Hard Pill to swallow as “Seccies” go down in thriller!

Within a space of eight days, Hammies-“Seccies” suffer two shock defeats at home to False Bay and Maties in matches they could have won. After been dominant before the mid-season break, we find ourselves in a situation that we have to win our remaining three away games with a bonus point in each to possible win the SLA – 2.

After losing our first game of the season to False Bay 15 – 3 in a game that we did not pitch, the Maties game was the perfect stepping stone to bounce back and get the second part of the season back on track. We started off very well in the game and took a 12 – 0 lead within the first 25 minutes of the half with tries scored by David Panter after a neat break in midfield by George Tossel and then a second try by Robbie Trueman from quickly taken penalty from 5 metres out.

Maties came back strongly in the last ten minutes of the half with two converted tries of their own to take a 14 – 12 lead at the break. In the second half, Maties extended their lead early on with a penalty (17-12). With ten minutes of play left, Hammies-“Seccies” scored a well worked try by Iewan Bartels with only 14 players on the field after relentless pressure on the Maties goal-line that was converted by Lohan Lubbe.

With nine minutes of play left and leading 19 – 17, from the kick-off we conceded a penalty that Maties did not convert. The match official thereafter with five minutes left of play gave Maties three consecutive penalties and eventually they converted the last penalty to hold onto a 20 -19 win.

After eleven (11) official league matches, Hammies – “Seccies” are still currently still on top of SLA -2 with 44 points, followed by UCT 2nd team on 43 points from 10 games, Durbel 2nd team on 40 points from 10 games, False Bay 2nd team on 38 points from 9 games, Vic’s 2nd team on 32 from 8 games, Maties 2nd team on 25 points from 9 games.

Our final three games are away at UCT, Belhar and Tygerberg within a space of 10 days. Let’s stay positive and stay on Top – HAMMIES!