Germiston Simmer and JHB Police's first teams go head-to-head in a line-out.
Germiston Simmer Rugby Club have ticked one box, and that is to get into the semi-finals of the Senior Grand Challenge of the Gauteng Lions Rugby Union.
Notwithstanding the fact that the u-20s had an up-and-down season and never managed to get going as promised, the early games played by the first and second teams provided much needed impetus to book spots in the play-off.
Saturday saw the Simmer boys take on Johannesburg SAPS, in what was predicted to be a one-sided affair, as Police had won all their matches this season.
As it turned out, the first team game was on a knife’s edge for 60 minutes, with Simmer trailing by one point.
Unfortunately, a serious injury to captain Charl “Gras” Wright led to a loss in momentum and, although the boys manfully soldiered on, Police ran away with the game.
The final score was Police 50, Simmer 22.
Ferdinand “Ferdi” Coetzer scored twice, showing signs of returning to his try-scoring abilities at loose-head prop, and Andrew “Drew” Gibbons scored once.
They also received the Man of the Match awards for the first team.
The second team game was one-sided, with Police winning 26-5.
Hooker Riaan Venter had his best game to date and was backed with a solid performance by the forward pack, but, unfortunately, Police asked too many unanswered questions of the Simmer defence.
The u-20 side were beaten by enterprising backline play by the Police youngsters, many of whom reside in Reiger Park.
Simmer scored three forward tries through Adrian “Tiny” Jukes, with two by Shaun Gurtz.
For their role in stemming the flow, Shaun Gurtz and Derrick Stols received Man of the Match awards.
Simmer congratulate JHB Police on their wins.
The semi-finals will be against the same JHB Police teams, on Friday, at Marks Park.
This is due to position on the log where first plays fourth.
As it stands, Police occupy the first position on both the first and second team logs, and Simmer the fourth.
