Sentraal scoop silver at Eshowe rugby tournament
With the Pongola centre already celebrating his try, and with no one in defence, Abdullah cross-covered, running the opposition player in and then making a tackle that dislodged the ball for a Sentraal scrum.
Putting the disappointment of their loss against Standerton behind them, the T-Shirts For Afrika Sentraal Rugby Club stormed to victory in the 70th Flya Sportswear BozazCup played in Eshowe on Saturday.
Fourteen teams competed in the tournament and it was the local club who took the sought-after cup after hard-fought final against Hluhluwe which was played in a light drizzle, making the ball difficult to handle.
To add to Sentraal’s success, two players also scooped the individual prizes with Charles Dube winning the trophy for the best backline player and, captain, Henk Booysen the trophy for the best forward.
This was the first time in years that Sentraal participated in this tournament and it meant the team having to leave at 4am for Eshowe on Saturday. The local lads won their first game 10-0 against Varsity Old Boys and followed this with victories over Ushaka Warriors (15-0) and Empangeni (25-0).
Thanks to coach Boy Hesom, driver of the bus Johan Bucher, Ernest de Bruin for the kombi, Henk and Steff and the players for their effort.
Where Sentraal’s fitness let them down against Standerton, the previous weekend, it was a different team that took to the field on Saturday, playing a solid attacking game and so strong on defence, that water would not have got through.
Sentraal then met old rivals Pongola in the semi-finals. In one of the toughest games in the tournament, Sentraal managed to beat Pongola 16- 0. Again, defence was the key and one of the best tackles ever seen was made by Sentraal’s ‘secret weapon’, Abdullah.
With the Pongola centre already celebrating his try, and with no one in defence, Abdullah cross-covered, running the opposition player in and then making a tackle that dislodged the ball for a Sentraal scrum.
The final played against Hluhluwe was a close contest – proof that small towns with one team mean business! Sentraal won the final 18 – 8 and the cup.
Those 8 points from Hluhluwe were the only points scored against Sentraal on the day. Thanks to coach Boy Hesom, driver of the bus Johan Bucher, Ernest de Bruin for the kombi, Henk and Steff and the players for their effort.
Sentraal’s first league games will be against Vryheid on Saturday, from 2pm at Dundee High School on April 2. Please support our local team.
