategy was high-risk, high-reward. Playing flat to the advantage line created opportunities to breach the defensive wall, but it also exposed them to danger if possession was turned over. EG Jansen’s Werner Breydenbach nearly capitalised when he snapped a crucial interception, exploiting Drostdy’s flat alignment to break downfield.
With defenders scrambling to turn and chase, Breydenbach surged forward, but he was hauled down 15 metres short of the tryline. It was a glimpse of what might have been for the Jansies.
With 13 minutes remaining in the half, Drostdy’s formula proved successful again. Their forwards battered away in the 22, sucking in defenders before releasing the ball to the edges. Once more, Jacobs found himself in splendid isolation, gliding into space unopposed for his second five-pointer. At 19-5, Drostdy were purring.
Breydenbach nearly conjured a moment of magic in the in-goal area when he tackled a Drostdy ball carrier, forcing a knock-on. The loose ball sat up invitingly, but the EG Jansen danger man couldn’t secure possession. It summed up the home side’s frustration, effort without reward.
A spilled EG Jansen lineout gifted the visitors possession deep in their own territory, but instead of clearing the danger, they attacked with ambition. Siya Lahlekile, Stehan Le Roux, and Ramsauer combined beautifully before releasing Tristin Syster, who finished superbly to extend the lead to 26-5.
A penalty on the stroke of halftime pushed the score to 29-5, and EG Jansen trudged to the sheds facing a mountain to climb.
Props with footwork
The second half produced a moment of gold when EG Jansen prop Frans Uithaler channeled his inner wing, stepping defenders and making ground like a back-three player. It’s not often you see a front-rower running lines with that kind of footwork, but Uithaler’s barnstorming run got EG Jansen on the front foot and lifted the crowd.
The home side set up phases in the 22, patiently building pressure before finding Breydenbach in the wider channels. The playmaker had worked tirelessly all afternoon, and his try was richly deserved. With 28 minutes left and the score at 29-12, EG Jansen sensed an opportunity.
The Jansies launched something of a fightback, playing with renewed intensity and testing Drostdy’s defensive resolve. But the visitors had too much firepower and game management to allow the contest to slip away. Every time EG Jansen threatened, Drostdy responded with points of their own, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and maintaining a comfortable cushion.
The final whistle confirmed a 43-24 victory for Drostdy.
Werno Ramsauer was everywhere for Drostdy, carrying with venom, hitting rucks with intent, and linking play between forwards and backs. His opening try set the tone, but it was his work rate across the full 70 minutes that truly impressed. When your flanker is making tackles, winning turnovers, and creating attacking opportunities, you’re always in the contest.
Jacobs’ double was clinical, Syster’s finish was sublime, and the entire Drostdy pack laid a platform that their backs exploited ruthlessly.
