Oppierif snatch first Koshuis win
UJ’s Steinhoff Koshuis League got off to a slow start on Wednesday night after the semester break.
For starters, the clash between Bastion and Afslaan was moved to Monday night due to both residences’ ‘Feesweek’ parties – which kicked of the start of the new semester!
But the match between Oppierif and Kanniedood was certainly the highlight of the (Wednesday) night, with Oppierif clinching the victory in the dying minutes.
It was a very physical match and Oppierif fired on all cylinders right from the kick-off.
Their forwards managed to turn over plenty of possession and they moved the ball wide for fullback Sakhele Tshabalala to score within the first minute. This was a wake-up call for Kanniedood, who seemed to under-estimate their opponents.
Hard work at the breakdowns by Kanniedood loose forwards Rudolph Seyffert and Dawie Janse van Vuuren and lock Stefan van Deventer secured plenty of stolen possession for their backs. It was unfortunately a night that the Kanniedood backs could not find their rhythm – although Bertus Wessels’ (flyhalf) boot kept them in touch on the scoreboard.
Oppierif’s backs, on the other hand, managed to break through the defensive-line at will as well and they moved the ball wide on a couple of occasions. It was there though where Kanniedood’s forwards turned over most of their possession.
Kanniedood could not capitalise when one of Oppierif’s players was sin binned – although Kanniedood found themselves in the lead by 9-8 after Wessels’s third penalty with 11 minutes remaining on the clock.
They were confident off winning their first match of the 2009 league… but maybe a bit over-eager!
The clock wound down and a poor decision by the Kanniedood fullback to kick the ball downfield instead of into touch, led to Oppierif’s second try.
The ball was kicked straight down Jason Oelofse’s throat and he ran as if nothing could stop him. The ever-present Seyffert and Van Deventer managed to stop Oelofse just before the line but the referee, who seemed to be caught between two minds, decided that he should give the try-scorer the benefit of the doubt.
Oelofse was Oppierif’s hero and Kanniedood’s Bertus Wessels told varsitycup.co.za that “the guys were very disappointed to lose after coming so close”.
In the second division, a strong Dromedaris outfit managed to beat Majuba 47-0 and the guys from DFC continued to impress after they beat the UJ Under-19B side 24-0.
The Chiropractors weren’t too happy when they heard Vorendag were a ‘no-show’, but they did earn valuable points on the log for their troubles.
By Riaan Bam
