Titans clinch historic win
The Titans Women’s Rugby Club celebrates its 13th anniversary this month and was privileged to host their oldest rivals, Collegians from Oudtshoorn, this past weekend.
The Collegians were also the first ever club team the Titans played and hosted at the Hornlee sports field back in 2005.
The Collegians, known as Vollies at the time, smashed the young Titans team from Knysna 65-0 in a very one-sided match that day. The Titans turned the tables on the Oudtshoorn team last year by beating them on their home field for the first time ever.
This year the Titans hosted the very strong Collegians team which also featured two Springboks and a junior SA u20 player.
The Titans started the game by kicking off to Collegians and from the get-go the spectators could enjoy exciting rugby.
The Titans dominated the physical forward battle but could not convert pressure into points. The first half finished 0-0 with everything to play for.
The second half started on a high tempo with both teams looking much more composed. It was, however, the host who scored first with new signing on debut Olwethu Myeki from EP Queens, who broke a few tackles to score her first try.
The 20-year-old fly half Siphenathi Yeko converted the try to give the host a 7-0 lead.
From the restart the Titans launched attack on attack with captain Marlene Adams leading by example. The ball was swung wide to the speedster Faith Gosling who needed no extra invitation to score. Gosling gave opposite winger Jeronique Murphy an inside-outside step and ran around her with ease to score on the left-hand corner of the field.
Yeko again showed some class by converting the try from the left touchline to extend the lead to 14-0.
Collegians started to fight back and soon scored twice. Their kicker could not convert and left the visitors trailing with 14-10.
A strong ball carry by Sam Mlanjeni and Vuyelwa James set up captain Marlene Adams’ try with five minutes left. The conversion was missed and the game came to an end, with Titans beating Oudtshoorn for the first time in 13 years at home.
The Titans will travel to George on 1 May to take on the defending SWD Women’s Rugby champions George Lillies. This fixture will also form part of the 2018 SWD EaGirls Trials. –