The much anticipated club rugby derby between St George’s and All Saints rugby clubs ended in a 17-17 stalemate at Gustrouw Sports Ground on Saturday (23 April), with sportsmanship and rugby walking away as the winner at the final whistle.
More than 2 000 club rugby enthusiasts from the basin descended on the Strand field for the Super League B (SLB) clash, an encounter which drew plenty of excitement from fans in the lead-up to the kick-off. And they were not disappointed, as the players of both sides delivered from the get-go, playing enterprising and exciting rugby that had the crowds on their feet.
The match was played in blistering conditions, with the visitors having the advantage of playing with the wind in the first half. The Somerset West men were the first to get the scoreboard ticking through some great running rugby, thanks to an unconverted corner try by winger Duwayne Raubenheimer in the third minute of the match (0-5).
The Lulus piled on the pressure and were rewarded when captain and lock forward Kyle Bender burst through from a ruck and scored in the 14th minute. The home side took the lead as Nazeem Wood added the extras (7-5).
St George’s extended their lead in the 24th minute, after the ball moved through the hands of the backline and full-back Bradley Mentoor manoeuvred his way through a gap to score under the sticks. Wood converted (14-5).
Five minutes later and after some dominant forward play, Saints closed the gap when eighthman Emile Chanane crossed the whitewash in the corner for another unconverted try before the break. The hosts led 14-10.
The second half was a tough affair, with both sides battling to convert possession and territory into points.
The home side’s goal kicker, Wood, added their last points of the match through a penalty in the 47th minute (17-10).
The visitors threw the kitchen sink at their opponents as captain and inside centre Rhoden November scored the final try of the match (17-15). Stalwart flyhalf Cheslyn Jack added the important conversion to draw the scores level (FT: 17-17)
All Saints’ head coach Mirwaan Davids said it was an evenly-contested match, as the final scoreline suggests, and he is proud of his team’s performance.
“The St George’s forward pack gave their team great momentum, especially in the second half, but our forwards stood up to the challenge,” he recalled, adding that his charges took the few chances that they had and turned it into points.
“It was tough against the strong wind in the second half, especially as it made it difficult for us to clear the ball and exit from our own line; this meant we were forced to run the ball from the danger zone.”
Davids is satisfied with the result and his team’s performance, as picking up two points on the road is important.
“All Saints were the underdogs, but our performance proved that we belong in SLB and bodes well for the future. I was particularly impressed by the performances of the forwards,” he said.
“I also want to laud St George’s for their determination and zealousness; they really are a quality side, but are unlucky at times.”
In the day’s other matches, the Lulu Boys’ second team was victorious by 12-8, while the Saints’ u-20 team recorded a 10-14 victory over the Lulus’ young guns.
