The ACDC Ballito Dolphins ended their turbulent season with a commanding nine-try victory over Maritzburg Rugby Club in front of an elated home crowd at Oaklands Equestrian Estate.

In a First Division South “battle of the basement” clash, the Dolphins delivered a scintillating all-round performance, ending in a score of 57-17 on Saturday. The display was a showcase of forward dominance and backline flair, a stark contrast to the misfortunes that plagued much of their campaign.

After a season marred by more than 20 injuries, many to key and experienced players, the Dolphins finally found their rhythm. The return of several players from injury added much-needed cohesion to a youthful squad that had struggled for consistency.

Head coach Jared Stanford expressed his relief and pride after the match.

“This win was well overdue, everything just clicked. We gained some depth with returning players and the boys played with freedom. I’m delighted for them.”

Despite finishing second bottom in the standings, narrow margins defined their season. The Dolphins lost four matches by seven points or fewer, often undone by bad luck or contentious officiating. However, ill-discipline and too many unforced errors compounded the team’s struggles.

“We had a lot of under-20s stepping up, which is always a challenge. A call here or there, and things might have looked very different. We need to be better disciplined and take our chances next season,” said Stanford.

Captain Gavin Lombard echoed the sentiment, praising the team’s resilience and hunger to finish strong.

“We let ourselves down this season, but it was a relief to finally get back to winning ways. We wanted to entertain and play attractive rugby, and we did.”

Lombard highlighted the pack’s dominance as the foundation for the win.

“Maritzburg have a big pack, but we dominated. Our forwards got stuck in, which gave the backs the platform to finish clinically,” he said.

With young talent blooded and key players returning, the Dolphins will look to build on this momentum heading into the next campaign.

The 2nd XV ran in six tries to beat Maritzburg 34-12 to finish fifth in the First Division South Reserves league.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.