Spartans give UKZN students a lesson
THERE was plenty for the home fans to enthuse about when, playing sparkling rugby, the Richards Bay Spartans gave their UKZN Durban opponents a thorough thumping on Saturday. Both the first and second teams performed better the longer their games proceeded, producing a feast of tries against the visibly tiring visiting outfits.
The Bay second string opened the afternoon’s entertainment with a solid 22-0 win over the varsity side, scoring four tries in the process. However, it was the clean sheet on defence that was the key, as at times they were under pressure; but excellent tackling and robust forward play got them out of trouble.
Batista Madonsela bagged two tries, with Bernard van der Berg and Sylvester Mukono also crossing the whitewash, and Ruan Venter adding one conversion.
The first teams provided more entertainment with the sides sharing 95 points, but the Spartans cruising to a 64-31 victory in spite of facing some stern opposition.
The basis for the win lies in the stats, with no fewer than eight different players dotting down in a nine-try Bay demolition job.
The forwards manned up to a solid scrummaging outfit, * with the loose forwards hunting the free ball with venom, and the backline showing great eyes and hands when the gaps presented themselves.
Dylon Coulson led the way with a brace of five-pointers, with Marius Roberts, Deon Needham, Minehle Ngidi, Xola Msane, Shuvuan Palm, Wildre van der Berg and Ruan Venter also getting their names on the score sheet.
Mac van der Linde added four conversions and a penalty in the win that sees Richards Bay in a comfortable mid-table 5th position on the KZNRU Premier Division log.
‘This is in no small way attributable to the tremendous sponsors we have been blessed with in Bell Equipment, Goscor Access Solutions and Concord Cranes, who enable us to participate at this level,’ said a delighted RBRC chairman Magnus Oosthuizen.
His warriors will play away to 4th-placed Varsity College on Saturday as they aim to climb another rung up the ladder.