GENE Willemse scored a hat-trick of tries while Johan Deysel scored 24 points as the Leopards came out on top of a high-scoring tussle, beating the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias 54-42 (halftime 35-21) in a Currie Cup First Division tussle at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
The centre and captain scored two tries and slotted seven conversions as the visitors ran in eight tries to the home side’s six in a high scoring affair in the Namibian capital.
The Leopards’ skipper scored his five pointers either side of the halftime whistle while the Welwitschias had to spend the first ten minutes of the second stanza a man short as scrumhalf Camerol Klassen was sent to the sin-bin.
The men from Welkom in the Free State opened up a quick 21-point lead with three tries inside the first 13 minutes as flanker Henro-Pierre Swart, flyhalf Willemse and lock Loftus Morrison all crossed the whitewash with Deysel converting for a healthy lead.
But the home side required just 12 minutes to draw the scores level as right wing Phillip Nashikaku, Number 8 Leneve Damens and left wing Gino Wilson struck back with venom. Flyhalf Eugene Jantjies slotted all the conversions to leave matters level after 25 minutes.
The Leopards though finished off the first half the stronger of the two sides as Willemse and Deysel conspired to put the visitors into a 14-point lead at halftime as both players crossed the line with Deysel converting.
Willemse completed his hat-trick straight after the restart, rounding off a good move and the Leopards extended their lead to 21 points with Deysel landing the conversion.
But the home side were not to be left behind and struck back with two converted tries of their own through fullback Chrysander Botha and replacement wing Lesley Klim.
The Leopards then put the game beyond doubt as right wing Rowayne Beukman dashed down the line for a converted try before Deysel added his second with just five minutes left on the clock.
The home side scored a consolation try on the stroke of full time with Klim adding his second of the afternoon which Jantjies converted. – supersport.com
SCORERS:
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias – Tries: Lesley Klim (2), Chrysander Botha, Gino Wilson, Leneve Damens, Phillip Nashikaku; Conversions: Eugene Jantjies (6).
Leopards – Tries: Gene Willemse (3), Johan Deysel (2), Henro-Pierre Swart, Loftus Morrison, Rowayne Beukman; Conversions: Deysel (7).
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