When the heavyweights trade blows, it’s the class acts who deliver the knockout punch. Danie Botma produced a masterclass performance, completing a sensational hat-trick as Menlopark battled back from early adversity to dismantle a physical Boland Landbou side 46-28 on Noord Suid Day Two. This was a statement from the men from the capital that skill and speed can overcome brute force when executed to perfection.
Seven minutes in, Boland Landbou demonstrated exactly what they’d brought to Pretoria, raw power and patience. Their driving maul rumbled forward relentlessly despite everything Menlo threw at it. When the space finally opened, big Tiaan Malan, the tighthead prop, got a little wider before running straight over his defender to score. 7-0, and Landbou meant business.
Landbou are big, strong and uncompromisingly tough. Menlo found it desperately hard to match their physicality as Landbou threw massive forward runners at the defensive line. When the ball finally went wide, Gehano van Bo exploited the space brilliantly to extend the advantage to 14-0.
Boland Landbou were on top, and Menlo appeared in serious trouble.
The 15th minute brought a yellow card for Landbou after a dangerous tackle. Down to 14 men, the visitors’ physical dominance suddenly faced a different challenge.
Menlo outside centre Danie Botma seized the moment. Accelerating into a half space, his speed forced Landbou to miss the tackle. Then he put the hammer down, his blistering pace leaving defenders clutching at air as he scorched over. Suddenly, Menlo had found their spark at 14-7.
Botma takes control
Ten minutes later, Botma showcased his class again. A beautifully executed step created space before an inch-perfect offload sent Dylan Stumke through to finish. 14 a piece, and Menlo were firing on all cylinders.
Landbou survived the surge, regaining their composure to reclaim the lead at 21-14 with five minutes remaining in the half. Their defence delivered monster hits, with big lock RW van Deventer especially rattling bones and taking names.
But Botma wasn’t finished. He stepped inside, finding Boland’s catch-up defence napping, to level proceedings once more. Twenty-one apiece at halftime , this encounter had transformed from a potential rout into an absolute classic.
Menlo brought fresh intensity after the break. They split the Boland defence by carrying it up the middle before sending it wide to Mendriano-Jody Abrahams, who dotted down to give his side their first lead at 26-21. Landbou had gifted the try far too softly.
Landbou kept fighting, bringing ferocious physicality that Menlo struggled to contain. But execution remained elusive at crucial moments.
With Landbou camped 10 metres out, their big forwards picked and drove with relentless intent. When the space finally opened, inside centre Divan Meyer ran an excellent line to glide through the defence and score under the posts. 28-26, Landbou were back in front.
Boland’s resurgence ignited something special in Menlo. The capital side marched upfield phase by phase with renewed purpose until they found burly flanker Duran Pieterse in a wider channel. The powerful loose forward couldn’t be stopped, crashing over to reclaim the lead at 31-28.
Then came the knockout blow. Pure class personified as Danie Botma steamed through for his hat-trick, extending Menlo’s advantage to 36-28. The match had swung decisively.
With eight minutes remaining, Menlo opted for the posts from a penalty. Willie Pieterse slotted the three points to stretch the lead to 39-28, putting the result beyond doubt.
Four minutes from time, Menlo delivered the final nail in the coffin. They set up their driving maul, answering Landbou’s earlier dominance in kind, and powered over to seal a comprehensive 46-28 victory.
