Rhodes Barbarians rugby side hosted University of Cape Town invitational team in what could be an annual
game, with the possibility of both a home and away fixture, according to the event organiser Tyron Theessen.
Rhodes Barbarians rugby side hosted University of Cape Town invitational team in what could be an annual
game, with the possibility of both a home and away fixture, according to the event organiser Tyron Theessen.
At last Friday night’s match, the Rhodes Barbarians beat the spirited UCT Invitational team 22-7 on the Rhodes Great Field.
The entertaining rugby kept the crowd on their feet throughout the match. At times the game seemed to get away from the players and both teams were guilty of sloppiness.
Rhodes Barbarians, made up of Makulu Blues and Heathen players, went into halftime with a 7-0 lead, which saw UCT on attack for a good part of the half.
After the break, Rhodes emerged with new-found determination and took the game to the visitors. Rhodes were constantly on the attack, forcing UCT to defend from within their own half for the majority of the second half.
Rhodes broke through the stubborn UCT defence to score two second half tries, one of which was converted. UCT finally got some points on the board with a late consolation try.
When the final whistle blew, Rhodes ran out 22-7 winners, with Stuart Pattison being named man of the match.
Theessen, who is the chairman of Rhodes Rugby, stated that the idea for the event had been in the works since the first match last year.
Theessen said that he and Dunne “first made contact with one another in 2008”, with Dunne suggesting an intervarsity event between Rhodes and UCT.
“We learnt on the job,” stated Theessen about last year’s event, but admitted that this year both “knew
what to expect”.
The whole event has been organised by Theessen, Dunne and members of the Rhodes Internal League Rugby Committee, made up entirely of students.
