KING Brumbies Rugby Football Club made home ground advantage with a convincing 43-12 win over Old Collegians at the weekend (April 22).
The Breidbach-based side sent out a stern warning to the rest of their opponents with their dominant performance in their first match in the Border Rugby Football Union Premier League.
The one-sided game saw the home side run in six tries, with five successful conversions and a penalty to the two tries and one conversion by the Komani visitors.
Starting the game, after a gruesome Easter Weekend Tournament which saw many of their key players injured and not available for the clash, Collegians fielded most of their second-team players against a side which they knew would not be a walkover.
“It was a good game. It’s just a pity that most of my key players could not have featured due to injuries,” Collegians coach Simphiwe “Rose” Roji said.
“We were outplayed in all departments but I’m impressed with my young players’ gutsy performance.”
However, Collegians rugby director Brian Williams criticised their performance for “making too many unnecessary errors” and allowing their opponents to “dominate the game”.
“We can only put the blame on ourselves after some poor decision-making in the first half, some inexplicable errors and poor defence, as well as allowing the Brumbies to dictate in all departments. So it’s back to the drawing board for us,” Williams said.
Their counterparts were impressed by their chargers’ outstanding performance but warned the players not to become too complacent as it was only their first game of the season.
Brumbies player coach Mario Noordman dotted two tries in the first half and attributed their victory to a positive approach, good communication, unity and good refereeing, as well as the good spirit and sportsmanship displayed by their opponents.
“We started with an attacking mindset and we just gelled as a unity. We are hoping to take this momentum into our next encounter when we travel to meet Ngqamakhwe in the former Transkei this coming weekend. We will be taking it one game at a time,” Noordman said.
The Brumbies points came after two tries by Noordman, one each by Renaash Brecht, Elridge Plaatjies, Keegan Christian and Bruzine Fourie, with Christian succeeding with five conversions and a penalty.
The Brumbies led 15-7 at half time and camped in their opponents half throughout the game.
