Despite their best efforts, Kuils River RFC succumbed to a rampant False Bay during a Western Province Rugby Football Union Super League A clash at the weekend.
The final score was 55-7 after False Bay led 31-7 at the break.
Playing at home, the Kuila Boys, deep in the perilous waters of the relegation sea would indeed have liked a disinterested opposition to arrive. It was not to be. Kuils River play a quality game and were expecting no favours, recognising that their fate rested in their own hands and they certainly took the game to their more fancied opponents.
Played in icy cold, blustery conditions with the strong wind blowing straight down the pitch, the crowd were treated to a quality contest that despite the lopsided scoreline, was by no means a one-sided affair.
Indeed the home side were worth a lot more than their 7-point tally and it is a moot point whether it was their finishing or the Bay’s resolute defence which kept this in check. Both were notable. Kuils River at times squandered possession with some ordinary passing, the wind definitely interfering with accuracy.
The first quarter hour of the second half in particular saw the home side literally camped in the Bay’s quarter, launching attack after attack and benefitting from the wrath of the referee.
False Bay absorbed what was thrown at them and played their system-strong game. They accumulated tries along the way, nine of them in total.
Kuils River’s outstanding players were centres Llewellyn Moolman and Gershwin Moses, lock Wade van Schoor, captain Earl Johnson and burly prop Thembaleni Tsetsi. Their try was indicative of their commitment and came from an interception 10 metres from their own line, which by time it had been scored, saw the ball pass through five pairs of hands which had all in raptures, even the visiting support.
The Kuila Boys will host Stellenbosch’s Victorians this Saturday. Kick off is at 4pm.
* Jon Harris is a member of False Bay RFC.