Gardens manage to keep Police at bay
GARDENS rugby club managed to retain their championship title when they beat East London Police 6-3 in the Eastern Cape Super 12 Club Rugby tournament at Rhodes University last week.
Defence was on a high for both teams as the tough final encounter had three penalties.
Gardens registered first on the scoreboard when they were awarded a penalty after an infringement by Police.
The East London side replied with a penalty in the dy- ing minutes of the first half. Gardens kept knocking at the Police defence, but to no avail.
Police were denied an opportunity on a number of occasions by Gardens to get a try.
As the temperatures dropped on Friday night, things got heated on the field as both sides showed their eagerness to clinch the title.
The scoreboard still stood at three points apiece with just five minutes of game time left. It was down to who wanted the title the most.
Gardens played a beautiful set piece that saw them gain territory into the Police’s half.
The side from East London caused another infringement in the breakdown just metres away from the try line. Gardens opted for poles as seconds remained on the clock.
Fullback Masixole Screech made sure to convert the penalty for a win with a thunderous right boot to set the ball in the centre of the poles.
The tension lifted from the Gardens fans as they realised they had clinched the championship once again.
“The final was definitely a tough encounter. The game could have gone either way but we knuckled down and played like it was our last game,” Gardens communications officer Simonica Marbelle said.
East London Police public relations officer Andiswa Mntunjani said: “Our boys played really well. Fatigue and match fitness may have got the better of us. It was just not our day.”
Playing for the third place and bronze medals were Spring Rose and Progress.
Both had outstanding campaigns in the tournament. Spring Rose was consoled with a 29-25 victory against Progress.
The four teams will join the Grand Challenge Cup, now in its third week.