GALLERY: Allies prove their mettle
Allies started to attack more and started making inroads eventually by retaining the ball and keeping it among the forwards primarily.
ALLIES completed their preparations for the defence of their league title at home against a highly rated side from Klerksdorp and proved that they are going to be the team to beat in this year’s competition.
I must be honest, I was expecting a really tough game for Allies because they were playing a team that had already accounted for sides like Helpmekaar 17-6 this year.
The final score of 26-25 (13-12) was a true reflection of the game in which Allies had chances in the later stages to close the game out. I just felt that, as with Secunda, some wrong options at times made such a difference.
Klerksdorp were first on the scoreboard after about 15 minutes after putting the Allies line under siege in the early going, although the Allies defence held out very well.
It was not only well organised, but each player on the field did his part. Even though Allies struggled at times with losing crucial turnovers at ruck time, the pack of forwards were man-for-man in the close encounters.
The early Klerksdorp try seemed to add motivation to attack more and this, when Allies did, changed the complexion of the game.
Allies started to attack more and started making inroads eventually by retaining the ball and keeping it among the forwards primarily.
Their ball retention during this phase of the game was much better.
Taking the lead
Allies managed to force a long-range penalty and correctly went for the three points. Damian Holl had a good day with the boot and kicked a superb kick with the score 3-5. From the restart, Allies didn’t let up and forced another long-range penalty in the middle of the field, which Holl slotted and this took Allies into a 6-5 lead.
The game got even better from an Allies perspective when the very impressive lock, JP Jacobs, who this year is no stranger to the score sheets, burst through to score under the sticks for a converted try to stun Klerksdorp into a 13-5 deficit. We had a game on.
Klerksdorp regrouped well after the restart and started putting pressure on Allies although, again, Allies defended like Trojans. Again it would be fair to single out defenders as it was a team effort.
Eventually, on the stroke of half-time, Klerksdorp managed a try which was converted to cut Allies’ advantage to just one point, but Allies had probably given their best half display of rugby I have seen for a while.
In the second half, the lead changed hands a couple of times with Allies scoring two tries. The second try was an interception by Shaun Potgieter. I don’t think that an intercept is lucky at all. You have to have great vision and be able to read the game.
The first try that Allies scored after the break was as impressive as I have seen from them.
Rounding it up
It was finished off when Rickus Swanepoel crashed over the line from close quarters. But in the lead-up Allies had worked the ball from probably the halfway from the 22m to the 10m line using the pick and drives.
They went from one end of the field to the next showing great driving technique and ball retention.
This is a really good pack of forwards and they can build from here. Captain Thomas Duvenhage can be very proud of his team.
Unfortunately, at the end there was an opportunity to close out the game when Sheldon Mickingly found himself out on the left wing. He spotted a half gap, but was bundled into touch.
It probably would have been better to force another phase that could always result in a penalty, especially with only a one-point deficit. There was also a line-out just outside the 22m area, although it was near the touch line.
Instead of Holl taking a shot, he opted to set up a line-out. He did not make much ground and had been in form all day. Maybe better to back yourself in these situations?
A really good performance, and with just a touch of polishing up, this team has every chance of retaining their title and progressing in the Verseker Beker too.
The only team to win on the day was the u-16s, who accounted for their opponents 29-7 in a truly gritty display. Well done to all Allies teams. The team spirit and discipline were what we have come to expect from you.
Other scores
Second team – 5-7
u-14 – 5-55
u-15 – 0-54
u-16 – 29-7
Point scorers:
1st Team: Damian Holl, two penalties and two conversions.
Tries: JP Jacobs, Rickus Swanepoel and Shaun Potgieter.
u-16:
Tries: Charl Marais, Quintin Nel, Aiden van der Linde, Marko Niewoud and Damian Barnard.
Conversions: Marnus Potgieter (2) and Charl Marais.
Hockey
u-14 – 0-4
u-15 – 1-0
u-16 – 0-1
Second – 0-4
First – 2-1
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