Sentraal demolish Highlanders on opening day of rugby league

It was a dark and rainy Saturday afternoon but for Sentraal there has not been a brighter day in many a year. A motivated host team demolished the Newcastle Highlanders 88-0 in an impressive performance that marked the opening day of the official Northern KZN rugby league.

It was said that this was the Highlanders third team as their first and second teams were playing in Secunda but this and the gloomy weather did not seem to bother the large crowd that turned up to support the boys in blue and white, with the Bulls/Stormers game, that was broadcast on television at the same time, seemingly not interesting the local fans. The Highlanders were under pressure from the start with Sentraal crossing the try line within the first three minutes. This set the trend for the rest of the game with Sentraal dominating play.

Xander Kriel, Renier van Rooyen and Jan-Frederick van Zyl all put in fine performances for which the visitors had no answer for. Credit, though, must go to the Highlanders fly half, Jaco Laing, who despite a knee injury sustained in the first half, played through the pain barrier. With his team not having any substitutes to bring on, he did not really have a choice but to put on a brave face. The try festival meant that Sentraal go give all their substitutes a run out on the field. Derek Basson of Sentraal Rugby Club said the fine performance would serve as a great motivation for the players.

“We are playing Highlanders second side next Saturday at home and am sure that after this victory, our fans will be eager to support the boys,” he said. He thanked the supporters for braving the wet weather and Dundee High for the continued use of the facilities.