Mighty Quins 1sts seal sterling comeback victory over UKZN
Flanker Dylan Mason provided the first try which most saw as a consolation try.
IT was an incredible Saturday afternoon at Harlequins Rugby Club, as the home teams aimed to make amends for their first round losses to neighbours UKZN Howard College and set themselves up for knockout places.
The 2nd XV started the match well and had the visitors under pressure from the first whistle.
Captain Gavin McArthur and his men wasted no time and raced to a well-deserved 19–0 lead at halftime through a brace of tries by scrumhalf Matthew Havenga and a bullocking run by lock Richard Venter. Jeffery Ackerman added two conversions.
The second half was more even as the students finally found some rhythm and it turned out to be an enjoyable match to watch as Harlequins chased the bonus point try. It came with the last play of the game and it was Jeff Ackerman that provided the necessary work to give the home side a deserved bonus point fourth try to seal the 24–0 victory.
The match of the day however was the 1st XV game as UKZN were dominant and very clinical in their approach. The students showed great continuity in their play and had the Quins boys at sixes-and-sevens at times. For 70 minutes there was only one team on the field and UKZN cruised comfortably to a 22-0 lead, but it was the home side’s comeback that will be the talking point for years to come.
Flanker Dylan Mason provided the first try which most saw as a consolation try. Within three minutes, the Mighty Quins added two more through Tiaan van Loggerenberg and another by Dylan Mason. The score was 22–21 and the unthinkable was on the cards with six minutes to play. Quins played with renewed self-belief and the students were all over the place as Quins ran at them from everywhere. Fullback Tuto Kgosi received a pass out wide and scored in the lefthand corner after a number of phases to send the home spectators into a frenzy, when he sealed one of the best comebacks in club rugby history. The score 26–22 and all the credit to the Quins boys for not giving up. A truly amazing comeback.
This week sees a short turnaround as the Bluff side travels to Hillcrest on Wednesday night.
