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Marumo Gallants were held to a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership encounter with Polokwane City at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Bheki Mabuza opened the scoring at the start of the second half for Gallants but Bonginkosi Dlamini ensured a share of the spoils for the visiting team when he netted with 62 minutes on the clock.
Gallants had started their season in fine form with two wins, over Richards Bay and Orlando Pirates, but have since lost 1-0 to both AmaZulu and Stellenbosch.
But in Polokwane they faced a side who have proven hard to beat this campaign, with just one defeat, away to an in-form Kaizer Chiefs side.
Gallants played the same eleven that narrowly lost to Stellies for this tie, with City's only change from their last outing the reintroduction of Rodney Maphangule.
And it was the home team who looked the more threatening early on with Sekela Sithole heading over a good Monde Mphambaniso delivery from the edge of the six-yard area.
Surprise Manthosi was next with a chance as he powered in a header on goal on the half-hour mark from a corner, that was well saved by Polokwane goalkeeper Brian Bwire.
Gallants remained on top as the half drew to a close, and Teboho Motloung may have done better with a shot he fired just wide, after another promising Gallants attack.
Despite making it to the break on level terms, City were soon behind just after the restart as Bheki Mabuza pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area and fired his shot in off the post.
The response from Rise and Shine was positive as they managed to draw level when Bonginkosi Dlamini played a neat one-two on the edge of the area before firing in a thumping shot into the top right corner of the net.
Gallants remained the better team for the rest of the tie but never really looked like finishing on top.
They did come close to a potential winner late on with a good shot from range from Siyabonga Nhlapo, but Bwire was alert to tip the effort past his right-hand upright.
The result left Gallants in eighth place on the standings with seven points from five games, and City down in 10th with six points.
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