GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - It was a great start to the 2023 SWD Rugby club rugby season for two of the three CX clubs in action last weekend. Sedgefield Eagle Stars and Knysna United, that both play in the SWD First Division A were victorious while Jaguars suffered a tough loss to start their SWD Super League A season.
All three clubs were treated to home starts, albeit with some stern opposition lying in wait.
Eagle Stars arguably had the easier of three fixtures, taking on Young Roses from Oudtshoorn at Grassy Park in Smutsville, but they've been known to spring surprises in the past. Knysna United meanwhile had a date with Thistles at the Knysna High School sports fields, always an encounter not to be missed as both sides manage to bring out the best and the worst in each other.
Finally, Jaguars had the toughest of the three fixtures lying in wait in SWD's top club rugby division, having to take on Bridgton in The Crags in Plett.
The clubs playing in the SWD Super League A are required to field three sides every matchday, only applicable to Jaguars in this instance. This meant an early afternoon kick-off in The Crags for the third teams.
A tough, hard-fought game of rugby followed but the men from Oudtshoorn were ultimately 5-3 victors.
The second team game wasn't quite as close a match, as Bridgton ran amok, beating their hosts 31-5. Finally, a brilliant clash between the two first teams rounded off the day. Momentum consistently swayed back and forth, and the result could go either way right up to the final whistle. But, Bridgton held steady, and emerged 42-37 victors.
For the two SWD First Division A clubs, they are only required to field two sides on matchday. Back in Knysna this meant a mid-afternoon kick-off for the Knysna United and Thistles second teams.
With the fans pouring in and the crowds growing as time went on, Knysna United made sure to keep their supporters happy.
A steadfast performance by the home side's second team meant the day got off to the best possible start for Knysna United as they ran out 21-10 winners. With supporters on a high and expecting more of the same, Knysna United's first team had a lot to live up to. Deliver they did though, managing to earn a hard-fought 20-12 victory to make it the perfect day.
Finally, over in Sedgefield, there was another mid-afternoon start as Eagle Stars and Young Roses' second teams locked horns at Grassy Park.
A seriously tough battle for supremacy followed, with the sides trading blows on a regular basis. A tight first half saw the scores level at 7-7 after the first 40 minutes. While things opened up a bit in the second half, nothing could ultimately separate the two sides and the game ended at 17-17.
After such an exciting opener, the spectators were frothing at the mouth for more scintillating action, and boy oh boy, did the home side deliver!
Eagle Stars' first team was slightly timid in the opening exchanges, taking a 10-0 first-half lead.
They ramped it up in the second half and the stars shone bright as they ran riot and scored five unanswered second-half tries to secure a stunning 45-0 victory to get their season going in the best way possible.
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