IT was a veritable try-fest as the Nashua Crusaders thumped the Pietermaritzburg Collegians Rugby Club 59-0 on Saturday in their Fidelity Moor Cup clash. The home side ran in nine unanswered tries and were solid in their defensive structure to shut out the visitors. The win follows the ‘Saders’ superb away win against the Zululand Rhinos last week.
The home side opened the scoring through winger, Nkulu Marwana, which was easily converted by fullback, Gareth Pricthard. Just four minutes later, the Crusaders’ backline combined well to allow Steve Strydom a canter in under the posts.
Again Pritchard converted. Two more tries before half-time, through Brandon Bailing and Marwana (who went over for his second try of the game) gave the boys from the North a 28-0 half-time buffer.
Five tries in the second half, through Shandon Carter, Sipho Zaula and Marawana (who completed a hat-trick of tries), Leilua Murphy and Mark ‘Power Tower’ du Preez sealed the rout.
The Crusaders now face the daunting task of taking on in-form SA Home Loans Durban Collegians this weekend.
Dale Farnham, assistant coach for the home side, said he was ecstatic with the win.
“This was a monumental effort by the boys. To shut out a team and score nine tries was phenomenal. It all started from the first half: we kept to our gameplan and structures. We were clinical in all areas of the field. This season we have only started playing in the second half, and it shows just how talented this team is if we play a full 80 minutes of rugby.
“We have a tough ask against Durban Collegians this weekend, but I’m confident – if we play the way we did today – we can beat anyone,” Farnham added.
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