Brave effort from Rhinos
Up against College Rovers on their own stamping ground, with their team loaded with Sharks and Vodacom Cup players, is always going to be a daunting task. But that did not prevent Thanda ZRA Zululand Rhinos from giving them something to think about, going down 34-19 at Kings Park 3 on Saturday afternoon in a brave fight against their more fancied opponents. The try count was 4-3 in favour of the home team, but it was the goal kicking of Neil de Bruin, who picked up two penalties and all four conversions, that really was a major factor in the difference between the teams. Rovers ran up a comfortable 13-0 lead with a try, a conversion and two penalties in the early stages of the first half. But then it was the Rhinos’ turn to lay on the charm with two tries. First it was Frans Laatz who got over for a well worked try. Michael Nysschens did likewise a few minutes later and, with Francois Bodenstein adding a conversion, the Rhinos were back in the thick of things, only one point behind (13-12). This was the score at the break.
Second half
It was a fabulous effort by Empangeni.
Could they cause another upset as they did in the Murray Cup a few years back?
But I’m afraid things changed dramatically in the second half, as Rovers took over with three more tries and, with De Bruin adding three more conversions, they were into a commanding 34-12 lead.
But it was the Rhinos who had the final say.
This time it was Christlyn van Schalkwyk who showed us his skills with the final try of the match.
This came from another well worked move by the backs.
The conversion attempt succeeded and the final whistle blew with Rovers the winners with 15 points to spare.
Considering the opposition they were up against, this was a superb performance by the Rhinos, scoring three tries against a team that looks likely to win the Moor Cup.
It was a pity that Rhinos opted to kick for touch instead of going for the points on offer, especially those penalties from right in front of the poles.
Second team
In the second team’s match, the Thanda ZRA Zululand Rhinos went down 43-5 against College Rovers.
