Warriors repel Rhino’s charge
Some pride was restored as the team finally found fifth gear.
IT looked a little like the Riversmead South Coast Warriors took a leaf out of the Springboks’ book last Saturday.
The Warriors romped to a convincing 43-19 win over the Empangeni Rhinos in Premier League action at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground.
Later in the day, the rejuvenated Boks secured a third consecutive win over the French, the last game of the tour played at Emirates Airlines Park (Ellis Park) in Johannesburg.
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There was no shortage of passion and flair as they ran the ball, tackled like madmen, and celebrated jubilantly when crossing the chalk.
The Warriors that is… but the Boks displayed the same traits.
You’d have thought maybe it was a final of some sorts. Quite the opposite, as the local team has had a rough season in the premier league.
Still, they played their hearts out, led by scrumhalf Chris Mitchell and player/coach 8th man Juan van den Berg.
“The boys really came to play and we produced an effort we knew were capable of. It may have been late in the season, but better late than never,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell, showing no signs of his recent injury issues, played like a slightly shorter but probably broader version of ‘Thor’… he seemed to be everywhere, wreaking havoc for the Rhinos and setting up some sparkling backline moves.
“It was awesome to get back to winning ways,” he said.
Van den Berg, who scored three tries, showed some impressive bursts of pace for a supposed ‘ballie’ in the side, plus some neat offloading skills. Not quite Sonny Bill, but you get the picture.
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Hooker Damian May also bagged a hat-trick, with the other try scored by wing Luyanda Sithole.
Flank Dawie Durrheim produced a few scything runs through the mid-field, slicing open the defence.
It was brutal strength of the tight five that helped set this up, giving the Warriors plenty of go-forward.
The Rhinos certainly did not give up, even when the Warriors ran in a bunch of tries and had a big lead.
At one point one of their players was binned, resulting in someone from the sideline urging the team to remain calm.
Kicking duties were shared between fly-half Jaques Petzer-Moore and centre Tienie Viljoen, the latter back with the gas men and not among the loosies.
The second team also had a cracking game, overcoming a huge deficit to run out winners. At one stage they were 33-14 down but fought back to win 38-33. That’s a special effort.
Lookng ahead, the Warriors have a bye this weekend, but may play a friendly in Kokstad.
They’ll hope Newcastle can beat the Rhinos in Empangeni (a difficult task), and then try and beat visiting Newcastle and Jaguars in the remaining two games of the league.
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