Rhinos trample Varsity College

RHINOS 1 gave it horns on Friday evening at Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni, which resulted in a dominant 24-5 victory over Varsity College in a Fidelity Security Premier Reserve Division clash.

The fourth placed Durban outfit failed to break the stonewall defence of the home side and failed to capitalise with an extra man on the field.

Rhinos played their best game in two seasons, manning up to the visitors, resulting in total lineout, scrum and loose play dominance.

Lock forward Selwyn Barnard controlled the lineout situations like a general manning troops, which allowed flyhalf Mac van der Linde to control the game from his pivotal position.

Fullback Ian Petzer was solid and safe at the back, making just a few inexperienced counter-attacking decisions which left him isolated.

Rhinos opened the scoring through brilliant team work between Van der Linde and winger Thokozane Mdluli.

Van der Linde put a chip over the Varsity College defensive line which Mdluli chased, collected and resulted in the speedster dotting down under the sticks.

Captain Jors Dannhauser kicked the conversion.

Winger Nico Prinsloo then joined the party and crossed the whitewash, which Dannhauser converted to increase the score to 14-zip.

The visitors eventually got onto the board through a try in the corner which the flyhalf failed to convert.

Dannhauser nailed a penalty just before half time to extend the lead to 17-5.

Varsity had numerous penalty attempts at poles, but the flyhalf left his calves and kicking boots back in Durban.

Second half

Both teams just battled back and forth for the first 15 minutes in the second half, before eighthman Shawn Booth received a yellow card which saw him sit out for 10 minutes.

Despite being a man down, Rhinos rock solid defensive work and counter rucking kept Varsity from scoring.

Booth rectified his error by crossing the chalk which Dannhauser converted to end the game at 24-5.

Rhinos 2 went down 15-14 in a nail biting encounter earlier in the evening.

Scumhalf Michael Neysschens and flyhalf Michael Boddenstein scored tries, with Boddenstein kicking both conversions.

Club rugby will take a break this weekend, as Zululand play Durban Sub Union away.