Vryheid Rugby Club – Stand and fight
"What happens in a team like this is just an amazing experience to be a part of. You see people grow, friendships form and legends born. People will tell stories of the days they were part of something life-changing."
PIET Retief played host to Vryheid on Saturday, May 16, in another exhilarating clash of the rugby clubs.
After an impressive winning streak thus far, Vryheid’s second team finally felt the sting of loss as Piet Retief managed to steal the victory, scoring 29 points to Vryheid’s 21. Try scorers for the second team were S Mbatha; R Garner and N Khulu, with J Barnard scoring three conversions.
“Kom ons vat hom op die ken, Vryheid.” said second team coach, Carel Burger on social media. “Nog steeds trots op julle. Welgedaan.”
Vryheid’s first team were on form once more and brought home a convincing win against the host team, with only 14 players on the field after hooker, Tiaan Kruger was red-carded for ‘chirping’ the referee thirty minutes into the match.
Despite what some may consider several bad calls, the men in maroon emerged triumphant with tries being scored by Carel Holtshauzen (1); Mornè Ellis (2); Armandt Holtshauzen (1); Anton Van Der Walt (1); Pieter Cohen (1) and Danie Rudolph (1). Johan Herbst and Andrè Ellis displayed 100 percent accuracy in putting the ball between the posts, with four and two conversions respectively. Piet Retief scored two penalties with an unconverted try in the first half and another unconverted try in the second half.
At the final whistle, the score stood at Vryheid 47 – 16 Piet Retief.
George Fritze was selected as Man of the Match for the Backs, while Jacques Conradie took Man of the Match for the Forwards.
First team Captain, Wessie Van Der Westhuyzen, who successfully led his squad to another impressive victory on Saturday, epitomises good captaincy, giving full credit to his team for the win, but emphasising the fact that the hard work doesn’t stop here.
“The team performance is all thanks to the love and care of each other,” stated the proud first team Captain. “Hard work will be necessary to take this team to the top.”
Former Cheetahs hooker and Vryheid Rugby Club’s current Head Coach, Rich Verster, who received Springbok Colours for rugby in 2007, recalls the immense pride he felt in the squad when they were faced with the daunting task of resuming play after losing a player.
“The team was forced to make a decision,” said Verster. “Give up, or stand and fight.”
“I had to make a sub, as I had no hooker on the field for a scrum,” he continued. “Then Wessie [Van Der Westhuyzen] called the players together, made a huddle and signalled for me to stop and not send anyone on. They had made a pact to stand and fight.”
Vryheid subsequently scored 20 points to Piet Retief’s 5 in the second half, with guts and determination driving them to victory as well as a mutual respect between Captain, Coach and team.
“This is what memories are made of ,” added Verster. “What happens in a team like this is just an amazing experience to be a part of. You see people grow, friendships form and legends born. People will tell stories of the days they were part of something life-changing.”
