Lagunya RFC picked up a valuable bonus point despite going down 33-24 against Scottsdene Central in a Western Province Rugby Football Union Super League C match, in Kraaifontein, on Saturday.
The home side recorded first points of the match with a converted try, early in the first half.
The Nyanga-based side, however, did not sit back as flyhalf Anathi Ndukwana went over for his side’s first try of the game while fullback Sandile Xhasa was on target with his conversion.
Scottsdene struck back when scrumhalf Theodore Christians and centre Colin Lombard scored within a space of five minutes while flyhalf Elroncio Smith kept his 100% record with the boot.
Thulani Bakumehi and Anathi Ndukwana kept the visitors in the game, scoring two quick tries, and Xhasa converted one.
Scottsdene Central, who led 21-19 at the break, started the second half in fine style when Donovan Hermanus scored his side’s bonus point try.
They continued to put pressure on Lagunya when Ashwin Dube went over the try line with Leroy Ruiters slotting the conversion over. The visitors did not walk away empty handed as Bongani Mukume scored his side’s fourth try of the game, earning them a bonus point.
Lagunya coach Mxolisi Mekuto was first to congratulate their opponents, saying they lost the game by not sticking to the basics.
“I take my hat off to Scottsdene because they played well from start to finish. Their wings were dangerous with ball in hand but we stopped them on a few occasions.
“The performance from my players was not bad. To play against a Scottsdene side that ended in the top six last year was never going to be easy but my players put up a great fight.
“We were still in the game at half time but once they scored two quick tries in the second half our heads dropped a bit,” he said.
Lagunya, who gained promotion from the Southern League, have battled to find their feet in Super League C, winning two, losing six and drawing one. They now sit in 11th place on the log with a total of 14 points.
“We must keep our heads held up all the time and not let our defeats get us down. We have not been having a bad season. Since we came up we beat teams like Blue Jets and Masiphumelele and drew against Franshhoek United who played in Super League B last season. There are lot of positives we can take from those games and the defeats that we lost narrowly. Our main goal for the season will be to stay in the league,” he said.
Meanwhile, Scottsdene coach Alastair Siegelaar said the goal was to walk away with a bonus point victory but the win was tougher than expected.
“We had to work hard for our win. In the first half we had a number of chances but we did not use them. Lagunya were good at ruck time which stopped our momentum. As the game progressed we put on a better performance,” he said