Alberton Rugby Club took on the strong Johannesburg Police Rugby Club

ALBERTON Rugby Club hosted the tough Johannesburg Police Rugby Club (Bobbies) in the Pirates Grand Challenge.

The third teams started proceedings on the main field and here the hosts dominated. Next up was the second teams. The home side is really turning out to be a strong and well-oiled unit who play for each other, and it shows.

The Bobbies are a very physical club in general and the game was never going to be a walk in the park. From the get-go, the visitors had the home team under enormous pressure and it looked as if the hosts had not pitched up for the game. But Alberton is never a team to roll over and play dead. Despite the visitors scoring a penalty and then a converted try to lead by 10-0, Alberton started getting more ball and gradually came back into the game and scored a super try through their wing Stefan Bothma after Henry Payne hacked through a ball and collected himself after a chase for the corner. He found Bothma in support who rounded off.

The conversion missed but they were back in the game.

They carried on pressing forward and on the stroke of half-time, vice-captain Ray Koch cut like a hot knife through butter after a very well worked backline move to level up the scores, despite the conversion not being successful. All to play for in the second half.

These two teams contested the final last year and there is a bitter rivalry between the two sides.

After the break, Henry Payne was successful with a penalty and Alberton never looked back from there. Tries were added by Koch, Theuns van der Merwe and Divan du Plessis, as well as the try that summed up this team by Thorn Khumalo.

Khumalo followed up a kick that was put onto the Bobbies’ wing. The Bobbies player couldn’t kick as Khumalo was onto him in a flash. In attempting to counter-attack, the player was caught in possession by Khumalo. Khumalo then, in the tackle, ripped the ball away and went over under the poles untouched. This shows the commitment of this team. Coach Jaco Botha can be very proud of his team. If they continue in this way they will certainly have a chance of appearing in the final again and hopefully being victorious again.

Their next game is against Diggers. If they win this one they will be in a good position indeed.

The 1st team, unfortunately, came up against a Bobbies team that is in sublime form. Although they scored two tries by Zuko Delubom and Divan du Plessis with Anton Vlok adding a conversion, it wasn’t enough and they were beaten 36-12 after being down 22-5 at half-time.

Well done to all three sides who can all three still make the play-offs.

READ:

Union win against JHB Police

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