Joy as Police win Super 12 tournament
THE Eastern Cape Super 12 rugby tournament came to an end on Saturday with the East London Police Rugby Football Club crowned as champions.
Police defeated Port Elizabeth SAPS 26-13, winning the tournament for the second time.
Police Rugby Club director Buhle Ntsebeza said that throughout the whole tournament, they had been playing in patches.
However, he said that all had changed on Saturday when Police put in an incredible 80-minutes performance.
“It was everything we had spoken about before the game.
“Defensively we were brilliant, hitting them back and doubletackling their main ball carriers.
“Our loose trio was particularly potent in this regard,” Ntsebeza said.
“Our backs, led by Hendricho Koester at 9, Odwa Rasmeni at flyhalf and Skangele Mateza at 12 ran the show and reminded me a bit of the Gregan, Larkham and Matt Giteau (Australian) combination of yesteryear.
“Siyanda Grey and the rest of the outside backs, which included our inspirational skipper Lonwabo Ntlama, winger Sipho Xhotongo and play-making fullback Siviwe Bisset, caused havoc with every chance they got,” said Ntsebeza.
Ntsebeza said the scoreboard didn’t do justice to how good they were on the day.
The challenges Police faced throughout the tournament were the injuries which at times had stalled their progress.
“We also took a long time to understand how we wanted to play as this new style has a lot of information that the players have to take in.
“But once the players started getting the hang of our structure, as we did in the final, we proved that we can be untouchable,” Ntsebeza said.
Tournament director Phumelele Hlati said there had been growth throughout the tournament.
“We want to congratulate Police as the winners of this competition.
“The champions were the only unbeaten team in the competition starting from the round robin stage,” said Hlati.
Police have set themselves huge objectives for the year, which include growing the brand of the club and expanding their fan-base.
“The club is now under young and dynamic management and our plans are not just to be the best club on and off the field, in the Eastern Cape, which we currently are, but also to become the best in the country.
“It is a steep demand and one that has us working hard everyday.
But we believe that we can achieve such a feat. And we need our supporters to be with us on what will be a magical ride.
“We are an ambitious bunch, but what is clear is that our ambition has end results, as witnessed by our win on Saturday,” said Ntsebeza.