LSA vs Old Tiffinians

31 March 2007

London South Africa RFC (LSA) have beaten Old Tiffinians 67-5 and ecured their place in the play-offs for promotion into the London Division – all only 18 months after playing their first ever competitive game. On Saturday the team put on yet another big physical performance that has seen them out-muscle their opponents in Surrey League One. The first fifteen seconds of the game saw Old Tiffs sneak in a well-orchestrated try that caught LSA off-guard. But it was to be their last, as LSA quickly stepped into gear and began running in the first of eleven tries.

A feature of the game was LSA’s powerful scrum, which had the opposition marching backwards with devastating regularity, and their smoothly-executed lineouts, which saw LSA win all their ball. Coach Bob Crooks was visibly pleased with the result, noting that a number of Surrey XV players were missing, and that their replacements had fitted well into the team, reflecting the depth of player talent at LSA. Man of the match was Tiaan Visser, who was his usual devastating self at the breakdown and also provided some great link work with the talented LSA backline. After the Easter break, LSA are back for their last league match, against the bottom-placed Law Society. Preparation is then expected to intensify in the build-up to their crucial play-off match on April 28th, where LSA will play Hampshire League One’s second-placed team for the coveted promotion into the London & South East Division.

Surrey XV:
Gerrie Kruger, Werner Swanepoel, Aldo Du Plessis, Justin Rose, Christian van Rooyen, Andre Retief, Tiaan Visser, Anton Kriel, Vaughan Gilson, Nick Osman, Trevor Grundelingh, Louis Van Zyl, Gary Johnston, Dave Kelly, Malcolm Mirfin, Clint Dearmer and Jarred Vock.