Ethekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti Rugby Club’s first team came away with a vital 33-26 bonus point victory over Richards Bay on Friday evening, to secure themselves a spot in the top half of the Moor Cup premier division competition going into the second round.
The home team may have sniffed a potential weakness in the Toti team and went on the offensive from the start, racing into a 12-0 lead with only 15 minutes having been played. What they did not factor into their thinking though was the ‘never say die attitude’ of the Toti team. It was this attitude which saw them start to wrest control of the match to run in two well-worked tries of their own to go into the break with a 14-12 lead.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first half had ended, with the visiting team enjoying the advantage in both the territory and possession stats which saw them go into a 21-12 lead 10 minutes into the second half. This may have lulled them into a false sense of security as Richards Bay fought back with intent to score two converted tries to go 26-21 ahead. Toti scored another unconverted try to level the scores and with 10 minutes left on the clock it looked as though the game was heading for what would be a rather disappointing stale mate, but big Bennie Mashabane broke the deadlock with a typically powerful run down the wing, brushing off a few would be defenders to barge his way over for what would be the match winning try, converted by Divan Meintjies.
Special mention must be made of the front row duo of Randal Reddy and Jonno de Broize who were thrown into the cauldron due to injuries to the regular starting props.
Michael Uppink, who has been plying his trade at lock this season, was moved to number eight for the game, but 10 minutes into the game he found himself playing in the unfamiliar outside centre position due to the early injury to Kwesi Ansah. Kyle Gerhard, who is normally at scrum half, had to deputise on the wing and he too turned in a sterling performance to earn himself the backline player of the match award, with Uppink receiving a man of the match award.
The second team travelled to Richards Bay looking for a win. Both teams found themselves in similar positions on the log so the game was of equal importance. Richards Bay went over the line three times in the first half using their backs well and Toti showing some weakness in their defence. The second half started much like the first ended with Toti forwards controlling the game and getting over the line twice to bring the game level at 24 all. It looked like, with the way the game was going, Toti were going to get their first win of the season, but towards the end of the second half a try against the run of play sealed the deal for Richards Bay, coming out winners 34-24.
Toti will next face Varsity College on 14 June at Riverside Stadium and will be looking to avenge their defeat.
The third team played against Varsity College at Riverside Stadium. The first points were scored by Amanzimtoti in the first five minutes of the game through a try by Shane Dormehl. A penalty was awarded to Toti a few minutes later and Wimpie Pretorius converted, putting Toti ahead at 8-0. In the first five minutes of the second half, Dwayne Wallis went over for to score a try to see Toti 15-0 up. A few minutes later Varsity College came back and scored a try of their own to break the score board pressure at 15-7, the home team then scored two more tries to take the score to 19-15 in the last 10 minutes of the game.
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