The Gauteng Lions Senior Grand Challenge Rugby League kicked off for Germiston Simmer when they took on Harlequins, from Krugersdorp, at the Germiston Stadium, on May 3.
This fixture was one that always ended in disappointment for Simmer in the past, as they have not managed to beat Harlequins in the last 20 years.
The day started with mixed results, as the u-20 team went down 17-11, due largely to poor support play.
The second team turned this around, however, as they crushed the Harlequins seconds 27-0.
Then the first team fought admirably, to win a see-saw battle by 16-13.
This was the first win over Harlequins in two decades and bodes well for the boys of “Good old Simmer”.
The u-20 team scored one try due to a magnificent individual effort by centre Brandon Dos Santos, who powered his way through three tackles to bring some respectability to the score line.
Kobus Holtzhausen succeeded with two penalty kicks.
Man of the Match awards went to flank Joshua Hammond and Brandon Dos Santos.
The second team started the season with a bang and converted all their opportunities to points.
Tries were scored by Leon Willemans (who was selected this year to represent the South African Deaf Rugby team), Thabiso Khabelo and Francois de Jongh, who crossed the whitewash twice.
The second team also managed to defend their line with aggressive tackling and brilliant cover defence.
Willem Breytenbach converted two of the four tries and added a penalty to comprehensively win this fixture.
De Jongh was awarded the Man of the Match title.
Coach Hennie de Villiers put the success down to hard work at practises.
What head coach Maree Bester dubbed as a “bad game but a good win” then ensued for the first team.
This game was played at a feverish pace and started with penalties being slotted by both teams.
Eric de Beer then chased through on a grubber kick by Wynand Swanepoel, and scored a try.
Harlequins came back with a try of their own, making the score 10 all.
Penalties were converted into points late in the second half by both teams, extending the draw to 13-all.
Quintin Bothma stepped up to take this long range penalty for Simmers.
A final play saw the referee raise his hand in the last minute, for a penalty against Harlequins, which was taken by Pieter Mocke.
The final score was 16-13 to Germiston Simmer in a game that could have gone either way.
Nonetheless, all accolades to coach Bester, captain Charl Wright and the first team for grinding out this historic win.
Man of the Match awards went to number eight, Robert Petit, in his 11th year at Simmer, and to centre Bothma.
Simmer rugby has proven to be alive and well and promises to provide some entertaining play this season.
“I would like to thank the community for their support and I am confident that Germiston Simmer Rugby Club will continue to deliver the goods,” said the chairperson, Rene Audier.
