U20s scrape home against Midlands

Mike Harrison

IT was a good day for Empangeni at Mick Kelly Park on Friday night with Rhinos I and the U20s emerging with victories.
Unfortunately, Maritzburg Varsity could not field a second team, giving Rhinos II a walkover
It was a close call with the U20As getting the better of Midlands 24-22, but it was a match spoilt by far too many penalties.
I’m not sure whether it was an indifferent display by the home team or their lack of knowledge of the laws that almost cost them the game.
The visitors were able to keep in touch with five penalties and a converted try.
Empangeni, who were 13-12 down at half time, scored four tries, picking up a bonus point which gave them five log points and nine for the season to date.
Lesley Dean Luiters scored a try by kicking through and winning the race for the ball in the ingoal area.
He was also involved in the second try, but this time it was Uwe Schmahl who got to the ball to score.
Louis Kruger converted.
A third penalty soon after the break stretched the lead to 16-12, but then Empangeni scored their third try from a tap penalty.
Their backs ran well and with Midlands running out of numbers, it was Francois Bodenstein who scored in the corner (17-16).
With penalties coming freely, Midlands were back in the lead, two points ahead.
And then from a scrum five metres out, it was Aubrey Kruger who crashed over for the bonus point try.
Kruger converted the most important kick of the match (24-19).
But the home team erred once more and Midlands slotted their fifth penalty to complete the scoring.