Last gasp victory for Warriors
Spectators, coaches and teammates were on the edge of their seats (if they were sitting!).
There’s nothing like a one-point win to make victory taste sweet. When it comes from being 23-3 down with only 17 minutes remaining, then it’s even more so.
That’s how the South Coast Warriors got it done against arch rivals Kokstad in First Division South league action at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground last Saturday.
It was a comeback of note, with the winning try being dotted down in the dying moments of the game.
However, the try wasn’t enough – Daryn Nyman still needed to slot the conversion which he did in his usual cool and calm manner.
The seconds had set the tone with a comfortable enough (in the end) win of 32-21.
Tries were scored by Arno Smith, Tristan Parsons, Wayne de Beer (3) and Thami Jabulane.
It set the stage for the main match, played out on a sunny afternoon.
“It was a brilliant day of rugby from both teams and opponents. Taking the wins was the cherry on top,” said head coach Niko Potgieter.
Try scorers for the firsts were Tyreek Naicker, Joshua Walden and Zayden de Heer, with Daryn Nyman kicking three conversions and a penalty to ensure the final score of 24-23.
After a rocky start to the season the Warriors have won their last three games in a row, with the win over Kokstad vital to ensure they stay in the running to win the league. They are currently in third place.
RESULTS
First team: Lost to Kokstad (a) 20-15, lost to Hillcrest (h) 15-10, beat Pietermaritzburg (h) 52-13, lost to Hillcrest (a) 74-8, beat Toti (a) 15-12, beat Ballito (a) 22-16, beat Kokstad (h) 24-23.
Second team:
Beat Kokstad (a) 29-3, beat Hillcrest (h) 26-22, beat Pmb (h) forfeit, lost to Hillcrest (a) 43-7, lost to Toti (a) 46-7, beat Ballito (a) forfeit (no medics), beat Kokstad (h) 32-21.
FIRSTS: 15 AJ Pienaar, 14 Juan Buitendag, 13 Marthinus Fritz, 12 Marchell Sass, 11 Zayden de Heer, 10 Daryn Nyman, 9 Ajay Bowen, 8 Tyreek Naicker, 7 Westley Nyman, 6 Kyle Bean, 5 Ockert Schonken, 4 Chris Sharpe, 3 Eduard Pretorius, 2 Wessel Strydom, 1 Rowan Gasa.
Bench: Andries Herbst, Thamsanqa Jalubane, Joshua Walden, Bulali Madikizela, Lodewyk Marais, Arno Smith, Tristan Parsons.
SECONDS: 15 Keketso Mfolozi, 14 Willie Bronkhorst, 13 Arno Smith, 12 Lodewyk Marais, 11 Connor Davidson, 10 Qhathizwe Xaba, 9 Tristan Parsons, 8 Bulali Madikizela, 7 Wayne de Beer, 6 Jason Otto, 5 Jacob Classen, 4 Barry de Beer, 3 Celimpilo Goodhope Cele, 2 Andries Herbst, 1 Thamsanqa Jalubane.
Bench: Francois Slippers, Lili Mtebele, Grant Marks, Joshua Wild, Clay Potgieter, Jacques Nel.
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