Two tries apiece by Michael Bondesio, Jovan Bowles, Gavin Williamson and Deon Scholtz saw the Leopards to a comprehensive 52-11 (half-time 26-11) victory over the Namibia Welwitschias in their Vodacom Cup match at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The fact of the matter is that the Leopards could have sent the Welwitschias back to Namibia with an even bigger hiding were it not for periodic handling errors due to a slippery ball caused by rain just before kick-off.
The Leopards did not waste any time grabbing their first try as scrumhalf Michael Bondesio, whose return from injury brought some welcome urgency to the base of the scrum, nipped over for a try after just four minutes.
The Welwitschias were also now playing with just 14 men as captain Johannes du Toit was yellow-carded for not releasing the ball as he vainly defended his tryline, but they pulled together superbly and, miraculously kept the Leopards out.
The Namibians were next to score, in fact, when fullback Chrysander Botha kicked over a 23rd-minute penalty to close the gap to 7-3.
The bluntness of the Leopards' attacking efforts began to wear off and centre Jovan Bowles suddenly brought a bland game to life with two tries in two minutes, his second in no small part due to the vision and brilliance of wing Deon Scholtz.
Scholtz kicked a dropped Welwitschias pass ahead and then scooped the ball off the ground as he followed up, before putting in a precise cross-kick for Bowles to touch down.
Flyhalf Marcel du Toit added two more points with his second conversion to extend the lead to 19-3.
The Namibians claimed their only try in the 30th minute when the Leopards failed to stop the rampaging flank Brandon Walters, who safely delivered the ball to wing Llewellyn Winkler to score.
But five minutes later, the visitors conceded the bonus point try as they could not arrest a rolling maul by the Leopards and hooker Gavin Williamson was driven over the line.
The Leopards went about their business with more ruthlessness in the second half and their first two tries after the break were products of the splendid work done by their dominant forwards.
Five minutes after the break, the Leopards mauled and drove for all of 25 metres and Williamson was once again the ball-carrier when they crossed the line, and, 14 minutes later, the forwards earned a penalty and Bondesio took a quick tap and darted over for the try.
Du Toit converted and his boots were treating him better than those of Welwitschias kicker Botha, who missed two penalties in two minutes.
Nevertheless, Du Toit was replaced by Clayton Durand and he converted both tries that Scholtz eased over for in the last 10 minutes.
Scholtz has so much pace and is clearly going to be a threat to all the Leopards' opposition this year, but he also possesses delectable skills. He was well-supported by outside centre Bowles.
Du Toit also enjoyed a top-class game and proved himself to be a confrontational, attacking flyhalf. Bondesio had a busy game at scrumhalf on his return to the team.
Welwitschias eighthman Pieter-Jan van Lill stood out with his pace and work-rate despite most of his teammates being on their knees and he will clearly be a player to watch for the Namibians going forward. – www.supersport.com.
Scorers
Leopards - Tries: Michael Bondesio (2), Jovan Bowles (2), Gavin Williamson (2), Deon Scholtz (2). Conversions: Marcel du Toit (4), Clayton Durand (2).
Namibia Welwitschias - Try: Llewellyn Winkler. Penalties: Chrisander Botha (2).