Golden Eagles triumph in Merlin League final, beating Nigel Rugby Club 14-12
Golden Eagles defeated Nigel 14-12 to win Merlin League championship.
Golden Eagles from the Elsburg Rugby Club were crowned champions of the Merlin League on September 6, following their 14-12 win against arch-rivals Nigel Rugby Club.
The match, dubbed a ‘battle of the giants’, took place at Nigel Rugby Club’s home ground and left the Eagles’ club chairperson Clinton Venter overjoyed.
Expressing his pride and joy, Venter said, “We’re proud of the boys’ achievements; their hard work paid off. It’s a massive win for the club. We played as a unit, training like one.”
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The club, comprising four divisions – the Black Eagles (first team), Golden Eagles (second team), Bald Eagles (Golden Oldies), and juniors (U16s and U8s) – is experiencing renewed momentum across the board.
Venter highlighted the team’s challenging journey to the finals, facing teams from a higher league. “However, we prevailed against all odds,” he said.
“We played the first and second rounds of the league games, won ten, lost two, and drew one. In the first leg, we lost one game, and in the second leg, we lost one and drew one, finishing second on the log with 56 points, just behind the Meyerton Knights.”
The team qualified for the league quarterfinals, then faced Benoni Northern Rugby Club in the semifinals, advancing to the finals against Nigel.
“The win was a team effort, with all other teams in the club rallying behind us in support,” Venter noted.
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The club’s first team, the Black Eagles, concluded the season fifth on the log, with Venter acknowledging that they need to regroup for next year despite having an overall great year.
Meanwhile, the junior teams, including the U16 and U8 teams, are performing well in their ongoing seasons.
“Winning the championship was a huge deal for the team, and it’s clear how much it means to the club. The players’ stories are inspiring,” Venter said.
Despite a successful season, the club wants to develop its facilities and infrastructure. To achieve this, Venter revealed that they are reaching out to local businesses, corporate sponsors, sports organisations, community groups, and government entities to find potential sponsors for rebuilding the facility (club).
