Collegians bounce back with thrilling win
Respond in the best way
OLD Collegians responded to last week’s critics in the best possible way by producing a scintillating display of running rugby and bagging all five points on offer in the Super League.
OC reminded everyone why they belong in the highest league of Border rugby with a thrilling 40-34 defeat of Cambridge. A flawless first half performance and a gritty second half display that showed character, resulted in the team, which was lagging behind with only five minutes left on the clock, bouncing back and scoring a try to snatch a last-minute victory.
It was an emotional week leading up to the match, with Collegians facing the possibility of relegation. Tension was clearly evident in the dressing room before kick-off. Brian Williams and his coaching staff will know that they need to show improved results in the next three weeks.
Each side ran in a mammoth six tries in the high scoring game, with OC successful with two more conversions than their opponents. Cambridge, via Tiaan Strydom, opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute. Craig Pijoos opened Collegians’ account with an unconverted try and, with the scores at 5-5, it was the Reo van Schalkwyk show as the speedster scored two brilliant tries in quick succession. Flyhalf Chavielle Hartnick slotted one conversion as OC took a commanding 19-5 lead. Captain Sean Baartman was responsible for Collegians’ bonus point try. Hartnick was successful with the conversion as OC increased the lead to 26-5. Cambridge were rewarded with a try by Mark Galvin. In a mo- ment of sheer magic, Hartnick whizzed his way past the entire Cambridge side from his own half to score one of the best tries in a long time. Cambridge refused to lie down and scored their third try of the half through Danie Petzer as the sides went into the break with OC leading 33-15. The second half started at a frenetic pace with Cambridge pinning their opponents deep in their own half. Cambridge used their big forwards to great effect. It was the turn of Petzer to steal the show as the bulky eighthman ripped through the OC rear-guard. He was un- stoppable as he ran in a hattrick of second half tries as Cambridge took a 34-33 lead to the dismay of the home supporters. Just when panic started to creep in, Collegians showed great character to ensure success when, with the last move of the match and after the ball had gone through several phases, Lungi Dube sealed the win for OC and crashed over to the delight of a packed Thobi Kula stadium. Hartnick put the cherry on top of a magnificent afternoon with a well taken conversion as OC ran out victorious. OC has climbed to 11th on the table with 9 points, with Cambridge 10th.
In other matches, Breakers suffered their second consecutive big loss, this time at the hands of Police, who trounced the hapless Mlungisi side 41-3 in East London. Breakers dropped to ninth with 13 points while Police moved to second on 30 points. Old Selbornians continued their march to the title with a comprehensive 76-17 hammering of Buffs. Old Boys is still unbeaten on 34 points with Buffs sixth on 18. Swallows enjoyed the bragging rights in the Mdantsane derby as they beat Winter Rose 47-26. Both teams have 15 points and occupy seventh and eighth spots respectively. Africans lost their seventh straight match after going down 11-5 to Berlin Tigers. Tigers moved to fourth on the log on 21 points while Africans are rooted at the bottom on six. Tomorrow Breakers are at home at Mlungisi Stadium to Africans. OC travel to Alice to lock horns with Fort Hare.