The momentum from the crushing 78-19 demolition job of Kempton Park was not carried into Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XV’s encounter away from home against old rivals Springs Rugby Club on Saturday.
The match ended 59- 19 as the league leaders ran rampant in the second stanza. “It did not go as well as expected,” said club chairperson Harry Nieuwenhuis.
“We must admit that, with the cycles in rugby, that Springs are the team to beat this year. “Our young, inexperienced team is giving it their all, but with a lack of experience in the squad, it will remain an issue to address in 2018.
“As we know no team can be built in five months. “It is a process, like it was in the past when we had to rebuild the team from scratch in 2009.
“We had great success in the previous seven years thereafter and we will again turn things around.
For this year our goal remains to play in the semi-finals like we did last year.
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“Unfortunately in the second half on Saturday we made too many mistakes and we lost our lineouts and some decisions with the ball in hand just weren’t good enough.
“Eighty minutes of focus is required at this level and our youngsters are just not there yet.”
• Brakpan’s try scorers versus Springs were Reg Muller (captain and number eight), Tabu Tau (fly half) and a penalty try.
The rest of the points came from the boot of full back PJ Beukes. It was a string of defeats for the club in Springs on Saturday.
The second XV, the Lilywhites lost 45-18 and the u-21 team lost 43-19. All the teams will be in action at Bosman Stadium on Saturday when they welcome a tough Vereeniging to Brakpan.
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