Nail-biting loss for Maroon Machine against Sentraal
On February 24, they will continue by squaring up against Pongola on their home field
The men in maroon travelled to Dundee over the weekend to face last season’s runners-up, Sentraal, as part of their pre-season warm-up games. Vryheid fielded a young team, with Coach Lwazi Mduli spoiled for choice in all areas of the team.
The Vryheid rugby players got off to a slow start, allowing the Sentraal men to score the first try. The resurgence was fuelled by the ‘big men’ in front, with hard tackles and determined defence. Vryheid quickly scored with an awesome interception from young wing Mnoto. The game then proceeded in a tit-for-tat fashion. In the later stages, it was evident that the Vryheid men were the fitter team, making the usual practice of rolling substitutions unnecessary. Vryheid’s downfall was the set pieces, though, with the more experienced Sentraal team asking many questions of their opponents.
This made setting up phases more difficult, with the ball slower off the base to the backline. This effectively killed Vryheid’s backline play, which, when in motion, was scintillating to watch as they bedazzled the entire Sentraal team. Unfortunately, the final score was 12-17 to Sentraal.
Vryheid Rugby Club is continually impressed by the talent produced in our little town, but the absence of senior forwards was noticed. The young players tackled like men possessed and the Vryheid backline is going to be a nightmare for the entire NKZN League.
The Vryheid team will continue their pre-season warm-up games by taking on Ermelo this coming weekend in Mpumulanga.
On February 24, they will continue by squaring up against Pongola on their home field.
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
