Tens victory for Vipers
Crusaders claim win in netball section
Victoria Park Vipers are the new kings of the HPJ OC 10s rugby after beating all other contenders to win their first-ever title at the weekend.
Crusaders did the business in the netball section and were worthy champions.
In what can be called the best event ever in 10s history in Komani, the community did not disappoint with a huge crowd in attendance to support their various neighbourhood teams. Young and old enjoyed the carnival atmosphere, but most importantly the scintillating rugby and netball.
Vipers were the stars of the show. Besides their opening 12-all draw against VP Scorpions, they were the dominant team and topped all the chart statistics. They amassed a whopping 118 points and only conceded 24 in five matches. They also scored the most tries (19). They had by far the highest tally in semifinals and finals.
The smash-and-grab Barbarians won 38-7 in the semifinals and annihilated a hapless Scorpions side 32-0 in the final, showing their true dominance. It was a nightmare tournament for three times champions the Spartans, who played four matches, winning one and losing three.
The two Victoria Park teams kicked off the day with a scintillating 12-all draw. This was followed by another massive clash as Crusaders pipped Spartans 5-0. Aloe Ventures was up next, with Queens Renegades winning 14-7. Barbarians ended off the first round with a convincing 30-0 thrashing of Tarka Mustang.
Round two started with Scorpions easily disposing of Ventures by 27-0. Crusaders made it two out of two with a tight 10-7 win over Barbarians. Vipers made light work of Queens Renegades, winning 26-0. Spartans hit back from their earlier loss with a 22-0 win over Mustangs. In the final round Renegades got the better of Scorpions, pipping them 7-5. Mustangs’ disastrous tourney continued after suffering the biggest defeat of the day, going down 43-0 to Crusaders. Vipers narrowly won 10-5 against a stubborn Ventures side. In a do-or-die match, Spartans crashed out of the tournament when they lost 14-10 to Barbarians.
In the semifinals Vipers upped the tempo and ran circles around Barbarians, beating them 38-7. Their neighbours, Scorpions, beat Crusaders 19-0. In the third and fourth place play-off, Barbarians redeemed themselves with a 19-7 win over Crusaders. In one of the most one-sided finals ever, Scorpions had no answers to a ferocious onslaught from the Vipers. They were outclassed, outplayed and left with more questions than answers. Vipers had the pace, the skills and the mental edge in sending Scorpions to the cleaners with a 32-0 thumping, making it the record highest score in a final.
In the netball section Crusaders were deserving champions after beating Steve Tshwete girls 19-10 in the final. The day started with Spartans beating Barbarians 19-8. Crusaders cruised past Cathcart High with a 15-10 scoreline. Aloe Ventures had the better of Vipers, beating them 12-6. Steve Tshwete Girls accounted for City Samurai, beating them 10-6. Crusaders defeated Spartans
17-14 in the first semi with Steve Tshwete winning 11-5 against Aloe Ventures in the second semifinal.
In the individual prizes, the Fair Play Award went to Spartans. Deon “Beertjie” Olivier of Scorpions was selected the Local Player of the Tournament. Guest Player of the Tournament went to Vipers’ Kelvano King and the most prestigious award, the Player of the Tournament, went to Vipers’ Garth Oosthuizen. The biggest prize went to Vipers who have since been invited to the Cape Town 10s in February 2019 as champs of the HPJ
10s with a prize worth R36,000.