The Gauteng Lions Senior Grand Challenge Rugby League kicked off for Germiston Simmer when they took on Harlequins, from Krugersdorp, at the Germiston Stadium, on May 3.<\/p>\n
This fixture was one that always ended in disappointment for Simmer in the past, as they have not managed to beat Harlequins in the last 20 years.<\/p>
The day started with mixed results, as the u-20 team went down 17-11, due largely to poor support play.<\/p>\n
The second team turned this around, however, as they crushed the Harlequins seconds 27-0.<\/p>
Then the first team fought admirably, to win a see-saw battle by 16-13.<\/p>\n
This was the first win over Harlequins in two decades and bodes well for the boys of “Good old Simmer”.<\/p>\n
The u-20 team scored one try due to a magnificent individual effort by centre Brandon Dos Santos, who powered his way through three tackles to bring some respectability to the score line.<\/p>\n
Kobus Holtzhausen succeeded with two penalty kicks.<\/p>\n
Man of the Match awards went to flank Joshua Hammond and Brandon Dos Santos.<\/p>\n
The second team started the season with a bang and converted all their opportunities to points.<\/p>\n
Tries were scored by Leon Willemans (who was selected this year to represent the South African Deaf Rugby team), Thabiso Khabelo and Francois de Jongh, who crossed the whitewash twice.<\/p>\n
The second team also managed to defend their line with aggressive tackling and brilliant cover defence.<\/p>\n
Willem Breytenbach converted two of the four tries and added a penalty to comprehensively win this fixture.<\/p>\n
De Jongh was awarded the Man of the Match title.<\/p>\n
Coach Hennie de Villiers put the success down to hard work at practises.<\/p>\n
What head coach Maree Bester dubbed as a “bad game but a good win” then ensued for the first team.<\/p>\n
This game was played at a feverish pace and started with penalties being slotted by both teams.<\/p>\n
Eric de Beer then chased through on a grubber kick by Wynand Swanepoel, and scored a try.<\/p>\n
Harlequins came back with a try of their own, making the score 10 all.<\/p>\n
Penalties were converted into points late in the second half by both teams, extending the draw to 13-all.<\/p>\n
Quintin Bothma stepped up to take this long range penalty for Simmers.<\/p>\n
A final play saw the referee raise his hand in the last minute, for a penalty against Harlequins, which was taken by Pieter Mocke.<\/p>\n
The final score was 16-13 to Germiston Simmer in a game that could have gone either way.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, all accolades to coach Bester, captain Charl Wright and the first team for grinding out this historic win.<\/p>\n
Man of the Match awards went to number eight, Robert Petit, in his 11th year at Simmer, and to centre Bothma.<\/p>\n
Simmer rugby has proven to be alive and well and promises to provide some entertaining play this season.<\/p>\n
“I would like to thank the community for their support and I am confident that Germiston Simmer Rugby Club will continue to deliver the goods,” said the chairperson, Rene Audier.<\/p>\n