IF it was a case of big match temperament being examined, then the Riversmead South Coast rugby Warriors passed with flying colours against Hillcrest Villagers at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground last Saturday.
On a warm and dusty afternoon, the home team won the match 26-7 to go back to the top of the log in the Fidelity Security First Division South league.
This was a huge game – had they lost as they did away earlier in the season to Hillcrest, that would have been it for the league.
When Hillcrest scored a converted try within the first few minutes it looked a bit ominous.
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“Maybe that will wake them up,” said Juan van den Berg with a wry grin. He’s a former captain, now semi-retired and was sitting on the bench, waiting for some second-half impact.
Not long afterwards, fullback Tienie Viljoen missed a penalty from in front of the poles.
A few eyes rolled and some murmurs could be heard in the stands as fans hoped it wasn’t going to be “one of those days”.
Hillcrest, playing downwind away from the clubhouse, came at the Warriors again and it looked as if they would score.
But the defence held firm and the Warriors slowly clawed their way back into the game.
They put together some attractive attacking moves, with fly-half Brandt Fields eventually dotting down for a try.
The conversion from Viljoen was solid and the game was level.
Hillcrest would never seriously threaten the Warriors try-line again and, in the second half, with the wind at their backs, the home side came into their own.
There was some drama too, make life interesting, with, at one stage, three Warriors standing under the posts for a time out session.
Prop Lourens Stapelberg was yellow-carded for illegal scrumming.
He had to take a reluctant Dawie Durrheim with him for company as a reserve prop is required to come on.
Not long after that, outside centre Rameez Allie was carded for a late tackle.
Funny how bias can skew things: “He just washing-lined him,” from a Hillcrest supporter. “Fifty-fifty call, bit unlucky,” from a Warriors fan.
A Hillcrest player was also sent off for a ‘rest’ as the game got a bit heated at times.
The Warriors have four games left this season and should they win all four – as they expect to do – they’ll be champions in their division for 2018.
They play Jaguars away his Friday.
Tries were scored by Fields, Mitchell, Fatyela Kamevelikhe and Viljoen.
Team:
1 Tian Malherbe, 2 Msizi Mzindle, 3 Lourens Stapelberg, 4 Chris Sharpe, 5 Jade Nyman, 6 Lunga Madlala, 7 Dawie Durrheim, 8 Brendon Rademeyer, 9 Chris Mitchell, 10 Brandt Fields, 11 Mangwe Marubelela, 12 Donovon Horne, 13 Rameez Allie, 14 Senanelo Ndlazi, 15 Tienie Viljoen.
Bench: 16 Xolani Batyi, 17 Juan van den Berg, 18 Marchell Sass, 19 Yonela Baleni, 20 Fatyela Kamevelihke, 21 Cameron Camp, 22 Xander Lourens.
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