Rugby wat hoendervleis gee

Gedurende die 1957 rugbyseisoen was Mosselbaai se bruin rugbyklubs weer eens goed in die SWD-span verteenwoordig. In ‘n kragmeting tuis teen Boland op die Van Riebeeck-sportgronde daardie jaar, was bruin en wit rugbygeesdriftiges, aldus 'n plaaslike nuusblad, gaande oor beide spanne se goeie spel.

Dat SWD die rugbypubliek se verbeelding aangegryp het in die middel 1950’s, is geensins te betwyfel nie. Hiervan getuig 'n opskrif en berig in die Mossel Bay Advertiser van 11 Oktober 1957.

Spel geprys

Brilliant Rugby On Hill Ground - S.W. Districts vs Boland

The Van Riebeeck Ground For Europeans was the scene on Saturday afternoon of two Non-European Inter Provincial matches between S.W.D. and Boland, matches which produced rugby of the highest standard, if not more spectacular than anything of its kind seen here this season! A crowd of several hundred well-behaved Non-Europeans crowded on three sides of the field and a sprinkling of European spectators watched the game from the stand. This is the first time that Boland and Southern Province, the official designation of the home union, met at Mossel Bay due to the fact that Mossel Bay did not have a field suitable to offer in the past for this purpose. The Van Riebeeck Field was made available for this match by a majority in council and the fine behaviour of the spectators under the strict control of the committee is most gratifying to all. The committee is to be congratulated on the manner in which both spectators and players were controlled.

Nothing was left to chance and even the police were there in full force.

SWD, wat twee spanne in die veld teen Boland gestoot het, het nie net karakter getoon nie, maar ook onder omstandighede rugby laat seëvier.

Die B-span van SWD wat die hoof voorwedstryd gespeel het, het die toeskouers gaande gehad met hul aantreklike hardlooprugby, aldus ‘n uittreksel uit die Mossel Bay Advertiser: The B team match which resulted in a win for SWD by 14-3 points, was the best of the two games. They took more chances and generally there was more action from start to finish, although their passing at times was somewhat erratic and not good as that of the A-teams.

SWD se A-span wat hulle wedstryd in die doodsnikke verloor het met 11-6, moes met 14 man die wedstryd voltooi, nadat hul senter Peter Puren (Athletics) die veld verlaat het met ‘n skouerbesering kort voor die tweede helfte.

Puren wat slaankrag verleen het aan die agterlyn, het ‘n groot leemte agterlangs gelaat as gevolg van sy besering, na aanleiding van die volgende uittreksel uit die plaaslike nuusblad.

SWD were unfortunate in losing their centre Puren as a result of a shoulder injury shortly before half-time and the team had to play the rest of the game with 14 men. Puren played an outstandingly good game and made many fine openings.

* Lees in 'n volgende uitgawe of aanlyn Charles Theunissen se sportrubriek. Die volgende tema handel oor Raymond Harris, die sogenaamde blits van