Matsulu Rugby Club have exhausted their opponents on the battleground in this season’s Lowveld Mayor’s Reserve League, reaching the finals. The club faces Barberton Rugby Club at the Barberton Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
Matsulu beat Lydenburg 46-26 in the semifinals in Hoedspruit last weekend. Chairman Petros Sambo said they will fight till they clinch the title, even though they are still seeking sponsors. “This is our first time in the league and the season. It is exciting and encouraging to reach the final stages of the league. Going into the finals, we are ready and nothing can come in our way at this point. Our chances of winning the league are greater than what I anticipate. It will not be an easy task, but we have got to give it our best shot.
The style of rugby we play differs from the usual man-on-man. “We opt for the running game. We have got youngsters on the team and we try to avoid contact. In the space of 80 minutes, players end up being subjected to injuries. Our philosophy is to get out of the contact as soon as possible and make sure we make our opponents run around. We do not have a proper facility and we travel around for all our games, but we are managing. We are glad to be raising awareness about the club and our new achievements, and making our community proud. Should we win, we will compete provincially with teams from the Highveld,” said Sambo. The team has been topping the Reserve League and is determined to clinch the Mayoral Cup title. The team is currently training at Sithokotile Primary School while the stadium is under construction.
