The Hazyview and Ohrigstad-based Ratels rugby clubs played their Ehlanzeni Mayor’s League match at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, May 24. The game was a curtain-raiser to the SA Cup final between the Airlink Pumas and the Suzuki Griquas.

Hazyview were right on form and cemented their place at the top of the log with a 29-0 victory.

Havyview’s forwards controlled the game and the rest of the team followed suit. The players in light green scored in the sixth minute, with Marno Venter dotting down from an attacking maul.

Eric Hlongwane scored Hazyview’s second try, sniping over the try line after a period of attack in the Ratels’ 22m area.

Hazyview continued to dominate territory and possession, and in the 24th minute Shaun Matsane sliced through the Ratels’ defence for a try. Louis Mulder successfully slotted the conversion. Matsane scored another try just before half-time, once again using his bulk and speed to break the defence, marking the board 22-0 in favour of Hazyview.

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The Ratels upped their strategy in the second half, but Hazyview were there for the challenge and defended well. In the 66th minute the colossal Steven Mhkatshwa barged his way over the line for a Hazyview try. Channan Wieneke kicked through an easy conversion.

The Ratels dug deep in an attempt to get on the scoreboard; they spent much of the final 20 minutes on the attack in Hazyview’s territory. But the Hazyview men defended like Trojans, much to the delight of a large crowd of supporters.

The final score was 29-0, a fair reflection of the game.

While the Ratels lacked the firepower to match the clinical Hazyview game plan, they represented their club with pride.

After the match, both teams’ players separately linked arms to form two lines and approached the main grandstand to show appreciation for the spirit and support of their fans. This special display of club rugby gees was a fitting end to a wonderful fixture.