Redemption for Vryheid’s rugby team
The weather partially cleared up and the game started to flow
This past Saturday, the Maroon Machine aimed to set the record straight against Sentraal for their previous encounter, which saw Vryheid losing a very close game. The mission was to send a clear message for the season and build on the emphatic 85-0 victory over Pongola in the previous game.
The weather was less than ideal; the light rain was enough to complicate handling and soak the players to the bone. Vryheid quickly ran in a try via Klopper Opperman in the first couple of minutes. It was then all about attrition, with both teams testing each other’s defences. However, the great equaliser was the wet ball. Unforced errors were common, denying Vryheid a try with an open try line. The score at the end of the first half was 7-0 to Vryheid.
The weather partially cleared up and the game started to flow. Vryheid scrums started to stifle Sentraal’s big forward pack, allowing Vic Foster (Vryheid captain and fly half) to start dictating the game play. Khumbulani Khoza ‘ran over’ defenders and almost scored a try, but was unfortunately held up. Shortly thereafter, Vic poached Sentraal’s ball in broken play and dotted down under the posts.
Vic was again instrumental in the next try, putting Klopper in open space, whose blistering pace was too much for the Sentraal defensive line and he dotted down in the corner. The game again slowed as the Sentraal men put their heads down and pushed hard for the remainder of the half. In the closing stages of the game, Sentraal were on the attack and put a kick into the Vryheid’s 22. Unfortunately for Sentraal, Mnoto (Vryheid’s speedster) was waiting. At pace, Mnoto beat three defenders and scored a try in a piece of individual brilliance. The final score was 26-0 to Vryheid.
‘Man of the match’ for both teams:
Vryheid:
Forward pack – Stompie Vilakazi;
Back-line – Klopper Opperman.
Sentraal:
Forward pack – Reinier van Rooyen;
Back-line – Alex van Rooyen.
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
