The once-off match between the Varsity Cup Dream team and the Junior Springboks side, ended with disappointment for the passionate students. The quality and a strong second half performance by the Junior Boks ended in a 50-19 victory for the young international team.
The Dream team put the Junior Boks under immense pressure in the first half, running almost from everywhere on the Danie Craven pitch and scoring some incredible long range tries. Maties winger, Duncan Saal, scored a brilliant 60m try to open the account for the students, before local hero and captain of the Dream team, Craig Barry, rounded off a brilliant attacking try. The game was very evenly poised at half time with the Junior Boks leading 21-19.
The second half was all one-way traffic as the Junior Boks, inspired by the talented fly half Damien Willemse, ran riot. The combinations for the side started to gel perfectly in preparation for the Junior World Cup, held in Georgia in June.
Maties winger, Duncan Saal, on his way to scoring a try for the Varsity Cup Dream Team on Monday night against the Junior Springboks. The match finished 50-19 in favour of the Junior Springboks.PHOTO: LUIGI BENNETTE/SASPA
Speaking after the game, team manager of the Dream team, Fredri Gunter, said the second half didn’t go quite as planned for them. “We were very effective in the first half with ball in hand and managed to score some excellent tries, but the second half they changed their game plan and were forced out of our game plan.”
Captain of the Dream team, Craig Barry, had a similar tune after the match. “We played some exciting rugby in the first half but in the second half our defense led us down and weren’t quite good enough for them.”
The Dream team consists of the best players from the regular Varsity Cup competition.
The Junior Springboks, based in Stellenbosch, are busy with a series of warm-up games before they depart for Georgia in June. – André Huisamen