Exciting Draw at SACS
The match was played in front of a sizable crowd on a lovely winter's morning. The lead changed hands a number of times before a never-say-die Bosch side deservedly scored in the last minute to draw the match a 28-all.
SACS started well and immediately had Rondebosch under pressure. They converted pressure to points as early as the seventh minute with centre Nick Redelinghuys crossing for a great set-piece try.
Soon after flank Liam Larkan was through and heading for the line but a speculative offload saw the move break down.
Rondebosch punished a few SACS indiscretions to get into the SACS half and begin applying pressure themselves. A sustained period of phase play culminated in a brilliant cross-kick try for hooker Suhaib Ajmoodien. The scores remained locked at 7-all for only eight minutes before Rondebosch flyhalf Sam Cragg put his team in the lead after SACS were pinged for offside. Cragg added three more points seven minutes later as SACS’s ill-discipline began to cost them dearly. This time the referee Nathan Barry deeming them to have collapsed a maul.
SACS had a good chance to narrow the lead right on half-time but No.8 Alex Halvorsen was held up just short and flank Liam Larkan spilled the ball. The teams took a breather with Bosch leading 13-7.
From the kick-off SACS kicked the ball straight down the throat of Bosch danger man Mike Mavovana. He didn’t punish SACS too badly on this occasion but slowly came into the match with telling effect. A high tackle on six minutes saw Bosch extend their lead before SACS struck back again through Redelinghuys.
Another of Rondebosch’s star players scrumhalf Robbie Davis sparked and scored the next try on twelve minutes with a quickly tapped penalty before Redelinghuys went in for his hat-trick with twenty minutes to play leaving the scores locked at 21-all.
SACS took the lead with 13 minutes to go via their hard working skipper James Brewer. Centre Jordy Hop converted, as he did all the SACS tries, to see SACS take the lead 28-21.
From the first minute one could see Rondebosch were a team on a mission and they played and played until the death before finally getting their deserved reward.
Mavovana, who was at his electric best all day, opened SACS up with a scintillating run. A few phases later SACS were penalised on the other side of the field for side-entry. Davis tapped and went and linked as he had done brilliantly all day to set up the winning score for replacement James van Rensburg. Cragg did the necessary and the final whistle sounded to end seventy minutes of pulsating drama.
Rondebosch deserved the draw as they had looked hungrier and more composed throughout and effortlessly disrupted the SACS line-outs and the SACS team in general with a very nuggety performance. They will take huge confidence out of their performance after letting themselves down badly the week before.
For SACS it’s back to the drawing board!
Scorers:
For SACS:
Tries: 12 Nick Redelinghuys 3, 5 James Brewer
Cons: 13 Jordy Hop 4
For Rondebosch:
Tries: 2 Suhaib Ajmoodien, 9 Robbie Davis, 20 James van Rensburg;
Cons: 10 Sam Cragg 2
Pens: Sam Cragg 3
From SACS
