Mixed fortunes in Delmas

The u-21 team came up against Elburg Rugby Club’s u-21s, and the team gelled quite well in a tough match that ended in a stalemate, with both teams at 19-19.

It was a tough match, that was not decided until the very last minute, when Elsburg slotted a penalty to snatch victory from Benoni and earn a draw.

Elsburg had the lead for most of the match, but the Benoni players remained in the game courtesy of some strong defending.

The second side played Ferros, but the Witbank side proved too strong and beat them 0-46.

There was some enterprising rugby played at times by Benoni’s second team, but they could just not convert their positive moves into points.

The big surprise of the day came when the Benoni first XV squared up against Harlequins, from the Blue Bulls Union.

No one would have put a penny on Benoni winning this one, but the team came together and defeated their much-fancied opposition 7-0.

The team played as a unit and countered everything their opposition threw at them.

Benoni were also the better team at the breakdowns.

In the 14th minute, captain Frans-Louis van Greunen went over for a try, after some good play by the Benoni team.

This proved to be the only points that would be scored in the match.

The remainder of the game was hard-fought, and Benoni’s defence proved to be extremely solid as they kept Harlequins from scoring time after time.

This weekend pre-season friendlies are a thing of the past, as the Assupol League gets underway and Benoni travel to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT),on Saturday, March 1.

“It is going to be a very tough league, but it will be good preparation for when the regional Valke League starts in May,” said Benoni Rugby Club’s public relations officer, Steve Myburgh.