Engineers topple Titans in final
Retribution for the winners. Bitter agony for the losers. But there can be no doubt that the better team won in Wits' Steinhoff Koshuisrugby League.
The Steinhoff Engineers wrested back the Steinhoff Wits Interfaculty rugby title from archrivals the Steinhoff Humanities Titans after they won 20-0 in a physical encounter on Wednesday night.
The game was always going to be a tight affair, with the scoreline not quite reflecting how close the game was in the first half, with the key focus on which team could muscle up front with the forwards.
The Titans' strength lies with their exciting backline play, and the Engineers went out with a gameplan to restrict them. It worked.
They hit every tackle like men possessed and kept the game tight. The Titans simply could not get the go-forward ball that any backline needs.
At half-time there were a few walking wounded as both teams went into the break level without having scored any points.
When play resumed, Steinhoff Humanities looked out-of-sorts and Steinhoff Engineers began imposing themselves physically. Their tight five laid a solid foundation with Jethro Garrett putting in a Steinhoff Player-of-the-Match performance. The highlight was a superb solo try, which included a side-step that any outside centre would have been proud of!
Steinhoff Engineers raced to a 10-0 lead and the Steinhoff Humanities simply had no answer.
Another try, set up by a brilliant cross-field kick - a la Dan Carter - by Jacob Tripp eventually put the game beyond doubt.
Humanities tried to claw their way back with an apparent disregard of injuries to themselves, but the Engineers' defence held firm.
Richard Leaver, captain of Steinhoff Humanities, was philosophical about the defeat: "We still have mates, we still have rugby, we still have dozzle, we still have each other!"
Steinhoff Humanities' character has been their strongest weapon throughout the season, but the team that won did so through hard work and a structured gameplan.
"We absolutely killed ourselves for this," added star man Jacob Tripp, clutching the trophy. "We worked so hard and we definitely deserve this."
Steinhoff Engineers and Steinhoff Humanities have cemented their position as the two most dominant teams on campus at Wits.
On the evidence of the season, any challengers will have to be at their best to stand a chance of knocking these two monoliths off their perch.
By Daniel Gallan
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