Brave Bulldogs go down fighting
IT WAS double knockout rugby delight for the Walter Sisulu University All Blacks at the weekend, as the first team won the President’s Cup and the second team won the second team cup final at BCM Stadium.
Both matches on Saturday afternoon were against respective league champs, MPM Old Selbornians, whose first team won the Border Super League, and their second team, winners of the second team league.
The games were extremely tight, low-scoring affairs, with defences coming out on top as the All Blacks won 15-10 in the President’s Cup and final points of the first half.
“We were let down by some of our handling and one or two of our set pieces during the game, but we improved as the match progressed and we just need to work on that over the coming week,” admitted Dobela.
The second half then saw a much improved effort from the home side as they started with a bang as Gcilitshane finished off two cracking attacking moves, the first in the left-hand corner after a strong scrum and the second after a good break from centre Lunga Dumezweni.
Kobese slotted both conversions as the Bulldogs took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute.
However, Potgieter put the visitors back in front with a successful penalty four minutes later, with the Valke not relinquishing the lead again for the rest of the match.
The Bulldogs did score further tries with Ncanywa getting his second, as well as replacement flank Onke Dubase and fullback Sonwabiso Mqalo, while Kobese kicked a penalty and replacement back Xolela Payi slotted a conversion
But the Valke ran in four tries themselves through eighthman Friedle Olivier, hooker Jan-Frederik Enslin, wing Etienne Taljaard and reserve back Errol Jaggers, to make sure they took home a full house of points.
“At half-time I said we need to make our tackles and just take the ball a bit wider and make them defend more, which is what we did and we managed to run in five tries,” said Dobela.
“I have seen enough promise in this match and I think we can build on this going into the next game; we may make one or two changes but I am largely happy with what I have seen,” the coach added.