TOTI Rugby Club’s first team picked up their second win in the Fidelity Security Premier division on Thursday evening, downing Varsity College Tigers (formerly Glenwood Old Boys) 27-17 in front of a large and appreciative Hutchison Park crowd.
The home team opened the scoring early in the first half after a brilliant break by Grant Hadiaris, Toti’s livewire flanker, who off-loaded in the tackle to a flying Hansie Graaf who, in turn, fed Louis Joubert.
The big centre powered through two tackles and went over for an unconverted try.
Varsity College were quick to reply however, going over for a converted try after some sustained pressure on the Toti line following a penalty move.
The game then ebbed and flowed with both teams giving as good as they got, neither team conceding an inch. It was Toti scrumhalf Matthew ‘Cheese’ McDonald who broke the impasse, sniping through the defence to score after picking up from the base of a scrum close to the line. Fullback Jaco de Jager was successful, with the conversion to give Toti a 12-7 lead going into the final 15 minutes of the half. The lead was then extended to 15-7 just before the half time whistle when De Jager stuck over a penalty from close to the touch line.
The second half saw the visitors come out with a lot more intent, rumbling the ball up with their big forwards. This ploy to draw in defenders paid dividends when an overlap was created for them to exploit, which they did to score their second try of the evening. The conversion attempt went wide, leaving Toti with a slender 15-12 lead on the score board.
Varsity College then took a 17-15 lead when their forwards were once again used to good effect to carry the ball up, and after some probing runs, they were rewarded with an unconverted try.
This turn of events seemed to wake the home side from their slumber and they then proceeded to play some quite outstanding rugby. Hansie Graaff, the Sharks contracted player playing at flyhalf in this game, led the rear-guard action with some powerful runs which kept the Varsity College mid-field defense busy. One such run saw him collect the ball inside his own half to run almost the length of the field, leaving a number of would-be tacklers in his wake. Brought short just before the line, he offloaded to Richard Shore who himself was tackled just short of the line by some desperate scramble defense. The ball was kept alive through a number of phases and Louis Joubert was once again on hand to round off matters with another strong burst through the defensive wall, scoring near the uprights to set up an easy conversion for De Jager.
With Toti holding on to a 22-17 lead with 15 minutes to go, it was still anybody’s game. The feeling was that it would take a moment of magic from one of the two teams to secure the win, and it was Toti who duly delivered. The ball found its way to the muscular Kyle Lubbe on the wing and he delivered the coup de grace, diving over in the corner to give Toti what proved to be an unassailable 27-17 lead.
Varsity College tried desperately to score some points via a penalty or a try which would give them a valuable bonus point. This was not to be however, as resolute defense kept them out until referee Norman Toerien’s whistle brought an end to a very entertaining game.
Men of the match honours went to 19-year-old flanker Sabata Mokhchane and to flyhalf Hansie Graaff for their sterling efforts in both attack and defence.
Toti second’s faced Varsity College old boys in their first home game of the season. The Toti boys who appeared to still be on a high from last week’s win, seemed unfocussed and unprepared for an older and very experienced Varsity College second team.
Toti went down 47-7, Toti’s points coming from a try by Eugene ‘Pukke’ Du Plessis and converted by Jason Hines.
It’s back to the drawing board before Toti climbs the bus and heads off to Empangeni to face the Rhinos this coming Saturday.
The man of the match went to Wayde Shore for the forwards and to Eugene ‘Pukke’ Du Plessis for the backline, both played with great enthusiasm. The club welcomes Pukke back to the side, he is a great asset to the team and club.
Due to a number of players who did not pitch, a severely depleted Toti 3rds travelled to early league pace setters Varsity College Old Boys thirds. Playing for nothing more than camaraderie, love of the game and having a few beers with their mates, the 17 man team once again delivered the goods and won a titanic arm wrestle 12-10. Man of the match went to Johan Potgieter who put in several devastating hits against his old teammates.
The first and second teams will travel to the Mick Kelly Stadium in Empangeni to take on the Thanda Zululand Rhinos at Mick Kelly Park. The thirds have a bye. The following week, however all teams play at home against the club champions, the mighty Jonsson Berea Rovers.
