DESPITE a brave effort, the Fidelity Security South Coast Warriors lost 25-18 to the Newcastle Highlanders in a one-off game for the Dewar Shield in Pietermaritzburg last Saturday.
They certainly could have done with even a little luck, and coach Christo Henderson felt some decisions went against them, they may have been a bit harsh.
“We were very unlucky on the day, with a lot of calls from the referee going against us,” he said.
Newcastle scored two unconverted tries and kicked five penalties.
The Warriors scored two tries (Juan van den Berg and Josh Fourie), one of which was converted by Fourie (his own try). Fourie also kicked two penalties.
Henderson was less than impressed with the officiating.
“The Warriors’ ball was allowed to be slowed down with hands in rucks and off-sides at scrums and rucks,” he said.
Chris Mitchell received a yellow card for a late tackle, but when there was a dangerous high tackle on David van Zyl and a shoulder charge with no arms on Juan van den Berg, no cards were given out. There was also a spear tackle on Mitchell which only led to a penalty,” said Henderson.
The Warriors came in to the game on the back of a break, following UKZN’s inability to field a front row.
So they were rested and ready to go. It just wasn’t to be, not this time around.
Looking ahead, the knockout rounds of the Castle Murray Cup get under way, with the Warriors taking on premier league team Northwood Crusaders at Douglas Mitchell sports ground at 2.30pm.
In the curtain-raiser, the Warriors U20s also play the Northwood Crusaders in the Frank Norris Trophy, at 1pm.
Then, five of the Warriors will play for the Wildebeest team, representing the province at the SARU sub union tournament in Kimberley from September 1 to 6.
The players are Juan van den Berg (captain), Chris Mitchell, Kyle van Deventer, Juandre Koekemoer and Ben Oosthuizen.
