It was a clinical performance in a hostile environment on Saturday as we took on our Green Point neighbours SKW at the track.
The players showed enormous maturity as they produced a magnificent first 25 minutes of running rugby.
Any animosity or belief that SKW had was dead and buried as we shifted the ball into the wide channels and punished the SKW defense.
Our pack were brilliant as they laid the platform dominating the set phases and rucks. Boeta Loubser impressed with ball carry’s while Henk Franken was a colossus in the broken play destroying rucks and creating turnover opportunities.
Flanker and Man of the Match Chris Cloete combined well with Gareth Rowe as they ruled the breakdown ensuring clean ball for our backs to exploit.
Earl Lewis , Janno Van Zyl , Chris Cloete and Shane Vallender crossed before half time putting the game out of SKW reach.
SKW scored on half time to give us a 22-7 lead at the break.
Monty Dumond had left his kicking boots at SACS early that day but despite that this his distribution and general game were on song as he created space for us out wide.
Shane Vallender had good outing at Full Back with his pace and timely incursions causing headaches for the SKW defence. Jandre Du Plessis distributed beautifully and was the pick of the backs on the day.
We made some changes and gave certain players a rest and tried one or 2 new combinations up front as we continue to prepare for what lies ahead which saw us struggle at scrum time.
Our counter attack was swift and deadly as we launched two second half trees from our 22m with Shane Vallender scoring after a neat break by Dustin Jinka had unleashed him on a solo 55m run in.
Jandre Du Plessis scored the 2nd after Skipper Gareth Rowe had breached the defense and offloaded to Du Plessis who had run an excellent support line.
SKW scored 2 tries from broken play but never got within striking distance losing out on any bonus points despite their endeavors.
It was fitting the Sebastian Ferreira rounded off the scoring after some controlled Slow ball management as it was his last game for Hamilton’s.He has signed a professional contract with Newcastle Falcon’s in the English Premiership and joins them in their preseason campaign this weekend.
We would like to wish him all the best for his season ahead and his career on a whole. He is a talented player who has bright future ahead of him, we will be watching your development going forward with pride.
Sebastian converted his own try as a good Second Rower should sealing the victory 41-19 another 5 points in the bag.
Well done Buggers we now focus on St Georges at home this Friday evening.
By Anton Moolman