Emphatic turn-around for Toti rugby teams

AFTER a disappointing loss to UKZN Impi last week, Toti Rugby Club’s 1st team bounced back in emphatic fashion to comprehensively beat Pietermaritburg Collegians 57-24 at Hutchison Park on Saturday.

Although the scoreline might suggest that this was an easy victory, and in the end it probably was, it was the visitors from the capital who did all the early playing and were rewarded with the first try of the match, barely five minutes into the game. Although Toti did reply almost immediately with a try of their own, Collegians struck back with another converted try and now seemed to be growing in confidence.

Whatever was said to the players by the captain as they stood behind the poles waiting for the conversion seemed to work, because for the next 25 minutes it was all Toti as they ran in 24 unanswered points to take away the game from their opponents. Collegians scored against the run of play on the stroke of half time to take them to within 10 points of the home team.

The second half saw Toti score a further 26 points through some enterprising play between backs and forwards. Standout players on the afternoon were the loose forwards Mike Uppink, Sabata Mokhachane and Kevin Buck who moved to the side of the scrum from hooker to accommodate Sharks hooker Monde Hadebe, who, with Tyrone ‘T-Bone’ Trembath, Thinus Volker, and later big Dave Hawksworth, made it a very long afternoon for their opposite numbers. The back division also played their part, and it was difficult to choose the man of the match. In the end the award went to winger Kyle Lubbe, and he and flanker Sabata Mokhachane received Eagle Canyon Spur man of the match vouchers for their efforts.

2nd XV:

Like the 1st XV, Toti Rugby Club’s 2nd team also had a disappointing loss last week against Impi.

However, this week saw the team growing in confidence and turning things around with an emphatic 43-6 win.

Try scorers were JH Botha (2), J Jonkerman, J Blignaut, D Kelly, D Pool and J Prinsloo with W Pretorius converting four of the tries. It was an all-round polished performance by the whole team and things are looking good going into the second round of fixtures.

3rd XV:

Supported by a boisterous gathering of the 1st and 2nd XV as well as their usual beer-swilling group of loyal followers, Toti Rugby’s 3rd team came up against Queensburgh on Thursday night.

The 3rds put on a spectacular display of running rugby, much to the delight and amusement of their band of followers. Such was the skill, pace and brutality of the display it left many on the side lines wondering how this bunch of misfits do not go onto far higher honours. On a serious note, the support was greatly appreciated and a fantastic night was once again enjoyed by all.

Round 2 of the Fidelity Security Moor Cup starts on Friday evening, 5 June with Toti 1st and 2nd teams making the trip to Ranleigh Crescent in Durban North to take on Nashua Crusaders. The 2nd team kick-off is scheduled for 6.30pm with the first team at 8pm. The 3rd team will travel to Scottburgh on Saturday afternoon, 6 June to take on Scottburgh. The kick-off is scheduled for 3pm.