Diggers Rugby Club hosted Roodepoort Rugby Club in much-anticipated derby matches on April 17.

The derby against Roodepoort always carries extra weight for the local boys, but this was different; tighter, colder, and charged with pride from both sides. Before the headline teams took centre stage, it was the Diggers’ 3rd team who quietly lit the fuse on the Friday night. Under the floodlights, with a thin winter chill settling in, they delivered a performance built not on flair, but on stubborn resolve.

Read more: Diggers third team draws first blood in derby clash against Roodepoort 

From the beginning of the clash, it was clear this would be no easy contest. Roodepoort came out hard – every tackle, every breakdown, every inch of turf contested.” But Diggers answered with equal resolve.

The Randburg boys scored the first try but missed the conversion. A few minutes later, after applying pressure, the visitors had a penalty to make it 5–3. After a great play, the hosts got another try and again failed to add the two points (10–3).

Crunching tackles kept the spectators entertained. Roodepoort clawed back into the game with their first try, and after the conversion, it was level at 10–10 before halftime.

This wasn’t going to be decided by who played prettier rugby; it would come down to who endured longer.

After a late try and conversion for Diggers, the final whistle blew, and the scoreboard read 17–10; a hard-fought victory and statement were made. As the crowd cheered, it was clear the night belonged to the hosts, and the derby had just begun.

Also read: Diggers outplayed by ruthless Wits attack

Diggers went on to dominate the derby evening, winning almost all the games convincingly. David Jordaan, Diggers seniors head coach, said that it was extremely important for the club to bounce back after a tough outing a week before. It forced the teams to lean into a bit of resilience, and to come out on top was a massive boost of confidence.

“The 3rd team boys are the vibe of the club, and that brought massive energy to the boys for the rest of the night.”

He added that at the beginning of every season, they set out how they want to be perceived as a club, irrespective of results.

“This is only the second season that Diggers has had the opportunity to play in one of the top club competitions in the country. We are here to run our own race, and we must be deliberate in our planning and ensure we create an environment that is conducive for our players to reach their potential”

Diggers vs Roodepoort results:

• U21 – 28–0
• U19 – 5–12
• 3rd team – 17–10
• 2nd team – 19–14
• 1st ream – 22 –18

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