Double blow for Zulus

THE Zululand rugby team ended their Ebbo Bastard campaign on a disappointing note when they went down in both their matches at Woodburn Stadium on Friday night.
After their five star performance at Absa Stadium the previous weekend, the wheels fell off a bit in Maritzburg, with first Midlands and then Durban picking up fairly comfortable victories.
Midlands, who were looking for a win to secure the trophy they haven’t won for some time, were 10-3 victors.
They picked up their last gasp victory well into injury time with a converted try.
The teams were 3-all for most of the match.
Louis Kruger kicked a penalty in reply to a penalty by Midlands earlier on.
But with the home team pressing hard in the closing minutes, they scored the vital points they wanted, which enabled them to move into pole position on the log with five points, as against Zululand’s four.
The Zulus had to beat Durban in their final match to stand a chance of winning back the trophy they held for so many years previously.
But I’m afraid it didn’t work out that way as Durban spoilt the party for them with a comfortable 12-7 victory.
They scored a converted try and a try as against a try to Clinton Koen, converted by Louis Kruger for Zululand.
But that’s where the scoring came to an end as the determined Durban team defended their line.
I must hand it to the Zulus, though.
They hammered away at Durban’s tryline for the final 15 minutes of the match, but couldn’t produce the finish they wanted to return with the silverware to Zululand.
It must have been a long trip back in the bus for the boys, who first had to attend the after-match function, before hitting the road back.
The Ebbo Bastard Trophy went to Midlands.
Both Durban and Midlands finished with seven log points, but it was Midlands who won the trophy with a superior points difference.
The announcement of the North Coast district team to take on the Duikers at Mick Kelly Park on Saturday 26 September will be made shortly.

Unbeaten U21s
The only pleasing aspect, as far as Zululand is concerned, to emerge from their trip to Maritzburg was the performance of their U21s.
They kept their unbeaten record intact and finished the strongest of the junior teams.
They got the better of Midlands 10-0 and then went on to beat Durban 3-0 in the final match.
In the opening clash against Midlands, it was Leonard Majiba who scored from a good maul after a lineout.
And once again it was Francois Bodenstein, with a penalty (the opening points) and the conversion of Majiba’s try, who saved the day.
In a tight final match against Durban, it was Zululand’s brilliant defence that carried the match for the Zulus. The only points of this match came from Bodenstein’s boot. Their coach staff, especially JP Immelman, deserve a pat on the back for a job well done this season.