Northernz and Stallions face off

Steinhoff Northernz and Steinhoff Stallions will compete for a coveted Steinhoff Koshuis rugby Championships spot when they face off in the final of the NMMU internal league.

After nine weeks of competition, the two sides came out tops in the semifinals, which took place at the Madibaz Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

In the first of the play-offs, the Steinhoff Stallions dispatched the Steinhoff Pointers with a nail-biting 7-4 win.

The second semifinal made Koshuis rugby history when Steinhoff Northernz and Steinhoff Harlequins ended in a 0-0 deadlock after 10 minutes of extra time.

The match then came down to penalty kicks to determine who would progress to the final.

Northernz nominated Duan van Brouwer shaven, Bean van Eeden and Michael Rademeyer, while Harlequins kickers Rudie Stander, Jacques Moolman and Van Zyl Botha lined up for the task.

Rademeyer slotted his kick first to put Northernz on the board and Stander replied without problem.

The experienced Van Eeden easily drilled the second kick straight through the poles but Botha was unlucky as his went over the upright to give Northernz a 2-1 lead.

Under mounting pressure, Van Brouwer shaven missed, leaving Moolman to even the tally.

The second round of kicks saw Rademeyer make a successful attempt, while Stander pulled his left of the poles.

Van Eeden consolidated Northernz’s lead, but Botha redeemed himself to maintain the one goal difference.

But, in the end, Van Brouwer shaven’s clean strike saw the ball, and Northernz, sail through to their fifth straight final.