The Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club 1st XV showed no signs of rustiness after a long layoff when they outclassed the Crusaders 28-12 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Brumbies led 13-9 at the break. Both teams came into the match without proper game time.
That they last played two months ago was very evident in the early stages.
The Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club 1st XV showed no signs of rustiness after a long layoff when they outclassed the Crusaders 28-12 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Brumbies led 13-9 at the break. Both teams came into the match without proper game time.
That they last played two months ago was very evident in the early stages.
But while skills and strategy may have been lacking, the physical confrontation wasn't.
The Brumbies forwards were the more dominant side against their big and powerful opposition, led by captain Monray Evans, Devon Goliath, Eugene Jansen and Granville Isaacs.
The home side slotted three penalties to gave them a 9-0 lead.
Brumbies replied with a fine try by flanker Granville Isaacs in the corner for flyhalf Vincent Mains to convert. Crusaders led 9-7.
Mains slotted in another two penalties to take his side to a 13-9 lead at half time.
The second half saw the Brumbies dominating forces in all facets of the game, especially in the back line, where their speed proved too strong for the home side.
The home side kicked an early penalty as the scores narrowed to 13-12 in favour of Brumbies.
Brumbies kept their heads high and started playing their favourite brand, by running with the ball and exposing their opponents out wide with their pace and skill.
Young winger, Chad Gill, scored a brilliant try in the left-hand corner, after running from their own 22 metre line, with the ball going neatly through the hands.
Mains missed the conversion, as Brumbies led 18-12 with 15 minutes to play.
The visitors continued their dominance, exposing the home side's weakness at the back, as they again started running the ball from their goal area.
Replacement winger Royden Isaacs neatly kicked the ball through, and outsprinted the defence to dive on the ball and score. Shanton Whitebooi converted (25-12).
Mains slotted a late penalty to secure the win for his side with 28-12. Brumbies 1st Reserves beat Crusaders 21-19 in the main curtainraiser. Anrico Quiens and Antonio Walton scored tries. Chesley Daniels
