Vodacom Cup
Leopards blow Valke away
2010-03-12 21:36
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The ineffective Valke were blown away in the second half as the Platinum Leopards hammered them 59-8 (half-time 21-3) in their Vodacom Cup match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Friday.
The Leopards were always clearly the better side, but only really got with the program in the second half when they ran in six of their eight tries. Handling errors and forward passes, and a lack of continuity spelt doom for many of their first-half efforts.
Leopards flyhalf Clayton Durand kicked three penalties in the first 26 minutes, against just one by opposite number Deon Anderson, as the home side took a 9-3 lead, but the home crowd were itching for more and lock Anthonie Gronum eventually crossed for their first try on the half-hour.
Wing Dumisani Matyeshana scored just before the break and the Leopards seemed to be properly geed up when they come out for the second half.
They met little resistance as flank Christo van Niekerk and hooker Pellow van der Westhuizen crossed quickly for tries that extended the Leopards' lead to 33-3.
Valke loose forward Warren Perkins scored their only try midway through the half - a fine solo effort - but the visitors were always struggling to stop the Leopards' momentum and they conceded a penalty try before wing Bom Samaai crossed twice in three minutes and wing Deon Scholtz scored in injury time to complete a demoralising defeat for the eastern Gautengers.
Scorers
Platinum Leopards - Tries: Anthonie Gronum, Dumisani Matyeshana, Christo van Niekerk, Pellow van der Westhuizen, penalty try, Bom Samaai (2), Deon Scholtz. Conversions: Clayton Durand (4), Cecil Dumond. Penalties: Durand (3).
Valke - Try: Warren Perkins. Penalty: Deon Anderson.