Hammies-“Seccies” Coaching staff were devastated by the defeats against False Bay (15-3), Maties (20-19), UCT (13-10) and Belhar (22-19). This especially after losing our last three (3) games by a total margin of 7 points (average of 2.33 points per game).
Spirits had to be lifted when we travelled to Florida Park to playing the last of our 5 league matches in 21 days (after the mid-season break) at Tygerberg RFC in the SLA – 2. To make matters worse, we lost ten of our regular players to injuries and also to our first team!
Tygerberg 2nd team had produced some good results and close losses during their campaign, but are not going to forget Hammies-“Seccies” for a long time. After taking an early penalty kick lead, Tygerberg RFC then experienced the backlash effect of a Hamilton SP RFC onslaught that was something to behold. A Penalty goal and Nineteen (19) tries later of which 12 were converted, Tygerberg 2nd team suffered their worst defeat in years by going down to Hammies-“Seccies” by 124 – 3.
Stand-in Captain, Blackie Buthelezi lead from the front with an excellent performance that included 2 tries. Returning from illness, winger Ryan Johnson started the rot with some brilliant running by scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first half and outside Centre, Monre Lingeveldt who got one of his few starts this season also weighed in with a good performance and scored 3 tries. Fullback, Angelo Nelson eventually got on the score sheet this season with a couple of tries and so did winger, Iewan Bartels.
My Man of the Match, Loose-head Prop, Bantu Mene produced a top class performance with a high work rate, strong running and an inspirational try from just inside the Tygerberg half by outsprinting all of the cover defence.
Other try scorers were Eighthman, Enoch Panya, Hooker, Robbie Trueman, Inside Centre, Chad Moolman, substitutes – Jason Poleman and Daniel McKensie. Irishman and Flanker, Paul Maxwell also scored a try and a conversion in his last game for Hammies-“Seccies” before returning to Ireland for the British rugby season. Thanks and well done – IRISH!
Flyhalf, Lohan Lubbe who has started in the no. 10 jersey in all of Hammies-“Seccies” fourteen league matches converted 11 tries and kicked a penalty for a personal haul of 25 points in the game. He has also ended the season by scoring a total of 169 points in 14 matches at an average of 17.2 points per game.
Undefeated and leading the SLA – 2 Log before the break after 9 games, Hammies-“Seccies” should now end either 4th or 5th in the 2015 season. Looking back on the season, perhaps a bit more luck, time been called short on several occasions by referees, some disappointing and poor referee decisions and also perhaps a bit of “Irish luck” – the season could have ended a lot different for a very good quality Hammies-“Seccies”. Well done Boys – proud of you!