‘Tea time’ for Warriors, then a few beers!
The Warriors have heard that Newcastle have conceded, so there won't be any matches involved them this Saturday. However, Kokstad will be in action at Douglas Mitchell tomorrow.
Both South Coast Warriors rugby teams beat Harlequins in the first round of the Junior Murray Cup, setting up epic second round clashes with Maritzburg Rugby Club (2nds) and Hillcrest (1sts), at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground last Saturday.
The seconds put on a brilliant display of team rugby, proving too strong for the visitors, running in four tries to two and winning the game 28-15.
Tries were scored by Che Woodenberg, Grant Marks, Gert Pieterse and Matt Louw. There were two conversions and one penalty by Juan Buitendag.
Men of the match were Buitendag (backs) and Sam Ntshulane (forwards).
This served as a tasty appetizer of what was to come, an absolute humdinger of a match.
Coach Niko Potgieter described it as one of the most exciting matches he’s witnessed, and there have been a few.
The Warriors won the match 14-9 in extra time.
“It was a fantastic game of physical rugby, a real tug of war, with trojan defending from both teams,” he said.
At full time the score was 6-6, both teams battered and bruised, Daryn Nyman having kicked the two penalties.
With only 10 minutes to rest, the players were back at it.
Hillcrest struck first, with a penalty, but then the Warriors backline pulled off a move they have been practising all year but never tried in a match.
Teatime, it’s called, with a centre field scrum just in the opponent’s half – a beautiful 10,12 switch and pop back to the blind side wing Sheldon Rivabella, who produced an amazing solo effort to dot the ball down in the left hand corner for an exhilarating try.
The conversion was missed but the try took the Warriors into a 11-9 lead at the extra time halftime break.
With their tails up, they dominated the last part of the game, Nyman slotting another penalty and closing out the game.
“It was a good feeling knowing that all the hard Tuesday evening fitness sessions have paid off. The team pulled together, with 12 of them playing 100 minutes of rugby, including the starting front row. Super proud of all them,” said Niko.
Men of the match were Jade Nyman (forwards) and Jeandré Michau (backs).
The finals were due to be played at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground this Saturday, with the firsts (Junior Murray Cup) and seconds (Keith Parkinson Cup) both playing Newcastle.
Unfortunately, Newcastle conceded and so these matches won’t be played.
However, Kokstad play DUT in the Findlay Cup.
The Southern KZN U20s narrowly missed out on making it four teams, stumbling at the last hurdle by losing in the semi-finals of the Basil Medway Cup to Varsity College, 22-15.
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