Leopards maul Welwitschias to go top

THE Leopards ran in 11 tries as they hammered the Namibian Welwitschias 78-29 (halftime 31-12) in their Currie Cup First Division encounter at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.

It was the host’s third victory in four matches and as a result of gaining the bonus point for scoring more than four tries, their overall log tally of 18 now sees them surpass the Down Touch Griffons (15 points) into top spot.

Opening the scoring in just the second minute was Welwitschias eighthman, Christo van der Merwe, who crossed for a try which Macho Prinsloo converted.

Flyhalf Schalk Hugo got the Leopards on the board moments later with a penalty in the 14th minute, before tighthead prop Dewald Dekker scored the Leopards’ first try in the 20th minute. Hugo’s conversion put the Leopards in front and they would not relinquish their scoreboard ascendancy for the remainder of the match.

A brace of tries from Hugo and Jeandre Rudolph made it seem as if the Leopards had run away with it at the half hour mark, however Prinsloo pulled back the deficit with an unconverted try.

Crucially for the Leopards, they secured their four-try bonus point on the stroke of halftime with a Bradley Moolman score as the hosts led 31-12 at the break.

The Leopards came out firing in the second half, racking up their half century in quick time as they blitzed three tries inside the first 10 minutes. Rudolph and Moolman both completed their brace, before fullback Lungelo Gosa got himself on the board with a try.

50 turned to 57 soon after as winger Gene Willemse got over, before tries from Francois Wiese and Lesley Klim gave the visitors some respite.

However, the relentless attack of the Leopards continued to yield rewards, with Marno Redelinghuys and Jimmy Mpailane taking the hosts into the 70s.

Klim got his second inside the last 10 minutes, but it was to be the Leopards who had the last say with a Dean Gordon score on the stroke of fulltime.

A 16-try festival of rugby it was in Potchefstroom, with the Leopards comfortably emerging the victors with a 78-29 win.

Flyhalf Hugo ending with a personal tally of 28 points in the 107 point affair.

SCORERS:

Leopards – Tries: Dewald Dekker, Schalk Hugo, Jeandre Rudolph (2), Bradley Moolman (2), Lungelo Gosa, Gene Willemse, Marno Redelinghuys, Jimmy Mpailane, Dean Gordon; Cons: Hugo (10); Pens: Hugo.

Welwitschias – Tries: Christo van der Merwe, Macho Prisloo, Francois Wiese, Lesley Klim (2); Cons: Prinsloo (2). – supersport.com

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