Not easy in Nigel

The club’s first XV knew that they were in for a tough time against a strong Nigel outfit, described as “the team to beat” in this year’s Valke Merlin League.

The firsts enjoyed a lot of territory in the first half, but Nigel were good on the loose ball and turned the possession around quite easily.

For Benoni it was scrumhalf Quin van der Nest who tried to keep the team on the front foot and, as usual, the team’s loose trio of Riaan Matthee, Jacques Dorfling and Stefan Nienaber worked hard on the ground, but it was not enough on Saturday and Nigel soon gained the upper hand to achieve a large victory of 62-5.

“There will be no easy games this year and it is still early in the season, but our aim is to finish in the first two in the league, which will secure a home semi-final,” said club public relations officer Steve Myburgh.

The Benoni second team experienced a closer encounter against Nigel and was unlucky not to win their game.

They were the better team on the field in a low scoring game and led for most of the time, only for Nigel to slot a last-minute penalty to win 10-8.

Flyhalf Willie de Ridder and centre Danie de Bruin put on good displays, as did Arno Fourie, who was excellent in the loose.

Winger Morne Venter scored the only try for Benoni, and Willie de Ridder slotted a penalty.

The club’s u-21 team would achieve the only win of three matches, with a score of 40-8.

“As predicted, our u-21 boys are getting stronger as the league progresses and had the best of Nigel in this game,” added Myburgh.

The backs and forwards combined well and ran in seven tries, via Eugene Horn, Jeff Gerral, Deon-Michael Joubert, JP Bryder, Arnold van den Bergh, Anton Viljoen and Jacques Carelse.