The Rhodes University Rugby Club first team met Swallows Rugby Club in an Eastern Province Rugby Union Sectional Cup match on Saturday.
The game took place at the Rhodes University Great Field with a large group of enthusiastic Rhodes and Swallows supporters keen to witness the first game of the season.
The Rhodes University Rugby Club first team met Swallows Rugby Club in an Eastern Province Rugby Union Sectional Cup match on Saturday.
The game took place at the Rhodes University Great Field with a large group of enthusiastic Rhodes and Swallows supporters keen to witness the first game of the season.
The teams may meet in the Sectional Cup, but will not meet during the league, as Rhodes are part of the Adams Cup and Swallows in the Wellman Harmse league.
While the next match will only take place on 20 march, Saturday’s game was brought forward as it originally happened in July when Rhodes is on holiday.
Rhodes had been practicing for three weeks prior to the game, with the first team being together for two weeks.
Rhodes Rugby Club media rep, Luke Mann said the team was made up of a “mix of experienced campaigners and fresh talent coming through”.
Swallows had been training together since the second week in February and Swallows secretary, Phillip Oerson said their side was with many players from last year, with a few younger players coming through.
Fine season opener for Rhodes Rhodes got off to a flying start scoring a flurry of points in the first quarter. The first team took off where the first reserve team left, who completed a comprehensive demolition job of the Swallows first reserves and ended up winning 108-7.
This frenetic start by the Rhodes 1sts put pressure on Swallows and stifled their game. Rhodes finished the half well and went into the break with a comfortable lead.
The second half saw a reduction in the intensity of the game as fitness began to play its part. “Fitness will be one thing that both teams will look to work on as the season progresses,” said Mann, with Oerson saying that Swallows can only improve with more training.
Rhodes were slow out the gate in the second half and only found their try scoring form in the last fifteen minutes. The final whistle went seeing Rhodes with a convincing victory at 57-3.
Andrew Edwards, Rhodes fly-half and hat trickster said the team was happy with their performance in the first game of the season and that the team is excited for the season ahead.
Oerson was happy with his side’s performance, considering Rhodes are ranked higher than the Swallows.
Mark Fulton, a loyal Rhodes supporter was encouraged by the team’s early season effort and is looking forward to more convincing performances as the season progresses.
