The atmosphere was electric at Vryheid Rugby Club on August 8 as the local grounds hosted the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union (KZNRU) First Division Finals, also known as the South vs North finals.

For Vryheid Rugby Club, the occasion was particularly significant, marking the club’s first appearance in the finals since 2017 as the home side chased its first championship title since 2010.

The day also made history as women’s rugby teams took to the field at Cecil Emmett Sportsground for the first time as part of the finals.

DUT claims women’s division trophy

The opening match saw the Bears take on the DUT Durban women’s team. The contest was closely fought in the early stages, but DUT gradually gained the upper hand and eventually secured a 24-10 victory to claim the women’s division trophy.

The Second Division final followed, with Amanzimtoti facing Volksrust. Volksrust was unable to field a full squad and had to use unregistered players, resulting in Amanzimtoti being awarded the official victory by default, securing the Brian Irvine trophy.

In a show of sportsmanship and a desire to keep the crowd entertained, the Vryheid Second Team stepped in to fill the gaps and took part in a shortened exhibition match against Amanzimtoti.

Amanzimtoti takes control in Dewar Shield final

The main attraction of the day was the Dewar Shield clash between Vryheid’s First Team and Amanzimtoti’s First Team.

Vryheid struggled to settle early in the final, with several unforced errors allowing Amanzimtoti to take control. The visitors capitalised on the opportunities and went into halftime with an 18-7 lead.

Vryheid returned for the second half with renewed structure and intent and looked determined to fight its way back into the contest.

However, Amanzimtoti’s defence remained well organised and repeatedly shut down Vryheid’s attacking opportunities.

Amanzimtoti eventually secured a 35-14 victory to claim the Dewar Shield and the KZN First Division championship.

Young Vryheid squad gains valuable experience

Despite the disappointment for the home side, Vryheid’s interim coach Richard Pace said the experience would benefit the young squad going forward.

“This may be a disappointment for the Vryheid team, but the team is very young, and this will boost them moving forward,” said Pace after the match.

Vernon Chetty, manager of the KZNRU, praised Vryheid Rugby Club for hosting what he described as a well-planned and well-executed event.

The KZNRU finals are normally played at King’s Park Rugby Stadium, making the opportunity to host the event a significant occasion for the local club and community.

Chetty thanked everyone involved in organising the finals, as well as the Vryheid community for supporting local rugby.

Vryheid turns focus to Murray Cup

While Vryheid missed out on the Dewar Shield, the team will now turn its attention to the Murray Cup. The squad is awaiting the draw to discover its opponent for the first round.

With a young team having gained valuable experience from reaching a major final, the Vryheid Rugby Club will be hoping the lessons from August 8 can help drive the team forward in the next chapter of its season.

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.