Madlala stars as Warriors upset Toti
Next game is against Varsity College in Pietermaritzburg this Saturday (17th).
Riversmead Warriors caused something of an upset by beating premier league team Amanzimtoti 27-26 in the opening round of the Murray Cup competition at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground last Friday.
It was played on the Woman’s Day public holiday and the ground was abuzz.
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The curtain-raiser saw the U20s beat Midlands 15-13 in their last game of the season to finish the league in the top three, a significant achievement after propping up the log last year.
Coach Danie Swanepoel’s recruiting skills came to the fore, drawing on the resources of players from the Sharks Academy SKZN to put out a competitive team.
In the main game, Warriors drafted in some players from Kokstad Rugby Club to shore up the holes left by late-season injuries.
Khaya Siqway (prop), Wonga Gede (prop), Vuyisanani Mdingi (lock), Unathi Mgugudo (hooker/loose forward) and Duan Strydom (loose forward) all made the trip to the coast to assist.
Player-coach Juan van den Berg selected himself at inside centre and Chris Mitchell moved back to loose forward from centre.
Star forward for the year, Lunga Madlala, was back from injury and played his heart out, earning the man of the match award.
The game, as expected, was physical and fast.
Tries were scored by outside centre Devan van Eeden, fly-half Daryn Nyman, with Dylan Kroon converting and slotting a number of penalties.
In the Murray Cup competition, if a team scored underneath the poles, it counts for seven points and no conversion is necessary.
Donovan Jonker scored the try of game, chasing down and collecting a neat, downfield kick from scrumhalf Johan Gericke.
The ball bounced between two Toti players, and they were left looking at each other as Jonker grabbed it and scored under the poles.
The Warriors led 24-12 at half-time.
Toti came back into the game in the second half, using their big forwards to score two tries.
Kroon kicked a penalty to keep the Warriors ahead.
The pressure was intense at the end, with Toti camped on the Warriors line but unable to break the solid wall of defence.
Next game is against Varsity College in Pietermaritzburg this Saturday (17th).
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