Waterkloof through to the Noordvaal Cup semis

Head coach Cobus van Dyk’s best season in charge of Waterkloof just got a lot better. Kloof booked a place in the semifinals of the Noordvaal Cup in a very competitive season by beating defending champions Monument 26-22 in a sudden death last round match.

The match had a nail-biting finish with Monnas down by four points, going for the winning try and first being held up over the line and shortly thereafter seeing one of the players of the match, Zain Henery being stopped millimetres short. The onslaught ended with a knock-on in the act of trying to score the winner.

Much credit has to go to the referee Niel Bosman. He has to be one of the best in the country at this level and needed all his composure and experience for this tight match, in which he seemed to get every critical call spot on.

During the first half Klofies spend long periods camped in and around the Witbulle 22m area. They didn’t have all the ball but seemed to be able to keep their visitors pinned back.  That said, all the hosts had to show for this territory controlling effort was a sole try by hooker Stephan Jacobsz, achieved through some good bashing play and with the help of Monnas struggling lineout work.

Monnas have always been regarded as a physical team but in recent years, their transformation has helped them up the flashiness which was evident in their counter-attacking ability. It was this create something out of nothing by upping the tempo spirit which got them two tries in the first half. Pacy fullback Kealan Milton was the architect of the first try, splendidly finished by nippy scrumhalf Ceanu Everson. The big ground gainer for their second try of the first half was a well-executed kick and chase by wing Ernesto Oerson, which eventually resulted in flank Geoffrey French powering over.

14-5 to Monnas at the break became 19-5 when Zain Henery intercepted from midfield, well inside his own half and made a top class one-handed sling pass to Everson who used his speed to get over for his second try in the corner.

Very soon afterwards, one of Klofies best players on the day, big flank Jean Jooste got his school back into it with a perfect offload off the deck after breaking a tackle, to assist big centre Reuven Ferreira coast in for the first of his two tries.

Kloof’s two next two tries were both the end products of kicks. A pin-point drop out from by fullback Hernus Marais from their 22m was met by an equally good spring into the air by tall wing Waldemar Griesel who then expertly found promising centre Riwan van Aswegen. This equalled the score up at 19-all. Van Aswegen would go on to be named player of the match.

Then a highball exit was allowed to bounce at the back and Ferreira was able to run onto it and breach the static ball-watching defence to get the vital try which handed Kloof the lead for the first time in the match at 26-19.

Monnas kicker Daylon Myners pulled reduced the deficit to four points via a penalty inside the last 10 minutes ahead of the exciting finish.

Waterkloof’s win ensured third place on the table and set up a semifinal against EG Jansen.

In the other semifinal Garsfontein takes on Helpmekaar.

Bittersweet because earlier this year Waterkloof were omitted from Wildeklawer and have been able to prove that they are a quality side who were worthy of that spot in Kimberley.

In 2017 Klofies refused to play Garsfontein in the Noordvaal Cup, due to a dispute and were forced out of the competition. They did not participate in the Cup in 2018 and made a return in 2019.