United still top in Knysna derby

Gallery

KNYSNA RUGBY NEWS - The second Knysna derby of the year in as many months saw Knysna United emerge victorious once again, with Greater Knysna still struggling to one-up their Knysna rivals.

The two clubs clashed earlier in the year as a curtain-raiser for the Stormers/Southern Kings encounter at Loerie Park on 17 January, with United winning there 19-12.

While both clubs had already begun preparations for the season that lies ahead in the SWD President's League, the match was both clubs' first outing of the preseason.

United and Greater would continue their preseason prep, and eventually lock horns again on Wednesday 5 February in an official preseason warm-up match.

Photo gallery: Knysna United top in Derby

Due to it being a warm-up game, both sides' coaching staff agreed to having larger-than-usual squads for both the first and second-team games, with no limit on the number of substitutions allowed in order to give as many players as possible a run on the pitch.

The second-team game was an entertaining encounter from start to finish, with United and Greater sharing possession throughout the game, as play flowed back and forth.

It was however United who would walk away with the victory, winning 17-5 at the final whistle.

Much like the curtain-raiser on 17 January, the match between the two clubs' first teams was a slightly wet affair as some light rain had fallen prior to kickoff, making handling the ball tough. Greater Knysna would begin the match in far better fashion than their opponents, dominating possession and territory for the majority of the half. The conditions didn't suit their style of flashy, stylish rugby though, and they were unable to round out their chances.

United would take the lead against the run of play, with a Greater mistake leading to the ball falling to the hands of a United player to break away and score the only points of the first half as United led 5-0 at the break. While Greater looked to continue their positive brand of rugby in the second half, a lack of fitness seemed to be their enemy, and United slowly began dominating before eventually running away with the win. United would run in five tries in the second half to emerge 36-0 victors.

Even though they lost the game significantly, Greater Knysna had a lot of positives to take away from the game (arguably more than United), with the way they dominated the first half being the highlight. Knysna United will be happy with the level of their fitness this early in the season, and undoubtedly chuffed with the clinical finishing they showed.

Enrico Saaiers breaks away for Knysna United.