Top class rugby victory for superb Richards Bay
IN a pulsating, open game between two outstanding and well matched teams, Richards Bay pulled off a stunning 49-40 win over visitors Durban Collegians on Friday night.
This makes it two wins out of two for the Moor Cup debutantes, and the rest of the league’s contenders will be forced to sit up and take notice.
The hosts showed some exceptional qualities, with the linking of forwards and backs particularly impressive as they raked in seven tries, two penalties and four conversions.
Collegians can look to a number of spilled chances through handling errors, but these were mainly forced by the assault from the home loose trio, who closed down every space in microseconds and tackled ferociously.
Add to this the slick backline play thanks to great service from the base of the scrum and it was the whole package for coach Trevor Montgomery’s charges.
Playing into a strong wind, Richards Bay started with a bang, scoring a try in the first minute with a superb inter-passing movement that began in their own half and ended under the posts to send the large crowd into raptures (5-0).
Collegians soon equalled matters and edged ahead with a converted try (5-7) but Jors Dannhauser’s penalty undid the damage (8-7).
It was roller-coaster stuff with tries on both ends of the field and the scoreboard operator kept busy as the game moved through 8-14, 13-14, 20-14, 20-19, 23-19, 23-26 and 28-26.
Richards Bay then put on a scoring spurt, leading 35-26, and 42-26 after dotting down two more tries before conceding two to see the gap narrow to 42-33 then 42-40.
Collegians were at this stage dominant, especially in the scrums, but an intercept try converted by Dannhauser brought the final score line to 49-40.
Scorers for the Bay: Stevie Meyer, Rynhardt Scheepers, Jors Dannhauser Dylan Coulson, Derik Ehlers and Carel Swart and a penalty try.
The reserve side had no answer to Collegians in their Wylie Cup curtain raiser.Down 24-0 at half time, the
Bay boys staged a brave comeback, scoring two tries in the opening minutes of the second half.
However, they could not sustain the pressure and eventually went down 39-10.
The Bay sides now travel to Kings Park on Friday to take on College Rovers.