Date: 16/10/13
The first game of the New South Wales Tour saw the team face a Combined Clubs side made up of players from all the rugby league clubs in South Africa. The match was played at Silverton Rugby Club in Pretoria this past Saturday, and although the Combined Clubs team put up a valiant effort, the experience of the New South Wales team in the end proved too much.
The final score was 50 to nil for New South Wales, and although it’s a flattering score, the Combined Clubs side almost broke through the robust defence of New South Wales. In the end, experience counted, and the patience of the New South Wales team was rewarded with some well-worked tries and great runs around the edge of the Combined Clubs defence.
The game was a great showcase with some big tackles from early on. The Combined Clubs was close to breaking through but a few small handling errors cost them and Brandan Worth went over in the corner. From there the match was closely fought till halfway into the second half when superior fitness and composure saw the New South Wales Team run in a few soft tries.
As in all contact sports there were a few niggles, and Benson Tupou (NSW) and Marcelle Slabbert (CC) each spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. Right at the end Marcelle Slabbert infringed again and a second yellow was converted into a red card.
Afterwards all the players agreed that it was a hard match, but well played by both teams.
Teams:
SARL COMBINED CLUBS
1.Martin Meyer (Tigers)
2.Lee Langenhoven (Tomahawks)
3.Dolf van Vuuren (Tuks)
4.Charl Steenkamp (Tuks)
5.Conre Gerber (Silverbacks)
6.George van Rooyen (Silverbacks)
7.Sehle Barnabas (Tigers)
8.Waldo Nelson (Tigers)
9.Hannes Engelbrecht (Tomahawks)
10.Tjaardt van der Waldt (Tuks) Captain
11.Marcelle Slabbert (Tuks)
12.Steynberg van Zyl (Tuks)
13.Paul van Jaarsveldt (Tuks) Vice-Captain
14.Werner Remboldt (Roosters)
15.Ettiene Booysen (Roosters)
16.Rick Myburgh (Fish Eagles)
17.Donovan Loser (Roosters)
18.Marco Marais (Buccaneers)
Coach: Gerry Gandall
NSW COUNTRY
1.Brad Scott (Western Suburbs Illawarra)
2.Tim Smith (Scone Greater Northern Tigers)
3.Ben McAlpine (Orange Group 10)
4.Simon Williams (Western Suburbs Newcastle)
5.Jason Raper (Helensburgh Illawarra)
6.Riley Brown (Cessnock Newcastle)
7.Alex Moore Berkeley (Vale Central Coast)
8.Rory O’Brien (Collegians Illawarra)
9.Terence Seuseu (Cessnock Newcastle)
10.Brendan Worth (Cessnock Newcastle)
11.Matt Shipway (South Newcastle Newcastle)
12.Brendan Hlad (Cessnock Newcastle)
13.Jamie Feeney(Erina Central Coast)
14.Benson Tupou (Dapto Illawarra)
15.Damien Paulissen (Shellharbour Illawarra)
16.Chris Hyde (Woy Woy Central Coast)
17.Trent Grubb (Western Suburbs Illawarra)
18.Jake Finn (Western Suburbs Newcastle)
Coach: David Barnhill Junior
Referee: Rudolph Du Plooy
Touch Judges: Warren Pretorius, AJ Barnard
In Goal-Area Judges: Alex Jonker, Andre Mclaren
Substitutes: Henry Warrington, Etienne Collins
Try Scorers for New South Wales:
Brendan Worth: 1 try, Jamie Feeney: 2 tries, Rory O’Brien: 1 try, Jason Raper: 1 try, Trent Grubb: 1 try, Tim Smith: 1 try, Damien Paulissen: 1 try, Benson Tupou: 1 try, Brad Scot: 5 conversions, 1 penalty
SARL Combined Clubs Man of the Match: Sihle Barnabas
New South Wales Man of the Match: Brendan Worth
