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It was an exciting but bruising match where the Zambesis ended up 28-7 victors over the Raggies after three, 20 minute chukkas had been played.
The first try, to the Zambesis, was a formality, too many numbers in the line with Craig Burden getting ball on the wing and with the overlap had no trouble scoring in the corner in the opening 5 minutes. Pat Lambie converted well from the touchline.
The Raggies pushed hard and managed to work their way close to the tryline but lost a lineout and the Zambesis were quickly on attack, Keegan Daniel scoring a fine try, finishing powerfully after good work from JP Pietersen and then Meyer Bosman took the action into the opposition 22.
The opening stanza ended 14-0 in the Zambesis’ favour when the teams stopped for a well-deserved water break.
The second phase of the game was punctuated by a number of stops as the heat settled in and Meyer Bosman was close to scoring when he was well held up over the line. He made no mistake with the second effort, the ball coming to him from the resultant scrum and he managed to take two defenders over close to the upright, Lambie converted and it was half-time, 21-0 to the Zambesis.
Freddie Michalak shifted to scrumhalf to accommodate Fred Zeilinger at flyhalf and this combination paid early dividends, Zeilinger receiving the ball from a scrum on the halfway line and dummying his way to create the gap that would clear the way to the touchline, Pieter-Steph du Toit chasing heroically but failing to haul him down in time. Michalak converted from out wide to bring his team back into the game at 21-7 down.
The Zambesis didn’t have to wait too long to gain reward once more, some clever interplay featuring Lwazi Mvovo, du Toit and Meyer Bosman for Paul Jordaan to have the easiest of tries, cantering over for his team’s fourth. Lambie converted easily.
There were no more scores in the third quarter but there was some really enterprising play from both teams who would have been feeling the effects of a full-blown effort in the stifling Durban summer heat.
Sadly, the lights went out in the general areas, curtailing play early, which came as a great disappointment to what had become a decent crowd enjoying the outing and their first look at The Sharks in almost four months.
