Helderberg Rugby Club dominated their first round Gold Cup match at the Charles Morkel Stadium on Saturday 21 September, securing a 43-22 win after a 26-10 lead at half-time.
The Strand side’s opponents were Kruisfontein from the Eastern Cape, which had boasted an unbeaten season so far.
One of three Berge debutants, left-wing Ricardo Links, turned out to be one of the stars of the game. He ran from his own 22, the length of the field in the third minute to open the scoring. Captain and scrumhalf Michael Visser converted from touch (7-0).
In the 10th minute Kruisfontein succeeded with a penalty goal (7-3).
In the 23rd minute Berge centre Lynn-Jay Hendricks made good ground before linking with his full-back Jayden Daniels, who in turn fed Links who rounded his opponent to score (12-3).
In the 27th minute Links again showed his pace from Berge’s half to complete a fine hat-trick. This time Visser converted (19-3).
In the 32nd minute from a forward rush, lock-forward Ludeke van Tonder stormed over the line, for Visser to add the two points (26-3).
Just before the half-time break Kruisfontein scored their first converted try (26-10).
After the restart, with replacements taking the field, the visitors scored again (26-17). In the 54th minute Visser slotted a penalty goal (29-17).
In the 59th minute centre Hendricks dispossessed an opponent and left the opposition in his wake for a brilliant try under the posts, Visser again converted (36-17).
In the 70th minute Kruisfontein scored their third try (36-22).
Finally, in the 76th minute Visser scored an opportunistic try and, with the conversion, took his contribution in the match to 18 points, to lead his team to a 43-22 victory.
Berge will now face Kimberley in the Gold Cup Round of 16, to be played at the same venue this weekend (Saturday 28 September).
