Harlequins extended their lead at the top of the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby competition when they beat second-placed Gardens 32-26 in Kariega on Saturday.
Though Harlequins have been on the sidelines for the past few weeks, they delivered a clinical display to subdue a determined Gardens side.
The Gqeberha outfit were always dangerous with ball in hand and were rewarded with tries from Liqhawe Mokuena, Cameron Jantjies, Qeutyne Oerson and Chriszuan Slabbert.
Harlequins loose forward Jerome Manakaza delivered a strong all-round display and was named as his team’s man of the match.
Thanks to their win, Harlequins top the log with 88 points from 21 outings and Gardens have 77 points from two games less.
It was a third consecutive Top 12 loss for Gardens after earlier defeats against Progress and Star of Hope before the Kariega side started their Gold Cup campaign four weeks ago.
Gardens conclude their league programme with an away match against Trying Stars at Wentzel Park in Alexandria on Saturday.
The Kariega side’s involvement in the Gold Cup ended when they were beaten 40-35 by Villager after a titanic tussle in Cape Town two weeks ago.
EP rugby bosses have yet to make a ruling on Gardens’ abandoned match against Progress after a crowd invasion at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium.
Though organisers have not finalised the dates yet, it is expected that the Top 12 semifinals will be played on November 1 and the final a week later.
A venue for the final has yet to be decided on but it may be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
There had been doubts whether Saturday’s rescheduled match would proceed as planned at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium.
EP announced on Friday that the union’s Boksmart (SA’s national rugby safety programme) representative would assess the field.
Gardens were informed that after the assessment a final call would be made on whether to move the clash to an alternative venue.
Later on Friday, to the relief of their supporters, Gardens announced that the field had met all Boksmart regulations and the match would continue as planned.
Saturday’s clash had originally been scheduled to take place on August 2 but was postponed at the last minute after safety concerns were expressed regarding gang activity.
“Die Hok” was in the headlines in June after a crowd invasion, which resulted in a pivotal match between Gardens and Progress being abandoned.
Fans rushed onto the pitch after Gardens scored a late try to level a thrilling game at 13-13.
Progress are disputing whether the try was awarded and claim the score was 13-8 in their favour when the teams left the field.
When pandemonium broke out, referee Aphiwe Mfana left the field before the conversion could be taken.
Third-placed Progress, with 74 points from 20 outings, beat Star of Hope 24-12 in a friendly match at the Central Field in Kariega on Saturday.
The game was arranged to ensure Progress were battle-ready for the playoffs.
Results:
Grand Challenge: Gardens 26 Harlequins 32.
Friendly: Progress 24 Star of Hope 12.
EPRU Andre Rademan Under-21 Cup final: NMU Madibaz 34 Gardens 0.
Gold Cup semifinals: Villager 30 College Rovers 21, Northam Rhinos 22 Naka Bulls 28.
The Herald
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