Bulldogs on the rampage against Alberton
Union Bulldogs win during first league match against Alberton.
UNION Bulldogs Rugby Club’s first side went on the rampage against near-neighbours Alberton in their first meeting of the season.
The Pirates Grand Challenge league match took place on April 7 in Alberton where the Bulldogs defeated Alberton 30-6.
It was a high-class performance and the 2018 season can only get better with such a performance from the local Southern club, which is based at the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre. The club’s spirits are higher than last season and they will hope to continue in this vein throughout the season.
The referee, Richard Schultz, had to send players to the sin bin on two occasions, dishing out two yellow cards to Union. One was for a cynical foul and one was for a high tackle.
Union’s chairman Hennie Welgemoed indicated before the match that this was the first time that the first team was able to play its full side. The club has some 40-plus players who turn up for training for the third team.
Under the watchful eye of backline coach Sandy Bezuidenhout, the backline looked incredibly dangerous. The handling of a slippery ball was very good and no knock-on was recorded. The vision and tactical approach of the backline were outstanding. Although Alberton defended as they normally do, with loads of commitment, Union always seemed to find space.
The forwards did their own share of good work and the entire team, forwards and backs, seemed to dominate throughout the match.
Union started the match from the onset to produce pressure on the home side. It didn’t take long for centre Anton Coetzee to dot down the first points of the match, and left wing Johan Venter made no mistake for 7-0.
Alberton was soon under pressure again and Venter added a penalty shortly after to stretch the lead to 10 points.
However, Alberton will never lie down, and from the restart, they started to put a bit of pressure on the visitors. Union was down to 14 men after a yellow card to the right wing for a cynical foul, and Alberton capitalised by scoring a penalty.
Gaining a penalty Alberton forced a line-out 15m from the Union tryline but the Alberton hooker was penalised for his scrummage tactics and the resultant free-kick meant Union could clear their line. This was the last time that the Union defence line was under any real threat.
Before half-time Anele Magubane went over for his try, with Venter again successful with the conversion to make the score 17-3 at the break.
The second half was no different from the first, and Alberton’s gutsy defence prohibited the scoreline of the opposition going up. Lock Morné van der Vyver and last year’s captain Duncan Delport scored tries in the second half, with Venter adding a penalty. Alberton answered with a single penalty.
Head coach Henk Venter was justifiably proud of the performance of the Union Bulldogs first team.
The second team also picked up a good win of 29-13 over their hosts, with tries by Anthony Lindle, Tiaan de Beer, Gerhard Gertzen and Dylan House. Fly-half Dirk Vlooh added two conversions.
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