Collegians continue unbeaten as Toti falter
Collegians centre, Calvin Sacks, who had taken over the kicking duties from the injured Campbell, slotted a penalty kick late in the half to take the score to 13-7, but it was still anybody’s game.
AMANZIMTOTI Rugby Club’s weekend fixtures:
1st XV:
SA Home Loans Durban Collegians kept their unbeaten record intact with a narrow 13-7 victory over Toti Rugby Club first team at Hutchison Park on Friday evening.
Collegians came into the game as clear favourites, and with their huge pack, they put the early pressure on the home team.
This paid dividends early in the first half when Toti were penalised for an infringement at the ruck, and Collegians flyhalf Duncan Campbell made no mistake with the conversion to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead. Not long after that, a lapse in concentration on defence from the home team allowed Collegians centre Andrew Holland to exploit the numbers mismatch and score close to the uprights, giving Campbell the easiest of conversions to go 10-0 up. The remainder of the first half remained scoreless as both teams looked for weaknesses to exploit, with neither team giving an inch.
The second half saw the home team grow in confidence, and with the introduction of tight head prop Thinus Volker into the mix, Toti took the ascendency at scrum time. This allowed for a bit more front foot ball, which was used to good effect, and it wasn’t long before Toti hooker, Kevin Buck, provided the moment of magic which had the crowd on their feet. Picking up the ball at the base of the ruck, he scythed through the Collegians A and B defence, which had shifted in anticipation of the ball being sent wide, breaking through two tackles on his way to the try line. Jaco de Jager added the conversion and with the score on 10-7, the game was set for an exciting finish.
Collegians centre Calvin Sacks, who had taken over the kicking duties from the injured Campbell, slotted a penalty kick late in the half to take the score to 13-7, but it was still anybody’s game. Toti had a further two clear cut opportunities to score at the death, but mistakes at crucial times robbed them of the chance to claim a famous victory. The Eagle Canyon Spur men of the match awards went to Kevin Buck in the forwards, and to Sheldon Higgo in the backs
2nd XV:
The second team came up against a very powerful Collegians team who were boosted by players making way for Vodacom players in their first team. Collegians who lead the log with College Rovers very seldom let Toti into the game. However, there were clearly moments of brilliance by certain players and a spirited performance by the whole team that can be used in games going forward. The final score was 59–3 in favour of the visitors.
3rd XV:
Toti thirds once again went into the fray on Thursday night, this time in the return fixture against Ogwini Bafana.
After a slow start, the old diesel engine kicked into life and the tries started to flow for the ‘old buggers’.
Dominating all facets of play, the Toti thirds ran in some spectacular tries to emerge 48-5 winners. Next up for the thirds will be Hillcrest Villagers thirds who currently lie two places behind Toti on the log in fourth place, in what should be an entertaining encounter.
Toti next take on Jonsson College Rovers on Friday night, 3 July at their Growthpoint Kings Park headquarters. The second team are scheduled for a 6.30pm kick-off, with the first team kicking off at 8pm. The third team will play Hillcrest at home also on Friday night with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.
