Rhinos flattened in Rovers stampede
Playing a strong Rovers side, the Rhinos were dragged kicking and screaming through the mud and rain for 80 minutes
THE first three minutes of the Castle Murray Cup qualifying round for Rhinos on Saturday set the tone of the entire rugby match.
Playing a strong Rovers side who visited Mick Kelly Park, the Rhinos were dragged kicking and screaming through the mud and rain for 80 minutes to a crushing 78-13 loss.
The first set of phases from the kick-off saw Rovers crossing the chalk and making good on the conversion.
Five minutes later, it was a repeat with the Rhinos struggling to find an answer to the brute force of the visiting side.
Rhinos scored off a penalty right in front of the uprights soon after, but then Rovers took over.
The visitors scored another six tries, four converted successfully, before the break.
Rhinos only managed one try in response, with winger Thokozani Mdluli taking heavy punishment during a strong run through the defensive wall.
With the conversion failed, the scoreboard stood at 47-8 at half-time.
A strong pep talk gave the Rhinos the motivation they needed, with defensive tackling and line-out contestation showing a marked improvement in the second half.
But the contract players of Rovers stepped it up a notch, bashing through for a further five tries, converting three.
Captain Dean Moolman pulled back some pride for the home side after powering through for Rhinos’ second try of the game.
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