A fit, well-drilled and motivated White River Rugby Club first team dismantled Ferros in a MRU Super League match on Saturday.

From the second minute when hooker WF Kotze went over for White River’s first try, the home team never looked like losing the match.

White River won their first competitive match of the season 42-24. The half-time score was 35-14.

Ferros made too many unforced errors and poor decisions on the field. White River did the basics well and the rest fell into place.

They were 35-14 up at half-time after tries from Kotze, fly half Eldred James, and loose forwards Ross O’Mahony and Coenraad Scheepers.
James was flawless with the boot and finished the match with a 100 per cent goal-kicking record.

Wing Hugo van der Merwe and centre Henson Ngozo scored first-half tries for Ferros. Scrum half Johan Badenhorst nailed two conversions.

The first half was dominated by the home team. The tight five were rock solid and set the foundation for the loose forwards and backs to play those few extra split seconds needed to put the defence under pressure.

Mervin Gilbert, Kotze and Hennie Roos scrummed well and Gilbert and Kotze were like extra loose forwards in defence and retaining possession.

Jaco Bouwer and Scheepers’ work rates in particular, were astounding.

Dewald Pretorius was almost out on his feet at the end of the match, such was his effort on attack and defence.

Young James is not the biggest rugby player, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in brains and heart. At the vital position of fly half, his decision-making was excellent and his defence fearless.

A motivated Ferros team came out in the second half and scored two tries (prop MC Botes and lock Waldo Nelson) to take the score to 35-24 with 20 minutes left.  White River took it up a notch.

It was fitting that one of the most valuable contributors to the match effort, Kotze, claimed his second and White River’s sixth try.

White River will face arch-rivals Nelspruit away this coming Saturday.