The first team of St George’s RFC emerged victorious in its Super League B (SLB) quarter-final encounter against Bellville RFC at Gustrouw Sports Ground in Strand on Saturday (3 September).
In the crunch match, the home side continued the stellar form they have been showing of late, toppling the visitors with 29-12 to take the spoils and advance to the semi-final round. The Lulu Boys will be happy to have found such consistent form at this point in the season, especially given the uncharacteristic losing start they suffered, and will now look to put their foot on the accelerator as they head into the next round.
On Saturday, the homeground advantage served the hosts well as hundreds of eager and enthusiastic spectators cheered the Lulu Boys on as they ran in a total of five tries – four of them in the first half – in response to the visitors’ two five-pointers.
The Lulus started the outing with dominance and were the first to get the scoreboard ticking as burly prop Edward Makhundayi opened the scoring with a try in the third minute. Just five minutes later, in the eighth minute, hooker Rudi Abrahams extended the home team’s lead with another try.
The visitors responded with a five-pointer in the 13th minute, but the score seemed to spur the spirited and determine Lulu outfit on touch down twice, with winger Junaid Phillips finishing off a brace just before half-time.
However, it wasn’t the best of days for flyhalf Patrick van Wyk with the boot, as he missed three conversions and a penalty, and only converted one try before half-time. The half-time score was 22-5 in the favour of the hosts.
The second half was much more subdued and the final stanza did not see the same level of intensity as the first. However, St George’s managed to pick up where they left off in the first half, as winger Fazeel Robertson crossed the line for his side’s fifth and final try in the 43rd minute, which Van Wyk converted. Bellville responded with a try and conversion to close off their account before the final whistle.
In other play-off matches at the weekend, All Saints’ fairytale season came to an end as they were defeated 16-23 by Belhar in an SLB quarter-final in Belhar. In Super League C (SLC), Macassar recorded a 23-17 win over Rangers at Riverside Park in their quarter-final match.
The victory for the MC Boys means they will take on CPUT in the SLC semi-final, while Strand RFC will play Kylemore in the other semi-final this Saturday (10 September). St George’s will travel to Kraaifontein to lock horns with Hands & Heart in the SLB semi-final at Eikendal Sports Ground, while Helderberg will host Belhar in the other semi-final at Charles Morkel Stadium.
