By Chesley Daniels Swallows 1st XV ended their EPRU SEDRU Regional League campaign unbeaten, with a clinical 24-20 win over hosts Rhodes Stallions at the Rhodes University Great Field on the evening of 16 August 2023. Swallows is the only unbeaten side in the competition with 12 out of 12 wins for the season. They rightfully earned the SEDRU undisputed champs accolade as deserved log leaders with 53 points from their 12 matches. Old Collegians are in second position on 35 (11), and Rhodes is in third with 28 (9) and three games in hand. FIRST HALF The first half…
Author: Chesley Daniels
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By Chesley Daniels It was blood, sweat, and tears at the Albany Sports Club match between Swallows and Kowie United on 12 August 2023. Swallows were victorious for the second time this season over Kowie in their EPRU SEDRU Regional League second-round fixture and rightfully claimed bragging rights. The win over arch-rivals Kowie made Swallows the Unofficial SEDRU Champs for 2023 with one game to spare in the competition against Rhodes for the log leaders. Swallows are now 14 points clear of second-placed Old Collegians, while Kowie is in 4th position. The SEDRU Inter Municipality Derby between Swallows and Kowie…
By Chesley Daniels Grahamstown Brumbies 1st XV was in rampant mode when they ran in 10 tries in their 62-13 bonus point win over Missionvale United in their second round EPRU Grand Challenge Group A Clash at the fortress Oval Sports Ground on 12 August. The Top three of each of the four groups will now go through to compete in a potential new top-tier format competition that will be reduced to 12 teams. Before the contest, Brumbies needs to win both their remaining two home games with a bonus point in order to finish in third position behind Trying…
By Chesley Daniels Grahamstown Brumbies did the double to retain the bragging rights over arch-rivals Lily White with a 25-18 bonus point at the Fortress Oval on 12 August. This was the second round fixture of the EPRU Grand Challenge Group A. Both teams are fighting for survival to end in the Top three in order to compete in the proposed Top 12 competition next year. A bonus point win is not negotiable at this stage of the competition as both teams sense the pressure under their pillows. Brumbies are currently in 3rd position after the bonus point win with…
By Chesley Daniels Log leaders, Swallows, recorded a rather disappointing 22-15 win over Rosebuds United in a second-round EPRU SEDRU Regional League fixture that was contested at the Albany Sports Club in Makhanda on 12 August. Swallows, who were the firm favorites going into this encounter, rested most of their first-choice forwards and gave the fringe players some game time. It was a game of two halves, underestimating the opposition, lack of discipline and motivation that almost came back to bite log-leading Swallows in the proverbial behind, who started like a team with a mission scoring three tries to go…
By Chesley Daniels An injury-time, 83rd-minute penalty by centre Duane Brown gave Kowie United a narrow 27-25 win over Old Collegians (OC) in their second-round EPRU SEDRU Regional League fixture, played at the Station Hill Sports Grounds in Port Alfred on 5 August. The hosts, Kowie, went into the contest as underdogs and looking to take sweet revenge, after suffering a heavy 12-40 defeat to OC in the first round on June 16 at the Oval. OC is currently in 2nd position on the log. The game was very physical, brutal, and intense, and was played at a very high…
By Chesley Daniels Both Kowie United 1st XV and Old Collegians (OC) 1st XV recorded highly impressive wins over Rhodes and Klipfontein United respectively in their EPRU SEDRU League Competition fixtures on 29 July. KLIPFONTEIN UNITED VS OLD COLLEGIANS – NEVER QUIT STADIUM The all-awaited return second round fixture between the two sides delivered some exciting rugby at the Sunshine Coast on 29 July. The home side were up to the task and wanted to take sweet revenge against OC who beat them in the first round at the Albany Sports Club. The Makhanda side entered the den and came…
By Chesley Daniels PJ Olivier High School hosted a highly successful Sports Day against Linkside High from Gqeberha on 29 July at the school’s sports grounds. Both rugby and netball first teams were victorious against their competitive counterparts. Tiffany Tutton of PJ Olivier 1st secured the ball for her side against Linkside on 29 July. Photo: Bianca Schoonbee PJ 1ST XV VS LINKSIDE 1ST XV In cold, wet, and rainy conditions on Saturday, both teams came out guns blazing in extremely difficult conditions especially competing on a wet surface. The weather didn’t affect the determined rugby players who came very…
By Chesley Daniels EPRU SEDRU REGIONAL LEAGUE NDLAMBE TIGERS VS SWALLOWS – PORT ALFRED (29 JULY 2023) The hosts, Tigers, want to settle the score with log leaders, Swallows, and are out to take sweet revenge after Swallows smashed them 36-0 at the Oval on 3 June. Tigers are a decent side at home and have the ability to upset any team. Swallows are not log leaders for nothing, and are determined to extend their lead on top of the table in their quest to be crowned SEDRU Champs. It will definitely be a physical contest, very hard up front…
By Chesley Daniels Lily White 1st XV recorded their second win of the EPRU Grand Challenge Competition (Group A) with an impressive 30-13 bonus point win over Missionvale United from Gqeberha on 15 July at the Lavender Valley Sports Ground. A decent local, enthusiastic crowd came out in numbers to support their local rugby team that competed in the highest league competition of the EPRU. A perfect sunny winter’s day in Makhanda and good weather for rugby were the order of the day as hundreds of spectators witnessed some exciting running rugby throughout the game. Missionvale came to Makhanda as…