SLC derby duel delivers

In a highly-anticipated and extremely entertaining Super League C derby match on Saturday 26 April, the spoils were shared when Strand United clashed with Strand RFC at the Abattoir Sports Ground.

The game started at a ferocious pace with Strand RFC displaying their entire attacking artillery in launching waves of attack with driving mauls and backs running from various angles.

However, United’s defense was of equal measure, led by inspirational vice-captain Zane Daniels.

Liga was the first to score following sustained pressure applied by the forwards and the backs rounding off in the corner. The conversion was successful (0-7).

The try ignited the fire within United’s pack of forwards, which slowly began to apply a stranglehold on the visitors. Captain Tyronne Jones and Yusuf Arnold lead from the front as United crawled their way back into the encounter. They were rewarded with a penalty, which Rizaa Collins converted (3-7).

The home side maintained this stranglehold with aggressive forward play and were rewarded when Arnold dotted down; Collins again converted (10-7).

Just before the break, United were awarded another penalty, which Collins converted to take his side to a 13-7 break at half-time.

The match had all the ingredients of a classic derby, and the spectators could not wait for the second half to begin.

Liga scored just after half-time, and it was clear the substitutions made were spot on, as the tide slowly started to turn in their favour. They scored another three tries, mainly through rolling mauls, but unfortunately they couldn’t convert any of the tries.

United were kept in the contest through the boot of Collins, who slotted a late penalty to tie the score at 22-22.

The try-scorers for Strand RFC were Reagan Bosman, Ebrahiem Fortuin, Nathan Hugo and Fadiel Harris, while Nathan Fransman slotted a conversion.

In Super League A, Helderberg Rugby Club was in good form at against hosts Unimil.

After a good first half with a 26-15 lead, they ultimately triumphed with a score of 50-27. Berge scored eight tries against the five of their opponents.

However, the home team was first on the scoreboard (5-0) in the 11th minute, but Helderberg’s hooker, Mauritz Swart, equalised with a try in the corner (5-5) three minutes later.

Then flanker Blaine Skelton went over for a try, which captain Michael Visser converted (5-12).

Three minutes later again, Visser kicked a ball forward, followed up and dotted down. His successful conversion made it 5-19. Unimil responded with two unconverted tries (15-19).

Just before half-time, right wing, Ovain Engelbrecht, set off on a strong run before cutting inside to his left wing Jeandre Lukas, who was too quick for the defenders and scored in the corner. Visser converted (HT: 15-26).

On resumption, Engelbrecht was full of running and applied good pressure to score twice in the corner (15-36).

The home side showed they were still in the game with two tries, one of which was converted (27-36).

However, Unimil’s energy was depleted, and Helderberg finished strongly with a brilliant 40-meter run Lukas, who scored a converted try.

This was followed by Helderberg’s eighth try by Visser, who also converted his own try, bringing the final score to 27-50.

Other results:

Super League B: Collegians 31- 32 Macassar;

Super League C: All Saints 24-10 Caledonian Roses;

Northern League: Raithby 40- 24 Albions, Excelsior 39-19 Gordon’s Bay Pioneers, Sir Lowrians 26-17 Blue Stars United.

Fixtures Saturday 3 May:

SLA: St George’s vs UCT (away);

SLB: All Saints vs Strand United (Abattoir), Strand RFC vs Young Peoples (Gustrouw);
SLC: Macassar vs Primrose RFC (Riverside Park);

Northern League: Raithby Universals vs Stellenbosch-Coronations (away), Sir Lowrians vs Windmeul United (SLP).