Union wins opening match against Alberton

UNION surprised friend and foe in the opening game of the season and Alberton’s teams battled from the opening game.

The first clash in the second round of the league between A-Square Forklift Alberton and their old enemy Union Rugby Club took place on June 23 on Unions home ground.

Second team goes down

The day didn’t start the best when the third team was beaten, so the second team was tasked with restoring pride. The hosts were in the top spot on the log with the visitors occupying second place after only one loss against the same Union team in the opening encounter.

The hosts had the upper hand in the first half with fantastic running rugby, especially out wide and by half-time had racked up three unanswered tries to lead by 19-0.

However, coach Jaco Botha was never going to give up a fight easily and some harsh words at half-time had the right effect of spurring on the team to come back.

Alberton was making mistakes and was also losing possession of the ball around the tackles and rucks.

They bounced back and from a penalty, towards the middle of the second half, set up a 5m line-out. They initiated the drive for the line and executed it to perfection and scored in the left-hand corner. The conversion attempt was missed.

Alberton dominated the scrums during the game and kept on the attack but could not breach Union’s defence.

With about four minutes left, Alberton managed to score a try with a backline move which involved a number of forwards.

The hosts were held to 10-0 in the second half with the final score 19-10 with Arno Steyn and Ray Koch try scorers for Alberton.

Beating for the first team

Again Union was unbeaten on top of the log and Alberton were third having lost to Union and Bobbies.

Union proved too strong, especially in the midfield and too fast out wide for Alberton. Despite the odds, Alberton never gave up and showed true grit and determination. The forward pack, while out scrummed for most of the match, really stood up well in the rucks and some of the most physical cleaning out that I have seen for a while, came from both sides.

Alberton had six or seven cracks at the host’s line and could not make any headway. They then turned the ball over and three passes later a Union player went over untouched in a move which started 10m from their own line.

One player that is looking dangerous is Zuko Delubom, who is known as Pineapple due to his extravagant hair style. Every time he took the ball from the full back position he made inroads. Watch this player for big things to come.

Alberton scored a try in each half through Arnold Smith and Craig Scott but the final score of 70-10 was fully deserved by a Union team that are certainly the team to beat this year.

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